LOS ANGELES – Feb. 6, 2023 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP expanded its Corporate and Financial Regulatory & Compliance practices with the addition of Hilary R. Sledge-Sarnor as a shareholder in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She joins from MUFG Bank, Ltd. and its former wholly-owned subsidiary, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., where she served as executive counsel to the general counsel.
Sledge-Sarnor advises U.S. and foreign financial institutions and their holding companies on a wide range of financial regulatory, transactional, corporate governance, and compliance matters. When Japan-based MUFG Bank divested from its North American retail assets, Sledge-Sarnor was instrumental in the negotiation of the definitive agreement and related documentation for the deal, overhauling the governance framework and overseeing regulatory aspects of the $8 billion sale of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. to another large bank in the U.S.
“With nearly a decade of in-house experience at a global bank, Hilary brings a keen understanding of the transactional, regulatory, and strategic considerations that financial institutions and borrowers face,” said Mark Kelson, co-chair of the global Corporate Practice. “We’ve recently added Mark Shaffer in New York and Tim Dolan in London to our Financial Regulatory & Compliance team, and we continue to see growing demand for our sophisticated financial, regulatory, and transactional services.”
“Hilary’s ability to manage sophisticated transactions will be an asset to our corporate and financial institution clients. Her stewardship of complex matters at one of the world’s systemically important financial institutions demonstrates Hilary’s understanding of cultural nuances and skills as a trusted business leader who not only provides legal advice but also proactively works with clients to develop business-oriented solutions. She will be a great addition to our team in Southern California and to the firm,” said Gregory A. Fishman and Barbara A. Jones, co-managing shareholders of the Los Angeles office.
Sledge-Sarnor has structured hundreds of syndicated domestic and cross-border financings and negotiated credit facilities worth billions of dollars. Her practice covers a diverse range of industries, including Blockchain & Digital Assets, technology, fund finance, retail, and entertainment. Sledge-Sarnor was the lead in-house lawyer on MUFG Bank’s debtor-in-possession financing for The Weinstein Company’s historic $520 million bankruptcy, including the creation and execution of a novel exit strategy for the syndicate banks and its first-ever offensive debtor-in-possession financing.
“Greenberg Traurig’s entrepreneurial ethos is very attractive to me; I’m excited for the opportunity to build a multidisciplinary practice while tapping into the vast resources of the firm’s platform,” Sledge-Sarnor said. “Greenberg Traurig is well-positioned globally in the finance sector, and with my background in both commercial finance transactions and regulatory compliance, I’m looking forward to contributing to the already strong bench of financial services resources at the firm.”
Sledge-Sarnor started her legal career as a clerk for The Honorable Denise Page Hood of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a position she credits with contributing greatly to her capabilities as a transactional lawyer. Sledge-Sarnor was also a public policy fellow at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy working directly with Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and a congressional intern in the office of Senator Hillary R. Clinton. She frequently speaks at conferences on various topics such as commercial finance, blockchain and digital assets, and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. While at MUFG Bank, Sledge-Sarnor chaired the legal department’s Inclusion and Diversity Council and was awarded the bank’s Culture of Excellence Award.
Sledge-Sarnor received her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from Barnard College.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Practice comprises more than 550 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The group’s industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.
About Greenberg Traurig's Financial Regulatory and Compliance Group: Greenberg Traurig’s Financial Regulatory and Compliance Group has wide-ranging experience assisting national, regional and local clients in a variety of matters affecting the financial services industry. The national team of skilled attorneys works with clients as they face regulatory, litigation, legislative, supervision, examination, licensing, compliance and governance matters. Greenberg Traurig's regulatory attorneys regularly advise banks, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mortgage lenders and servicers, payday lenders, consumer finance companies, registered and private investment funds, debt collectors and other financial institutions in complying with state and federal regulatory requirements and interfacing with governmental agencies.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 44 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.