The creativity of clients amazes me. Perhaps selfishly, I love it when they bring new ideas, new questions, and new challenges. The role of regulatory and deal lawyer is equal parts historian and problem solver, storyteller and negotiator. When things are complicated or changing, telling the client's story in a way that makes sense – to regulators and counterparties, and for the client's business – requires me to learn the client's business thoroughly so that I can provide the current and historical context in which it operates. While this takes flexibility and care, it also allows me to satisfy my own sense of curiosity – about business models, market participants, transaction structures, etc. – while working closely with the client to deliver efficient, effective results.

Christopher P. (“Chris”) Couch advises banks and other financial institutions on regulatory and operational matters as well as on compliance with banking and lending laws, rules, and regulations. He counsels national, regional, and community banks with respect to deposit operations, payment systems, treasury management products, consumer regulatory regimes, and new services offerings, including electronic and mobile banking.

Chris also represents financial institutions, finance companies, and private investors in commercial loan transactions, direct and indirect lending programs, loan purchases and sales, and mergers and acquisitions. He also advises such entities in structuring and negotiating vendor and technology contracts, including issues of data privacy and cybersecurity.

Chris advises privately held businesses and start-ups in all aspects of entity formation, corporate finance, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. He counsels technology, consumer products, restaurant, real estate, and manufacturing clients in structuring their businesses to attract private capital and to maximize exit potential and advises fund sponsors and institutional investors in fund formation and deployment.

Chris previously served as general counsel for an alternative energy company that developed private equity-backed industrial projects. In that role, he represented the company in connection with corporate and commercial finance matters, securities issuances, and investor-relations; directed legal matters; and led corporate and business strategy initiatives.