Robert Avallone

Robert Avallone is an associate in the Finance Practice Group in the New York office of Haynes Boone. He has experience representing financial institutions, fintech companies, and institutional investors in a wide range of complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions, including structured finance, CLOs, securitizations, project finance, and syndicated lending. Robert’s practice bridges traditional finance and cutting-edge financial technologies, with deep experience in matters involving blockchain, digital assets, tokenized securities, and decentralized finance (DeFi). He brings a practical, business-oriented approach to advising clients navigating the evolving legal and regulatory landscape that governs modern financial markets.

Prior to joining Haynes Boone, Robert was an associate in the Banking, Structured Finance, and Restructuring Group at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where he advised the corporate trust divisions of major global and national banks on capital markets and structured transactions, including credit card, student loan, and auto securitizations, as well as leveraged buyouts and collateralized loan obligations. Earlier in his career, Robert practiced at another international law firm, where he focused on transactions involving private equity, credit, real estate, and infrastructure. Across these roles, he has negotiated and drafted credit agreements, collateral agency agreements, intercreditor agreements, depositary agreements, and security agreements. Robert played a central role in managing trustee and agent responsibilities, successor transitions, and collateral compliance in connection with securitized products.

Robert previously served as Senior Vice President at The Bank of New York Mellon, where he directed global regulatory compliance initiatives involving data privacy, cybersecurity, and financial services regulation. He advised on legal risks and obligations under the GDPR, GLBA, FCRA, and other U.S. and international data protection laws. He also provided legal and regulatory guidance on swap dealer operations, private credit, fund structures, and other securities-related activities governed by the Investment Company Act and federal securities laws.

In addition to his legal practice, Robert brings a strategic understanding of how emerging technologies are reshaping financial markets. Drawing on his experience, he has developed significant insight into blockchain-based finance, digital asset infrastructure, tokenized securities, and the regulatory challenges facing decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. His background in both transactional law and bank regulatory compliance positions him to assess legal risk and market developments at the intersection of finance and technology.