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Morgan Lewis

Thomas Plank

Of Counsel

Tom Plank, who is the Joel A. Katz Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee College of Law, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, has served as a bankruptcy structuring and Uniform Commercial Code specialist for mortgage backed and asset backed securities since 1987. Beginning in 2001, he has worked with the lawyers in the Morgan Lewis structured finance practice providing advice on bankruptcy law, commercial law, and real estate issues in connection with securitizations and other transactions. Before becoming a full time law professor in 1994, he practiced law for 19 years, concentrating his practice in real estate finance, commercial finance, public finance and securities transactions. Beginning in 1987, he specialized in the securitization of mortgage loans and other receivables as issuer’s counsel, underwriter’s counsel and bankruptcy counsel.

Extended Profile

At the University of Tennessee College of Law, he teaches bankruptcy, secured transactions, property, and negotiable instruments. He has published more than a dozen articles on bankruptcy law, securitization, and the treatment of receivables under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, and he has served as an expert witness in several cases involving securitization structures.

selected representations

  • Structured the first exchange securitization transaction relying on a springing true sale opinion rated by a national rating agency in 1987. Developed the legal theory for the validity the structure and authored the opinion.
  • Authored true sale, non-consolidation and security interest opinions for hundreds of transactions involving securitization of securities, mortgage loans (residential, commercial, first, second and home equity), automobile loans and leases, equipment loans and leases, student loans, a wide variety of commercial loans, credit card receivables, insurance premium finance loans, and other types of receivables and financial assets.

Education

  • University of Maryland School of Law, 1974, J.D., With Honors
  • Princeton University, 1968, B.A., With Honors

Admissions

  • Tennessee