Leigh Hughes represents financial institutions and debt funds in sophisticated structured financing transactions on a national basis. She works with clients on single-lender, agented, and multi-lender financings, including construction loans, permanent financings, forward loan commitments, revolving credit facilities, and loan participations for single and multi-asset portfolios securing all types of real estate, including multifamily housing, office, retail, hotels, and industrial buildings. Leigh is also a licensed real estate broker.
Leigh has extensive experience representing commercial and institutional lenders in all types of real estate financing, with an extensive background in complex affordable housing transactions, including tax-exempt bond transactions, bond credit enhancement, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executions, and government-subsidized mortgage lending programs. Prior to joining Jones Day, Leigh represented a national bank in financing for the rehabilitation of a historic landmark department store in downtown Des Moines, Iowa to be used as a mixed-use multifamily housing and commercial space. She has also represented multi-lenders in financings for construction loans of residential towers and condominium projects, industrial portfolios, and in financing of multistate hotel properties.
Before pursuing her legal career, Leigh worked in finance and accounting as an assistant controller for Marriott Hotels & Resorts. She is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and New York State Association for Affordable Housing. She serves on the board of directors for a local nonprofit organization and is vice president of her condominium association board. Additionally, Leigh is the co-founder and coach for a nonprofit all-star cheerleading organization.
- Georgetown University (J.D. 2004); Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (B.S. 1999)
- New York and U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York