Ms Laura Swihart > Dechert LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

The global finance practice at Dechert LLP is commended for its ‘especially deep knowledge of fund finance and asset management firm financing’. The team advise on both the lender and borrower side, advising lenders, borrowers, issuers, equity investors, sponsors, financial advisors and agents. Areas of strength include alternative financing, acquisition finance and direct lending. At practice head level, the team is jointly led by Jay Alicandri, Scott Zimmerman and Laura Swihart from the New York office, alongside John Timpero from the Charlotte office. Angelina Liang also features as a strong member of the team.

Dechert LLP represents clients in securitization matters spanning a vast assortment of asset classes from the traditional to the esoteric. It is adept at advising clients in public and private securities as well as warehouse facilities. The firm is also knowledgeable in the growing market surrounding automobile loan-backed securities, regularly advising credit unions. The practice is led by Charlotte-based Stewart McQueen and Christopher Duerden as well as New York-based Ralph Mazzeo. McQueen is expert in assisting issuers, underwriters and buyers in CMBSs and CRE CLOs, whilst Duerden advises on CLOs broadly as well as leveraged loan warehouse facilities. Mazzeo is well-equipped to handle a wide array of mortgage finance transactions, including RMBS, CMBS, SFRs and CRE CLOs. Out of New York, Laura Swihart compounds the firm’s strength in commercial real estate securitization, advising issuers, underwrites, mortgage loan sellers and subordinate bond buyers. John Timpero, situated in Charlotte, is noted for his work in the CLO space and is versed in structures compliant with risk retention requirements across jurisdictions. Sarah Milam is experienced in a wide number of asset types, including unsecured consumer loans, automobile loans, SFRs, timeshares and solar loans.

Dechert LLP boasts a leading commercial real estate finance practice which is regularly mandated by clients to aid with origination of commercial real estate loans, including mortgage and mezzanine loans, as well as with real estate acquisitions and dispositions. The firm specializes in representing lenders in complex real estate finance transactions and advises clients on seeking leverage through repurchase agreements. Advising issuers, underwriters, and asset sellers in CMBS and standalone securitization of large loans is also a key pillar of the practice. Practice heads Laura Swihart and John Timpero lead the team from New York and Charlotte, respectively. Swihart is the go-to for clients requiring assisting with commercial mortgage-backed securitization transactions. She has also represented a number of joint ventures and entities with creating commercial mortgage loan origination platforms. The firm has a large team of lawyers to assist its large client base all over America, key names include David Forti who takes the lead in Philadelphia, Stewart McQueen who is key to the commercial mortgage-backed securities practice in North Carolina, and in Philadelphia Jason Rozes is an expert in advising lenders on commerical real estate finance. Richard Jones is an expert in capital markets and mortgage finance, while Devin Swaney focuses on structure finance and real estate matters and are both based in New York. Matthew Ginsburg, Kenneth Hackman and Nitya Kumar Goyal in Pennsylvania, and Laura Ciabarra and Matthew Fischer over in New York, are all noted for their specialism in real estate finance. In Philadelphia, Victoria Boland is noted for her experience representing investment banks, life insurance companies, and commercial banks.