Overview
The Barack Ferrazzano Financial Institutions Group acted as legal counsel for First Community Financial Corporation ("First Community"), the parent company of First Community Bank, in the signing of a definitive merger agreement with Wintrust Financial Corporation ("Wintrust"). Based in Rosemont, Illinois, Wintrust operates 15 community bank subsidiaries across the greater Chicago, Illinois and southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana metropolitan areas. First Community, an Illinois state-chartered bank with two banking locations in Elgin, Illinois, had approximately $178 million in assets, $79 million in loans and $155 million in deposits as of March 31, 2016. The transaction, valued at $30.3 million, is expected to close in late 2016.
Barack Ferrazzano's legal team was led by Dennis R. Wendte and Emily N. Henkel, along with Robert M. Fleetwood. Executive Compensation and Benefits were handled by Andrew K. Strimaitis and Donald L. Norman.
Barack Ferrazzano Financial Institutions Group
This is our 12th announced bank deal in 2016 and our 56th announced deal since 2011. Our 30-attorney Group has represented more than 250 financial institutions across the country. Our M&A experience is unparalleled—over the past decade, our Group ranked #1 in the Midwest region by number of announced bank and thrift merger and acquisition transactions—according to SNL Financial. The Financial Institutions Group was again named as one of the top financial institution groups in the nation in the U.S. News & Best Lawyers 2016 report.