Scott A. Lessne
Overview
Scott A. Lessne chairs the firm's Commercial Finance & Lending team. Scott's practice involves the representation of financial institutions and corporate clients in connection with the negotiation and documentation of commercial, asset-based, project-related, and real estate loan transactions, as well as advising clients on legal issues arising in complex single and multi-lender loan workouts and restructures. In addition, Scott advises financial institution clients on creditors' rights remedies, including judicial and non-judicial enforcement actions and bankruptcy strategies. Scott has particular experience in the financial services, health care, energy, restaurant, and hospitality industries.
Career & Education
- Western New England University School of Law, J.D., law review, 1983
- Trinity College, Hartford, B.A., economics, 1980
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Professional Activities and Memberships
American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Commercial Finance Committee:
- Co-Chair, Programs, Meetings, and Communications Subcommittee
- Administrative Committee Director
- Past Co-Chair-Commercial Loan Documentation Subcommittee
- Member-Joint Task Force On Deposit Account Control Agreements
Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section
American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers:- Fellow and Past Member -Board of Regents
Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys, Inc.:
- Past President and Member-Board of Directors
Teaching Engagement
Suffolk University Law School, Boston Massachusetts-Course: Secured Transactions, 2002
- Co-Chair, Programs, Meetings, and Communications Subcommittee
Scott's Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.11.26
Over the past 18 months, the federal banking agencies have clarified supervisory expectations for banks’ crypto-asset activities, and several of the largest U.S. banks have announced programs accepting Bitcoin and Ether as loan collateral. Separately, on June 3, 2026, New York’s enactment of the 2022 amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code took effect, changing the rules governing the perfection of a security interest in digital asset collateral in New York, the jurisdiction whose law governs most institutional credit documentation. Together, these developments may create significant opportunities for lenders navigating the complexities to comply with the newly enacted statutes. This alert surveys the current landscape, from regulatory permissibility and perfection through custody, structuring, and compliance, for institutions active in this market or considering entering it.
Publication | 07.01.26
Blog Post | 12.18.25
UK Government Intends Third-Party Funding Regulatory Streamlining
Representative Matters
- Representation of a senior secured lender in connection with a $30 million term acquisition loan to a global online gaming company and the subsequent restructure and exercise of secured creditor remedies in connection with the loan.
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with an $80 million asset-based revolving loan, term loan, and letter of credit facility to an agricultural cooperative.
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with a $35 million asset-based loan to a developer of educational curriculum materials.
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with a $15 million revolving loan to a national fast casual restaurant chain.
- Representation of a senior secured private equity lender in connection with the asset-based working capital and term loan acquisition financing of a community based mental health system.
- Representation of a special servicer in connection with receivership proceedings and the resolution of a distressed $40 million CMBS loan secured by a hospitality property.
- Representation of a special servicer in connection with the resolution of a distressed $15 million CMBS loan secured by a commercial office building.
- Representation of a special servicer in connection with receivership proceedings and the resolution of a distressed $76 million CMBS loan secured by a retail shopping and restaurant complex.
- Representation of a specialty aircraft charter and leasing company in connection with a $50 million asset- based revolving loan, term loan, and delayed draw term loan.
- Representation of an acquirer of a global metals processing company in its aggregate $500 million combined ABL and high-yield bond financing.
- Representation of an independent power developer in a secured $715 million refinancing and working capital facility in the term loan B market.
- Representation of a global oil and gas exploration company in a $20 million senior secured working capital facility.
- Representation of a specialty aircraft service provider in a combined $25 million senior secured revolving term loan and mortgage facility, and in a $5 million senior subordinated note purchase facility.
- Representation of a global aerospace manufacturing company in connection with a $600 million revolving loan facility and a $100 million senior secured term loan.
- Representation of a distributor of specialty medical equipment in connection with a $40 million asset-based credit facility.
- Representation of a real estate special servicer in connection with a deed-in-lieu transaction involving multiple Class-A office properties.
- Representation of a Chilean manufacturing company in connection with a multi-million dollar cross-border credit facility.
- Representation of investors in multiple fast casual restaurant ventures in connection with debt finance and debt restructures.
Representative matters while serving as in-house counsel include:
- Restructuring of syndicated loans to subprime automobile lenders and equipment leasing companies.
- Bankruptcy and Federal District Court litigation in connection with global energy and telecom company frauds.
- Structuring and negotiating $500 million of revolving and term loan facilities for the post-bankruptcy acquisition and working capital needs of a national health care company.
- Creation of a state charted industrial loan bank and the acquisition of branches and deposits from a failing financial institution.
- Investigation and involuntary Chapter 7 of a $1 billion global metals trading company fraud.
- Restructuring and Chapter 11 of a $300 million syndicated loan to a global lighting equipment manufacturer and supplier.
- Restructuring and payoff of a $150 million syndicated loan to a global sea cargo container company.
Scott's Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.11.26
Over the past 18 months, the federal banking agencies have clarified supervisory expectations for banks’ crypto-asset activities, and several of the largest U.S. banks have announced programs accepting Bitcoin and Ether as loan collateral. Separately, on June 3, 2026, New York’s enactment of the 2022 amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code took effect, changing the rules governing the perfection of a security interest in digital asset collateral in New York, the jurisdiction whose law governs most institutional credit documentation. Together, these developments may create significant opportunities for lenders navigating the complexities to comply with the newly enacted statutes. This alert surveys the current landscape, from regulatory permissibility and perfection through custody, structuring, and compliance, for institutions active in this market or considering entering it.
Publication | 07.01.26
Blog Post | 12.18.25
UK Government Intends Third-Party Funding Regulatory Streamlining
Insights
The Workout as an Exercise in Creative Problem Solving
|02.01.10
56 The Practical Lawyer 25
Maximizing Recovery of Distressed Debt
|07.02.07
22 Commercial Lending Review 21
Preparation: The Key to Enhancing Distressed Debt Recovery Opportunities
|01.01.07
22 Commercial Lending Review 21
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
|04.16.24
Personal Guarantees: When a “Formality” Becomes a $20 Million Reality
|08.07.25
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters Blog
Bankruptcy and Restructuring in the US: A Snapshot of 2024
|01.07.25
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
Merchant Cash Advance Redux: Loan vs True Sale – New York Federal Courts Weigh In
|08.18.22
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
UCC Financing Statements and Debtor Name Errors: The Litigation Continues
|12.14.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
- |
12.08.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
Corporate Directors’ Exposure to Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
|12.07.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
Practices
Scott's Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.11.26
Over the past 18 months, the federal banking agencies have clarified supervisory expectations for banks’ crypto-asset activities, and several of the largest U.S. banks have announced programs accepting Bitcoin and Ether as loan collateral. Separately, on June 3, 2026, New York’s enactment of the 2022 amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code took effect, changing the rules governing the perfection of a security interest in digital asset collateral in New York, the jurisdiction whose law governs most institutional credit documentation. Together, these developments may create significant opportunities for lenders navigating the complexities to comply with the newly enacted statutes. This alert surveys the current landscape, from regulatory permissibility and perfection through custody, structuring, and compliance, for institutions active in this market or considering entering it.
Publication | 07.01.26
Blog Post | 12.18.25
UK Government Intends Third-Party Funding Regulatory Streamlining
