Mark Chorazak

Mr. Chorazak has extensive experience advising on the full spectrum of banking law matters, including traditional and cutting-edge bank regulatory and legislative issues. His clients range from global and regional financial institutions to fintechs and private equity sponsors.

Mr. Chorazak regularly counsels clients on issues arising under the Dodd-Frank Act, Bank Holding Company Act, Change in Bank Control Act, International Banking Act, Bank Secrecy Act and Bank Service Company Act, among other key U.S. banking laws. He also advises on authority and control questions, fintech and financial innovation issues, chartering and expansionary proposals, corporate governance practices, affiliate transaction restrictions, Volcker Rule issues, anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, and enforcement actions. In addition, Mr. Chorazak counsels on capital and debt offerings and private investments in bank and nonbank financial institutions. He has obtained regulatory approvals on a wide range of transactions, including for some of the largest bank mergers.

Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the country’s leading financial services lawyers, Mr. Chorazak has been praised by clients as “highly perceptive” and “incredibly knowledgeable” on banking law matters. In recognition of his extensive experience beyond the traditional banking sector, he also has been named one of the top fintech lawyers in the U.S. by Business Insider.

Prior to joining Skadden, he served as head of the U.S. bank regulatory practice and co-chair of the fintech initiative at another major international law firm.

Mr. Chorazak’s representations prior to joining Skadden include advising:

• Rabobank in more than two dozen noncontrolling and merchant banking investments in financial technology and agro-technology companies
• Intercontinental Exchange in its acquisitions of Black Knight and Ellie Mae
• SAP in its acquisition of Taulia
• Société Générale in its formation of a joint venture with AllianceBernstein relating to their cash equities and equity research businesses
• Morgan Stanley in its divestiture of Gradifi and a strategic alliance agreement with MUFG relating to FX trading
• Barclays in several noncontrolling investments and restructurings
• Bank of America in various noncontrolling investments
• Citigroup is various noncontrolling investments and advice under the Bank Holding Company Act and Volcker Rule
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. in numerous bank financings and capital raises, as well as strategic regulatory advice relating to the sale of its global physical commodities business to Mercuria Energy Group
• Shinhan Financial, Sumitomo, Mizuho, Aozora Bank, Shanghai Commercial and other Asian banking organizations in connection with governance matters, securities offerings, regulatory filings and other bank regulatory matters
• Castle Creek Capital in more than two dozen investments in community banking organizations, as well as in passivity commitments and director interlock issues
• The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group, Corsair, OakHill and Lightyear Capital in connection with noncontrolling investments in numerous banking institutions
• Blackstone, Lexington and several asset managers in issues involving the Volcker Rule and other strategic regulatory and compliance matters (e.g., control issues under the Bank Holding Company Act, fintech matters, anti-money laundering issues)
• IBERIABANK in its acquisitions of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Co. and Sabadell United Bank
• TD Bank in the acquisitions of Scottrade, Chrysler Financial, The South Financial Group, AmericanFirst Bank, First Federal Bank of North Florida and Riverside National Bank of Florida
• TD Bank and its affiliates in numerous matters relating to compliance with the Bank Holding Company Act, corporate governance and enhanced prudential standards, sweep deposit program issues and other matters
• People’s United Financial in its acquisitions of Suffolk Bancorp, Danvers Bancorp, LSB Corporation, Smithtown Bancorp and various leasing companies, as well as in other strategic planning matters and capital markets offerings
• KeyCorp in its acquisition of First Niagara Financial Group
• Charles Schwab in its acquisition of Nordstrom FSB and in numerous capital raises and bank regulatory matters
• Community Bank System in its acquisitions of Steuben Trust Co. and Kinderhook Bank
• Banco de Crédito e Inversiones in its acquisition of City National Bank of Florida
• Carlyle in its acquisition of TCW from Société Générale
• Opus Bank in its charter formation and related capitalization
• CorpBanca in its merger with Banco Itaú Chile