People

Janet Barbiere Partner

New York

She represents banks, investment banks and other financial institutions in their roles as issuers, underwriters, placement agents, originators, loan sellers and investors in commercial mortgage loan and mezzanine loan securitizations, real estate syndications, origination and servicing programs, the acquisition and sale of interests in mortgage loans, mortgage securities, subordinated debt and mezzanine debt, as well as transactions in the secondary mortgage market.

She has advised banks and other financial institutions in analyzing and structuring a broad array of traditional and unique CMBS transactions, in the restructuring and sale of performing and non-performing commercial mortgage loans, and in connection with CMBS re-securitizations and CRE CLO securitizations. She serves on various SFIG and CREFC Committees.

Prior to joining Orrick, Janet was a partner in the New York offices of Kaye Scholer LLP, Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP and Sidley Austin LLP.

Olivier Bernard Partner

Paris

Olivier advises French and international financial institutions, insurers, funds and other alternative capital providers, as well as borrowers, on structured finance, debt capital markets and securitization transactions, in relation to a variety of assets, including real estate, transportation fleets and infrastructure.

He has been involved on a number of groundbreaking multi-jurisdictional transactions, privately or publicly placed.

Before joining Orrick in 2016 as a partner, Olivier was counsel in the finance department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Valerie Clark Counsel

New York

Valerie's practice has a focus on warehouse lending, secured credit facilities, and publicly registered and privately placed asset securitization transactions. Her experience extends to various asset classes, encompassing marketplace consumer loans, solar loans, residential mortgages, single family rental assets, student loans, small business loans, credit card receivables, auto loans, and aircraft loans and leases.

Before joining Orrick, Valerie was counsel in Chapman and Cutler LLP's Asset Securitization Department. She began her career at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP as a corporate associate.

Katharine Crost Senior Counsel

New York

Kathy's practice involves advising issuers, underwriters, servicers and institutional purchasers on complex financial transactions. She has extensive experience with the securitization of a variety of assets, including mortgages, tax liens, tobacco litigation settlement funds, utility stranded costs and student loans.

Kathy's mortgage-backed experience has involved all types of mortgages including fixed and adjustable rate first lien mortgage loans, closed end seconds, revolving home equity lines of credit, seasoned mortgage loans, reverse mortgage loans and manufactured housing contracts. She has represented many types of financial institutions, including private companies, governmental agencies and municipalities.

She has been involved in the development of a number of novel securitization structures and programs designed to achieve the client's goals. In addition to securitizations, she has been involved in establishing joint ventures, financing of assets, acquisitions of assets and litigation support and advice.

Recently, Kathy has been involved in advising clients on a number of innovative transactions that address issues arising from the financial crisis and housing and financial regulatory reform. Representative transactions include representing the sponsor and issuer of the first public offerings of private label residential mortgage-backed securities since the advent of the financial crisis, advising a federal agency on the securitization of seasoned assets, and advising the largest issuer of tax lien securitizations. She has also been involved in various initiatives to address regulatory reform proposals.

Kathy is former Chair of the Structured Finance Group. She has also served on the Firm's Executive Committee and as Chair of the Firm's Women's Initiative.

William Cullen Partner

New York

In the 2022 Capital Markets: Securitization: CMBS – Nationwide category of Chambers USA, a client said, “William is an experienced attorney in the CMBS space. He is meticulous and thoughtful, yet commercial, adding value where needed.”

Prior to joining Orrick, Butch was a partner in the New York offices of Kaye Scholer LLP, Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP and Sidley Austin LLP.

Raniero D'Aversa Partner

New York

Ron is the designated restructuring counsel to many leading financial institutions such as The Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of America, Citibank, Commerzbank, Toronto-Dominion Bank and The Bank of Nova Scotia. He has represented clients in bankruptcies, workouts, DIP loans, distressed debt transactions, bankruptcy litigation, derivatives and distressed acquisitions. Ron has represented interests of financial institutions and investors in such restructuring and bankruptcy cases as Ocean Rig, Seadrill, CHC Helicopter, Erickson, Indiana Toll Road, Pocahontas Parkway, Eagle Bulk, Spyglass Films, American Airlines, Republic Airlines, Chemtura Corporation, Quebecor, AbitibiBowater, North Las Vegas, Ritchie Risk-Linked Strategies, Star Diamond, Lehman and Mesa Airlines.

