Stradley Ronon announced it has expanded its New York office with the hiring of three finance and restructuring attorneys, led by partner Mitch Brand, who will join longtime partner Gary P. Scharmett as co-chair of the firm’s finance and restructuring practice group.

Brand comes to the firm from Otterbourg P.C. where he practiced for 33 years and was a partner and co-chair of that firm’s special situations practice group. Stephen Alpert and Harris Diamond, both of whom were also previously with Otterbourg, join Brand in Stradley Ronon’s New York office as counsel.

Brand brings with him more than 30 years of experience representing lenders and financial institutions in the structuring, negotiation and documentation of syndicated and non-syndicated financing transactions.

“While it was a difficult decision for me to leave Otterbourg after 33 years, I am looking forward to continuing my career with Stradley Ronon and its wide-ranging platform of services. With regard to the finance and restructuring group, I have worked in the same space as Stradley Ronon attorneys for years and have always been a great admirer of the firm’s stellar reputation and collegial culture,” said Brand.

Alpert represents asset-based and commercial lenders in structuring, documentation and closing of secured asset-based and cash flow financing transactions, loan workouts and restructurings, and liquidations. His clients include major money center banks, foreign banks and their U.S. subsidiaries, investment banks, commercial finance companies, asset-based lenders of national and regional standing, and hedge funds.

Diamond focuses his practice on secured and unsecured financing, financial and corporate restructuring, and creditor representation. He counsels clients regarding a wide array of proposed financing transactions, and also advises clients on asset protection during the restructuring and bankruptcy processes.