Brianna Milligan, Esq. – Litigation Attorney
1. Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?
I chose to practice in Private Lending because private lenders offer unique solutions to borrowers who may not otherwise have access to funding. Assisting them to continue with their practices in the long term continues to make funding more accessible for those who need it. I have been practicing law for almost two years.
2. What is your actual practice area within the firm?
Litigation.
3. What do you do in your day-to-day?
In litigation, every day is different. Some days you’re in court, some days you’re preparing for trial, and others it’s a lot of phone calls and drafting various motions or discovery. Sometimes, it’s all of the above!
4. What is your alma mater?
Western State College of Law, the oldest law school in Orange County.
5. What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?
What I am most proud of in my life is that I have made it this far! I come from humble beginnings in a small town far away from Orange County. It’s an incredible honor to have become a lawyer, made the friends and connections I have, and to have found a firm like Geraci that makes it enjoyable to do what I do.
6. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is that no task is beneath you.
7. If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?
It’s a quote from Teddy Roosevelt. It’s kind of a long one but it never fails to resonate with me when I am reminded of it. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
8. To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do?
To women either contemplating either a career in law or private lending, the first thing I would suggest you do is talk to someone who does it! I had the great pleasure of working for a fabulous attorney, Leonard Herr, Esq., prior to making my decision to enter law school and watching him daily made me want to practice law. I believe my LinkedIn is public and I often receive messages from law students at my alma mater. I am happy to lend advice to whomever comes knocking!
“She came to us after a year of practice in an unrelated field. She has shown great willingness to learn the industry and is already delivering terrific results for our clients. She has shown an impressive ability to understand the nuance of her cases and has plenty of pirate in her. She’s a winner.” – Steven E. Ernest, Esq., Director of Litigation at Geraci LLP
Madelaine Ryan, Esq. – Banking & Finance Attorney
1. Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?
I initially became interested in private lending mostly because of my interest in real estate law. I have been in private lending for just over one year, and in the end, I really chose this area because it is very challenging and keeps my brain active. Private lending covers so many areas of law, such as property, contracts, compliance, securities, corporate law, and moves incredibly quickly. I love the people that I work with, and I am learning something new every day.
2. What is your actual practice area within the firm?
I work on the Banking and Finance team at Geraci, which focuses on the transactional side of our practice.
3. What do you do in your day-to-day?
I work with our clients to draft all types of documentation, mainly loan documents and modifications. I also work with our closing and foreclosure teams to help finalize deals and assist our clients when their deals do not go as planned.
4. What is your alma mater?
Wake Forest University for law school and Miami University for undergrad.
5. What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?
My career is the highlight and what I am most proud of! I was raised in a large family without a lot of extra resources, and nothing was just given. My family sacrificed a lot for me to have a wonderful education and I have worked very hard to get where I am. I am very proud and lucky to get to do what I do every day.
6. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Roll with the punches – you can’t possibly control everything in life, so sometimes you need to look at what you have and make the best of it, even if the best is still not really that great.
7. If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?
I don’t remember the exact quote, but it was something like: “be kind to yourself, you spend more time with you than with anyone else.” No one knows what is best for you more than you do, so take care of yourself! I truly feel that when you are at the best you can be, everyone around you will benefit from it as well.
8. To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do?
Find a mentor and ask questions! These areas of full of successful people who love sharing their experience and knowledge. You will learn more from those people than you will from almost anything else.
“Laine just completed her first year here at Geraci and she is proving to be a wonderful asset to the team. Her leadership, attention to detail, and passion to learn her craft are evident in her work product and in the way she coaches others on the team. We are so lucky to have Laine on our team!” – Melissa Martorella, Esq., Partner and Department Head of Banking & Finance at Geraci LLP
Nazanin Javanmardi, Esq. – Corporate & Securities Attorney
1. Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?
I chose Private Lending to serve and guide clients with challenges they face as private lenders. Our clients do not have the same support system that bank institutions have and I’m proud to work in a firm that helps private lenders to navigate the challenges they face so that they can successfully operate their private businesses.
2. What is your actual practice area within the firm?
I work in Corporate and Securities Department.
3. What do you do in your day-to-day?
I assist clients with fund formation, private placements, and other securities offerings for private lenders, real estate developers and real estate entrepreneurs.
4. What is your alma mater?
Western State College of Law.
5. What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?
I’m the most proud of the fact that I gained years of experience as an attorney in the field of financial related services working for different departments: compliance, litigation, transactional and corporate and that I can combine all these different skillsets to serve clients diligently.
6. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
To be resilient and never give up on dreams and goals I have. Working as an attorney is challenging so one must be resilient to overcome the challenges and to successfully represent the clients.
7. If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?
It is a quote by Justice Ginsburg: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
8. To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do?
I’d suggest that when they are in law school to work in different practice areas to find out which practice area they like the most. While in law school, I made sure to work in different fields such as criminal defense, civil defense, and immigration law. The exposure of working in different fields helped me figure out which field of law I am more passionate about and would like to practice upon graduation.
Nichole Moore, Esq. – Banking & Finance Attorney
1. Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?
I like to say that private lending chose me. I’ve practiced in the banking and finance industry since 2010 as counsel for major banking institutions. In 2014, I switched gears. I served as an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia in the Commercial Division; however, my focus was on affordable housing. Pivoting to private lending felt like I was rounding out my experience.
2. What is your actual practice area within the firm?
I am somewhat hybrid within the firm as I practice both in banking and finance and Lightning Docs.
3. What do you do in your day-to-day?
I work on complex transactions and customize loan documents for our clients.
4. What is your alma mater?
University of Maryland- College Park; Washington & Lee University School of Law.
5. What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?
I am really proud of my personal and professional growth. I don’t even recognize the person I was ten years ago. Whenever someone tells me, “You inspire me to follow my dreams. I just love your energy,” it reaffirms that growth.
6. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Very early in my career, when I was litigating, a mentor told me: “Protect your reputation at all costs. In the end, it is all that we have.” Another by my law school crim pro and capital defense clinic advisor: “Never launch a lifeboat of oversimplification into a sea of uncertainty.”
7. If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?
Always forward; forward all ways.
8. To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do?
When it comes to a career in law, things may not always shake out as expected. Be open to infinite opportunities and possibilities because you never know where they will take you; however, always bloom where you are planted.
