Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP, has one of the region’s most widely respected banking practices, serving community banks, regional banks, and other financial institutions. We have substantial experience on practically every type of legal matter facing financial institutions.

In addition to serving community financial institutions, our attorneys also have substantial experience handling transactional services and other discreet matters for large regional, national and international financial institutions.

Our Services

Regulatory Compliance – We will help you navigate the maze of laws and regulations ranging from BSA/AML compliance to Regulation CC Check 21 rules – and everything in between. We can prepare all regulatory disclosures you must give to your customers. Additionally, we can help you prepare for periodic regulatory examinations, and, if a violation is alleged, we can formulate a response and suggest corrective action when appropriate.

Corporate Transactions – We can help you close a deal while protecting your interests. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling all types of major transactions, such as mergers and other business combinations, branch purchases and sales, acquisitions of operating subsidiaries, interstate branching, and other structural transactions.

Stock Offerings and Other Securities Matters – We have substantial experience in preparing prospectuses and other offering documents to raise capital in public and private stock offerings. We also assist in ongoing securities compliance such as preparing SEC filings and producing proxy materials and annual reports to send to stockholders.

Retail Banking – We will help your retail banking operations run smoothly. Our services include, among others: preparing contracts, agreements, and disclosures; assistance in the design and implementation of retail banking products; and managing compliance with court processes relating to customer accounts.

Lending – We will help you prepare and negotiate loan documents and conduct necessary due diligence. We specialize in commercial mortgage loan closings for our bank clients, melding our banking and real estate expertise to make sure both regulatory and underwriting requirements will be met. Your loans will be properly documented and you will have the collateral protection you are looking for.

Other Services – We provide a full suite of legal services for banks and financial institutions, including legal services to help you with:

• Consumer compliance
• Loan program development and design
• Electronic banking
• Loan workouts and collection litigation
• Other litigation
• Obtaining new bank charters
• Real estate work related to both bank premises and ORE
• General corporate and contract work
• Corporate governance and SOX compliance
• Employment and benefits programs
• Employment-related litigation

Broad Expertise

Our banking practice is led by Jay L. Hack, an attorney known for his substantial experience in a wide spectrum of legal matters, both regulatory and operational. Mr. Hack’s broad expertise allows him to understand how seemingly disconnected matters — ranging from real estate lending to employment discrimination complaints — may relate to one another. As a result, our banking team can advise you on a strategic level, helping you avoid legal pitfalls and assist you in improving your bottom line.