Kahlil Yearwood, Dechert associate
Image: courtesy photo
Kahlil Yearwood, 35, associate
Dechert
Yearwood is a frequent speaker on issues of commercial mortgage-backed securities, high-yield debt structures and other financing topics, but his experience runs deeper than just talk. As an attorney in his firm's finance and real estate practice, he drives major commercial real estate transactions for some of the world's largest financial institutions. In 2011, he was the lead lawyer on deals involving $650 million of new commercial real estate loans and a $3 billion health care REIT merger, to name a few. He was also the lead associate on a $6 billion transaction concerning several commercial mortgage-backed securities offerings. When he isn't closing deals or leading training sessions for his clients, he serves on the board of the Bay Area Urban Debate League, which provides academic and leadership programs for high school students. He also participates in Dechert's pro bono program with a special interest in international human rights.
Word that best describes you?
Enthusiastic.
What you'd do if you could take a year off?
Go to a day game and night game at every Major League Baseball stadium and every game of the Little League World Series.
Most unusual hobby?
When I was in junior high, I became very interested in the stock market. I selected creative writing as my elective and spent the semester writing stock recommendations. I researched stock brokerages and opened my own account with a few hundred dollars. As this was before the Internet, I had to place trades by phone, which required waking my Dad when the market opened to confirm that my trades were OK. I never really viewed it has a hobby, I still don't, but my wife insists that a 12-year-old trading stock is a hobby.
Hours worked per week?
All of them; during baseball season, only most of them.
