LAWYER
Sarah E. Milam
Partner | New York
Sarah E. Milam

Sarah E. Milam advises clients regarding public and private securitizations, warehouse financing facilities and other structured transactions. She has represented originators, issuers, sponsors, lenders and fund managers in the purchase, sale and financing of variety of assets, including unsecured consumer and small business loans, credit card receivables, auto and equipment loans and leases, single-family rental properties, timeshares, solar loans and trade receivables.

Ms. Milam focuses on representing issuers and investors in strategic financing or investment transactions in FinTech and other emerging sectors. She is particularly adept at assisting early- to mid-stage companies in completing their initial financing transactions and helping institutional investors and issuers negotiate and execute deals with novel structures. 

In 2023, Ms. Milam was recognized by The Legal 500 US as a highly regarded lawyer in structured finance and securitization.

Ms. Milam held various positions with financial institutions prior to law school, including auditor in the Financial Services Office of Ernst & Young LLP, finance and operational roles at an investment management firm and, most recently, Vice President, Global Financial Operations at Bank of America. Her significant pre-legal experience gives her a distinctive insight into the operational considerations of her clients. 

Before joining Dechert, Ms. Milam was an associate at a large global law firm. She is a California certified public accountant (inactive). 

  • Platform sponsors of consumer, small business and point-of-sale loans, credit cards and line-of-credit products with respect to bank partnership arrangements, whole loan sale and forward flow programs,144A securitization transactions, master trusts and warehouse and term financing facilities.
  • Multiple investment fund managers in connection with the acquisition and financing of loans and receivables originated by FinTech lenders.
  • Banks and finance companies in ABS transactions, whole loan sales, forward flow arrangements and warehouse facilities related to retail auto loans, subprime auto loans and vehicle leases.
  • One of the world’s largest vacation ownership companies in Rule 144A securitization transactions and warehouse facilities backed by timeshare receivables.
  • Diverse range of corporations in the securitization of trade receivables.
  • Major national bank in federal court litigation with respect to its repurchase obligations related to its issuance of commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

  • Market Beat: Private Credit Roundtable: Assessing Growing Concerns — SFVegas 2025, Las Vegas, NV (February 25, 2025) 
  • The Rise of Neobanks — Fintech Junction 2023 Annual Summit, Tel Aviv, (June 21, 2023)
  • How Blockchain-Enabled Payments Rails Can Speed Up Payments — Fintech Nexus USA 2023, New York, NY (May 10, 2023)
  • Herbie goes to Miami: Auto ABS — ABS East Conference, Miami Beach, FL (October 17-19, 2022)
  • ESG Hub: Applications to Consumer ABS — ABS East Conference, Miami Beach, FL (December 15, 2021)
  • Risk Retention Finance Strategies for the Niche Lender (Moderator) — ABS East Conference, Miami Beach, FL (September 22, 2019)
  • The Return of Dodd-Frank Rulemaking: SEC Proposes Expansive Prohibition on Conflicts of Interest in Securitization — The Investment Lawyer (June 2023)
Services Industries
    • Wake Forest University, B.S., 2001
    • Wake Forest University, M.S., 2001
    • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 2013, Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business
    • New York
    • New York Junior League
    • 100 Women in Finance
    • Structured Finance Association