Loeb & Loeb LLP announced that Ralph P. Dudziak has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in the Finance Department. His extensive financing practice focuses on a wide array of matters for U.S. and international institutions, including banks, leasing companies, investment banks, aircraft companies, insurance companies and other institutional investors. He also has experience representing renewable energy developers, and domestic and foreign borrowers and lessees, and Dudziak will be a member of the firm’s Energy Practice Group. Most recently, Dudziak was a partner in the Chicago office of Foley & Lardner LLP.
“With the addition of Ralph, Loeb & Loeb further expands its depth in the Chicago market as well as in finance, which has long been a core area of focus for the firm,” said Loeb & Loeb Chairman Michael D. Beck. “Ralph’s expertise in the energy space also enhances the firm’s capabilities in this important industry sector. We are very pleased to have him come on board.”
Dudziak offers a broad range of transactional expertise, with a concentration on project finance, equipment finance and equipment leasing. In the energy sector, Dudziak represents lenders, investors, lessors, developers, manufacturers and government entities in the acquisition, divestiture, development and financing of power generation and other infrastructure facilities including solar, wind, biomass, hydro and other renewable energy projects. Additionally, Dudziak has worked extensively in complex equipment-based finance, including aircraft and rolling stock financings, transmission equipment financings, manufacturing equipment financings, and ECA supported financings of equipment, among other transactions.
Dudziak also regularly represents financial institutions, captive finance companies and other institutional investors as tax equity investors in sophisticated tax-advantaged equipment and energy transactions.
“Ralph’s significant knowledge and experience in handling a wide range complex lease and project financing transactions will be a great asset to our team and will serve our clients well,” said Bryan G. Petkanics, chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Finance Department.
Dudziak earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Augustana College. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer in project finance and renewable/alternative energy by The Legal 500 and has been cited by Who’s Who Legal for his aircraft finance practice.
“Loeb & Loeb offers a strong national platform and expertise in a number of core areas that are very important to my client base,” said Dudziak. “I am pleased to bring my practice to the firm and look forward to working with such a sophisticated team.”
The Finance Department at Loeb & Loeb represents a broad spectrum of banks, investment funds and other financial institutions, as well as borrowers in financing transactions of varying sizes and types. The firm is typically involved from the structuring of proposals through the negotiation, documentation and administration of credit facilities and the issuance of debt securities. Loeb & Loeb has additional experience in aircraft and equipment leasing, asset-based warehouse and repurchase transactions, factoring and other off-balance-sheet financings as well as structured and closed financings.