Overview

Zoe’s practice focuses on advising financial institutions with respect to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities offerings. Clients appreciate that Zoe is responsive, efficient, and dedicated to client service.

Zoe focuses her practice on representing financial institutions in mergers and acquisitions, capital-raising transactions, lending, corporate governance, regulatory matters, and general corporate matters.

Prior to joining BFKN, Zoe was an associate in the Chicago office of a large national law firm, dealing primarily with mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, and private equity transactions.

Credentials

Admissions

  • State of Illinois

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2020
  • Tufts University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2015

Languages

  • French

Experience

M&A Transactions

  • Represented Alerus Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: ALRS) in its $128.8 million acquisition of HMN Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: HMNF).
  • Represented Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB) in the signing of a definitive merger agreement for its acquisition of First Minnetonka City Bank.
  • Represented First Security Bancorp, Inc. in the signing of a definitive merger agreement for its acquisition by Byline Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BY).
  • Represented MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG) in its $32.6 million acquisition of Denver Bankshares, Inc. 
  • Represented Bank of Pontiac and CBI Bank & Trust in their acquisition of the branches of Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois.
  • Represented First Miami Bancorp, Inc. in its acquisition by United Community Banks, Inc. (Nasdaq: UCBI).
  • Represented Inland Bancorp, Inc. in its acquisition by Byline Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BY).
  • Represented Town and Country Financial Corporation in its sale to HBT Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBTF).
  • Represented Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: LARK) in its acquisition of Freedom Bancshares, Inc. at approx. $33.3 million.

Capital Raising Transactions

  • Represented MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG) in its $125 million common stock offering.
  • Represented QCR Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCRH) in its offering of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes.
  • Represents many financial institutions with respect to public offerings and private placements of common stock, subordinated debentures, and convertible subordinated debentures.

Securities Regulation & Compliance for Publicly-Traded Bank Holding Companies

  • Represents multiple publicly-traded bank holding companies in structuring transactions, conducting due diligence, drafting disclosure documents, coordinating the filing of documents with the SEC, preparing applications to national exchanges, and provides counseling to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

Newsroom

News

Recognitions

  • One to Watch, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2024-2025)
    • Mergers & Acquisitions Law
  • Student Attorney, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Entrepreneurship Clinic
  • Student Attorney, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Immigrant Youth and Families Clinic
  • Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) (2024-2025)

Organizations

  • Volunteer, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago
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