-

Otterbourg Promotes James Cretella to Chairman of the Finance Department

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otterbourg P.C. announced today that James Cretella has been named Chairman of the Firm’s Finance Department.

A career member of Otterbourg’s Finance Department, Mr. Cretella represents institutional lenders, factoring companies and specialty lenders, as well as borrowers, in a variety of asset based lending, specialty finance and other corporate transactions. In 2021, he was named Chair of the Alternative and Specialty Finance practice group.

“Jim’s exceptional insights and practical advice on complex financial transactions has made him a go-to lawyer, trusted by an expanding range of investor clients,” said Chairman of Otterbourg’s Board of Directors, Richard Stehl. “Jim’s elevation to this key leadership position is part of Otterbourg’s long-term succession planning to prepare the next generation of Otterbourg’s dynamic attorneys for the continued successful management of the firm.”

Mr. Cretella began his legal career at Otterbourg in 2004 and risen steadily through the ranks, advising on transactions involving industries as varied as staffing, technology, transportation, oil and gas, lender finance and government contracting. He additionally acts as “outside in-house counsel” to several specialty lenders.

Mr. Cretella is a co-author of the popular “What Would You Do” column appearing in The Secured Lender. He received his J.D., from Brooklyn Law School in 2004 and a B.S. from Villanova University in 2001.

Otterbourg’s finance practice’s clients include major international banks, regional banks, asset-based lenders, finance companies, insurance companies, business development companies, factors, hedge funds, private equity and specialty lenders. The firm is actively engaged in a range of lending transactions, both in size and nature. The firm’s expertise includes secured and unsecured financings, whether first lien or second lien, senior or subordinated, single lender, unitranche or widely syndicated. It also is active in trade finance, receivables purchases and structured finance. The firm has also developed expertise in structuring and documenting secured cross-border credit facilities.

About Otterbourg P.C.

Otterbourg P.C. offers clients a unique combination of legal insight and practical solutions and is known for its integrity, legal expertise, stability and business knowledge. The firm, established in 1909, regularly represents clients in matters of national and international scope, including banks, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, real estate investment firms, corporate clients and high net-worth individuals. The firm’s practice areas include domestic and cross-border financings, litigation and alternative dispute resolutions, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and trusts and estates.

Contacts

Connor Brogan, Rubenstein, 856.417.1875 cbrogan@rubenstein.com

Otterbourg P.C.


Release Versions

Contacts

Connor Brogan, Rubenstein, 856.417.1875 cbrogan@rubenstein.com

More News From Otterbourg P.C.

Legend Venture Partners Receiver Announces Notice of Bar Date to Submit Claims

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 26, 2025, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a set of claims resolution procedures proposed by Melanie Cyganowski, the Court-appointed Receiver in the case captioned Securities and Exchange Commission v. Legend Venture Partners LLC No. 1:23-cv-05326-LAK (S.D.N.Y). Ms. Cyganowski was appointed as Receiver at the request of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the SEC’s filing of...

Otterbourg Appoints Six as Equity Members, Most in Firm’s History; Three Promoted to Counsel

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otterbourg P.C. is pleased to announce the election of six new equity members, the most the firm has ever promoted in one year. The new Shareholders are David Castleman, Pauline McTernan, Nicholas Palazzolo, Michael Regina, Michael Rich and Lena Surilov. In addition, Otterbourg has named Gabriela Leon, Michael Maizel and Michael Pantzer to counsel. The large class is a testament to the firm’s success across multiple industries in New York. “We applaud these nine outst...

Otterbourg Launches Mass Tort Bankruptcy Practice Group

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otterbourg P.C. announced today the launch of its Mass Tort Bankruptcy Practice Group. The move makes formal what had been treated as a highly-successful informal practice group within Otterbourg for the past few years. The practice group advises and represents creditors and fiduciaries of creditors – including tort claimants, governmental units, official committees, ad hoc committees, future claimant representatives, and settlement trust trustees and committees – in...
Back to Newsroom