McGuireWoods is expanding its global real estate practice with the addition of partners Dennis Mensi and Alice Youngbar, who bring extensive experience advising lenders in commercial and multifamily mortgage loans intended for sale on the secondary market.
Mensi represents institutional lenders originating loans that are pooled and sold as commercial mortgage-backed securities. He handles multifamily loans intended for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under their respective multifamily financing programs. He also advises investment and commercial banks in mezzanine loan origination and in purchasing, selling and syndicating mortgage and mezzanine loans.
Youngbar represents lenders in financing multifamily properties through the Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting & Servicing product line and various Freddie Mac Seller-Servicer loan programs. She has experience with all conventional programs, including manufactured housing, student housing, moderate rehab and green financing.
“Dennis and Alice are highly respected deal advisers who have thriving practices in a high-volume, fast-paced market,” said John Grieb, chair of the firm’s Real Estate & Land Use Department. “Their skill in complex real estate financings complements the work we do for our clients nationally and in Europe.”
Both join McGuireWoods from Cassin & Cassin in New York. Mensi received his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. Youngbar earned her law degree from New York School of Law.
“McGuireWoods has a premier real estate team and strong relationships with leading global banking and financial institutions, providing tremendous growth opportunities for my practice,” Mensi said.
Youngbar said she looks forward to expanding the firm’s multifamily financing transactions capabilities.
“I am impressed with the depth and breadth of the firm’s real estate practice and its reputation for guiding clients through sophisticated financing transactions,” she said.
McGuireWoods’ real estate group represents investors, developers, financial institutions and Fortune 100 companies in matters throughout the United States and abroad. Six of the firm’s U.S.-based real estate lawyers are ranked by Chambers USA in its 2017 guide and the firm’s real estate practice is ranked in The Legal 500’s 2017 UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa guides.