Tess Virmani

Deputy General Counsel & EVP - Public Policy, Head of ESG

LSTA

New York, NY

Tess leads the LSTA’s sustainable finance and ESG initiatives which seek to foster the development of sustainable lending as well as to promote greater ESG disclosure in the loan markets. She also engages in the LSTA’s policy initiatives, including advocacy, regulatory engagement and thought leadership.

Prior to the LSTA, Tess practiced as a finance attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She received a B.S. in International Politics from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. She is admitted as an attorney in New York.

Grant Butler

Partner

K&L Gates

Boston, MA

Grant represents financial institutions, fintech companies, and asset managers on a variety of regulatory and transactional matters, with particular emphasis on financial services regulatory matters, financial industry mergers and acquisitions, and other financial services-related corporate transactions.

Sarah Fergusson Chambless

Partner

Fenwick & West LLP

Santa Monica, CA

Sarah advises emerging technology companies and the venture capital and strategic investors who fund and acquire them. Her clients reflect diversity and dynamism of tech generally, and include e-commerce and consumer products, software and big data, AI, gaming, fintech, autonomous vehicles and digital health. Sarah practices primarily in the areas of company formation and capital strategy, corporate compliance, equity and debt finance, mergers and acquisitions and strategic joint ventures. Sarah also has experience in the planning, structuring and formation of VC funds and studios.

Dale M. Gibbons

CFO

Western Alliance Bank

Phoenix, AZ

Mr. Gibbons oversees the Company's Accounting, Investor Relations, Tax, Treasury, Financial Planning & Analysis, and the Company's Blockchain and Digital Assets Banking, Legal Settlement Services, and Business Escrow Services departments.
• Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, Western Alliance Bancorporation, since 2018, prior to which Mr. Gibbons served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company beginning in May 2003.
• Chief Financial Officer, Zions Bancorporation, from August 1996 to June 2001.
• Mr. Gibbons worked for First Interstate Bancorp in a variety of retail banking and financial management positions from 1979 to 1996.

Robert Honeywell

Partner - Restructuring & Insolvency

K&L Gates LLP

New York, NY

Robert Honeywell is a partner at the New York office of K&L Gates LLP and a member of the Restructuring and Insolvency practice group. He has over three decades of experience in bankruptcy litigation and structured finance transactions. His litigation practice centers on New York and Delaware Chapter 11 and 15 bankruptcy cases — with a focus on defending against clawback suits and representing foreign (non-U.S.) creditors in U.S. bankruptcies. His transactions practice includes providing deal structure advice and closing opinions to protect against potential bankruptcy challenges later (for example, for recharacterization, true sale/off-balance-sheet challenges, substantive consolidation, or fraudulent transfer).

Douglas Landy

Partner, Co-head of the Global Financial Institutions Industry Group, Head of the US Financial Services Regulatory Practice

White & Case LLP

New York, NY

Doug is one of the most preeminent US lawyers advising financial institutions on regulatory issues, blockchain and crypto matters, and consumer compliance. He represents global banks on the creation of blockchain and crypto trading platforms, custody, payment systems, stablecoins and related financial products. Doug has also been advising non-bank Fintech companies on potential bank charters and similar charters and licenses. Clients reach out to Doug on critical issues of bank insolvency risks. Recently, he has been deeply involved in the bank insolvencies of Silvergate, Silicon Valley and Signature banks.

Jelena McWilliams

Partner

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Washington, DC

Jelena McWilliams is Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office and Head of the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Practice at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. She is a former Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Ms. McWilliams focuses her practice on advising public and private companies, financial institutions, fintechs, and early stage and venture companies on regulatory and corporate matters, as well as on mergers and acquisitions, IPO and other capital markets transactions.

Edwin E. Smith

Partner

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Boston, MA

Edwin Smith concentrates his practice in commercial law, debt financings, structured financings, workouts, bankruptcies, and international transactions. He is particularly knowledgeable on commercial law and insolvency matters, both domestic and cross-border. His representations have included those in major bankruptcies including Refco, Lehman, the City of Detroit, and PG&E. He often advises financial institutions on documentation and risk management issues.