Dennis concentrates his practice on representing financial institutions on a wide range of corporate and regulatory matters and has over 25 years of experience in the area.
Dennis regularly advises clients on the mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions, the raising of additional capital through public and private offerings of equity and debt instruments, and other strategic activities and initiatives. He has a wide array of experience in structuring corporate and financial transactions. Dennis also provides counsel to boards of directors on issues of corporate governance and regulatory compliance and enforcement matters.
Earlier in his career, he represented federal bank regulatory agencies in the receivership of over 75 savings and loan associations. This has provided him with valuable practical experience in his current representation of troubled banks and also healthy organizations bidding for failed institutions. During the past 10 years, Dennis has also represented the organizers of over 100 de novo banks across the country, including those forming banks in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Indiana and New York.
Dennis is a frequent speaker at schools and seminars for bankers on issues of financial institutions law. He was an adjunct professor of banking law at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Representative Experience
Since 2000, S&P Global Market Intelligence rankings has listed our firm as one of the top firms in the nation in number of announced bank and thrift merger and acquisition transactions. Our firm ranks #1 in the Midwest and #3 in the U.S. respectively. In total, we have represented buyers and sellers of financial institutions in more than 300 mergers and acquisitions.
Represented USAmeriBancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink: USAB), in connection with its merger with Valley National Bancorp (NYSE: VLY).
Represented Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSBI) in connection with its acquisition of Alpine Bancorporation, Inc.
Representation of Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSBI) in connection with its acquisition of Centrue Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CFCB).
Representation of Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSBI) in its $80.1M initial public offering of common stock.
Represented numerous financial institutions in private offerings of debt securities to enhance current capital positions. Successfully structured acquisitions of troubled banks through use of preferred and convertible instruments, including buyer price protections.
Counsel to over 100 state and national de novo banks and bank holding companies across the country. The breadth of our practice has yielded a unique ability among our lawyers to gain familiarity with the laws and bank regulatory agencies of multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. Established first Illinois state bank organized as a limited liability company.
Representation of Anchor Bancorp, Inc. in connection with its sale to Old National Bancorp (Nasdaq: ONB).
Represented CNB Bank Shares, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: JXSB).
Represented Dieterich Bank of Effingham, Illinois, in connection with its acquisition of five Illinois branches of First Bank, St. Louis, Missouri.
Represented First American Bank in connection with its acquisition of Miami-based Continental National Bank, the first Cuban-American owned bank in the U.S.
Represented Gateway Banc Corp. in connection with its definitive merger agreement with McLaughlin Holding Company.
Represented Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSBI) in connection with its definitive agreement to acquire 100% of HomeStar common stock, and its wholly owned subsidiary HomeStar Bank and Financial Services, in exchange for 405,000 shares of Midland common stock and a commitment to provide approximately $23.5 million in debt financing to enable HomeStar to retire outstanding trust preferred securities.
Served as counsel to PGB Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Global Bank ("PGB"), in their acquisition by RBB Bancorp (Nasdaq: RBB) and its subsidiary, Royal Business Bank.
Acted as legal counsel to STC Bancshares Corp. in connection with its pending acquisition by Wintrust Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WTFC).
Activities & Honors
- Selected, Banking and Finance Law, The Best Lawyers in America® (2017-2021)
- Selected, Leading Lawyers Network (2011-2020)
- Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2005)
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Banking Law (2001-2013)
- Phi Delta Phi Honorary Society
- Order of the Coif
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Other Events & Speaking Engagements
- Annual Conventions of Community Bankers Association of Illinois, since 1995
- Iowa Independent Bankers’ Association Annual Convention
- Illinois Bankers' Association School for Bank Compliance
- Panelist, Midwest Regional Bank Seminar, “Implementing Merger of Equals Transactions”
- McGladrey & Pullen National Training Institute
- De Novo Bank Seminar, Community Bankers Association of Illinois
- Fidelity Information Services Envision Forum, Charleston, S.C.
- CMC National Symposium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Articles & Publications
News
Services
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1982
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. (Agriculture), with highest distinction, 1978
Bar & Court Admissions
- State of Illinois
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