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In-Person

2026 National Finance Forum

Connect With Executives Controlling Real Estate Capital

November 3, 2026 @ 8:00AM – 12:30PM Quorum by Convene, 1221 Avenue of the Americas 10020
Register
SPRING 2026 AGENDA
Attendee HIGHLIGHTS
ALL EVENTS

Speakers

Larry Kravetz 2026 National Finance Forum

KEYNOTE

larry J. kravetz

Managing Director & Head of U.S. CRE/CMBS

Nomura

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Larry J. Kravetz

Managing Director & Head of U.S. CRE/CMBS, Nomura

Larry Kravetz is a Managing Director at Nomura Securities International, Inc., where he was appointed Head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) in September of 2025. In this role, he leads Nomura’s newly relaunched U.S. CRE platform, a strategic move to expand the firm’s Securitized Products franchise.

Prior to joining Nomura, Larry served as Managing Director at Barclays in mid-2011 to rebuild their CMBS finance platform in the U.S., where he led SASB securitizations, CRE warehouse lending, origination and syndication of balance sheet loans, and acquisition facilities.

Previously, Larry was a cofounder and managing partner of G2 Real Estate Partners, a restructuring advisory and asset management company. From 1992-2008, he worked at Lehman Brothers, where he founded and led the Large Loan Group. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, Larry worked for four years at Chemical Bank in the real estate investment banking and lending groups.

Larry is a former member of the Board of Governors of the CRE Finance Council. He is regularly named to Commercial Observer’s Power Finance List, having been ranked as high as #3.

Larry graduated with a BA in Economics from Haverford College and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Evan Abraham 2026 National Finance Forum

evan abraham

Vice President

InterVest Capital Partners

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Evan Abraham

Vice President, InterVest Capital Partners

Evan is a Vice President and a member of InterVest’s real estate investment committee. In his role, he is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, underwriting, and closing real estate transactions. Prior to joining InterVest in 2021, he served as an Investment Associate at Cottonwood Management, as a Director of Acquisitions and Development at SBE Hospitality, and as an Investment Banking Analyst at CBRE Capital Advisors. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Psychology from Trinity College (CT) while a member of its collegiate baseball team.

Maria Barry 2026 National Finance Forum

maria barry

Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive

Bank of America

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Maria Barry

Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive, Bank of America

Maria Barry is a Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive with deep expertise in finance and affordable housing. She leads a national team advancing innovative financing solutions that strengthen communities by expanding access to affordable housing, education, and economic opportunity.nnSince 2020, Maria’s team has delivered more than $42.5 billion in financing and has helped create over 300,000 homes since 2005, broadening access to safe, stable, and attainable housing nationwide.nnMaria is an influential industry leader, serving on several boards and committees, including Rhode Island Housing (appointed by the Governor), the National Housing u0026amp; Rehabilitation Association, and Connected Communities–Winn Development. She also served 12 years on the board of Enterprise Community PartnersnnHer leadership has earned widespread recognition, including Providence Business News’ Women’s Industry Leader award, Top 10 Most Influential Women by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, and multiple GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum Women of Influence honors. She received the Rhode Island Bankers 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, the R.I.S.E. Trailblazer in Financial Literacy u0026amp; Empowerment Award (2025), and was inducted into the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame (2023). She is also a four-time (2023–2026) Commercial Observer Power 50 honoree, most recently ranked No. 10.nnWithin Bank of America, Maria is a dedicated champion of leadership development, serving as a senior leader of Power of 10 and Executive Sponsor for LEAD for Women in Rhode Island.nnA CPA with FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 licenses, Maria holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut, where she was a track and cross-country team captain.

