Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has further expanded its real estate finance and financial services capabilities and welcomed two new shareholders – Jennifer S. O'Connor has joined the Real Estate Finance Practice in Miami, Fla and Jim H. Pulliam has joined the Financial Services Litigation Practice in Raleigh, N.C. Joining together from an Am Law 100 firm, they are both experienced finance attorneys with their respective practices covering the full life cycle of commercial mortgage-backed securities loans (CMBS) – from securitization and servicing to distress and litigation.

“Jim and Jennifer are two highly versatile practitioners with complementary practices, deep experience and skillsets to serve our clients nationwide and help them navigate CMBS related matters,” said John T. Duncan III, Chair of Polsinelli’s Real Estate Finance Practice and the Financial Services Division. “They are well-known in the CMBS servicing industry, and their skills will further enhance our ability to provide top-tier service to our clients as the market continues to evolve. We are very excited to have them on our team.”

“Special servicing continues to rise, and Jim and Jennifer are excellent additions to our team guiding clients through these situations and a challenging market,” said Amy E. Hatch, Chair of Polsinelli’s Financial Services Litigation Practice.

Jennifer O’Connor focuses her practice on real estate finance and loan servicing. She represents lenders, servicers and investors in all aspects of servicing performing and non-performing loans with a particular emphasis on commercial-backed securities (CMBS) loans, collateralized loan obligations (CLO) loans, single family residential (SFR) loans, Freddie Mac (CME) loans and life insurance loans. She also collaborates with clients on strategy, business and legal issues involving real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs), pooling and servicing agreements, intercreditor agreements, co-lender agreements, participation agreements, indenture agreements, as well as lender issues associated with all kinds of post-securitization and post loan origination loan modifications. O’Connor received her B.A. in Economics from Duke University and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.

Jim Pulliam focuses his practice on litigation and loan servicing matters relating to commercial mortgage-backed securities. He represents financial institutions and special servicers in connection with distressed real estate loans and the disposition of commercial properties. He also has experience representing financial institutions in lender liability actions involving claims related to constitutional issues, breach of contract, fiduciary duty, implied duty of good faith, fraud, misrepresentation, and partnership-joint contracts. Pulliam practices in the state and federal forums, and before the American Arbitration Association panels. He received both his B.A. in Business Administration and J.D. from the University of Kentucky.

Polsinelli is a recognized leader in the commercial real estate finance industry. Polsinelli’s Real Estate Finance team has the geographic footprint and depth and breadth of experience necessary to support clients with offices across the nation. The team has closed thousands of commercial mortgage loans secured by property in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, totaling over $69 billion in principal advanced.

Polsinelli has one of the largest financial services litigation practices in the nation with lawyers situated from coast to coast and having practiced for more than 30 years in state courts, federal courts, and bankruptcy courts in more than 40 states.