Mr. Sontag, a Director of Camner Lipsitz, P.A., has counseled companies in a range of corporate, regulatory and banking matters including governance, securities and transactions. Additionally, Mr. Sontag has substantial experience with real estate and mortgage transactions (both commercial and residential). Mr. Sontag has represented an array of lenders, sellers, borrowers, and buyers in transactions including loans for acquisition and development, raw land, office buildings, condominiums, shopping centers and asset-based lending facilities.

A banking regulator for over 15 years, representing the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB), Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), Mr. Sontag was responsible for the oversight and examination of numerous financial institutions in the southeastern United States including Puerto Rico. During his tenure, Mr. Sontag worked on investigative task forces which addressed many of the prominent failures of institutions during the savings and loan crisis. In the summer and fall of 1988, Mr. Sontag was a member of the national team which examined Charles Keating’s Lincoln Savings and Loan along with its parent insurance company, American Continental Corporation. Also, in 1989 Mr. Sontag was also a part of the United States Attorney’s Office Task force investigation of David Paul’s CenTrust Savings and Loan in Miami, Florida. Mr. Sontag was part of numerous transition teams which moved institutions from the regulatory process into receivership including AmeriFirst, Ambassador and Palm Beach Federal Savings and Loan. Mr. Sontag also headed the forensic statutory investigations of a savings and loans and their affiliates, including insurance mortgage subsidiaries, in order to document allegations of fraud. As a participant in the shared national credit program reviewed multi-institution real estate loan participations with balances of over $100 million.

Mr. Sontag’s post-regulatory experience extends to contemporary financial issues (including TARP, PPIF and capital maintenance forbearance). He has advised CEOs and CFOs on corporate, regulatory, accounting and securities matters, including the raising of billions in capital and debt issuances. As part of this process Mr. Sontag has also facilitated the relationship between financial institutions and investment bankers. Mr. Sontag has regularly represented clients before regulators and government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), OTS, Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Representation of financial clients includes managing the day-to-day examination process in addition to the preparation of responses, answers and reports to regulatory inquiries, examinations, agreements and orders.

Mr. Sontag is the author of the May/June 2002 ABA Bank Compliance cover story “FTC Comes to Banking.” Mr. Sontag was also awarded a University of Miami School of Law Dean’s Certificate for research entitled “Practicing Before Bank Regulators” and is a three-time recipient of United States Treasury Department Awards for outstanding achievement. This recognition includes a Treasury Award for legal research regarding the specific validity of mortgage notes sold to a large securitization firm which filed for bankruptcy. Mr. Sontag has been quoted in many publications including Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Review on regulatory topics including matters related to the Patriot Act, Anti-Money Laundering and the Bank Secrecy Act.