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About Chris DeCresce

Chris’ practice focuses on securities and capital markets, M&A, securities law reporting and compliance. He has significant experience representing issuers in connection with public and private capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, with a focus on clients in the financial services and fintech industries.

Chris’ prior experience includes serving as vice chair of the capital markets group of a major international law firm, and as managing director in the Investment Banking Group of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., (now Piper Sandler & Co.) a leading middle market, financial services-focused investment banking firm. Over a three-year period, Chris successfully executed transactions that raised more than $2 billion for financial institutions across the United States and consummated mergers and acquisitions transactions for financial institutions with an aggregate deal value of $15 billion.

An industry thought leader, Chris is frequently interviewed by Law360, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, and is the author of Thomson Reuters’ “Overview FinTech Regulation in the United States.”

Prior to private practice, Chris served as a police officer/sergeant with the New York City Police Department for nearly a decade. He serves on the Board of Trustees at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, and on the Board of Directors of Heart 9/11.

Recent work

  • CWT US on its $570 million sale to Global Business Travel Group.
  • Underwriters on SharkNinja’s $329 million secondary public offering; previously advised the financial advisors on the spinoff of SharkNinja from JS Global Lifestyle Company.
  • Banc of California on its acquisition of Deepstack Technologies.
  • AditEdTech Acquisition Corp. on its $3.3 billion de-SPAC with cyptocurrency mining company Griid Infrastructure.
  • Five Star Bancorp on its IPO.
  • Cap Star Bancshares on its IPO.
  • Live Oak Bancshares on its IPO.
  • CFBanc Corporation on its merger of equals with Broadway Financial, creating the largest Black-led minority depository institution in the United States.
  • Veritex Holdings, the parent holding company for Veritex Community Bank, on its $1.0 billion acquisition of Green Bancorp, the parent holding company for Green Bank.

Qualifications

Education

  • J.D., magna cum laude, New York Law School, 2001
  • B.A., cum laude, City College of the City University of New York, 1997

Bar Admission

  • State of New York