The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association selected Charles W. Cross, senior lead counsel at Wells Fargo, to receive its 2022 David H. Fenig Distinguished Service in Advocacy Award. Cross will be formally recognized at ELFA’s Capitol Connections event on May 25.

“We are pleased to recognize Chuck Cross for all he has done to advance ELFA’s advocacy agenda,” Ralph Petta, president and CEO of the ELFA, said. “As the leading advocate for the equipment finance industry, ELFA plays a critical role in making sure our industry’s voice is heard by elected officials. We would not be successful without the leadership and commitment of members like Chuck.”

“I am honored to be the recipient of this award and accept it in large part as a proxy for all of the folks in ELFA that have given this industry their time, knowledge and experience on so many legal and regulatory issues at all levels of government over the years,” Cross said. “It has been a pleasure working with the ELFA staff (and, most recently, Scott Riehl) and my colleagues at companies and law firms across the country to formulate and present industry viewpoints for the benefit of all of our members. It is a privilege to work with government officials to accurately identify and define issues, provide useful information and context, and, when necessary, assist in formulating reasonable, responsive and well-crafted laws and regulations.”

Cross is being recognized for his contributions to the ELFA’s state advocacy program. He has assisted the industry in promoting its policy objectives in several ways, most notably through providing analysis and guidance to the ELFA, its membership and specific issue workgroups. His willingness to assist with ELFA state negotiations has been invaluable to the association’s success on the critical issue of state financial disclosure requirements. Cross has managed the industry’s efforts promoting the important interests of ELFA members through the regulatory process. He has run the drafting of more than 11 sets of ELFA regulatory comments between California and New York over the last three years.

Cross has been involved with the ELFA for more than 30 years. He attended his first ELFA Legal Forum in 1985, has served two three-year terms on the ELFA’s legal committee and has been active in several association committees and subcommittees, including his current membership on the state legislative and regulatory subcommittee of the legal committee, which provides advice and support to ELFA state government relations staff in evaluating and responding to state legislative and regulatory issues relating to the equipment finance industry.

Cross has also been as an information resource for ELFA members regarding a range of issues impacting the equipment finance industry, making numerous presentations at the ELFA’s Legal Forums and other industry events. He also has contributed articles to industry publications and was a contributing editor and author of “Equipment Leasing” in Banking and Lending Institutional Forms, published by LexisNexis A.S. Pratt, including forms and commentary for small-ticket, major-market, aircraft and municipal leases.

Cross is currently senior lead counsel at Wells Fargo and has worked there for 11 years. He has worked exclusively in the equipment finance industry for more than 30 years in senior counsel or general counsel positions at bank-related and independent equipment finance companies, including Fleet Capital, BTM Capital and Key Global Finance.