About Seth M. Messner

Seth Messner represents borrowers, lenders, issuers, underwriters, rating agencies and other parties in a wide array of financing transactions.

Broad experience in structured finance

Seth handles a variety of structured finance transactions, including residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), asset-backed securities (ABS), single-family rentals (SFRs), whole business securitizations (WBS), property assessed clean energy (PACE), commercial real estate collateralized loan obligations (CRE CLOs) and risk retention finance facilities. His practice involves structuring securitizations, credit facilities, master repurchase arrangements and other warehouse facilities. Through his representation of rating agencies, Seth has a broad and unique perspective on a wide variety of structured finance transactions.

Seth is a frequent lecturer on issues relevant to the securitization industry, including a wide range of ABS and RMBS matters.

Before joining Katten, he worked for the US Department of State in New Delhi, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka. He also served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.

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Practice Focus

  • Structured finance
  • Securitizations
  • Consumer lending
  • CRE CLOs

Representative Experience

  • Counsel in the sale of a portfolio of junior debt secured by 80 aircraft.
  • Counsel to rating agencies in hundreds of transactions.

News

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • The University of North Carolina School of Law, JD, with honors
  • Duke University, MPP
  • University of Notre Dame, BA, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
  • District of Columbia
Professional & Community Involvement
  • Bar Association of the District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2018–2020, 2023, 2025-2026
Award Methodologies