Former TIAA Bank In-house Counsel, Dave Barrett, Joins Balch & Bingham

Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce the addition of former American Challenger Development Corporation and TIAA Bank in-house counsel Dave Barrett to the firm’s Banking & Financial Services Practice.

Dave joins the firm’s Jacksonville, Fla. office as a partner and brings more than 18 years of experience in navigating complex acquisitions and commercial transactions in the financial services sector. Prior to joining Balch, Dave served as the chief legal officer and corporate secretary at American Challenger Development Corp.

“Dave is an excellent complement to the firm’s recent growth in Jacksonville. His significant in-house financial services industry experience is an outstanding addition to the firm and will be of great value to our clients,” said Stan Blanton, managing partner. “I am pleased to welcome him to Balch.”                                 

His practice at Balch focuses on all aspects of banking, corporate governance, commercial lending, mergers & acquisitions and regulatory compliance. As part of his corporate practice, he advises owners, directors and executives throughout all phases of corporate acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and restructures. With an extensive background in commercial lending and capital markets transactions, Dave has experience negotiating complex legal transactional documents regarding whole loan purchases, warehouse finance repurchase agreements and mortgage servicing rights facilities, commercial real estate loans, unsecured lending, lender finance loans and other structured finance transactions.

During his tenure at American Challenger Development Corp., as chief legal officer, he navigated the holding company and bank in formation through federal bank charter application processes and led a reverse merger with a publicly traded bank holding company which included an $890 million capital raise as well as multiple material transactions with simultaneous closings.  

Prior to joining American Challenger Development Corp., Dave served as divisional general counsel of capital markets and commercial lending at TIAA Bank. Dave led the legal department’s mergers & acquisitions team during a time which the bank’s balance sheet achieved significant growth. Dave helped lead the legal department on multiple acquisitions and divestitures and complex commercial transactions. Additionally, he regularly advised business, compliance and risk departments on regulatory changes and business risks.

Prior to joining TIAA Bank, Dave served as the associate general counsel of EverBank where he helped with the bank’s initial public offering and SEC filings and led the legal department and advised the bank regarding commercial transactions, treasury management, capital markets transactions, material litigation and general corporate matters.

“Balch’s commitment to continued growth in Jacksonville and its well-established banking and financial services practice make the firm an excellent platform for my practice. I look forward to working alongside the talented attorneys across our footprint to support our clients and add additional value to their businesses,” said Dave Barrett, partner.  

Dave received his J.D. and M.B.A. from Stetson University and is admitted to practice in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia and Illinois.

Dave’s addition to Balch’s Jacksonville office follows the recent additions of Real Estate Attorney Zach Brown, Litigator Kimano Edwards and Andre Mahone, Jr., trial attorney and former judge advocate general for the U.S. Air Force, who joined the firm in July and expanded the depth of the Jacksonville office. Balch’s Jacksonville office includes attorneys who are recognized for their deep knowledge and experience managing sophisticated and complex litigation, corporate, financial services and real estate matters. They represent individuals, small businesses, financial institutions, national and multinational corporations throughout the U.S.