Financial Services

Shutts & Bowen has one of the leading financial institutions practice groups in Florida.   It is chaired by Bowman Brown, who played a major role in establishing offices for banks in 1978 after the Florida Legislature amended the laws allowing for the formation of those offices.  Shutts & Bowen’s early participation in this important industry included:

• Representing the first out-of-state bank to establish a non-Edge Act banking office in Florida.
• Representing the first applicant for a non-bank bank license in Florida.
• Negotiating a legislative compromise with the Florida Bankers Association to allow out-of-state holding companies to establish loan production office subsidiaries in Florida.
• Assisting in leadership role in effecting numerous legislative and regulatory charges required to maintain Florida’s status as an international banking center.

Shutts & Bowen represents U.S. and foreign banks, community banks, trust companies, insurance companies, broker-dealers, investment advisors, private equity funds and industry trade groups.

We provide services in consumer finance and general bank regulatory matters; documentation of consumer finance, trade finance, real estate and commercial and industrial financing transactions; development of account documentation; issues relating to negotiable instruments; mergers and acquisitions; litigation; and the wide variety of other legal and tax matters generated by financial institutions.

Shutts & Bowen has acquired a wealth of experience representing financial institutions of all types, including in particular Florida community banks, in connection with various supervisory and bank regulatory matters involving responses to examination reports, analysis of regulatory concerns, compliance with remedial supervisory agreements and advice with respect to corporate governance matters.  The firm also has extensive experience representing lenders in connection with the workout of commercial and real estate loans and in representing financial institutions that provide services to non-U.S. customers.   

The Credit Union Section of the Financial Services Industry Practice Group provides legal advice and representation to boards and management of federally insured credit unions throughout the United States.  The Group's practice areas include matters of governance, regulatory compliance, policy review and development and the negotiation or drafting of vendor contracts.  The attorneys in this group offer consultation in connection with strategic planning objectives, adverse examination findings or administrative actions, and provide in-house educational workshops on a wide variety of topics.