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