Former Freddie Mac Mac’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Robert E. Bostrom has joined the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s New York City office as a shareholder in the Corporate & Securities and Financial Institutions practices. Bostrom joins from his position as Co-Head of the Global Financial Institutions and Fund sector at SNR Denton. There he also led that firm’s corporate governance, board advisory and crises management practice and was part of the Dodd-Frank special situations team.
“As a highly regarded leader in large law firms and a renowned general counsel during challenging times, Bob had the experience and perspective which allowed him to readily understand the benefits of our model in today’s environment,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Greenberg Traurig. “We are one firm, focused on delivering valuable results to our clients while raising our game and maintaining a uniquely collaborative and respectful culture. We have thus far grown to almost 1800 lawyers, an unmatched Americas’ platform and top tier locations in key global centers without mergers or other such large scale combinations. As such, we stand apart in today’s legal landscape as a fully unified and independent firm, strategically designed to deliver the top-tier quality and value our clients so urgently require, avoiding industry trends which result in large size and flags planted worldwide but no cultural or financial unity and, in our view, no real value added for clients.”
Before joining SNR Denton in 2011, Bostrom served as Freddie Mac’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In that role, he directed Freddie Mac’s legal strategy through the financial crises and recovery during his tenure there from 2006 to 2011. He advised senior management and the board of directors of Freddie Mac through the appointment of a conservator and on the creation of a new corporate governance structure. He oversaw the response to Congressional committee, Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal regulators’ inquiries and investigations into Freddie Mac, as well as securities class and derivative actions. Bostrom also advised on implementing a critical $100 billion senior preferred stock purchase agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Bostrom is often recognized as one of the premier banking attorneys in the United States. He advises clients on the sweeping changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act and financial services regulation, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and has extensive experience advising management, boards of directors and committees on risk management, compliance and corporate governance issues.
So timely for today’s world, Bostrom is an authority with respect to compliance and enterprise risk management programs and crisis management He is also known for his work in the residential mortgage and housing markets and government sponsored enterprise (GSE) strategy, advising on the future state of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Bostrom served as the executive vice president for legal, compliance and regulatory affairs at National Westminster Bancorp from 1992 to 1996. During his tenure there, NatWest controlled one of the 25 largest banks in the United States. He helped structure NatWest’s $3.6 billion sale to Fleet Financial Group in 1996, in addition to managing significant litigation, compliance, examination and regulatory matters.
Before joining Freddie Mac, Bostrom led the Financial Institutions Practice at Winston & Strawn for nine years, where he also served as managing partner of the New York office and a member of its executive committee. He was a lawyer with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York earlier in his career.
“We believe that Bob adds a significant dimension to our diverse corporate practice. His experience working with the top echelon of leaders in banking, government, and the legal profession during a period of unparalleled challenges has given him a perspective that our clients are sure to find valuable,” said Gary Epstein, the firm’s Chair of the GlobalCorporate & Securities Practice, Co-Chair of the Israel Practice and managing shareholder of the Tel Aviv office.
In 2011, Bostrom was named one of Washington, D.C.’s “Most Influential In-House Counsel” by The National Law Journal and the Legal Times for his leadership at Freddie Mac. Honorees are chosen for advancing the practice of law and providing an example for lawyers. In addition, Corporate Counsel magazine recognized Freddie Mac, underBostrom’s leadership, among the Best Legal Departments in 2011.
Bostrom is a sought after speaker and author on corporate compliance and governance issues. He spoke at the Association of Corporate Counsel 2012 Annual Meeting on “Anatomy of Failure: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, was a moderator and speaker at the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith, School of Business, Directors Institute 2012, “Board Leadership in a Crisis Situation” and spoke on the Conference Board at The Government Center on “Corporate Governance and Compliance Crash Course,” among his many other speaking engagements this year.
“There is no question that Greenberg Traurig continues to chart an independent course focused on delivering quality and value to its clients in a world of followers and confusion”, said Bostrom. “I knew I could immediately contribute to a carefully managed firm focused on its respectful and intensely collaborative culture, its unmatched position in the U.S. and the Americas, its disciplined centers of excellence in other key global regions, its diverse client base and broad and balanced range of key practice areas. While large at nearly 1800 lawyers, the firm is clearly focused on being the best and delivering real value to clients, not necessarily being the biggest.”
Brian Duffy, Chair of the firm’s Global Litigation Practice, said, “Bob has been tested through some of the financial crises’ most rigorous investigations, enforcement actions and litigations. He brings a unique perspective that will further elevate the firm’s top-tier corporate and litigation practices and will make an immediate impact on what we can offer our clients.”
Bostrom added, “This is a terrific opportunity to help build a multidisciplinary corporate governance crisis management practice that brings together the firm’s recognized strength in government affairs, internal investigations, congressional investigations, SEC enforcement, corporate, corporate governance and civil and criminal defense work. I am looking forward to practicing with nationally recognized thought leaders such as Dennis Block and Brian Duffy in the investigations and corporate governance crisis management area.”
Bostrom’s move to Greenberg Traurig comes on the heels of a number of high profile corporate lawyers joining the firm, including Dennis Block and David Schwartzbaum in New York, Frank Adams in London, Nicolas Borda in Mexico City, David Gitlin in Philadelphia, Jaroslaw Grzesiak, Lejb Fogelman and a team of attorneys in Warsaw, Kemal Hawa inTysons Corner, Jude Kearney in Washington, D.C. and Scott Mortman in Tel Aviv.
Bostrom holds a J.D. from Boston College Law School and a M.I.A. from Columbia University before attending law school. He received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College.
