Tara E. Castillo

• Represents a leading insurance premium finance lender as seller-servicer in a precedent-setting securitization refinancing of life insurance premium finance loans.
• Represents a large originator of residential mortgage loans in connection with whole loan sales and private issuances of residential mortgage-backed securities.
• Counsel to the U.S. finance subsidiary of a global automobile manufacturer in the renewal of its multibillion dollar securities shelf registration with the SEC and represents subsidiary as issuer’s counsel in connection with its public automobile securitization program.
• Counsel to a U.S. finance subsidiary of a global automobile manufacturer in connection with its issuance of medium-term notes in the United States and Europe.
• Represents a trustee in connection with residential mortgage-backed securities transactions.
• Advises one of the world’s largest chemical companies on the U.S. related legal aspects of its €1.5 billion multinational trade receivables loan facility.
• Represents a U.S. lease and finance subsidiary as lessor in small and medium ticket lease transactions.
• Counsel to a major nationally recognized statistical rating organization advising on legal compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act.
• Counsel to NBA team equity owner as lessee in an equipment lease transaction relating to LED, broadcast and audio equipment and marquees.
• Counsel to guarantors in connection with state-certified capital finance company transactions.
• Counsel to first trade receivables financing for a European client.
• Counsel to several major financial services providers in connection with repurchase agreements with national banks.
• Counsel to an issuer in an equity offering of more than $200 million.
• Counsel to an issuer in a hybrid debt offering of more than $160 million.
• Counsel to an investment vehicle in connection with investment in a minority-owned financial institution.
• Counsel to a financial institution in connection with its conversion from mutual form to stock form.

Tara Eliza Castillo is a partner in Alston & Bird's Finance Group. She focuses her practice on debt securities, structured finance, securitizations and other asset-backed finance transactions. Tara has experience representing issuers, underwriters, sellers, servicers, trustees, rating agencies and other transaction parties across a wide variety of asset classes, including automobiles, equipment, insurance premium finance loans, leases, residential mortgages and trade receivables. She has also represented financial institutions and non-bank finance companies serving as lessors and lessees in equipment lease transactions.

Tara advises clients on securities and regulatory compliance issues relating to the securitization aspects of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Regulation Asset-Backed Securities.

Tara was named to the 2014 and 2015 Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” list by Super Lawyers, and in 2015 was named a finalist for Washington, D.C. SmartCEO magazine’s CPA & ESQ Awards in the category of “Rising Star.” Additionally, she is part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Solar Access to Public Capital working group, which facilitates the securitization of solar assets in the marketplace.

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• New York

Education

• American University (J.D., 2007)
• New York University (M.A., 2003)
• American University (B.A., 2002)

Memberships