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Andrew Pontano

Partner, Asset Finance & Securitization at Dechert LLP

New York, NY

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Why they matter

As the lawyer leading Dechert's asset finance & securitization practice, he sees deal flow across auto, consumer, fintech and mortgage ABS platforms that PE sponsors are actively rolling up.

Background

Andrew P. Pontano is a partner in Dechert LLP's global finance practice and, since January 2024, leader of the firm's Asset Finance & Securitization group, based in New York. He advises lenders, borrowers, asset originators/servicers, issuers, underwriters, placement agents and trustees across auto, consumer, credit card, student loan, equipment lease, trade receivable, and residential mortgage securitizations, as well as warehouse and asset-based financings. He holds a B.A. from William & Mary, an M.A. from Georgetown, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and is ranked by Chambers USA (Band 4, nationwide ABS) and The Legal 500 for fintech and structured finance.

Notable deals

  • 2025
    Led the Dechert team advising Pagaya Technologies on POSH 2025-1, Pagaya's inaugural point-of-sale loan securitization, a $300 million issuance including $220 million of AAA-rated notes
  • 2023
    Represented underwriters (Citigroup Global Markets, Wells Fargo Securities, Stifel, BofA Securities) on five 2023 credit union auto loan-backed securitizations totaling over $1.3 billion, including Valley Strong Credit Union's $305.86 million offering
  • 2024
    Named leader of Dechert's global Asset Finance & Securitization group

Call-prep brief

Background

  • Leads Dechert LLP's global Asset Finance & Securitization group (appointed Jan 2024), based in New York.
  • 20+ years practicing structured finance; B.A. William & Mary, M.A. Georgetown, J.D. UVA Law.
  • Chambers USA Band 4 (nationwide ABS, 2024); Legal 500-recommended for fintech and structured finance/securitization.

Current focus

  • Public and private securitizations across auto loans/leases, consumer loans, credit cards, student loans, equipment/trade receivables, and residential mortgages.
  • Increasingly active in fintech-originated ABS (e.g., Pagaya's inaugural point-of-sale loan securitization, POSH 2025-1, May 2025) and credit union auto ABS issuance.
  • Also handles warehouse facilities, asset-based lending, and mezzanine financing structures that typically precede a term securitization.

What he cares about

  • Structuring first-time/inaugural issuer programs (credit unions, fintech lenders) to scale toward repeat market access.
  • Client service breadth — represents both sell-side (issuers/originators) and buy-side (underwriters, trustees, rating agencies), giving him a full-market view of deal terms.

Recent moves

  • Took over group leadership at Dechert in January 2024, signaling a mandate to grow the ABS/fintech book.
  • Co-led the Pagaya POSH 2025-1 deal with partner Sarah Milam, Dechert's first point-of-sale ABS program (designed to scale past $1B).

Potential sensitivities

  • As outside counsel he cannot discuss client-specific deal terms or non-public pipeline without conflicts clearance from Dechert.
  • Any conversation touching a live issuer relationship (Pagaya, the credit unions, or the underwriter panel) should stay at a market/structure level, not client-confidential.

Questions to ask

  1. Which asset classes (auto, POS/fintech, consumer) is he seeing the most new-issuer activity in right now, and why?
  2. What separates a credit union or fintech originator that successfully launches a first-time securitization from one that struggles to get to market?
  3. Where is warehouse/asset-based financing pricing and structure headed for non-bank lenders heading into 2027?

Outreach draft

Subject
Perspective on specialty finance ABS market
Andrew, I came across your work leading Dechert's Asset Finance & Securitization group, including the Pagaya point-of-sale securitization earlier this year. We're a private equity team spending time in specialty finance and consumer/commercial lending platforms, and your vantage point across issuers, underwriters, and first-time securitization programs would be valuable as we sharpen our thesis. Would you have 20-30 minutes in the next couple of weeks for a call? We're happy to work around your schedule and would compensate for your time through our standard expert network arrangement. Thanks in advance, [Placeholder Name]

Linked companies

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