Steven Caldwell 2026 National Finance Forum

steven caldwell

Managing Director, Head of Large Loan CMBS

Wells Fargo

Ethan Elser 2026 National Finance Forum

Ethan Elser

Executive Vice President

PACE Equity Finance

Horowitz Justin 1 2026 National Finance Forum

justin horowitz

Senior Managing Director

Cooper-Horowitz

Shawn Katz 2026 National Finance Forum

shawn katz

President

Silverstein Capital Partners

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Shawn Katz

President, Silverstein Capital Partners

Shawn Katz is President of Silverstein Capital Partners. He joined the company shortly after its inception and is actively involved in managing all aspects of the business including originations, execution, portfolio management and investor relations.nnPrior to joining Silverstein, Shawn was Managing Partner and co-founder of KUB Capital, where he led the company with an emphasis on acquisitions, investment strategy, capital markets and financial management. While at KUB, Shawn sourced and executed ground-up development projects throughout New York City, including 150 Wooster in Soho, Manhattan and Wythe Lane Townhouses in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.nnBefore co-founding KUB, Shawn was Senior Vice President at Rosemont Realty, where he managed the company’s acquisition department and was a member of the company’s investment committee. During his tenure at Rosemont, Shawn sourced and underwrote acquisitions across a variety of asset classes and directed all of the company’s research, property evaluation and analytics. Shawn also served as President of a Rosemont subsidiary company, managing 2 million square feet of commercial real estate and supervising portfolio management, investor relations and back-office functions. Shawn started his career as a member of the investment team at Wolf International, an investment management and advisory firm specializing in alternative investments.nnShawn holds a BA in Business Administration and Communications from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Michael Lavipour 2026 National Finance Forum

michael lavipour

Partner, Head of Lending

Affinius Capital

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Michael Lavipour

Partner, Head of Lending, Affinius Capital

Michael Lavipour is responsible for overseeing Affinius Capital’s credit
initiatives and capital markets relationships, as well as sourcing, negotiating and structuring loan transactions across the firm’s investment strategies. Mr. Lavipour is also a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.

Prior to joining Affinius in 2013, Michael served as Vice President at Redwood Trust where he originated whole loan and mezzanine loans in the northeastern U.S. Prior to
joining Redwood Trust, Michael was a Vice President in the Real Estate Finance group at Credit Suisse where he worked in loan origination, asset management and capital markets.

Michael received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chris Niederpruem 2026 National Finance Forum

Chris Niederpruem

Managing Director & Group Head of Commercial Real Estate

First Citizens Bank

Christopher Pratt 2026 National Finance Forum

christopher pratt

Director

JLL Capital Markets

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Christopher Pratt

Director, JLL Capital Markets

Christopher is a Director with JLL Capital Markets where he focuses on raising debt and equity capital for institutional and private property owners. During his time with JLL, he has participated in the completion of over $20 billion in real estate transactions, with a specific focus on CMBS and other large loan transactions.

Prior to joining JLL, Christopher worked on the CMBS Capital Markets team at J.P. Morgan, where he played a key role in executing conduit, single asset/single borrower, CRE CLO and Freddie Mac securitizations. Christopher graduated from Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Real Estate and a minor in International Relations.

ERamirez 2026 National Finance Forum

eric ramirez

Managing Director, Head of Eastern Region Originations

ACORE Capital

Adam Schwartz 2026 National Finance Forum

adam Schwartz

Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets | Co-Head, Institutional Advisor

Walker & Dunlop

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Adam Schwartz

Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets | Co-Head, Institutional Advisor, Walker & Dunlop

Adam Schwartz, Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets, and Co-Head of Institutional Advisory, joined Walker & Dunlop in January 2020 as part of the AKS Capital Partners acquisition. Mr. Schwartz is responsible for sourcing and structuring debt and equity financing for all commercial real estate asset classes throughout the country. Mr. Schwartz serves as co-head of the New York Capital Markets practice.

As a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AKS Capital Partners, Mr. Schwartz helped the firm become one of the highest producing capital markets advisory firms in the country, responsible for originations valued in excess of $50 billion of debt and equity financing for owner-operators of commercial real estate properties across the country. Prior to joining AKS Capital Partners, Mr. Schwartz served as a Managing Director and Partner at JLL’s New York Debt and Equity Capital Markets practice. Credited with executing on over $20 billion in debt and equity transactions across his career, Mr. Schwartz was honored by Commercial Observer’s 50 Most Powerful People in Commercial Real Estate Finance in both 2018 and 2019.

