Asa (“Geordie”) Herald concentrates his practice in the areas of structured finance and securitization and related corporate matters. He counsels issuers, underwriters, servicers, and investors in connection with domestic and cross-border public offerings and private placements of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities involving a wide variety of asset types and structures, including with respect to resecuritization transactions (re-REMICs) involving previously issued securities.
Geordie has more than two decades of experience with asset classes such as residential mortgage loans and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), including with respect to qualified mortgages (QMs); jumbo, agency, and agency high balance loans; non-QMs; non-owner-occupied/investor loans (NOO/INV); reperforming loans (RPLs) and nonperforming loans (NPLs); reverse mortgage loans and forward, fix-and-flip/residential transition loans (RTLs); home equity lines of credit (HELOCs); and manufactured housing (MH) and other residential products, as well as with shared appreciation home equity investments (HEIs/HEAs), small balance commercial loans (SBCLs), and single-family and multifamily construction and permanent loans (and mortgage-backed securities or debentures issued in respect thereof) securitized through Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the US Small Business Administration, including early buyout loans (EBOs). He has also counseled mortgage and fintech clients with respect to the incorporation of blockchain technology and the tokenization of securities. In addition, he represents investment banks in matters related to the securitization of credit card receivables.
Geordie’s practice also includes counseling sophisticated clients in connection with servicing, servicing transfers, whole loan sales, derivatives, and investments in performing and distressed receivables, including the creation and maintenance of various distressed asset fund structures, as well as with matters related to master repurchase agreements (MRAs/repos) and other financing structures. He advises clients on forming affiliated corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), statutory trusts, and other corporate entities, including bankruptcy-remote special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and privately held real estate investment trusts (REITs). He also represents investment banks in connection with the offerings of securities backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government.
Geordie is a senior partner in the firm’s structured transactions practice, presently serves as co-leader of the firm’s banking industry team , and previously served as an Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Washington, DC office and as a leader of the firm’s Veterans Lawyers Network. In addition, Geordie previously served on active duty for nearly a decade as a surface warfare officer in the US Navy before beginning the practice of law, and he continued as a reservist for several years thereafter. Prior to leaving military service, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander; while on active duty, his last assignment was as an Executive Support Officer to the US Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.
Ranked, Capital Markets: Securitisation: RMBS, USA, Chambers Global (2021–2024)
Ranked, Capital Markets: Securitization, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2020–2024)
Recommended, Finance: Structured finance: securitization, The Legal 500 US (2019–2024)
Rising Star, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2017–2023)
Rising Star, IFLR1000 United States (2018–2020)
Member, American Bar Association
Member, ABA Business Law Section; Committee on Securitization and Structured Finance; Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar (Rotary International), Universität Hamburg
Executive Notes Editor, The George Washington International Law Review
Military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (with bronze star), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and numerous other personal and unit awards and decorations; authorized to wear the Surface Warfare Officer insignia and the Office of the Secretary of Defense service badge; held TS/SCI security clearance