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Lawyers

David L. Portilla

Lawyers

David L. Portilla

Partner
Financial Institutions
New York

Advises on financial services M&A, regulation, policy, enforcement and governance matters. Was a senior policy advisor to FSOC at its launch.

David advises bank and nonbank financial institutions on a range of M&A, regulation, policy, enforcement and governance matters – including the full gamut of the prudential regulatory framework. He has a notable reputation in enhanced prudential standards for large banks, the Volcker Rule, the prudential regulation of nonbank firms, and innovation-related and cryptoasset issues. He is well known for thought leadership and spearheading advocacy efforts for clients.

David served as a senior policy advisor to the Treasury Department’s Financial Stability Oversight Council at its launch following the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. He helped develop the FSOC’s initial substantive agenda, procedures and governance, and worked on Dodd-Frank implementation and other financial regulatory issues.

His work has been recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Law360, which named David a 2022 Fintech MVP. He chairs the ABA Banking Law Committee’s International Banking subcommittee.

Experience

  • Atlantic Union Bankshares $1.6 billion acquisition of Sandy Spring Bancorp
  • Mizuho Financial Group on its: 
    • strategic partnership with Golub Capital 
    • $550 million acquisition of Greenhill
  • Banc of California merger with PacWest and $400 million equity raise

David’s representations before joining Davis Polk include the following:

  • Texas Capital Bank on its $3.4 billion sale of BankDirect Capital Finance to Truist
  • Cowen on its $1.9 billion acquisition by TD Bank Group
  • SMBC Aviation Capital on its $6.7 billion acquisition of Goshawk Aviation
  • GreenSky on its $2.24 billion acquisition by Goldman Sachs
  • ECN Capital on its $2 billion sale of its Service Finance Business to Truist Bank
  • Afterpay on its $29 billion acquisition by Square
View more experience

Insights

Recognition

Burton Awards for Legal Achievement – “Distinguished Legal Writing Award,” 2024

Chambers USA – Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance)

Legal 500 U.S. – Financial Services Regulation

IFLR1000 – Banking, Financial Services Regulatory, United States, Rising Star Partner

National Law Journal – “Cryptocurrency/Blockchain/Fintech Trailblazer,” 2022

Law360 – “Fintech MVP of the Year,” 2022

Global Banking Regulation Review – “45 Under 45,” 2020

Education

J.D., Rutgers Law School
  • with highest honors
  • Order of the Coif
B.A., Rutgers University
  • with honors

Prior experience

  • Partner, Cravath, 2021-2023
  • Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton, 2016-2021
  • Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton, 2013-2016
  • Senior Policy Advisor, Financial Stability Oversight Council, U.S. Treasury Department, 2011-2013

Qualifications and admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • State of New York
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