Key Expertise
Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Restructuring
Commercial Credit and Lending
Corporate Governance
Expert Witness Testimony
Financial and Real Estate Litigation
Feasibility Analysis
Real Estate Valuation and Lending
Workouts and Special Assets
Education
MBA, Finance, Florida State University
MA, Real Estate and Urban Analysis, University of Florida
BS, Management, Florida State University
Loan Associate Program (formal credit training), First Florida Bank
Summary of Experience
Franklind Lea is a seasoned financial consultant with over thirty years of experience in the commercial business and finance sectors. He has extensive experience in areas including:
Bankruptcy and Restructuring: Franklind has played a pivotal role in numerous in-court and out of court restructuring cases while serving committees, creditors, and debtors. His expertise includes DIP financing, plan feasibility, cramdown interest rates, and valuation. He holds the Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) and Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) designations.
Commercial Credit and Lending: Franklind’s expertise in commercial loan management, underwriting, and credit management of commercial loans and real estate loans has been honed through formal credit training and his roles as a loan officer, credit manager, and credit committee member.
Corporate Governance: Franklind has held a variety of corporate governance roles throughout his career, beginning with his early service on a bank’s credit committee, where he was responsible for assessing risk, ensuring alignment with internal policies, and maintaining regulatory compliance. More recently, he has served on the boards of both for-profit and non-profit organizations, providing strategic oversight and guidance.
Business and Financial Litigation: Franklind brings deep expertise to financial litigation, serving as a trusted advisor and expert witness on critical issues such as interest rates, equitable rescission, damages, and valuation. His work has supported litigation in bankruptcy, state court, jury trials, and mediations through financial analysis, expert reports, and testimony.
Real Estate: Franklind is a recognized expert in commercial real estate. His experience includes roles as a commercial real estate appraiser and real estate lending officer. He has performed valuations for various property types, including apartments, industrial, office, retail, hospitality, special use, and land across the US. He holds an advanced degree in real estate valuation.
Role at J.S. Held
Franklind is a Managing Director in the Strategic Advisory practice at J.S. Held. He is frequently engaged in strategic roles, specializing in credit and lending, financial structuring and restructuring, corporate governance, and real estate matters.
Given his substantial experience, Franklind is frequently called upon by a variety of clients and has worked on behalf of businesses, city government, corporate boards, individuals, and a mediator. He is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences across the US and has authored numerous articles for industry leading journals.
Corporate Governance Roles
Denkai America Inc. (For Profit), Board of Directors, Independent Director (2025 – present)
Denkai America is the U.S. subsidiary of Nippon Denkai, a diversified Japanese industrial conglomerate and the only North American manufacturer of electrodeposited copper foil. The company serves critical sectors including printed circuit boards, energy storage systems, and industrial applications. Denkai America’s parent is currently undergoing liquidation as part of a Japanese court-ordered restructuring process.
Appointed as Independent Director to the U.S. entity to provide governance, leadership, and stability throughout the subsidiary’s sale process, with exclusive authority to resolve certain key disputes between the U.S. and Japanese entities. Role includes playing a central role in overseeing the orderly dissolution of U.S. assets and ensuring creditor repayment.
American Bankruptcy Institute (Non-Profit), Board of Directors (2015 – present)
The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) is the largest multidisciplinary, nonpartisan organization in the United States dedicated to research, education, and policy development in the field of insolvency. ABI serves as a cornerstone of thought leadership and professional development across the restructuring landscape and supports major research initiatives, scholarships, and policy studies. The Institute generates over $10 million in annual revenue and manages an endowment fund exceeding $20 million.
Held multiple Board leadership positions within ABI, including service on the Board of Directors' Executive Committee and in various other committees and roles. In these roles, provided strategic oversight, advanced initiatives on complex restructuring issues, and supported ABI’s mission to promote sound governance and creditor-debtor balance nationwide.
First Florida Bank, N.A. (For Profit), Credit Committee Member (1987 – 1992)
First Florida Bank was a multi-billion-dollar regional institution offering commercial and consumer banking services across Florida. It played a key role in the state’s economic development, especially in supporting small and mid-sized businesses, and was known for its customer service and strong regional market expertise.
Served as a voting member of the Credit Committee, helping to shape local credit policy and risk decisions. Contributed to strategic credit policy and institutional risk oversight while providing expert guidance on complex credit structures and risk assessment.
