The practice at Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP is often engaged in investment management and digital assets related work, with its offering spanning transactions and regulatory issues, and is regarded by clients for its 'deep technical expertise combined with a highly commercial, execution-focused approach.' The team is co-headed by Brian Sung, who is active in repo transactions, digital asset-linked derivatives and structured products transactions, and hedging arrangements. Fellow co-head Michele Navazio joined the team from Seward & Kissel LLP in April 2025, bringing expertise in total return swaps, significant risk transfer transactions, credit default swaps, and commodity forward transactions. In Charlotte, Edward Ivey is active in regulatory and cryptocurrency-related matters and brings 'specialist expertise in the digital assets and tokenization space.’ Other key contacts include Matthew Frankle, who has been noted as a 'highly knowledgeable and commercially oriented finance lawyer,' alongside Matthew Howes and Erica Penn-Mensah who assist on complex finance transactions and trading documentation. All lawyers are based in New York, unless stated otherwise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Deep technical expertise combined with a highly commercial, execution-focused approach, with a particular strength in digital-asset and crypto-linked financial transactions.’
‘Matthew Frankle is a highly knowledgeable and commercially oriented finance lawyer who combines deep technical expertise with a pragmatic, business-focused approach. He is approachable, responsive, and consistently available, qualities that clients particularly value in fast-moving transactions.'
- 'Edward Ivey is highly knowledgeable on derivatives transactions, bringing strong technical command and sound judgment to complex and structured matters. His experience and depth in derivatives documentation and execution make him a valuable resource on sophisticated transactions.'
- 'Khalil Bryant and Matthew Howes are strong up-and-coming associates within the practice. They bring growing technical capability, a strong work ethic, and increasing confidence in handling complex finance documentation and negotiations. Both show excellent potential and are becoming reliable contributors to the team’s overall execution and responsiveness.’
‘Compared to larger full-service firms, Haynes and Boone offers a more focused and hands-on service model, with direct access to senior lawyers and a high degree of flexibility. This makes the team particularly well suited to transactions that require tailored structuring rather than standardised documentation.'
- 'Potential clients would also benefit from knowing that the team operates with strong partner involvement throughout the transaction lifecycle, ensuring consistency, responsiveness, and depth of analysis.'
- 'Haynes Boone is highly effective in transactions involving multiple jurisdictions and governing laws, and they work seamlessly with international counsel, arrangers, originators, and investors. Their familiarity with both banking and capital markets frameworks allows them to anticipate issues that often arise at the intersection of regulatory, documentation, and risk-allocation considerations.’
‘The individuals we work with stand out for their strong client relationships, practical mindset, and genuine commitment to understanding client priorities. Brian Sung is a partner we have worked with in several projects related to structured finance. He always has been hands-on and accessible, while his associates are proactive, responsive, and detail-oriented, providing continuity and efficiency throughout each matter. We particularly value the team’s clear communication, approachability, and reliability, which make them trusted advisors rather than purely transactional counsel.’
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Brian Sung; Michele Navazio
Other key lawyers
Edward Ivey; Matthew Howes; Erica Penn-Mensah; Matthew Frankle; Khalil Bryant