Our CrunchedCredit editorial team includes:
Richard D. Jones
Partner
Dechert LLP
Philadelphia/New York
+1 212 698 3844
richard.jones@dechert.com
Richard D. Jones (“Rick”), co-chair of Dechert’s Finance and Real Estate group, focuses his practice on capital markets and mortgage finance. Mr. Jones was designated as a leading lawyer for real estate in the 2005-2009 editions of Chambers USA, a referral guide to leading lawyers in the United States based on the opinions of their clients and peers. Mr. Jones was described as “one of the savviest capital markets / mortgage finance lawyers in America’s real estate sector” in the 2007 edition of The Legal 500 (U.S.), which also named him one of New York’s top capital markets attorneys in its 2008 and 2009 editions. In addition he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Mr. Jones recently received the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association’s (CMSA) Founders Award for his leadership. He has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) which is given annually to one person who has provided sustained and effective leadership to the industry.
Mr. Jones is past president of the CRE Finance Council; a founder of the Commercial Real Estate Institute (CRI); a member and past governor of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a former chair of its Capital Markets Committee; and a member of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Mortgage Board of Governors (COMBOG) of the MBA. Mr. Jones is a member of the Real Estate Roundtable, serving on its Capital and Credit Policy Advisory Committee. He also serves as the chairman of CRE Finance Council's PAC as a member of the Commercial Real Estate Working Group of the Financial Services Roundtable, and on the MBA's blue ribbon Council on Ensuring Mortgage Liquidity.
Mr. Jones is widely published and a frequent speaker on a wide range of issues affecting the capital markets and mortgage finance markets.
Matthew Clark
Partner
Dechert LLP
Boston
+1 617 728 7118
matthew.clark@dechert.com
Matthew Clark’s practice encompasses a broad range of finance and real estate matters, with a concentration in the origination, acquisition, syndication and disposition of mortgage loans, high-yield debt, B-notes, participations and mezzanine financings. Recently, Mr. Clark has represented a number of clients in connection with the acquisition of domestic loan portfolios from European banks and frequently represents lenders in connection with distressed-note financings and repurchase facilities.
Mr. Clark also has extensive experience in the restructuring and workout of complex distressed-debt structures. He frequently represents mortgage and mezzanine lenders in connection with the workout, foreclosure and restructuring of mortgage and mezzanine loans. He has also represented a large number of life insurance companies, investment banks, commercial banks and other institutional investors in connection with the origination, purchase and sale of complex commercial mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and credit facilities. Mr. Clark has originated loans secured by all major asset types, with a special emphasis on “specialty assets,” including hotels, life-science facilities, condominiums, housing cooperatives and data and telecommunication centers.
Mr. Clark is an active participant in several trade organizations, most recently as a member of the committee responsible for preparing the CRE Finance Council’s Model Representations and Warranties. He is also a frequent lecturer and author on matters relating to real estate finance.
Ralph R. Mazzeo
Partner
Dechert LLP
Finance and Real Estate
Philadelphia
+1 215 994 2417
ralph.mazzeo@dechert.com
Ralph R. Mazzeo focuses his practice on mortgage finance and capital markets, with a particular emphasis on structured finance, including residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). Mr. Mazzeo has more than a decade of experience in advising issuers, mortgage originators, servicers, collateral managers, underwriters, financial guarantors and others in connection with securitizations, asset sales and debt restructurings.
His experience includes the securitization of various types of assets, including mortgage loans, manufactured housing loans, servicing advances, public utility stranded costs and credit card receivables, as well as resecuritizations and net interest margin securitizations. Mr. Mazzeo also has significant experience representing parties selling or acquiring mortgage loans and mortgage servicing rights.
A member of Dechert's Financial Markets Recovery Task Force, Mr. Mazzeo has counseled numerous financial institutions and investment managers in connection with the government-sponsored financial recovery programs, including the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), the Public-Private Investment Program (PPIP) and the Temporary Liquidity Guaranty Program (TLGP). In addition, he has represented financial institutions and asset purchasers in structuring the disposition and financing of distressed financial assets through the use of joint ventures, participations and various fund structures, and represented CDO collateral managers in a variety of collateral debt restructurings and asset sales.
Mr. Mazzeo also advises investment managers on the structuring and formation of private equity and hedge funds with an emphasis on investments in real estate, distressed debt and TALF-eligible securities.
Laurie J. Nelson
Associate
Dechert LLP
Philadelphia
+1 215 994 2495
laurie.nelson@dechert.com
Laurie J. Nelson focuses her practice on the securitization of financial assets. Ms. Nelson has worked as issuer’s and underwriter’s counsel on dozens of mortgage-backed public securities offerings and private placements, including resecuritizations and net interest margin securitizations. She has represented leading companies including Chase, Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch in residential mortgage-backed securities transactions and has represented the operating trust advisor in various commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions. Ms. Nelson also has experience representing parties in whole loan mortgage transactions and in the sale of mortgage servicing rights. In addition, she has represented CDO collateral managers in a variety of collateral debt restructurings and asset sales and has counseled financial institutions and investment managers with respect to participation in government programs including the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF).
Ms. Nelson maintains an active pro bono practice and has been recognized for her work in this area by the Pro Bono Project New Orleans. In addition, she is involved in the Committee of Seventy's election monitoring efforts in Philadelphia.
Stewart McQueen
Associate
Dechert LLP
Charlotte
+1 704 339 3155
stewart.mcqueen@dechert.com
Stewart McQueen focuses his practice on securitization transactions, complex real estate finance and capital markets. Mr. McQueen has significant experience in representing issuers, underwriters, servicers and collateral managers in securitization transactions, particularly CMBS and CRE CDOs; borrowers and lenders in repurchase facilities, warehouse facilities and revolving credit facilities; and purchasers and sellers of subordinate debt, particularly mezzanine financings.
Devin M. Swaney
Associate
Dechert LLP
New York
+1 212 698 3661
devin.swaney@dechert.com
Devin M. Swaney focuses his practice on finance and real estate matters, with a particular emphasis on securitization and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Mr. Swaney has represented issuers, underwriters, mortgage loan sellers, servicers and operating advisors with respect to public and private mortgage-backed securitizations. He has acted as counsel to registrants with respect to filings and reporting obligations under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and he has experience representing financial institutions and funds with regard to the creation, sale and purchase of interests and participations in mortgage loans and mezzanine debt.
Matthew B. Ginsburg
Associate
Dechert LLP
Philadelphia
+1 215 994 2321
matthew.ginsburg@dechert.com
Matthew B. Ginsburg is an associate in Dechert’s finance and real estate group and is based in the firm’s Philadelphia office. Mr. Ginsburg focuses his practice in commercial real estate finance and investment with concentrations in the origination, acquisition, syndication and disposition of mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and subordinate debt and joint venture and preferred equity investments. In addition, Mr. Ginsburg has experience in post-closing modifications, restructuring and workout of complex distressed-debt structures. He has represented a number of investment banks, life insurance companies, commercial banks, institutional investors, loan servicers and private equity funds.
Krystyna M. Blakeslee
Associate
Finance and Real Estate
Hartford
+1 860 524 3913
krystyna.blakeslee@dechert.com
Krystyna M. Blakeslee focuses her practice on finance and real estate matters. Prior to joining Dechert, Ms. Blakeslee served as a law clerk for the Honorable Alan H. W. Shiff of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Bridgeport, CT (2009-2010). She also previously served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a Dechert summer associate in 2008.
Please email us your questions regarding Commercial Real Estate.
Add this blog to your feeds or put your e-mail in the box below and hit GO to subscribe by e-mail.