Ghazi joins Seyfarth Shaw’s real estate department

Manhattan, NY According to Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Saadia Ghazi has joined the law firm as a partner in its servicing & special servicing practice in the firm’s real estate department.

Ghazi comes to Seyfarth from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where she worked in its corporate and finance transactions group with Katie Schwarting and Amy Simpson, who moved to Seyfarth in August. She had previously worked at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft for seven years, where she regularly served as opposing counsel to the group led by Schwarting and Simpson, which eventually recruited Ghazi to Bryan Cave and again now to Seyfarth.

Ghazi’s practice focuses on securitization, commercial real estate finance, and general corporate matters. Ghazi represents issuers, underwriters, mortgage loan sellers, master servicers, special servicers, and B-piece buyers in connection with securitization transactions, particularly in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and collateralized loan obligation (CLO) transactions.

Her commercial real estate work concentrates on loan modifications, assumptions and other servicing matters affecting securitized mortgages. Her corporate experience includes representing public and private companies in various corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, corporate governance and shareholder activism and defense.

“We are so excited to be working again with Saadia Ghazi as we continue to enhance our Servicing and Special Servicing practice group at Seyfarth,” said Schwarting, who chairs the practice. “She is an integral part of our team. Saadia’s strong background in securitization and corporate work, along with her large base of contacts in the industry will enable us to attract new clients and expand relationships with existing clients.”

“Saadia Ghazi’s practice aligns very well with our thriving Real Estate group and, especially with the growing Servicing and Special Servicing practice,” said Paul Mattingly, national chair of Seyfarth’s Real Estate department, one of the industry’s five largest. “Saadia’s experience, negotiating skills, and entrepreneurial approach will certainly broaden our servicing bench in New York, as well as add solid experience in the securitization and structured finance areas there.”

“The addition of Saadia Ghazi deepens and expands our real estate offerings in New York, where we continue to grow and diversify in this critical legal market,” said John Napoli and Marc Gurell, co-managing partners of Seyfarth’s New York office. “Saadia’s strong relationships with large financial institutions in New York will enable us to extend our presence in the commercial mortgage sector here.”

“As one of the few lawyers with both a background in corporate law and experience representing both issuers and servicers on CMBS securitizations, I have a unique and holistic perspective on CMBS issues that I use to shepherd my clients through their transactions,” said Ghazi. “Seyfarth provides me with a terrific new platform upon which I can grow my practice and bolster the firm’s capabilities in structured finance and servicing.”

Ghazi was selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (New York Metro Edition) in 2020. She was recently elected to serve on the Mortgage Bankers Association mPact Servicing Advisory Committee. Ghazi speaks Hindi and Urdu.

Ghazi earned her JD from Harvard Law School where she was honored as a Dubai Legal Scholar and served as the President of the Harvard National Security and Law Association and Managing Editor of Harvard National Security Journal. She received her BA from Florida Atlantic University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Ghazi is admitted to the New York bar.