Dudziak Brings Extensive Experience in Complex Equipment Financing Transactions.
Foley announced today that Ralph P. Dudziak has joined the firm as a partner in the Chicago office, working with the Finance & Financial Institutions Practice Group and the Energy Industry Team. Prior to joining Foley, Dudziak was a partner at DLA Piper.
Dudziak’s extensive financial practice serves several U.S. and international institutions, including banks, leasing companies, investment banks, aircraft companies, insurance companies, renewable energy developers, and domestic and foreign borrowers and lessees.
“Ralph’s addition enhances the firm’s ability to offer comprehensive, end-to-end services to effectively handle a broad range of complex transactions,” said Charles V. Hedrick, chair of Foley’s Finance & Financial Institutions Practice. “His comprehensive knowledge and experience in handling some of the most challenging lease financing transactions will make him an asset to our team and the clients we serve.”
“As project development and financing continue to be areas of emphasis for the renewable energy sector, Ralph’s knowledge of the legal and tax considerations will be instrumental as clients become increasingly involved in these types of transactions,” said Mark Prager, managing partner of Foley’s Chicago office. “We are excited to have him join our Chicago office.”
Dudziak brings broad experience in a wide array of transactional work, with a focus on lease financing. He advises clients on domestic and cross-border lease and leasehold financings, single investor lease financings, leveraged leases, synthetic leases, and operating leases. In addition, Dudziak has worked extensively in complex equipment-based finance, including aircraft and rolling stock financings, power generation and transmission equipment financings, and manufacturing equipment financings, among others. He has been cited by Who’s Who Legal for his aircraft finance practice.
Dudziak also regularly facilitates other significant areas of secured and structured financings, including securitizations, leveraged financings, debtor-in-possession financings, whole loan sales, double-dip financings, lease portfolio transfers, workouts, ETC and EETC financings, 144A financings, secured and unsecured private placements, and project finance transactions. He has extensive experience with a wide range of additional financing alternatives, including secondary market asset and tax equity trades, and back-leveraging transactions.
Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. Our team-based approach, proprietary client service technology, and practice depth enhance client relationships while seeing clients through their most complex legal challenges. In a recent survey of Fortune 1000 corporate counsel, conducted by The BTI Consulting Group (Wellesley, Massachusetts), Foley ranked first for superior client service and value. We also were named to the InformationWeek 500 list for four consecutive years for our client-focused technology. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, Foley strives to provide high-caliber business and legal insight.