Stephanie M. Smith

OF COUNSEL / Washington, D.C.
phone: 202-835-0616
fax: 202-833-3316
email:

Stephanie’s primary area of practice is real estate transactions, including, but not limited to: real estate finance and regulation, affordable rural and urban housing and community development, project and infrastructure financing, and mortgage lending. As a former senior legal policy advisor to USDA- Rural Development agency, and an attorney advisor detailed to HUD’s Office of General Counsel Multi-Family Housing division, Stephanie has developed an expertise in understanding how to navigate the governmental regulatory framework to assist clients in financing Rural Development, HUD, and FHA-insured housing projects, and infrastructure development for both rural and urban communities. With 20 years combined experience in both the public and private sectors as a real estate and mortgage lending attorney, Stephanie has developed a diversity of clients to include government agencies; corporate and cooperative business organizations; financial institutions; real estate development corporations; institutional investors and foundations; as well as farms and agricultural businesses. The diversity of her clients and experience allows her to be involved in many projects, utilizing a solution based approach to the economic development process in both rural and urban areas.

  • AREAS OF PRACTICEAffordable Housing Transactions, Commercial and Real Estate Transactions, Project and Infrastructure Finance, Mortgage Lending
  • BAR ADMISSIONSMichigan, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey
  • EDUCATIONLLM, Taxation, specializing in International Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center; JD, Rutgers Law School; BA, Howard University

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court of New Jersey

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • American Bar Association:
    —Governing Board Member of the Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development (2014-Present)
    —Chair of the Residential, Multi-Family and Special Use Group of the Real Property Section (2010-2011)
  • Georgetown University Law Center:        
    —Member of the Georgetown Women’s Legal Alliance (2015-Present)
    —Appointed Member of the Public/Private Partnership Task Force (2014-2015)

  • Women’s Bar Association of DC:
    —Member (2013-Present)

  • Women in International Trade:
    —Chair of Foreign Investment Committee (2015-Present)

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES

  • Volunteer Attorney for the Foreclosure Prevention Project- Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland Board of Directors, The QSA Foundation (2015-Present)
  • Volunteer Attorney- DC Bar Pro Bono Program (2013-Present)

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

  • Panelist, Community Development in Rural Community, Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Annual Meeting (2016)
  • Panelist, Foreclosing on the American Dream: The Housing Crisis and the Role of Lawyers and Laws in Securing Housing Justice, ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty (2009)
  • Negotiating the Limited Partnership Agreement for Equity Investors, Real Property, Probate and Trust Magazine, Winter Edition (2007)
  • Program Chair and Panelist, Scope of Urban Redevelopment, Real Property and Trust Sections Spring Conference (2006)
  • The ABC’s of The New Markets Tax Credits, Stout Risius and Ross Journal, Fall/Winter Edition (2006)
  • Panelist, SA Patriot Act Clauses in Commercial Leases, Joint Fall CLE Meeting of the Taxation and Real Property & Trust Sections (2005)
  • Panelist, Percentage Rent Clauses in Commercial Leases, 16th Annual Real Property Symposium (2005)
  • Panelist, New Markets and Historic Tax Credit Projects, 13th Annual Conference on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law (2004)
  • Commentary: Urban Community Revival - The Church and Affordable Housing, Part I and II, Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Law, Winter and Spring (2004)

CIVIC, CULTURAL + SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Girl Scouts of Nation’s Council, DC Local Chapter
  • Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC
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