Nicolas Montes Relevant Experience

Pepper Pay, LLC; Transact First Inc.; Rocket Financial Inc (April 2023 – August 2023): Acted as Assistant General Counsel to payment processing solution vendor. Drafted, reviewed and negotiated Merchant Processing Terms and Conditions and Independent Sales Office Agreements for electronic payment processing services of debit and credit transactions. Drafted and negotiated payment platform licensing agreements and SaaS Agreements. Review of issuing bank and card network agreements. Reviewed and negotiated agreements with financial technology providers and resellers of point of sale software and hardware.

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) (2018 - 2022): Worked in Corporate Procurement Services supporting DTCC Legal. Reviewed and negotiated all agreements relating to IT, Financial Products, Data Services and Professional Services that support Clearing and Settlement Services for Equities, Derivatives and Securities. Responsibilities included ensuring DTCC Data Privacy standards and regulatory compliance provisions were incorporated in all vendor agreements. Partnered with Third Party Risk Management, Technology Risk Management, Insurance Special Matter Experts and General Counsel Office to ensure risk mitigation. Participated in providing responses to regulatory agencies requests for production and internal audits. Provided advisory opinions with respect to applicable laws and regulations required in vendor agreements.

Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI) (September 2017 – March 2018: HASI is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that invests in debt and equity in sustainable infrastructure, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. I was charged with managing senior secured revolving credit facilities with financial institutions to invest and collateralized debt and investment in renewable energy. I assisted and participated in the preparation of private placement securitizations and issuance of bonds to institutional investors.

Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional (FDN) (September 2014- November 2016): The FDN is a private-public multilateral financial institution owned by the Republic of Colombia, International Finance Corporation (World Bank), Development Bank of Latin America and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). I was in charge of corporate governance matters on behalf of IFC. I was responsible for reviewing and negotiating all IT agreements and vendor agreements. Participated in drafting and negotiating senior debt loans, multipurpose liquidity and credit facilities and partial guarantees in project financing for infrastructure development.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (September 2012 – October 2014). I assisted the Office of the Presidency in corporate governance matters such as structuring Terms of Reference of the Executive Committees of Management to ensure proper controls for loan operations and bank activities. Collaborated with the Office of Institutional Capacity and Finance to draft and edit publications recommending guidelines for improving the role of financial institutions across Latin America.

Nicolas Montes, P.A. (September 2011 – June 2014). I started my own law firm and continued to grow my corporate practice which consisted of acting as general counsel to several companies. I represented small and medium enterprises in corporate governance matters, commercial transactions, employment matters as well as providing legal advice in structuring financing and investing in new and existing companies. It was at this time that I started working as a consultant to IDB.

Arista Law (March 2010 – July 2011). Acted as corporate attorney to represent clients in commercial agreements and corporate governance with an emphasis on implementing asset protection in line with Trust and Estates directives and objectives.

Marcell Felipe Attorney. (April 2007- December 2009). Continued to Act as General Counsel to Intelligent Mobile Solutions until it divested it interests in its South American subsidiaries and sold its U.S. business operations to South African private equity group.

Represented founding shareholders in a Televisions Network start up in obtaining equity investments by private equity group and Spanish publicly traded television network. Represented technology companies in private placement securities offerings.

Intelligent Mobile Solutions, Inc. Acted as Corporate Counsel, 2005 – 2007. Prepared and negotiated revenue-sharing agreements with strategic partners throughout Latin America and served as business counsel wireless application service provider. Conducted due diligence in sale of existing business assets and divesting company operations. Responsible for implementing corporate governance policies for six subsidiaries in Latin America. Continued to represent company until it divested its business operations in the U.S. in 2010.

Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, Corporate Paralegal, 2000 - 2002, Summer 2003. Prepared disclosure statements for financial institutions in sovereign debt offerings of several Latin American countries. Review and preparation of legal documentation for corporate bond offerings in compliance with SEC regulations. Reviewed and prepared documentation for closings in corporate financing, project financing and cross-border financing corporate transactions.

Banco do Nordeste, Salvador, Brazil

Intern, 2002. Worked closely with loan officers of micro-lending program aimed at financing small businesses to provide advice to business owners and ensure proper use of loan proceeds.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, MA

Intern, Summer 1999. Participated in U.S. Banking overview program, which introduces interns to how different areas of Federal Reserve Bank departments work to carry out the objectives and mission set forth by the Board of Governors.