Before his work at JLL, Mr. Schwartz was at Cooper Horowitz and worked as an Asset Management Analyst for Arbor Realty Trust.

Mr. Schwartz received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. Schwartz was also a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Men’s Tennis team and team captain his senior year.

Nick Scribani 1 2026 National Finance Forum

Nick scribani

Vice Chairman, Global Debt & Structured Finance

Newmark

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Nick Scribani

Vice Chairman, Global Debt u0026amp; Structured Finance, Newmark

Nick Scribani is Vice Chairman of Newmark’s Global Debt u0026amp; Structured Finance Group,nwhere he oversees the platform’s capital raising initiatives and manages a team of more than 30 real estate professionals. In his capacity, Scribani leads the origination, facilitation and execution of financing and capital placement mandates on behalf of the industry’s most prominent institutional and private real estate investors and operators.nnWhile at the firm, Scribani has executed more than $250 billion in transactions spanning a wide range of asset types, such as office, residential, hospitality, retail, industrial, digital infrastructure and alternatives. Well-versed in structured finance, his expertise spans the full life cycle of a transaction, including pre-development, construction, value-add and stabilized assets.nnIn addition to his transactional responsibilities, Scribani plays a central leadership role within the team. He is frequently sought out for deal strategy discussions and operates as a player-coach, reinforcing a culture rooted in accountability, disciplined executionnand talent development across the platform.nnPrior to Newmark, Scribani held roles at Citigroup and GE Capital Real Estate Group, where he gained experience across asset management, underwriting and debt origination.

Yorick Starr 2026 National Finance Forum

yorick starr

Managing Director & Investment Officer

Invesco

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Yorick Starr

Managing Director & Investment Officer, Invesco

Yorick Starr is a Managing Director and Investment Officer at Invesco Real Estate. Yorick is responsible for originating senior and mezzanine loans for the commercial real estate credit lines of business a primary focus on the Northeast and Eastern US.

Yorick began his investment career in 2002 and joined Invesco Real Estate in 2017. Prior to joining Invesco, he was a senior vice president of the commercial real estate group at Wells
Fargo based in New York, where he was responsible for managing a team of relationship managers focused on institutional clients, overseeing originations, portfolio management and day-to-day operations of the office. Yorick spent over 15 years at Wells Fargo in a variety positions, including acquiring and financing sub-performing and performing commercial real estate loan portfolios, managing commercial real estate loan workouts and working within a specialty finance group.

Yorick earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of San Diego with minors in accounting and computer science.

Sondra Wenger 2026 National Finance Forum

Sondra Wenger

Head of Capital Markets

KBS

Krystyna Blakeslee 2026 National Finance Forum

MODERATOR

Krystyna Blakeslee

Partner

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Mark Fawer 2026 National Finance Forum

MODERATOR

mark fawer

Partner

Greenspoon Marder LLP

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Mark Fawer

Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP

Mark Fawer is a partner in the Real Estate practice group at Greenspoon Marder LLP. Mr. Fawer focuses his practice on the representation of institutional, fund and private capital sources in every aspect of senior and subordinate real estate financing and equity investment, including stretch senior, bridge and mezzanine lending, B-notes and preferred equity and joint venture investments, covering every major asset type, such as rental and for sale residential, hospitality, retail, office, student housing, mixed use and industrial properties. In his practice, Mr. Fawer has helped structure cutting-edge financings and investments in some of the most challenging contexts.

In addition to his extensive financing practice, Mr. Fawer also counsels clients from “term sheet to closing” in most aspects of a wide range of other real estate transactions, including complex partnership, joint venture, and limited liability company operating agreements as well as the acquisition, development and disposition of properties locally and nationwide.

