About Howard Schickler

As co-head of Katten's highly ranked structured finance and securitization practice, Howard Schickler offers clients insights formed from more than 30 years of experience representing private equity funds, special situation funds, specialty finance companies and the full range of players in structured finance transactions. Howie takes care to understand his clients' businesses, having worked with some all the way from the launch of their businesses through their growth cycle, including mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and restructurings and liquidations. Understanding the full life cycle of client enterprises is part of the wide perspective that he maintains in his work.

Tracking an evolving industry

Practices evolve quickly in the highly competitive and heavily regulated world of structured finance and securitization. Howie helps clients stay on top of new regulations and investor requirements, as well as the latest strategies for structuring deals. His familiarity with industry standards allows him to alert clients to deal terms they should be considering and also avoiding. Private equity funds, special situation funds and specialty finance companies frequently turn to him for advice on complex lending and portfolio acquisition transactions, knowing that he avoids unnecessary conflict in difficult negotiations.

In the specialty finance arena, Howie has worked with mortgage originators, auto loan originators, equipment lease originators, fintech companies and firms that finance litigation and medical receivables. At times, these transactions span multiple jurisdictions, which demands compliance with varying regulatory and security interest rules. Howie has also advised clients on strategies to deal with borrowers in distress. In one matter, he assisted a private equity fund that had made a large loan to a specialty finance company in financial trouble. Working with Katten's restructuring and insolvency team, he helped devise a plan that allowed the borrower to restructure under a consensual plan and avoid protracted court proceedings.

⇣   Expand to read more

Practice Focus

  • Structured finance
  • Securitizations
  • Private equity
  • Specialty finance companies
  • Fintech

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • New York University School of Law, JD
  • The George Washington University, BA, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • New York
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Securitization and Structured Finance Law, 2024
  • Chambers Global
    Capital Markets: Securitisation, USA, 2021
    Capital Markets: Securitisation: ABS, USA, 2022–2025
  • Chambers USA
    Capital Markets: Securitisation, 2020
    Capital Markets: Securitisation ABS, 2021–2024
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2014–2024
Award Methodologies