(CHARLOTTE) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that it has made a significant acquisition for its Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) group with the arrival of Joshua J. Yablonski as partner in the firm’s Charlotte office. Yablonski brings extensive CMBS securitization experience with a wide range of clients, including originators, issuers and underwriters of mortgage-backed securities as well as asset-backed securities, loan sales, warehouse facilities and commercial paper.

Chris DiAngelo, a member of Katten's Executive Committee and partner in the firm's Structured Finance and Securitization practice said, "Josh's extensive knowledge of commercial mortgage-backed securitization transactions will add additional depth to our rapidly growing national team of CMBS attorneys and will enhance the firm's ability to offer the full range of top CMBS services to our clients."

Yablonski is joining Katten after having worked for 15 years as a prominent CMBS attorney at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP. He has represented issuers and underwriters in both public and private (144A) offerings of CMBS. He recently successfully handled the first Regulation AB II offering of CMBS for the issuer and loan seller. Yablonski also has significant experience representing issuers and underwriters in connection with resecuritizations of mortgage-backed securities.

"Katten's CMBS origination and structured finance teams each are well-regarded and among the largest in the country, and adding Josh will strengthen our presence in the market even further," said Daniel S. Huffenus, managing partner of Katten's Charlotte office and the head of its Real Estate practice. "We look forward to tapping into his unique experience so Katten can continue to advance this key area."

The Katten Structured Finance and Securitization practice advises clients in a wide variety of transactions, including REMICs, securitizations of consumer receivables—such as auto loans, auto leases, equipment leases and CLOs. The group represents all market participants, from issuers, underwriters, placement agents and collateral managers to investors, swap counterparties, trustees, credit enhancers, rating agencies and servicers.