Mr. Fawer authors a recurring series entitled CREFinsights on Substack covering the ever-evolving world of commercial real estate finance and investment. Click here to subscribe.

Joseph Lanzkron 2026 National Finance Forum

MODERATOR

joseph lanzkron

Partner

Cleary Gottlieb

Jay Neveloff 2026 National Finance Forum

MODERATOR

jay neveloff

Partner, Chair of Real Estate, US

HSF Kramer

Michael Vines 2026 National Finance Forum

MODERATOR

michael vines

Partner

Fried Frank

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Michael Vines

Partner, Fried Frank

Mike Vines, co-head of our Real Estate Finance Practice, advises clients on commercial real estate finance, including the origination of commercial loans for capital market, syndicate, and balance sheet lenders.

Mike specializes on development, construction, and transitional loans on a variety of asset classes, including residential condo, multifamily, office, industrial, data center and retail assets. Mike’s clients benefit from his significant experience providing representation in the purchase and sale of mortgage and subordinated debt, including the negotiation of intercreditor, participation, and co-lender agreements.

Mike’s clients are national banks, investment funds, institutional investors, owners, and developers who seek out Mike’s proficiency in complex real estate financing matters including loan restructurings, discounted pay-offs, deed-in-lieu transactions, and foreclosures.

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognizes Mike in the Real Estate: Finance – New York category, where clients describe him as “incredibly responsive and attentive – a really outstanding lawyer.” Legal 500 ranks him as a “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate Finance.

Before joining Fried Frank, Mike was a partner at an international law firm in New York.

Connect With the Executives Controlling Real Estate Capital

As commercial real estate enters its next chapter, lenders and borrowers are navigating a market defined by refinancing pressures, shifting capital sources, evolving underwriting standards, and an increasingly competitive landscape.

Join Commercial Observer’s flagship National Finance Forum to hear directly from the most prominent banks, alternative lenders, debt funds, construction lenders, mezzanine providers, and capital markets executives as they share the forces shaping dealmaking opportunities in 2027 and beyond.

You won’t want to miss candid conversations with today’s top capital providers as they discuss the challenges and opportunities influencing dealmaking across today’s debt markets.

Attendees will hear directly from leaders from across the capital stack as they share:

  • Where lenders are deploying capital and which asset classes are generating the strongest conviction
  • How underwriting, pricing, and loan structures are evolving
  • The growing role of private credit, alternative lending platforms and structured finance solutions
  • Who is getting big dollar deals to the finish line, and what the winning strategies are in an increasingly competitive lending landscape
Website Collage 2026 National Finance Forum

2026 National Finance Forum

November 3, 2026 @ 8:00AM – 12:30PM
Quorum by Convene, 1221 Avenue of the Americas 10020
…
Register Now

Who Should Attend

  • Banks
  • Owners
  • Investors
  • Lenders
  • Debt/ Equity Brokers
  • Attorneys
  • Service Providers
  • Consultants 
  • Rating Agencies
  • Title Companies 

Agenda

State of Real Estate Financing: 2026 in Review & the Road Ahead
Getting it Done: Conversations with the Players Closing Big Loan Deals in Today’s Shifting Market
Crunch Time / The Refinancing Wave: How Lenders & Borrowers are Managing Maturities, Extensions & Workouts
Underwriting in a Ultra Competitive Era: How Lenders are Repricing Risk & Opportunity Across Asset Classes
Direct from the Sources: The Evolving Landscape of Debt Capital

Sponsors

ACORE CAPITAL Logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum

acore capital

ACORE CAPITAL, LP is a leading U.S. commercial real estate debt investment manager with approximately $18 billion of assets under management. ACORE CAPITAL is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, Japan’s largest non-life insurer and one of the world’s top tier global insurance groups. Based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, ACORE CAPITAL originates, acquires, and manages first mortgages, B notes, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity. ACORE CAPITAL’s success has been fueled by its long-standing industry relationships and access to a consistent pipeline of origination opportunities. For more information, please visit www.acorecapital.com.

