James Cretella

James Cretella

Attorney and Partner at Blank Rome

James Cretella, Esq., is a partner and attorney at Blank Rome, a national law firm with offices across the country. He has practiced law for over 21 years. He earned his Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004, after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University in 2001.

Legal Expertise

James focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, including banks, private lenders, commercial finance companies, and factors. He supports clients through all stages of secured lending transactions, offering legal insight from initial structuring to final documentation.

His work includes advising both lenders and borrowers on a broad range of finance transactions. These involve asset-based and cash flow lending, including hybrid models; receivables finance and factoring in various forms such as notification, non-notification, actual sale, and participations; lender finance transactions from both perspectives; and recurring revenue credit lines typically used by SaaS and subscription-based companies. He also handles supply chain finance, channel financing, purchase order finance, and Article 9 foreclosure transactions.

Jim Cretella frequently advises on complex matters, including intercreditor arrangements, workouts, warehouse lines, and lending to non-traditional borrower types. He is known for being responsive and detail-focused, helping clients close deals across industries, including staffing, technology, FinTech, healthcare, real estate, transportation, energy, and government contracting.

James also manages transactions for middle- and upper-middle-market clients. These include asset-backed loans, factoring deals, inventory finance, and other forms of trade finance, such as off-balance-sheet receivables and purchase order financing.

In addition, he serves as outside counsel to smaller private lending institutions. He drafts and negotiates documents for front-end deals, including factoring, ABL, and recurring revenue transactions. He also advises these clients as borrowers in credit negotiations and assists with buying and selling loan portfolios.

Named as One of SFNet’s 40 Under 40

James is involved in the Secured Finance Network (SFNet), an organization that supports secured finance professionals and firms. In 2016, he was selected as one of SFNet’s 40 Under 40, recognizing emerging leaders in the commercial finance field.

A Recognized Voice in the Commercial Finance Industry

In October 2025, he acted as moderator during a panel at a firm-hosted session in Dallas, Texas, titled “Navigating Lender Finance.” The panel brought together professionals from across the industry to discuss underwriting, structuring, risk management, and trends in mergers and acquisitions and private credit.

James is also active in the International Factoring Association, which includes members from factoring companies, bank-affiliated firms, and other receivables finance providers. He is scheduled to attend the association’s conference from May 6–8, 2026, where he will co-present the Factoring Essentials course.

He has contributed to professional publications as a co-author. His column, “What Would You Do,” appeared in The Secured Lender, offering insights on asset-based lending and factoring. He also co-wrote two articles for Financier Worldwide Magazine: “Friendly Foreclosures: Free and Clear or Clearly Full of Successor Liability?” and “To the Abyss and Back: The Evolution of Exit Financing From the Credit Crisis Through Today.”

He actively mentors junior associates, helping them develop their legal skills and advance their careers.

Committed to Helping Communities

James served on the board of directors for a school located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which offers an academic program for students from PreK3 through 8th grade. The school was founded in memory of a person who lost their life on 9/11.

He continues to support charitable organizations, including faith-based institutions and schools.

On the Personal Side

He will be celebrating 20 years of marriage in 2026. In his free time, he enjoys following both baseball and football.

James Cretella remains committed to serving clients, mentoring peers, and contributing to the secured finance industry through his legal work and professional involvement.

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