Lanza Joins Clark Hill’s D.C. Office As Senior Counsel

lanza.jpg

WASHINGTON – Ernesto Lanza joined the D.C. office of Clark Hill in August as senior counsel, moving from the law firm of Greenberg Traurig where he was a shareholder.

Lanza, who joined Clark Hill's banking and finance practice, focuses specifically on public finance matters related to securities law, disclosure, trading, and market structure issues.

He previously worked as the deputy executive director for the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board where he led a number of policy initiatives as well as the launch of the MSRB's EMMA system, the central disclosure and transparency system for the muni market.

Lanza has worked with a variety of market participants in his practice and has transactional experience working as bond counsel to state and local governments as well as underwriter's counsel on numerous capital financings for a wide variety of public infrastructure, health care, single and multifamily, and other private activity bond projects totaling more than $10 billion, according to a Clark Hill announcement.

Lanza said Clark Hill's expanding Washington office and its ongoing attempts to continue growing attracted him to the firm as well as the D.C. office's focus on federal regulatory work including "the full breadth of regulatory and compliance issues in the financial markets."

"Clark Hill has a strong public finance practice … [and] they have an extremely strong banking and finance group," Lanza said. "That all fit together really well … It seemed like a nice fit and it has worked out really nicely so far."

Charlie Spies, member-in-charge of the D.C. office, said the firm is "excited to bring Ernie's experience and skills to Clark Hill."

"His knowledge of public finance from a rulemaking and transactional perspective will be a tremendous asset to our growing office and firm," Spies added.

Jeff Conn, national leader of Clark Hill's banking and finance group, said Lanza is a key addition to the firm's public finance practice as it continues to expand its breadth and depth of expertise in banking and public finance throughout the securities markets.

Lanza earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his undergraduate degree cum laude from Harvard University.

Clark Hill describes itself as an "entrepreneurial, full service law firm" providing business legal services, government and public affairs, and personal legal services to clients throughout the country. The firm has more than 350 attorneys and professionals in offices in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, D.C., and West Virginia.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Law and regulation
MORE FROM BOND BUYER