ARBORnoTagBoarderPMS560CG10C Large 2026 National Finance Forum

arbor realty trust

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) is a nationwide real estate investment trust and direct lender, providing loan origination and servicing for multifamily, single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, and other diverse commercial real estate assets. Headquartered in New York, Arbor manages a multibillion-dollar servicing portfolio, specializing in government-sponsored enterprise products. Arbor is a leading Fannie Mae DUS® lender, Freddie Mac Optigo® Seller/Servicer and an approved FHA Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender. Arbor’s product platform also includes bridge, CMBS, mezzanine and preferred equity loans. Rated by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, Arbor is committed to building on its reputation for service, quality, and customized solutions with an unparalleled dedication to providing our clients excellence over the entire life of a loan.

bank of america logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum

bank of america

cleary gottlieb 2026 National Finance Forum

cleary gottlieb

Cleary Gottlieb’s real estate practice, ranked as one of the foremost in the United States, is diversified and global, encompassing the full range of transaction types, regions, and asset classes to represent clients in all facets of commercial real estate transactions. Our clients span all sectors of the real estate industry, including commercial lenders, sources of private credit, investors, funds, sovereigns and sovereign wealth funds, developers, and operators.

Our practice has vast experience in pioneering cutting-edge financing strategies for our clients. We engage in all major aspects of commercial real estate finance, including secured loans for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), mezzanine and preferred equity financings, loan syndications, construction, bridge and development loans, loan restructurings and workouts, property foreclosures and deed-in-lieu transactions, and loan-on-loan, warehousing, and repurchase facilities.

Cooper Horowitz 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum

cooper-horowitz

customers bank logo 2026 National Finance Forum

customers bank

fcb logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum
First Citizen Bank

First Citizens Bank

First Citizens  Commercial Real Estate originates and underwrites senior secured real estate transactions. With deep market expertise, underwriting experience and industry relationships, the unit provides financing for single properties, property portfolios and loan portfolios. 

friedfrank logo 785909 2026 National Finance Forum
Fried Frank

Fried Frank

GD Wordmark Black 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum

gibson dunn

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm with 2,200 lawyers in 22 offices around the world. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. Our market-leading real estate finance team is the “go-to” practice for dozens of premiere CMBS and balance sheet lending platforms of all kinds – banks, investment funds, insurance companies and other alternative credit providers. The team draws upon our unparalleled market presence and experience to ensure that our clients are ahead of the curve on any issue.

Goodwin PNG 1 2026 National Finance Forum

goodwin law

gm logo LLP 1 2026 National Finance Forum

greenspoon marder LLP

HSFKramer Logo RGB 2026 National Finance Forum

hsf kramer

InterVest 2026 National Finance Forum

intervest capital partners

Invesco horizontal 1 2026 National Finance Forum

invesco

JLL logo positive RGB 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum

jll capital markets

WalkerDunlop stacked CMYK 2026 National Finance Forum

walker & dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States and internationally. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. Our innovative people, breadth of our brand, and our technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry.

Meridian Capital Group 2026 National Finance Forum

meridian capital group

Newmark Logo Large 6a blk rgb 2023 06 06 190343 zerh 2026 National Finance Forum

newmark

Pace Logo h Deep Navy Rgb 600px w 144ppi 2026 National Finance Forum

pace equity finance

With significant C-PACE experience and a direct lending model, PACE Equity Finance contributes to a resilient capital stack. With over $1 billion funded and backed by our parent company’s $26B balance sheet, we provide long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse financing that enhances returns and moves projects forward. We support sponsors with consistent and disciplined execution. pace-equity.com.

Silverstein Capital Partners 1 2026 National Finance Forum

silverstein capital partners

WF Logo 2026 National Finance Forum

wells fargo

Association Partners

CREFC Logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum

crefc

REBNY 2022 Logo black 1 2026 National Finance Forum

rebny