ACMA 2025 Annual Meeting

Following are the titles, descriptions and panelists for the eight CLE presentations (details of one presentation are being finalized).

ACMA will seek 8.0 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states and 9.6 hours of CLE credit in 50-minute states. All CLE credits and amounts are subject to each state’s approval and rounding rules.

Housing Potpourri: The Rise of Single-Family For-Rent Neighborhoods and Why Foreign Ownership Restrictions Matter to You

The panel will discuss special considerations in financing large scale for-rent developments, which combine elements of both multi-family and single-family projects. It will also review how recent state-law foreign ownership restrictions can impact project financing in the U.S.

Moderator: Robert Maddox, Partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Birmingham, AL

Speakers

• Hilary M. Gevondyan, General Counsel, Ascent Developer Solutions, Encino, CA
• Michael P. O’Neal, Deputy Chief Title Counsel – Public Policy & Government Affairs, Corporate Underwriting Department, First American Title Insurance Company, Washington, DC

Unraveling the CTL:  Credit Tenant Leases/Loans & Other Lease Finance

Credit tenant loans are loans supported by leases typically to highly rated creditworthy lessees.    If properly structured, such arrangements, as well as other lease finance structures, can provide significant cost savings because lenders and institutional investors look to the credit of the lessee in pricing the loan.  Lease financings also may provide significant tax and/or accounting benefits to various parties to the transaction as well.   This panel will provide a brief overview and describe some of the important considerations in structuring lease finance transactions.

Moderator: Nancy R. Little, Richmond, VA

Speakers

• • Marcy Hart, Shareholder, Polsinelli PC, Philadelphia, PA
  • Sean T. Maloney, Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP, Chicago, IL

Financing Tribal Lands

One of the best things about ACMA is the depth of expertise of the College which includes knowledge and experience in financing tribal lands.  This presentation will explore the issues and program benefits of financing tribal lands, which include ownership structuring and sovereign immunity issues and title insurance insurability, and, in Canada, the approval process for such loans.

Moderator: Howard B. Goldman, Shareholder, Plunkett Cooney, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Speakers

• Branden G. Allen, Underwriting Counsel – Rocky Mountain Region, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Lehi, UT
• Richard (“Gib”) Masters, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, Vancouver, WA
• John Stefaniuk, K.C., Partner, Thompson Dorman Sweatman, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Follow-On Opinions: Update on the Joint Report on Mortgage Modification Opinions

The ACMA Opinions Committee, along with the ACREL and RPTE opinions committees, are currently working on a report to provide guidance to real estate finance attorneys in rendering opinions related to modifications to credit and security documents.  Our speakers are part of the joint drafting committee for the report and will provide an update on the status of the report and its key provisions.

Speakers

• R. Marshall Grodner, Member, McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, Baton Rouge, LA
• S. Scott Willis, Partner, Fishman Haygood, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA

Receiverships: Repositioning for Success

This panel will discuss the fundamentals of receivership law as well as provide practical insights for lenders to maximize the benefits of the receiver.  Topics that will be discussed include the following:

• The selection of the right receiver for your matter;
• Drafting tips in preparing the motion for the appointment of the receiver;
• The importance of the order appointing the receiver and critical provisions to be included in the order;
• What the receiver can and cannot do to advance the interest of the appointing lender;
• Practice tips to maximize the value of the real property, personal property, and cash collateral of the appointing lender.

The panel for this presentation includes a receiver, in-house counsel, and outside counsel from across the nation to provide a broad perspective on practical issues facing lenders when dealing with a receiver as well as anticipated issues that lenders may face in this turbulent economy.

Moderator: Scott R. Lesser, Principal, Miller Canfield, Troy, MI

Speakers

• Dale W. Cottam, Partner, Bailey Stock Harmon Cottam Lopez LLP, Afton, WY
• Joseph E. (“Ed”) Foster, Attorney, Losey PLLC, Orlando, FL
• Brad Goergen, SVP, Assistant General Counsel, HomeStreet Bank, Seattle, WA

Not Your Standard Loan Policy: Specialized Endorsements that Supercharge Loan Policies in Commercial Financing Transactions

This panel will explore the coverage provided by unique and specialized endorsements that enhance loan policy coverage in commercial financing transactions. It will also examine when these endorsements are applicable and how they can benefit lenders. Additionally, the panel will discuss strategies for negotiating expanded coverage with the title company, as well as the requirements and documentation necessary for issuance.

Speakers

• Wendy S. Gibbons, SVP and Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel, Old Republic Title Insurance Company, Oak Island, NC
• Dawn M. Lewallen, Senior Division Underwriting Counsel, First American Title Insurance Company – NCS, Houston, TX
• Marni D. Zarin, Of Counsel, Wilson Cribbs & Goren, Houston, TX

Streamlining Mortgage Modifications: Navigating the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act

The Uniform Mortgage Modification Act (UMMA) offers a standardized framework to simplify and clarify the process of modifying mortgage loans. By establishing “safe harbor” provisions, the Act delineates specific modifications—such as extending maturity dates, reducing interest rates, and capitalizing unpaid interest—that preserve the priority of the original mortgage and do not constitute a novation. This session will delve into the key components of the UMMA, its implications for lenders and borrowers, and how its adoption can lead to more efficient and cost-effective mortgage modifications, ultimately benefiting the real estate finance industry.

Speakers

• David S. Jensen, Shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer, Boise, ID
• J. Cliff McKinney II, Managing Member, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Little Rock, AR

Government Downsizing and the “Big Beautiful Bill”: Potential Impacts of Federal Policies on Real Estate

The Trump Administration has made downsizing the Federal Government, including its real estate occupancy needs, a significant priority. An early focus of the Administration was termination of leases for spaces leased by the General Services Administration (GSA) to federal tenant agencies across the US. Additionally, the Big Beautiful Bill, enacted by Congress in July, contains a number of provisions directly applicable to real estate. This program will review the idiosyncrasies of GSA leases, especially from the standpoint of financing and lease termination issues. The program will also review the key elements of the Big Beautiful Bill and other recent Federal legislation as they relate to real property.

Speakers

• Elizabeth C. Lee, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, Washington, DC
• Andrew F. Palmieri, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP, Washington, DC