Photo of Frank L. Wilford

Frank L. Wilford

Member , Lexington KY

859.231.3013

Frank L. Wilford

Member , Lexington KY

Frank is a Member in Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Lexington office and has been with the firm since 1985. He is a member of the Real Estate practice as well as the Business Services Banking practices. His practice focuses on transactional real estate, real estate financing and bank branching and financing.

Frank has been rated as a Kentucky Super Lawyer and a Best Lawyer and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ by Martindale-Hubbell® for his many legal accomplishments. He has extensive experience as lead counsel for banks and developers, including planning, financing, and implementing planned unit developments. He has also acted as lead counsel to out-of-state lenders in connection with transactions which include Kentucky real estate.

Frank is a member of the Fayette County, Kentucky, and American Bar associations, as well as the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is active within the community, having served for two years on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House leading the firm-sponsored builds with Habitat for Humanity and working at The Salvation Army. He sponsors a team for God’s Pantry team, is on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors for Whitaker Bank, and is Secretary for the Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky. Frank is single with two daughters and enjoys reading, running, and weight training in his free time.

Education

University of Kentucky College of Law, 1974, J.D.

University of Kentucky, 1970, B.A.

Experience

Admitted In

  • Pro Hac Vice: Real estate secured financing for acquisition, development and construction in Tennessee, Indiana, Texas and Florida

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky

  • Kentucky

Professional & Community Activities

  • American Bar Association

  • Fayette County Bar Association

  • Kentucky Bar Association

  • International Council of Shopping Centers

  • Ronald McDonald House, former board member

  • Habitat for Humanity, volunteer

  • God’s Pantry, volunteer

  • Salvation Army, volunteer

  • Whitaker Bank, Inc., board of directors, executive committee

  • Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky, secretary

Accolades

  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

  • Best Lawyers® 2011, 2017 Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Lexington

  • Best Lawyers® 2022 Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Lexington

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, 2008 – present

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2019 – present

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, 2020 – present

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, 2021 – present

  • Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer for Business, Real Estate, 2014 – 2017

  • Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honoree, 2009 – 2010

Work Highlights

  • Representation of Financial Institutions in Enforcement Actions

    Representation of financial institution clients in negotiating with regulatory authorities about proposed enforcement actions, including formal cease and desist and consent orders, informal memoranda of understanding and civil money penalties. Advising financial institutions regarding compliance with enforcement actions and regulatory compliance matters.

  • Trust Company

    Represented a bank in the purchase of all the outstanding stock of a trust company.

Seminars

  • Bankers Network Conference, Speaker, Asheville, North Carolina, 2009

Contact Frank Today

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