Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney announced the addition of shareholder James S. Lawlor to its Philadelphia office in the Financial Services practice group.

Lawlor comes to Buchanan from Reed Smith, where he had worked for the past 12 years. Prior to that, Lawlor was with Pepper Hamilton, where he began his career in 1987. Lawlor has been recognized by Chambers USA as a leading banking and finance lawyer “noted for his expertise in public and secured financings” and by The Best Lawyers in America from 2013-2015 for Banking and Finance Law.

Lawlor concentrates his practice on corporate loan transactions, as well as public finance. He has experience handling finance transactions in the communications and media, transportation, health care, higher education, energy and nonprofit sectors.

“Joining Buchanan was an opportunity that aligned very well for me in terms of market and practice focus,” says Lawlor. “It will allow me to concentrate on regionally based commercial lending work in the upper end of the middle-market and to continue my tax-exempt bond work for Philadelphia area hospitals, colleges and other nonprofit organizations.

“Jim’s skills, reputation and personality are the perfect mix to lead our corporate finance practice in the region,” explains Rebecca Lando, chair of Buchanan’s Financial Services practice group. “Jim has good relationships with Philadelphia-based bankers and has a deep sense of community. He will enable us to continue to bring top-quality, responsive service to our clients while helping increase our visibility in that market.”