Our structured finance and securitization practice covers the full range of asset classes and methodologies and is widely praised for its innovative work. Many other major structured finance firms have concentrated on repetitive, “commoditized” large-scale securitization programs. Our firm, while proficient in all major categories of the mainstream public securitization markets (such as auto, credit card and mortgage loan receivables), has made a deliberate decision to concentrate on novel, complex or esoteric transactions requiring the tailored application of our specialized legal, tax, and regulatory knowledge to address the financing needs of our clients.
We are distinguished from most other well-known securitization practices by the breadth of our experience with non-standard asset types and transactions, including covered bonds, asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) transactions of various kinds, variable funding notes, insurance and reinsurance finance and securitization, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), structured debt funds, sale and leaseback securitization transactions, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and other pooled investment vehicles, various types of synthetic and derivatives-based financing transactions, and “whole-business” and other types of esoteric securitization. We are particularly well known for our expertise in securitization and financing techniques in the technology, health care/ life sciences, and industrial and transportation sectors – including technology receivables transactions, computer software license securitization, and other intellectual property (IP) securitization, aircraft finance transactions, vendor finance transactions, vendor lease financing, container lease securitization, timber securitizations and health care and life sciences receivables securitization.
We regularly represent leading financial institutions and fund managers, with a particular strength in advising trans-Atlantic and international investment banks and funds on cross-border or local U.S., European or Asian market transactions. In addition to securitization, our practice covers all aspects of businesses that originate, finance and invest in financial assets, including regulatory compliance, warehouse finance, repurchase agreements, servicing agreements, servicing sales, pipeline and portfolio hedging, and portfolio sales. We also have developed specialized, widely recognized expertise in synthetic asset securitization transactions, synthetic hedge fund transactions, principal protection products, CPPI products, repackaging programs, and credit-linked note programs. We have extensive experience in the use of derivatives in connection with these transactions, including credit default swaps, total return swaps, interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and options.
Knowledgeable market observers consistently recognize our structured finance and securitization practice for its expertise and creativity. As Practical Law Company recently observed:
“[Morrison & Foerster’s] strength…combined with a cutting edge, sophisticated finance…practice, define it as a contemporary and innovative market leader.”
- PLC Which lawyer? Global 50
Our structured finance and securitization group was named the Securitisation and Structured Finance Team of the Year in the IFLR Americas Awards 2011. Our structured finance and securitization practice and our lawyers are also recognized in the Chambers and Legal 500 US and UK guides, IFLR1000 PLC Which lawyer? and US News & World Report 2011.
See also IFLR Americas Securitisation Team of the Year.
See Recent Attorney Publications for articles.