About Us
Navigating Global Trade, Protecting Your Business.
Gerald Francese
Partner
- (917)705-4927
- gerald@tradelaw.us
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law, 1998
- B.A., summa cum laude, Roger Williams University, 1996
Awards & Recognitions
- 2022 JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards: International Law
Community Leadership
- Board of Directors, Barrier Free Living Family of Companies
- President's Board of Advisors, Roger Williams University
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- In-House Counsel and Compliance and Risk Executive, Bank of America
Gerald has an extensive corporate and financial regulatory practice. Jerry focuses on international trade, mergers and acquisitions, formation and representation of investment funds, including venture, private equity, hedge, BDCs and interval funds, fintech and bank regulatory matters. Jerry’s clients include some of the world’s largest financial services institutions, investment advisers, investment companies, public and private companies and investors.
He helps investment advisers sponsor investment vehicles and separately managed accounts, and has structured and closed numerous seed and growth investments and platforms. Jerry works closely with investors to achieve investment goals and minimize adverse tax consequences.
Jerry’s transactional practice includes domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions; private placements; joint ventures; management buyouts; corporate finance, rights and exchange offers; asset transactions; and going-private transactions. Jerry enjoys working on cutting-edge legal issues related to fintech, securities offerings and trading.
Jerry also has extensive experience helping clients with international transactions and international trade compliance, including export and import laws, economic sanctions regimes, country of origin designations, bank secrecy, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws.
Related Services
Industries
- Artificial Intelligence
- Bank Regulatory & Transactions
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Finance & Financial Services
- Gaming
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Reinsurance
Practices
- Corporate & Transactional
- International Trade Compliance
- Investment Advisor & Alternative Funds
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity
International Trade Compliance
- Counseled clients regarding sanctions and export control restrictions
- Conducted ITAR and EAR due diligence as part of an integrated merger and acquisition programs for various U.S. and foreign clients
- Investigated claims of possible violations of the OFAC and Sanctions Regulations
- Finance & Financial Services
- Assisted clients with FCPA investigations
- Determined Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN) for various hardware and software products for clients
RELATED EXPERIENCE
- Locke Lord Represents Pelican Energy Partners in Acquisition of GSE Solutions
- Locke Lord Team Represents Nabsys 2.0 in Acquisition of Majority Interest by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
- Multi-Office Team Represents Agile Growth Equity in Financing and Acquisition of Kobus Services Limited and Kobus Inc. Multi-Office Locke Lord Team Represents Legacy Farms in the Acquisition of Frieda’s
- Multi-Office Locke Lord Team Represents Legacy Farms in the Acquisition of Frieda’s
Insurance/Reinsurance
- Advised insurers to install profit sharing and networking agreements to allow cross selling among licensed producers and broker dealers
- Advised global travel insurer with requirements to provide coverage in sanctioned countries
- Advised life settlements producer to form interval fund
- Advised property and casualty insurer with OFAC compliance matters
- Advised insurer writing coverage for ship and cargo transiting Cuba pursuant to specific OFAC licenses
- Advised property and casualty insurer with LIHTC investments to offset premium tax
- Advised broker/dealer to structure clearing arrangements for insurer account holders
- Advised reinsurers with exposure to aircraft seized in Russia following Ukraine invasion
- Advised reinsurer in conversion to corporation from limited liability company
- Advised numerous insurers to prepare compliance policies
RELATED NEWS & EVENTS
- Locke Lord QuickStudy: BIS Strengthens Export Controls on China’s Advanced Technology Capabilities
- Locke Lord QuickStudy: OFAC Takes Further Action Against Maduro-Aligned Officials Following Venezuelan Election Malfeasance
- Locke Lord QuickStudy: Between a Claim and a Hard Place: OFAC Sanctions Preempt State Insurance Laws Publication Locke Lord QuickStudy: BIS Highlights Risks in “Legacy” Semiconductor Supply Chains
- Locke Lord QuickStudy: BIS Highlights Risks in “Legacy” Semiconductor Supply Chains