Market insight. Practical advice. Innovation mindset.
At Chapman, we work with the most sophisticated financial companies and institutional investors in the world on matters that are interesting, challenging, and innovative, and we share our insight to help clients advance their business and product development goals. With industry-leading practices in asset securitization and structured finance, commercial lending, public finance, lease finance, registered investment companies, institutional private placements, and bankruptcy and restructuring, we have a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs and legal challenges, allowing us to provide both practical and strategic legal advice for virtually any issue that may arise. Chapman continues to be on the leading edge of legal services innovation, investing in new technology and practice management solutions for our firm and our clients to drive efficiency, agility, and service.
Our Story. We have always been focused on finance. In 1906, Chicago attorney Theodore S. ("TS") Chapman was hired as counsel to convert the largest distributor of municipal and corporate bonds in the United States into a state-chartered bank. Thus began the path to the firm’s founding and focus on finance. In 1913, TS Chapman launched his law practice and partnered with public finance attorney Henry Cutler to form Chapman and Cutler.
The banking, public finance, securities, and corporate finance practices that TS Chapman and Henry Cutler developed became the bedrock of our firm. With this solid foundation, Chapman and Cutler has weathered the Great Depression, world conflict, and varying levels of global financial crises and pandemics. Through it all, we have helped our clients finance everything from railroad equipment, autos, credit card receivables, student loans, airplanes, ships, office buildings, and factories to schools, city halls, hospitals, wind farms, high speed rail, and energy facilities.
Our Clients. Chapman’s clients span the global financial markets. We represent domestic and international commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, finance and leasing companies, investment funds, state and local governmental bodies, public pension plans, utilities and renewable energy companies, and other issuers and investors in a broad range of financial transactions, regulatory, and litigated matters.
We have worked with these clients to help develop many original financial products and structures that are still used today, including the variable rate demand bond, the leverage lease, and the unit investment trust. Chapman has a rich legacy of innovation that continues to this day. Our client relationships have spanned decades and literally over a century – TS Chapman’s first client in 1913 is still a client of the firm today.
