Orrick announced that Mike Mitchell, Preetha Gist and Mitch Naumoff, a leading team in the structured finance market, have joined the firm as partners in Washington, D.C. They join Orrick from Chapman and Cutler.
 
The team acts for many of the leading card programs and adds recognized experts in securities law, bankruptcy and bank regulation.

“Adding this team to the existing Orrick platform enhances one of the dominant practices in the ABS market with attorneys that provide innovative legal representation on behalf of market leading clients and use their exceptional expertise to counsel clients through the most challenging regulatory issues,” said Alan Knoll, leader of Orrick’s Structure Finance Group. “We’re especially excited by this addition to our practice which will support our clients in many areas, including the growing fintech securitization space.”

Mike served for nearly a decade with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has acted as outside counsel to the Structured Finance Association in its advocacy to the SEC. He is one of the most seasoned attorneys practicing in the consumer ABS industry – with more than 24 years of experience. Preetha is a respected bankruptcy and bank regulatory advisor who brings in-house experience with leading financial institutions and advises on industry initiatives. She brings particular expertise in distressed situations. Mitch is a rising star who adds depth in fintech, credit cards and CLOs. This marks a return to Orrick for Mike, who practiced with the firm from 1997 to 2012, and Preetha, who practiced with the firm from 2001 to 2006.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with our friends and colleagues at Orrick,” said Mike. “The firm is deeply committed to the structured finance market and has a long record of advising on innovative transactions and supporting new markets like fintech.”

Mike Mitchell
A preeminent securities law authority in the structured finance market, Mike advises financial institutions in capital markets and debt financing transactions and on federal securities laws, Dodd-Frank and other regulations in the structured finance market. He also counsels issuers and underwriters in consumer asset-backed securitization transactions, including transactions supported by credit card receivables, consumer loans, motor vehicle loans and leases, dealer floorplan receivables, and student loans. For more than two decades, Mike has led industry advocacy initiatives responding to regulatory reforms impacting the structured finance market.

Preetha Gist
Preetha brings deep structured finance, bankruptcy and bank regulatory expertise, including Reg W, true lender, and Avant litigation settlement experience. She is also recognized and highly regarded in the industry as a true sale/non-consolidation expert and advises on regulatory financial accounting issues. Prior to joining Chapman, Preetha served as general counsel for the capital markets unit of US Bank, among other in-house roles with major financial institutions.

Mitch Naumoff
Mitch advises clients in the structuring and assessment of a variety of structured finance products and asset-backed securities. He is regularly involved in transactions as counsel to issuers and underwriters of securities backed by credit card and other consumer receivables issued from master trust structures, and he works regularly on both publicly registered and private placement transactions. In addition, Mitch brings substantial experience structuring and evaluating collateralized loan obligation and collateralized debt obligation transactions. He also advises on the application of risk-retention requirements, the Volcker Rule, and other regulatory considerations arising under the Dodd-Frank Act.