Title: Senior Vice President and Governance Counsel
Company: Pacific Premier Bank
Location: Lake Forest, California, United States
Lance A. McKinlay, senior vice president and governance counsel at Pacific Premier Bank, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in law and banking.
Mr. McKinlay has established himself as a distinguished attorney and prominent figure in corporate governance, currently serving as the senior vice president and governance counsel at Pacific Premier Bank, a regional, California state-chartered commercial bank based in Irvine, California. In this capacity, he is the primary internal attorney for the firm, overseeing corporate governance matters, reviewing Securities and Exchange Commission filings and assisting with strategic transactions. Mr. McKinlay’s expertise in governance is widely recognized, and he has been instrumental in shaping the bank’s legal strategies for over five years.
A career marked by a series of significant roles that have contributed to his professional development, Mr. McKinlay has also served as a non-executive director at Frontier Renewables since 2022, where he applies his legal acumen to support sustainable energy initiatives. The global investment management firm invests in renewable energy infrastructure projects based in Madrid.
Before being acquired by Pacific Premier Bank, Mr. McKinlay was a senior counsel at Enterprise Counsel Group, A Law Corporation, where he honed his skills in complex legal matters. Between 2009 and 2012, he excelled as a partner at Manderson, Schafer & McKinlay LLP. During this time, he achieved one of his most notable accomplishments by representing a small buyout group in a competitive Chapter 11 reorganization. This case involved the successful acquisition and reorganization of Fremont Bank into Signature Group Holdings. The experience enriched Mr. McKinlay as it involved navigating court hearings in Mexico and managing a competitive bidding process with multiple investor groups.
Earlier in his career, Mr. McKinlay served as a senior associate at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP in Costa Mesa, California, from 2005 to 2009 and as an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati in Palo Alto, California, dating back to 2000. These roles gave him foundational experiences shaping his approach to corporate law and governance.
Mr. McKinlay’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in economics from Brigham Young University in 1994 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. His education laid the groundwork for his success by equipping him with critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of economic principles.
In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. McKinlay is actively involved in several industry-related organizations, such as the California State Bar, the Orange County Bar Association, the business law section of the California Lawyers Association and the Society for Corporate Governance. These memberships have been instrumental in his ability to remain at the forefront of his business community. Beyond his professional life, Mr. McKinlay is committed to civic engagement through his volunteer work with African Joy’s Mission.
Mr. McKinlay has contributed to legal scholarship as the co-author of “Change at the Top: Are Recent Legal Reforms Aimed at Improving Board Accountability to Shareholders on Target?” published in Business Law News by the California Lawyers Association in 2011. Looking ahead, he aspires to serve on various boards, leveraging his extensive experience to contribute further to corporate governance excellence.
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