Kathryn L. Oates

/My focus

In my role, I work with nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers, owners, and public housing authorities to develop and preserve affordable housing across the country. My work often involves HUD-regulated programs, low-income tax credit (LIHTC) equity, and layered public-private funding. I help clients advance transactions efficiently and effectively by navigating complex legal and regulatory requirements, tailoring them to each project’s needs and goals, and driving matters through closing.

/Representative experience

Representative experience includes matters handled at previous firm.

• Supported affordable housing transactions involving LIHTC equity and layered financing, including coordination among multiple stakeholders to advance deals from early structuring through closing.
• Advised on entity formation and ownership structuring for affordable housing developments, including nonprofit and partnership structures designed to support long-term compliance.
• Drafted and negotiated construction and architect agreements used in new construction and rehabilitation projects, with a focus on practical risk allocation and clear performance obligations.
• Contributed to industry thought leadership through the ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development, including editorial work supporting the ABA Forum’s Guide to Public Housing Conversions under RAD, Second Edition.
• Lead firm-wide artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, including drafting an AI usage policy, retaining and coordinating with an external consultant, and implementing tools consistent with professional responsibility obligations.

/Looking ahead

I’m seeing clients face increasingly complex, costly, affordable housing deals. By working collaboratively to thoughtfully navigate challenges and clear roadblocks, we can help ensure the communities our clients serve have access to the affordable housing they need.