Description of field of expertise

Katie’s practice focuses on commercial mortgaged back securities (CMBS) including conduit and single asset, single borrower securitizations, collateralized loan obligations (CLO), and Freddie Mac securitizations—both the K Series and Small Balance Loan products representing special servicers, master servicers, sub-servicers and investors (B Piece buyers). Her practice is firmly rooted in providing comprehensive legal solutions to clients’ regulatory challenges related to securitization, portfolio, and warehouse servicing agreements, including disclosure, compliance, and audit requirements. Katie also handles sale and purchases of securities, the collapse of pool trusts, workout and foreclosure strategies, asset management, transfers of servicing, and facilitating the sale of commercial mortgage servicing rights, cementing her reputation as an indispensable resource in the realm of real estate finance law.

Katie chairs the firm’s Servicing & Special Servicing practice group and is an active member of the commercial real estate community. She currently serves as a board member on the Mortgage Bankers Association Commercial Board of Governors (COMBOG), and was selected as a 2024 Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Rainmaker, which recognizes “attorneys from across the nation who have achieved remarkable success through their innovative, consistent business development strategies, and client development skills.”

Prior to joining Seyfarth, Katie worked at a trade association in Washington, DC where her key responsibilities included advancing issues, standards, regulations, and legislation to support the commercial real estate industry members in asset administration (including CMBS, portfolio lending, and life company servicing) and loan origination (including lenders, rating agencies, consultants, insurance companies, and attorneys).

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Start by mastering the fundamentals—understand the lifecycle of a commercial mortgage loan, the players involved, and how capital flows through securitization structures. Develop a strong command of servicing agreements, loan documents, and securitization frameworks like CMBS and CLOs. Think critically about what the client will need to be successful given the parameters of each deal. This is a detail-driven, document-heavy practice, so precision matters. Stay curious and follow market developments; the field evolves with regulations, investor demands, and economic shifts. Be responsive, practical, and solution-oriented because clients value clarity and confidence, especially in high-stakes workouts or transactions. Seek out mentors and stay involved in the commercial real estate finance community, industry groups like MBA or CREFC are great places to build your network and deepen your perspective. Finally, don’t overlook the “human” side of deals: relationships, collaboration, and trust are just as essential as technical skill. If you lean in, you’ll find this is a challenging, rewarding, and resilient area of practice.

 

Final thoughts…

As lawyers, it’s important to give back through service—in our work and in our communities. I’m proud to serve on the Duke Annual Fund Advisory Board, as Charlotte regional co-chair of the Duke Black Alumni Association, and as incoming chair of the Charlotte Museum of History’s Board of Trustees.