Womble Carlyle has built a dynamic national equipment finance and leasing practice. The firm bolstered that practice today with the addition of Chip Sturm, a veteran of the equipment finance and leasing industry who joins the firm after serving as First Vice President and Senior Counsel at SunTrust Equipment Leasing and Finance Company (STEFL).

At STEFL, Sturm provided legal counsel to SunTrust Bank’s equipment finance and leasing subsidiary that manages a $5+ billion portfolio. He joins a Womble Carlyle team that guides clients in single-investor and leveraged leasing transactions involving aircraft, vessels, rolling stock, manufacturing equipment, satellites and real estate, as well as large integrated facilities, such as assembly plants and power generating facilities in both the commercial and governmental sectors. In addition to his equipment finance and leasing experience, Sturm has experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private placements of securities, commercial transactions and general corporate matters.

“In considering a move to private practice, Womble Carlyle stood out because the firm has such a presence in the equipment finance and leasing field,” Sturm said.

Womble Carlyle Baltimore Office Managing Partner David Hamilton said, “Thanks to the work of Merrick Benn and others, we have built a strong Equipment Finance practice here in Baltimore. Chip will be a great addition to that team, and will help our clients succeed in this fast-growing sector.”

“Chip is well-known and respected in equipment finance and leasing circles,” said Chris Leon, Practice Group Leader for Womble Carlyle’s Banking, Finance, and Capital Markets Group. “Companies increasingly are looking at equipment leasing as a cost-effective alternative to purchasing, and Chip has a deep understanding of how to maximize the benefits of these transactions.”