Richard D. Jones, co-chair of Dechert’s Finance and Real Estate group, focuses his practice on capital markets and mortgage finance. Mr. Jones has been described as “one of the savviest capital markets/mortgage finance lawyers in America’s real estate sector” by The Legal 500 and has been consistently ranked as a leading lawyer by both The Legal 500 and Chambers USA. In addition, he is listed as a leader in Real Estate Law in the 2011 and 2012 U.S. News – Best Lawyers survey and was named a 2011 MVP by Law360 for his work “staying one step ahead” of the changes in the industry.
Mr. Jones received the CREFC Founders Award for his leadership. He has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), which is given annually to one person who has provided sustained and effective leadership to the industry.
Mr. Jones is widely published and a frequent speaker on a wide range of issues affecting the capital markets and mortgage finance markets. He is the founder of, and a frequent contributor to, the Dechert blog, CrunchedCredit, which takes a critical look at the global financial crisis and the capital markets’ ongoing road to recovery.
Education
Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1975, magna cum laude
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1978
Boston University School of Law, LL.M., 1981
Bar Admissions/Qualifications
Pennsylvania
New York
Connecticut
Memberships
Mr. Jones is past president of the CRE Finance Council; a founder of the Commercial Real Estate Institute (CRI); a member and past governor of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a former chair of its Capital Markets Committee; and a member of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Mortgage Board of Governors (COMBOG) of the MBA. Mr. Jones is a member of the Real Estate Roundtable, serving on its Capital and Credit Policy Advisory Committee. He also serves as the chairman of CRE Finance Council’s PAC as a member of the Commercial Real Estate Working Group of the Financial Services Roundtable, and on the MBA’s blue ribbon Council on Ensuring Mortgage Liquidity.