Seyfarth Launches 18th Office in Dallas

DALLAS (September 19, 2023) - Seyfarth Shaw LLP has launched a new office in Dallas, TX, following the move of three leading lawyers there - two partners and a counsel - along with a noted real estate partner in Charlotte, to the international law firm from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

The three new partners joining Seyfarth from Bryan Cave are: Amy Simpson and Tricia Macaluso in Dallas, and Katie Schwarting in Charlotte. Simpson and Schwarting will play key roles in Seyfarth’s premiere Real Estate group, one of the five largest in the country. Randa Barton has also moved to Seyfarth in Dallas as counsel in the Real Estate group from Bryan Cave.

Macaluso will become part of the firm’s noted Litigation department. Her complex litigation practice complements and helps support the firm’s nationwide leadership in high consequence litigation.

The new Dallas office also includes Jibril Greene as counsel in the firm’s Labor & Employment Department. He comes to Seyfarth from Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett, & Moser, P.C.

Dallas becomes Seyfarth’s 18^thoffice globally and the 13^thin the United States. It expands the firm’s presence in Texas, where it has had an office in Houston since 1995.

“Seyfarth has long supported our clients in North Texas, serving many of the largest and most prominent Dallas-Fort Worth-headquartered clients in litigation, transactional, and other matters across the region, in addition to many other clients that have facilities and operations in the area as well,” said Lorie Almon, Chair and Managing Partner-elect of Seyfarth.

“Given our goal of best supporting our clients’ Texas operations with the opportunity to add these incredibly talented lawyers, it is the right time to launch an office in Dallas,” Almon stated. “We are confident that Seyfarth will thrive in the market given our commitment to legal excellence, partnership with our clients, and client-focused innovation.”

The Dallas office and the firm’s formal presence in the Metroplex region will enable Seyfarth to cover clients more holistically with operations across the state and across industries. It will also facilitate further collaboration with General Counsel and senior corporate leaders based in the area.

The new Dallas office will also complement Seyfarth’s long-established presence in Houston by enabling the firm to serve Dallas-based clients more locally and enhance the firm’s visibility in Texas for client development, litigation in local courts, and recruiting across the state.

Simpson will become the Office Managing Partner of the new Dallas office, as well as the Real Estate lead in Dallas. She will also serve on the firmwide Real Estate leadership team.

Schwarting will become the practice group chair for a newly created Servicing/Special Servicing practice group. She too will become an integral part of the firm’s Real Estate leadership team.

The team of Real Estate lawyers coming to Seyfarth has built a formidable reputation across the industry for handling the full life cycle of loans from origination, servicing, and special servicing.

“The addition of this highly-accomplished team of lawyers cements Seyfarth as the leader in real estate finance and positions us to lead the market in loan servicing and special servicing,” said Paul Mattingly, partner and national chair of Seyfarth’s Real Estate department. “Dallas is a critical hub for loan servicers. Adding industry leaders in Dallas and Charlotte to our existing team allows us to provide industry best national solutions to our clients.”

• Simpson covers all aspects of commercial real estate and lending, with an emphasis on loan origination and servicing matters related to both CMBS and Freddie Mac securitizations. She represents lenders, commercial mortgage loan servicers, special servicers, participants, and co-lenders in connection with loan modifications, assumptions, loan workouts, foreclosures and various other servicing matters affecting securitized commercial mortgage loans. Simpson earned both her JD and her BA from Texas Tech University. She is admitted to the Texas bar.

“I am thrilled to be part of such an exciting adventure in launching Seyfarth’s Dallas office,” said Simpson. “I truly believe in Seyfarth and think the sky is the limit for my practice, my clients, and the Dallas office. This firm perfectly fits my practice because of its outstanding real estate foundation. I expect my clients to benefit tremendously from Seyfarth’s knowledge and experience.”

• Schwarting focuses primarily on CMBS and Freddie Mac securitizations, regulatory issues impacting securitization, asset management, and workout and foreclosure strategies and the sale of servicing rights. She previously served as Senior Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial Real Estate/ Multifamily Finance Department in Washington, D.C. She holds a JD from the University of North Carolina and a BA from Duke University. Schwarting is admitted to the North Carolina and District of Columbia bars.

“Joining one of the country’s largest and most accomplished law firm Real Estate groups at Seyfarth provides me with a great opportunity to extend my practice while also expanding the firm’s capabilities by leading the new Servicing/Special Servicing practice group,” said Schwarting. “I am equally delighted to become part of Seyfarth’s fast-growing office in Charlotte and help our many clients there navigate the legal complexities of commercial real estate capital markets.”

• Macaluso brings to Seyfarth a wide-ranging practice that focuses on handling commercial, financial services, and product liability litigation matters for clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts across a variety of industries such as banking, real estate, pharmaceutical and medical devices, construction, and energy. She has also done some bankruptcy work. She represents both corporate and individual clients. Macaluso received her JD from Texas Tech University and her BS from Texas A&M University. She is a member of the Texas bar.

“Tricia Macaluso further deepens Seyfarth’s litigation bench nationally and broadens our reach into the vibrant Dallas market,” said James McGrath, national chair of Seyfarth’s Litigation Department. “Tricia provides more than two decades of civil litigation experience covering a wide range of business disputes that will benefit our clients extensively, especially those with matters related to North Texas. She further stands out with her keen understanding of the nuances of representing clients with commercial litigation matters in Dallas versus other markets in Texas.”

“Being a co-founder of the Dallas office of Seyfarth with Amy Simpson is an honor and a privilege,’ said Macaluso. “We have real start-up energy and mentality in Dallas and are primed for growth here. We are excited to expand the Seyfarth client service already offered in Texas through its Houston office and to make Seyfarth’s national presence known in the Metroplex. I could not be more excited to join such a great group of talented lawyers.”

• Barton comes to Seyfarth with a practice covering all aspects of lending and commercial real estate. She collaborates with lenders in originating loans and loan servicers in all elements of servicing commercial mortgage loans. She additionally counsels borrowers and real estate sellers and buyers in large commercial real estate transactions. Barton earned her JD from Southern Methodist University and her BA from Baylor University.
• Greene handles complex litigation problems for clients in both state and federal court in a wide range of practice areas. His practice includes consumer financial litigation and business litigation, with a special focus on Fair Credit Reporting Act cases and compliance issues. He earned his JD from Southern Methodist University and his BBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Seyfarth expects to continue to grow the Dallas office by tapping into the well-stocked talent pool of lawyers in the region, along with the addition of attorneys from other Seyfarth offices.

The Dallas office will initially be located at 2001 Ross Ave. (Suite 700 - 120).

About Seyfarth

With more than 900 lawyers across 18 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides top tier advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide.

 Contact: Tom Mariam, Director of Public Relations: 212-218-3366 or tmariam@seyfarth.com