In the Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate category of The Legal 500 US directory, Ron’s clients praise his “practical and strategic approach.” Another noted, “Each time I discuss an issue with [him], I am both amazed at his ability to understand my concerns and his complete knowledge of the subject. He puts me at ease and there is never a time that I cannot reach him.” Regarded as a leader in financial restructurings by clients and peers alike, Ron understands every phase of a bankruptcy and restructuring matter and knows how to effectively position a client to control opposition and maximize results.

Pierre de Boutiny Associate

Paris

He advises notably banks and sponsors on complex transactions for the financing of infrastructure projects, PPP, concessions and real estate portfolios, in France and abroad, as well as on debt restructuring.

Pierre regularly intervenes on the financing of PPP and concessions projects. He participates, in particular, in drafting complex agreements for the financing of public facilities (public buildings, ports and motorways, telecommunication grids and rolling stocks).

Pierre has also a significant track record in the real estate sector, advising both arrangers and borrowers on complex operations to finance buildings and property portfolio as well as their securitization aspects and restructuring.

Tyler Dorf Managing Associate

New York

Tyler's practice has a focus on warehouse lending, secured credit facilities, and publicly registered and privately placed asset securitization transactions. His experience extends to various asset classes, encompassing marketplace consumer loans, solar loans, residential mortgages, student loans, credit card and charge card receivables, auto loans, and esoteric assets, including proved developed producing (PDP) oil and gas wellbores.

Before joining Orrick, Tyler was an associate in Chapman and Cutler LLP's Asset Securitization Department.

James Duff Of Counsel

Los Angeles

Beginning in 2006, James has advised clients on a variety of asset-backed securities, including residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), re-securitizations of RMBS and collateralized debt obligations, and charter school receivable-backed securities. He has also represented municipal and state agencies for municipal bond transactions.

During the financial crisis, James advised clients on mortgage loan modifications, and advised municipal and state agencies on interest rate mode changes and bond refinancings.

Recently, James has worked on a number of RMBS and CMBS transactions.  

James is an avid triathlete and winner of a number triathlons, including the 2016 North Carolina Ironman.

Elizabeth J. Elias Partner

New York

She has extensive experience in the securitization of commercial PACE liens, music, TV and other intellectual property rights, whole businesses, diamond receivables, litigation settlement awards, and PDP oil & gas wellbore interests.  Elizabeth’s experience further extends to representation of a variety of market participants, including sponsors, issuers, underwriters and service providers, in public and private offerings of commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Howard Goldwasser Partner

New York

His clients include investment banks, commercial banks, non-bank lenders and investment managers.

Howard is recognized as a market-leading lawyer, in particular in the U.S. CLO space. He has advised on the structuring of U.S. CLOs and CDOs since the emergence of the U.S. CLO and CDO markets in the mid-1990s and was among a small group of pioneering lawyers to advise both arrangers and collateral managers in the first  “CLO 2.0” transactions that emerged as markets recovered from the 2008-2009 financial crisis. His work there included innovative approaches to compliance with securitization risk retention, in particular with respect to the creation of so-called “CMVs” (capitalized management vehicles) and “C-MOAs” (capitalized majority-owned affiliates) designed to enable CLO managers to source third-party debt and equity to facilitate compliance with both the U.S.'s and the European Union's securitization risk retention rules. He was also an innovator in the area of CLO warehousing, where he designed traditional and non-traditional warehousing programs for CLO arrangers.

Howard also represents banks and non-bank lenders on syndicated and bilateral financings, senior secured term loan financings, receivables- and other asset-based financings, in particular, and both issuers and underwriters in many credit card securitizations.

William S. Haft Partner

New York

Bill regularly advises clients on cross-border matters, including transactions in the maritime, energy and infrastructure and technology sectors. He has particular experience in the maritime sector, having guided various market participants on numerous complex international shipping and offshore corporate and capital markets deals and restructurings.

Reflecting feedback from his clients, Bill was named a BTI “Client Service All-Star” and is described by an IFLR1000 client commentator as “extremely responsive” with a “deep spectrum of knowledge,” in Banking and Finance.