Baker Donelson has added Bonnie L. Michael, previously general counsel for Volvo Financial Services (USA), as a member of the Firm's Financial Services Transactions Group and its Specialty Finance Team.
Ms. Michael, who joins as a shareholder in the Baltimore office, served for more than a decade as the General Counsel and Vice President of Legal and Compliance (USA) at Volvo Financial Services, which provides a full range of commercial financial services to dealers and customers of the Volvo Group. She was responsible for managing and monitoring all aspects of the company's U.S. legal affairs, regulatory issues and new product development, and she participated in various global projects. Prior to that position, she served as a director and senior legal counsel for the captive finance company of another large global manufacturing corporation.
"Bonnie is a strong strategic fit for our equipment finance and specialty financial transactions practice," said Mark Kohler, a member of Baker Donelson's Specialty Finance Team and a shareholder in the Firm's Baltimore office. "Her extensive experience in equipment finance and her stellar reputation in the industry will be a tremendous asset to our growing and extremely active practice. We're fortunate to be able to offer our clients with complex finance needs such a talented and respected specialty lending attorney."
Ms. Michael said, "I've worked with Mark and other Baker Donelson attorneys for many years and have the upmost respect for the knowledge and experience they bring to each transaction, together with the Firm and their collective commitment to client service. I look forward to working alongside them to continue to build Baker Donelson's specialty finance practice."
With more than 20 years of legal experience representing equipment finance companies and the financial services industry, Ms. Michael represents clients in a full range of commercial financing. Her practice includes guiding banks, financial institutions, equipment and leasing companies, and other lenders in structuring and negotiating their complex finance transactions. She has extensive experience advising clients on motor vehicle fleet financing.
Ms. Michael is active in the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the Equipment Leasing & Financing Foundation. She is a former member of the ELFA Legal Committee and, from 2010 to 2016, she served as chair and co-chair of the ELFA Motor Vehicle Subcommittee. She was recognized with the 2021 Edward A. Groobert Award for Legal Excellence in recognition of her significant contributions to the equipment finance industry and is among three attorneys in Baker Donelson's Financial Services Transactions Group to have received such a distinguished honor from the equipment lease and finance industry's leading trade association. Ms. Michael is a frequent presenter on industry topics and actively supports various ELFA legislative initiatives.