Craig A. Wolson has practiced law for over 30 years, primarily in New York City. He specializes in finance, derivatives, securities and corporate matters. He recently stepped down as Chairman of the Structured Finance Committee of the New York City Bar Association. In 2006 he was named a New York Super Lawyer by Law and Politics Magazine. His clients have included investment banks, commercial banks, investment companies, investment advisors, insurance companies, collateral managers, pension funds, asset-based lenders, securities broker-dealers, manufacturing companies, non-profit corporations, offshore investment funds and government agencies. He is able to opine on the following:
Structured finance: CDOs (cash, synthetic and hybrid), CLOs, CBOs, asset-backed securities (ABS), mortgage-backed securities (MBS), asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) and structured investment vehicles (SIVs).
Derivatives: credit default swaps (CDS), interest rate swaps, currency swaps and commodity swaps.
Finance: asset-based lending, secured loans, real estate loans, and project finance loans
Securities: private placements, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings and quarterly and annual SEC reports.
Corporate: joint ventures, M&A, licensing agreements and annual meetings.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Juris Doctor, University of Michigan Law School. Licensed in New York State, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Member of New York City, New York State and American Bar Associations. Former Chair of the Structured Finance Committee of the New York City Bar Association. Member of the Derivatives and Structured Products Law Committee of the NYS Bar Association.
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Speaker: Seminar on Securitization of Project Finance Loans, New York City Bar Association, April 2003
Moderator: Seminar Entitled "What Every Finance Lawyer Needs to Know About Securitization", New York City Bar Association, May 2007
Moderator: Seminar Entitled "The Upheaval in the Subprime Market: The Direct and Indirect Effects of Same on the Structured Finance Market", New York City Bar Association, January 2008
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No.
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: Eight.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Structured finance (in particular, CDOs) and derivatives (in particular, credit default swaps).
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 90%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 10%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: None.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: Have not yet.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Have not yet.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Have not yet.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: One (however, have been a practicing attorney for more than 35 years, have specialized in derivatives for more than 21 years and have specialized in structured finance for over 12 years).
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Consulting, expert witness reports, expert witness testimony.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $575.
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $575.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $575.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $700.
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Travel expenses, copy fees, long-distance telephone charges, fax fees, and all other relevant out-of-pocket expenses. I also charge my hourly rate for travel time (unless I am able to bill part or all of that time to another client).
