WILLIAM S. ECKLAND's practice focuses primarily on financial institutions, with particular emphasis on federal regulatory issues governing the operations of depository institutions and their holding companies. A key aspect of his practice relates to the development of new products and services for financial services entities. A significant portion of his practice involves the representation of diversified or nontraditional financial services holding companies. He also counsels foreign banking entities regarding their U.S. operations. Mr. Eckland has been actively engaged in all the regulatory aspects associated with mergers, acquisitions and restructuring activities of financial institutions, including transactions involving federal bank regulatory agencies such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He has formed numerous banks, federal savings banks and limited purpose banks, including credit card banks, industrial loan banks and trust companies, throughout the United States. Mr. Eckland is the head of Sidley Austin LLP’s Financial Institutions Regulatory Practice Group, as well as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.