Jena Watson

Jena is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Public Finance groups. 

Jena serves as bank/bond purchaser’s counsel in connection with private activity bond financings for industrial development bonds, not-for-profit organizations, economic development, and health care financings with a focus on affordable and multifamily housing financings. With Jena’s extensive knowledge of the agency housing finance industry and public finance, she has assisted dozens of clients in the issuance of billions of dollars in bond financings.

She has represented financial institutions and US corporations on project financings - including market-rate student, affordable, seniors and securitized multifamily housing, and agency loans. She has also negotiated and drafted documentation for U.S. and international infrastructure projects in the bank, bond, and private capital markets, distressed and bankruptcy-related debt transactions, acquisitions financings, and credit facilities. Jena also advises financial institutions and private and public companies in a wide variety of commercial finance transactions, including borrowers and lenders in public-private partnership (P3) transactions, project finance transactions, construction finance, joint ventures, private debt financings, recapitalizations and acquisitions facilities, secured and unsecured credit facilities, leveraged and structured financings, credit and swap insurance policies, low-income housing tax credits, non-profit business investments, and distressed debt situations.  

Jena served as bond insurer’s and servicer’s counsel for permanent and construction loans, securitizations and loan restructurings of over $8 billion in military housing privatization transactions.

Her experiences as both outside counsel and in-house counsel for major financial institutions have given Jena a unique perspective on understanding and accomplishing her clients’ goals.