Professional Licenses, Memberships, Certifications, & Affiliations
Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA)
Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (AIRA), member
Turnaround Management Association (TMA), member
American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), member
Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP)
American Bankruptcy Institute (Non-Profit), Board of Directors, 2015 – present
Board of Directors’ Executive Committee, At-Large Member, 2021 – 2025
Board of Directors’ Education Committee, 2015 – 2025
Board of Directors’ Nominating Committee, 2015 & 2016
Board of Directors’ Investment Committee, 2022 – present
Board of Directors’ Finance Committee, 2024 – present
Asset Sales Committee, Co-Chair, 2014 – 2016
Financial Advisors & Investment Banking Committee, Co-Chair, 2012 & 2013; Education Director, 2010 & 2011
Select Honors and Awards
Godsend Award, Boy Scouts of America, 2012
Textron Financial Corporation, Employee of the Year, 2001 and 2002
Work Experience
J.S. Held, LLC
Managing Director
2025 – Present
The Brattle Group
Principal, Financial Restructuring and Litigation Consultant
2023 – 2025
The Brattle Group is a global consulting firm known for its deep expertise in economics, valuation, and accounting disputes. The firm advises clients on complex and contentious matters, delivering expert testimony, financial consulting, and litigation support in high-stakes environments.
Served as Principal in its Bankruptcy & Restructuring practice, providing strategic insight and analytical rigor across distressed and special situations. Collaborated with a distinguished team recognized for leadership in restructuring, transactions, and dispute resolution, bringing an executive presence to engagements requiring precision, credibility, and financial clarity.
Tactical Financial Consulting
President, Financial Restructuring and Litigation Consultant
2005 – 2023
Tactical Financial Consulting is a strategic advisory platform serving operating and real estate businesses nationwide. The firm specialized in credit, financial, feasibility, and valuation analysis, supporting clients through litigation, restructuring, and high-stakes financial disputes.
Founded and led the firm, delivering expert witness testimony, damage claim analysis, arbitration and mediation support, due diligence, and real estate advisory services. As a financial advisor and litigation consultant, routinely advised on bankruptcy strategy, plan feasibility, and workouts. Played a central role in overseeing the orderly dissolution of U.S. assets and ensuring creditor repayment. Tactical Financial Consulting serves as a platform for independent board leadership, supporting companies across the U.S. facing financial, operational, or governance challenges. with exclusive authority to resolve certain key disputes between the U.S. and Japanese entities.
Textron Financial Corporation
Vice President and Senior Underwriter, Specialty Lending
Vice President and Group Manager, Special Assets
1994 – 2005
Textron Inc., ranked approximately 125th on the Fortune 500 list, is a diversified industrial enterprise with principal operations in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing, including subsidiaries such as Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter. Textron Financial Corporation was a multi-billion-dollar commercial credit institution, delivering both captive and non-captive financing solutions across commercial and real estate sectors.
Lead the execution of complex workout transactions spanning equipment, media, real estate, and hospitality, directing a team of officers in the resolution of distressed assets and the optimization of recovery outcomes. Oversaw restructurings, negotiated settlements, and managed asset dispositions, applying sector-specific acumen and fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve strategic objectives. I reported directly to the Chief Credit Officer, President, and Credit Committee, ensuring transparency, alignment, and rigor in the management of critical credit exposures.
Kirkland & Co. and Lampe, Roy & Associates
Commercial Real Estate Appraiser
1992 – 1994
Created valuation reports for a wide range of commercial assets, including industrial, multi-family office, retail, residential, hospitality, special-use, and mixed-use properties. Both firms are known for their deep expertise, institutional-grade analysis, and MAI-designated leadership. I provided strategic insights to support client decisions on investment, financing, and development.
First Florida Bank, N.A.
Vice President, Regional Commercial Credit Manager
Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer
1987 – 1992
First Florida Bank was a multi-billion-dollar regional institution offering commercial and consumer banking services across Florida. It played a key role in the state’s economic development, especially in supporting small and mid-sized businesses, and was known for its customer service and strong regional market expertise.
Began as a commercial credit analyst, supporting loan officers with financial analysis and credit assessments, and quickly advanced into a lending role. Played a key role in business development across loans, credit lines, and deposits, applying deep credit expertise to evaluate client needs and risk. Additionally, served as a voting member of the Credit Committee, helping to shape local credit policy and risk decisions.
Select Publications & Speaking Engagements
As a thought leader, Franklind has spoken at numerous industry events on topics including bankruptcy, general business, and financial disputes. He has authored several articles for industry leading journals.
Testimony Experience
Franklind has provided expert testimony in numerous State and Federal matters relating to bankruptcy and business & financial disputes.