Benjamin P. Shapiro

Benjamin P. Shapiro is one of the leading bank lawyers in Chicago. Upon graduation from Northwestern University School of Law in 1968, Shapiro joined the legal department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He left in 1972 to become Regional Counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In that capacity, he was chief legal counsel in the FDIC’s Midwest region.

In 1979, Shapiro left the FDIC to become a partner at Sidley & Austin, one of the city’s largest and most prestigious law firms. At Sidley & Austin, he headed the bank regulatory practice group. In 2004, Shapiro formed his own firm, The Law Offices of Benjamin P. Shapiro, and in 2007, he and Mark D. Belongia formed Belongia & Shapiro, LLP.

Throughout his career, Shapiro has consistently provided the highest-quality work to his financial institution clients. In his practice he has, among other things, helped organize new banks, represented buyers and sellers in bank sale and merger transactions, represented troubled banks before regulatory agencies, negotiated regulatory enforcement actions and provided general business, regulatory and compliance advice to his numerous clients.

In addition to his law practice, Shapiro has other business interests including M.B. Advisors, a firm that assists minority-owned financial institutions. He is a frequent lecturer on banking topics and is AV Peer Rated by Martindale.