Otterbourg announced  that James Cretella has been named Chairman of the Firm’s Finance Department.

A career member of Otterbourg’s Finance Department, Cretella represents institutional lenders, factoring companies and specialty lenders, as well as borrowers, in a variety of asset based lending, specialty finance and other corporate transactions. In 2021, he was named Chair of the Alternative and Specialty Finance practice group.

“Jim’s exceptional insights and practical advice on complex financial transactions has made him a go-to lawyer, trusted by an expanding range of investor clients,” said Chairman of Otterbourg’s Board of Directors, Richard Stehl. “Jim’s elevation to this key leadership position is part of Otterbourg’s long-term succession planning to prepare the next generation of Otterbourg’s dynamic attorneys for the continued successful management of the firm.”

Cretella began his legal career at Otterbourg in 2004 and risen steadily through the ranks, advising on transactions involving industries as varied as staffing, technology, transportation, oil and gas, lender finance and government contracting. He additionally acts as “outside in-house counsel” to several specialty lenders.

Cretella is a co-author of the popular “What Would You Do” column appearing in The Secured Lender. He received his J.D., from Brooklyn Law School in 2004 and a B.S. from Villanova University in 2001.