Five firms have contributed to the SFFound since its inception: Goldberg Kohn, Hahn & Hessen, Otterbourg, Skadden, and Winston & Strawn. We would like to express our gratitude for their support. For information on becoming a supporter of SFFound, please click here. 

Goldberg Kohn

Richard Kohn, Principal

Why has your firm been such a strong supporter of the Foundation?

From the time that our firm was invited to attend the very first meeting in New York to discuss the formation of the Foundation, our firm has recognized the vital role that the Foundation could play in the future of our Association and our industry, in terms of funding vital educational and charitable programs and in other ways.  We also recognized  that the Foundation was an excellent way in which our firm could express the gratitude we felt toward the Association and its members, and to our industry, all of which are so important to our firm.  Those early recognitions have only been strengthened as the Foundation has evolved over the years, and remain stronger today than ever.

The Foundation has been “reimagined” over the past year. Its new mission is to encourage, facilitate, and support education, innovation, and charitable works for the betterment of organizations and professionals who deliver and enable secured finance—and for the communities of which they are a part. Part of this is crucial data development, such as the Market Sizing & Impact Study and the guest lecturer series being offered at universities. Why are these endeavors crucial to the industry?

In my role as the Association's Co-General Counsel, I appreciate the critical need for accurate industry data, not only to enable our members to make sound business decisions, but to enable the Association to communicate the importance of the role of our Association as a powerful voice on vital issues that affect our industry, whether in the context of amicus briefs, proposed legislation or our work with the United Nations and other international organizations.  The Foundation's work with universities is extremely exciting, in part as a way of attracting the best young talent to our industry.

 

Your firm also supports the Foundation far beyond contributing dollars. Please tell us how your donation of time and facilities in support of SFNet programs and events has been helpful to you personally as well as your firm.

I have the honor of being the Foundation's first Campaign Chairman and, since that time, my firm and I have remained active in Foundation programs and events.  Participating in  these programs and events has been a wonderful way to strengthen our relationships with numerous CFA members, and to express our gratitude to the Association and its members, and to our industry.

Hahn & Hessen

Steven J. Seif, Partner
Lee Podair, Partner
Daniel D. Batterman, Partner
Daniel M. Ford, Partner
Jeanne F. Siegel, Partner
Sarah M. Gilbert, Partner

Why has your firm been such a strong supporter of the Foundation? 

Hahn & Hessen has been an active supporter of the Foundation each year since its inception in 1990.  Secured finance is a “core competency” of our Firm and we have always considered ourselves to be active, responsible and supportive partners with the secured lending community.   In addition to benefitting the secured lending industry generally, the course offerings and other activities of the Foundation help to educate participants in the secured lending industry.  We find that transactions involving educated participants (whether our clients or our counterparties across the table) result in more efficient and cost-effective transaction outcomes.    

The Foundation has been “reimagined” over the past year. Its new mission is to encourage, facilitate, and support education, innovation, and charitable works for the betterment of organizations and professionals who deliver and enable secured finance—and for the communities of which they are a part. Part of this is crucial data development, such as the Market Sizing & Impact Study and the guest lecturer series being offered at universities. Why are these endeavors crucial to the industry? 

Hahn & Hessen supported the reimagining of the Foundation and participated in discussion groups related to the reimagining effort.  In our view, it is crucial for the Foundation to evaluate constantly whether its activities reflect the evolving financing activities of the SFN membership organizations, as well as attract and retain a diverse group of new participants in the secured financing industry.

Your firm also supports the Foundation far beyond contributing dollars. Please tell us how your donation of time and facilities in support of SFNet programs and events has been helpful to you personally as well as your firm. 

Our attorneys invest a significant amount of time preparing and revising course materials for, and serving on, education panels sponsored by the Foundation.  We enjoy this activity, as it provides us with a forum in which to meet and discuss important legal and business issues with industry participants.  To the extent available, we have also provided access to Firm facilities for SFNet education programs. 

Otterbourg

Jonathan Helfat, Partner

Why has your firm been such a strong supporter of the Foundation?

The Secured Finance Foundation, as we know it today, was the vision of past and present members such as Jack Butler, Richard Kohn and others. The initial goal was to raise funds to supplement SFNet’s budget in order to provide more and varied educational programing, improve the existing course materials and attract the most knowledgeable  presenters. These goals, among others, continue to be the core values of the Foundation.

We have been proud to contribute to the Foundation over the last 25 plus years as it has allowed us and many other contributors to participate in helping determine the educational projects for which the funds that were raised  would be used; allowing our firm and other contributors to participate in some of the educational programs, as well as work with many of the other member of SFNet who share this same commitment to education.

We are hopeful that the Foundation will grow in the coming years and provide greater educational offerings as well as use its funding to attract young talented individuals to our industry.

The Foundation has been “reimagined” over the past year. Its new mission is to encourage, facilitate, and support education, innovation, and charitable works for the betterment of organizations and professionals who deliver and enable secured finance—and for the communities of which they are a part. Part of this is crucial data development, such as the Market Sizing & Impact Study and the guest lecturer series being offered at universities. Why are these endeavors crucial to the industry?

While SFNet is the trade association for the secured finance industry; the Foundation is quickly developing into the primary resource for relevant and reliable data concerning our industry. This information, for the first time, is being gathered and analyzed by outside professionals and as a result is being relied upon by our members in the operation and planning of their respective businesses. Congratulations to the prior and present Advocacy Committees who recognized the need for reliable industry data and worked over the last several years to make it a reality.

Your firm also supports the Foundation far beyond contributing dollars. Please tell us how your donation of time and facilities in support of SFNet programs and events has been helpful to you personally as well as your firm.

Obviously the ability to network with one’s peers and with the lending community at large has, over the course of many years, led to strong personal bonds with many of the members, as well as, being beneficial for our firm. However, what is most gratifying is to be able to work with members who are truly interested in giving back of their time and energies to improve our industry.

Skadden

Seth Jacobson, partner and global head of Skadden's Banking Group

Why has your firm been such a strong supporter of the Foundation?

Skadden is proud to support the Foundation in its mission to encourage and facilitate education and innovation, and charitable work. We understand the importance of providing the resources and tools to help prepare the next generation of leaders and support the Foundation's work with local community groups and lending organizations that finance underserved communities. The Foundation serves as a pivotal resource in the finance community and we are honored to aid them in this role.

The Foundation has been “reimagined” over the past year. Its new mission is to encourage, facilitate, and support education, innovation, and charitable works for the betterment of organizations and professionals who deliver and enable secured finance—and for the communities of which they are a part. Part of this is crucial data development, such as the Market Sizing & Impact Study and the guest lecturer series being offered at universities. Why are these endeavors crucial to the industry?

Having access to market data and trends is critical to all professions working in the finance industry. The Foundation devotes significant time and resources to collect and analyze data, which, in turn, is used to develop programming that provides valuable insight into timely topics. Access to this information and content helps propel the industry forward and promotes innovation.

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