Washington, DC. Nixon Peabody LLP is proud to announce that leading industry publication Affordable Housing Finance has selected Nixon Peabody senior counsels Monica Hilton Sussman and Stephen J. Wallace for induction into the magazine’s “Affordable Housing Hall of Fame."
“Our Affordable Housing practice gets to the core of who we are as a firm, and we have been at the forefront of the industry for a long time,” said Stephen D. Zubiago, Nixon Peabody CEO and Managing Partner. “Monica and Steve were instrumental in laying that foundation and pushing the group to continue innovating for clients to help them develop, preserve, and invest in vibrant communities.”
Affordable Housing Finance launched its “Hall of Fame” in 2006 to pay tribute to the pioneers who have advanced the cause of affordable housing and made lasting contributions to the industry. The “Hall of Fame” class will be recognized at AHF Live 2024, November 18-20, in Chicago.
“Affordable housing has always been a cornerstone of our firm’s work, and Monica and Steve have exemplified for decades the positive impact of this work in cities and communities across the country,” said Michael J. Goldman, head of Nixon Peabody’s Project Finance, Infrastructure & Real Estate Development Department, which includes the Affordable Housing practice. “This is a well-deserved honor for two industry icons who have dedicated their careers to the development and preservation of affordable housing.”
Monica is a former deputy general counsel for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She has more than 40 years of experience with affordable housing, Section 8, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) multifamily programs. Monica began her career in housing at her first job out of law school with the New York Governor’s office. During her tenure at HUD, she continued to focus primarily on FHA and multifamily programs. At Nixon Peabody, Monica represents developers in all types of affordable housing transactions and maintains a strong relationship with HUD headquarters and regionally.
Steve is well known in the industry as an authority on the preservation of government-assisted housing. He worked for former New York Senator Al D’Amato, who got Steve involved in housing legislation. He joined Nixon Peabody predecessor firm Peabody & Brown in 1993 to help launch the firm’s Washington, DC, office. Since that time, Steve has been closely involved in the legislative and regulatory development of the various federal affordable housing preservation programs. Much of his work involves helping clients refinance, rehabilitate, and preserve affordable housing properties to increase value and long-term viability.
“Steve and Monica were two of the early pioneers in the creation of the field of affordable housing law and founders of our affordable housing practice,” said Deborah VanAmerongen, deputy leader of Nixon Peabody’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice and former commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. “They serve as guiding lights for junior attorneys working in the industry, ensuring the next generation is ready to carry the torch to promote affordable housing policy and development.”
Nixon Peabody’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice has grown significantly in recent years, adding 30 new colleagues since 2020. The group comprises more than 100 attorneys and professionals who work with clients across all areas of real estate. The practitioners focused primarily on affordable housing comprise the largest group of its kind in any national law firm.
Learn more about Nixon Peabody’s Affordable Housing practice and what sets it apart from the competition across development, financing, and regulatory matters.
