OUR TEAM

• Richard M. Contino, Principal

Richard M. Contino is an internationally-recognized equipment leasing expert, with an extensive legal, business, marketing, tax, transaction structuring, financial and management background.  He is an advisor on all types of start-up and on-going equipment leasing business activities for lessors, lease lenders and syndicators, equipment vendors, lease investors and corporate lessees.  He is former General Counsel of De Lage Landen, Wayne, Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of The Rabobank Group, and the 14th largest equipment lessor in the U.S.

Mr. Contino is the author of eight books on business, negotiating, and equipment leasing, including The Complete Equipment-Leasing Handbook, Amacom Books, 2002, and most recently Equipment Leasing and Financing: A Product Sales and Business Profit Strategy, Business Expert Press, 2019. He has conducted private on-site and publicly-held business success, communication, finance, and negotiation seminars throughout the United States for professional organizations (e.g., American Management Association, Equipment Leasing Association, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, National Seminars Group, Practicing Law Institute, and University of California Graduate School of Law) as well as corporations (e.g., AT&T, EXXON Corporation, NYNEX, and Texas Instruments Corporation).

Mr. Contino holds an LL.M. in Corporate Law from New York University Graduate School of Law, a Juris Doctor from University of Maryland School of Law, and a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is admitted to the Bar in the District of Columbia, Maryland and New York, is a member of the American Bar Association, and is Listed in Who’s Who of American Law, Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders, and Who’s Who in the World. Mr. Contino is also a Captain (retired) in the United States Air Force.

• Jim Lake, Principal

Jim Lake is a veteran with over 35 years in business, investment banking, real estate, and funding. He began his career as a U.S. Air Force combat pilot, where he rose to command roles and engaged with top U.S. leaders. Post-military, he was an airline captain and flight instructor. He founded Securities Realty Group for Florida real estate partnerships, and via GFRS, Inc., arranged funding through equity, LBOs, MBOs, and IPOs.

Credentials: Series 7/63 securities licenses; Florida real estate license; California law license. Education: B.S. from U.S. Air Force Academy; distinguished graduate of advanced military schools; MBA from Ball State; J.D. from Concord Law School (with awards, moot court); LL.M. in Small Business Management from Purdue Global. Authored The Small Business Owner’s Survival Guide to Asset Protection. Jim is also an Angel investor with successful exits, including three companies in the past five years that yielded 3x-6x returns.

A disabled veteran, Lake supports military causes: lifetime IEEE member; Order of Daedalians, American Legion; co-chair of Armed Forces YMCA fundraising; director of CTS Wounded Warrior; founder of DVA Charity; provides free legal aid via Chapman University and AMVETS. He won a federal case against a Fortune 500 firm for disability discrimination, benefiting thousands. Active in Greek American community (AHEPA Archon Polities) and St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, volunteering extensively, including serving Thanksgiving meals to the needy. Hobbies: symphony, museums, golf, sports.

• Penelope Holt, Marketing

Ms. Holt is accomplished in supporting start-ups and rapidly moving them to fast growth and profitability. She has worked on both the client and the agency side to provide wide-ranging marketing support across disciplines, from market strategy and powerful positioning, to go-to-market planning, creative, advertising, PR and digital strategies. She has been a marketing executive, partner, and advisor at leading brands including Bill Me Later, PayPal, eBay, Pitney Bowes, British Telecom, Sezzle, and BorrowersFirst.

Ms. Holt holds honors degrees in Linguistics and English Literature from York University, England. She is the author, co-author, and editor of numerous books and publications.