Ropes & Gray has hired Ian Sterling as counsel in its real estate practice in New York, bringing nearly thirty years of experience across real estate, structured finance, and securitization. Sterling joins from an AmLaw 100 firm where he served as special counsel in the structured finance and securitization group.
Sterling’s background spans both private practice and senior in-house roles. He previously served as senior vice president and associate general counsel at Flagstar Bank, where he oversaw legal matters related to whole-loan trading, warehouse finance, and commercial lending. He has also held senior legal positions at JPMorgan Chase and Barclays Capital, overseeing structured finance across real estate asset classes. His experience covers a broad range of deal types including CMBS, whole loan trading, and warehouse lending.
Sterling holds a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University. He is an active member of the Structured Finance Association and regularly serves as a panelist and faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute.
KEY QUOTES:
“What makes Ian unique is that he’s practiced structured finance from every angle — as outside counsel, as well as senior in-house roles. That kind of experience elevates the advice and expertise our clients get when they work with our team on complex deals.”
Daniel Stanco, Partner and Policy Committee Member, Ropes & Gray
“Real estate structured finance and securitization are specialized areas where clients need counsel who understand the full range of deal types, including CMBS, whole loan trading, and warehouse lending. Ian has built his career across all of those areas over nearly thirty years, and he’s well known in the market for it.”
Jack Creedon, Global Head of Real Estate Investments and Transactions, Ropes & Gray
“Ropes & Gray’s reputation for excellence, collaborative culture, and commitment to client service provide a unique platform to expand my practice and work alongside some of the most talented professionals in the industry.”
Ian Sterling, Counsel, Ropes & Gray
