James Cretella

Attorney and Partner at Blank Rome

James Cretella, Esq., is a partner at Blank Rome, a national law firm with offices in various cities across the United States. With over two decades of legal experience, he began his career after graduating cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, earned in 2001 from Villanova University.

Legal Expertise

James concentrates his legal practice on representing financial institutions, including banks, private lenders, commercial finance firms, and factors. His role includes advising on, negotiating, and documenting secured lending transactions from start to finish.

He counsels a variety of lenders and borrowers in structuring complex finance transactions. His work spans asset-based and cash flow lending structures, including hybrid models; receivables finance and factoring across different formats such as notification, non-notification, actual sale, and participations; and lender finance matters from both the lending and borrowing sides. He also handles credit lines based on recurring revenue, often used by companies operating under SaaS or subscription models. His experience further includes supply chain finance, channel finance, purchase order finance, and Article 9 foreclosure sales.

His practice involves supporting clients through workouts, warehouse lines, intercreditor arrangements, and transactions involving non-standard borrower profiles. Known for his efficiency and responsiveness, he works across industries including staffing, healthcare, FinTech, technology, transportation, real estate, energy, and government services.

James also works with middle- and upper-middle-market clients on transactions involving asset-backed lending, large factoring deals, inventory financing, and trade finance, including off-balance-sheet receivable purchases and purchase order funding.

Additionally, he serves as outside legal counsel to smaller lenders, managing their front-end transactions, including factoring, asset-based lending, and recurring revenue deals, while also advising on broader legal matters. He represents these clients in negotiating their credit facilities as borrowers and supports them in acquiring or selling loan portfolios.

Named as One of SFNet’s 40 Under 40

He is an active member of the Secured Finance Network (SFNet), a professional community for those involved in secured lending. In 2016, he was named among SFNet’s 40 Under 40, recognizing young professionals making significant contributions to the commercial finance industry.

A Recognized Voice in the Commercial Finance Industry

In October 2025, he moderated a panel discussion during a firm-hosted session in Dallas, Texas, titled “Navigating Lender Finance.” The panel featured industry professionals from across the capital, legal, and investment landscape, focusing on deal structuring, underwriting, risk assessment, mergers and acquisitions, and current market conditions in private credit.

Jim Cretella also participates in the International Factoring Association, a global organization of professionals from factoring companies, bank-owned firms, and other receivables finance entities. He is scheduled to co-present the Factoring Essentials course during the association’s annual conference from May 6–8, 2026.

James's written contributions include co-authoring the column “What Would You Do” in The Secured Lender, a publication focused on asset-based lending and factoring. He has also co-authored two articles published in 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 is also involved in mentoring junior associates, offering support, guidance, and practical insights from his experience.

Committed to Helping Communities

He formerly served on the board of directors for a school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, that provides education from PreK3 through 8th grade. The school was created in memory of someone who passed away during the events of 9/11.

James regularly donates to charitable causes, including faith-based organizations and educational institutions.

On the Personal Side

He will celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary in 2026. During his personal time, he enjoys watching baseball and football.

James Cretella continues to contribute to the legal and financial sectors through his practice, writing, and professional involvement, while remaining committed to his clients and community.