Jena Watson

Partner

Jena represents clients in a variety of public finance and project finance transactions.

Jena Watson Portrait

Jena represents financial institutions, public and private companies, and nonprofit entities in complex public finance, project finance, and commercial finance transactions. She has structured transactions for for‑profit and nonprofit owners developing affordable and market‑rate multifamily, military, and student housing.

A member of the firm’s Real Estate and Public Finance groups, Jena regularly serves as bond purchaser’s counsel in private activity bond financings, with particular depth in affordable and multifamily housing, healthcare, and economic development projects. Drawing on extensive experience across the agency housing finance industry, Jena has advised on the issuance of billions of dollars in bond financings and a broad range of project and infrastructure transactions, including representing banks and insurance companies in P3s, construction and acquisition financings, securitizations, and restructurings. Her decade of in‑house experience at major financial institutions provides clients with a pragmatic, business‑focused perspective on complex financings and risk management.

Jena is also Co-Leader of the Firm’s Data Center Task Force.

Client Work

  • Represented the purchasers of high yield tax-exempt and taxable bonds in connection with the financing of the construction, acquisition, and renovation of an array of projects, including:
    • $164.3mm senior bonds for the acquisition and construction of a senior living facility in Huntington Beach, CA.
    • $301mm senior and subordinate bonds for the acquisition, construction and renovation of a hotel and event space in Estes Park, CO.
    • $146mm senior and subordinate bonds for the acquisition and construction of a behavioral health hospital in Las Vegas, NV.
    • $141mm senior and subordinate bonds for the acquisition of a substance abuse and comprehensive mental health treatment facility in New Jersey.
    • $35.2mm senior bonds for the acquisition of a commercial building in Denver, CO.
    • $313mm senior and subordinate bonds for the acquisition of 14 hospitals in Texas.
  • Represented Assured Guaranty, a municipal bond insurer, in connection with the policies issued for the financing of the construction, acquisition, and renovation of the following:
    • $25.7mm note issued to a pass-through trust for the construction and development of a pediatric clinic in Springfield, IL.
    • $52.3mm note issued to a pass-through trust for the construction and development of a community outpatient clinic leased by the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, IN.
    • $167.8mm loan issued to a pass-through trust for the acquisition and renovation of a commercial office building in Atlanta, GA.

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

  • Bitwise Multi-Strategy Alpha Fund, Board Member (2024 - present).
  • Bitwise Funds Trust, Member Board of Trustees (2022 - present).
  • City of Belvedere Planning Commission, Vice Chairperson (2024 - present).
  • City of Belvedere Parks and Open Spaces Committee, Chairperson (2020 - 2024).
  • Belvedere Community Foundation, Advisory Trustee and Board Member (2020 - present).

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