Thanks to 40 years of experience in the US corporate loan market, both as the Executive Director of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA) and senior executive in three leading financial institutions such as Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley, and Bankers Trust, Bram Smith is a world-class expert in loan syndications, sales and trading, and capital markets
While Executive Director of the LSTA for 10 years, Bram managed the trade association for the corporate loan market through the challenging period surrounding the Great Financial Crisis of 2008/09. He worked closely with members to keep the secondary loan market functioning as well as educating Congress and regulators as to the impact of new regulations on the loan market.
Prior to joining the LSTA in September 2008, Bram worked for Bear Stearns as a senior managing director in the Leveraged Finance Group for five years where, among other duties, he managed the Loan Capital Markets and Sales effort in the US and Europe.
In 1996, Bram joined Morgan Stanley where he established and managed their Global Loan Business as a Managing Director. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he worked at Bankers Trust for nearly 18 years. His last responsibilities there were managing loan syndications, sales, and trading.
He has served on the LSTA board and as its Treasurer. He formerly was Chairman and President of the United Way in Scarsdale - Edgemont, New York.
Bram received a BS in International Affairs from the US Air Force Academy, an MA in International Affairs from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He served in the US Air Force in South East Asia before returning stateside for helicopter pilot training. He flew helicopters in California for his last 2½ years of duty for the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.
EXPERTISE
Loan Syndications and Distribution
Loan Sales & Trading
Leveraged Loans Transactions
Loan Capital Markets
Debt Underwriting
EDUCATION
Harvard Business School
MBA
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
M.A. in International Affairs
US Air Force Academy
B.S. in International Affairs
WORK HISTORY
LSTA
Executive Director
2008-2018
Bear Stearns
Senior Managing Director
2003-2008
Morgan Stanley
Managing Director
1996-2003
Bankers Trust Company
Managing Director
1978-1996
US Air Force
Captain
1970-1976
Loan Syndication Expert Witness
Contact
R. Bram Smith
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
+1 646-626-4555