Rudene’s fascination with numbers and problem solving provides tangible benefits to her structured finance and securitization clients, while her focus on ensuring that diverse attorneys receive real opportunities for growth plays an elemental role in her broader achievements. She is co-leader of the firm’s servicer advance financing practice and has historically represented Ginnie Mae in its Multiclass and Mortgage-Backed Securities programs.
Rudene has contributed greatly to the success of a practice that enjoys top rankings in representing issuers and underwriters in U.S. asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities. She solves client problems with wit and creativity while always focusing on each client’s specific business needs. Her work in the residential mortgage financing industry has helped make homeownership more affordable and accessible for many Americans.
In addition to her dedication to clients, Rudene is known for fostering an environment that embraces differences, promotes equality, and engenders mutual respect. She actively creates a culture of inclusion where everyone has the opportunity to excel in the legal profession.
As a firmwide hiring partner, Rudene is committed to expanding opportunities for diverse candidates. She advocates for diversity and inclusion initiatives and serves on the goals and metrics subcommittee of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee, which focuses on increasing diverse representation on client matters. She has mentored many attorneys and consistently demonstrates that diversity and excellent client service go hand in hand.
Numerous awards and accolades reflect her success and the value of her contributions. Outside the law firm, Rudene is a recognized community leader. Passionate about ending health disparities and racial inequities, she helped form “Facts & Faith Fridays,” a weekly series providing accurate information to the Black faith community about COVID-19, vaccination, and improving health outcomes.
Prominent figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden have joined these discussions to address cancer, COVID-19, and other health-related concerns. The White House has recognized the initiative as a model for reducing health disparities nationwide.
Relevant experience includes representing originators, servicers, lenders, and placement agents in innovative, first-of-their-kind servicer advance financings involving both agency and private-label advances, as well as advising on regulatory matters including compliance with U.S. Risk Retention Rules. She has also represented Ginnie Mae in connection with its Multiclass Securities Program and Mortgage-Backed Securities Program, including development of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage-Backed Securities program and the Multifamily Multiclass Securities Program.
Her experience further includes representing lenders and investors in MSR and Excess MSR financings, as well as issuers, securities guarantors, servicers, trustees, and underwriters in securitization transactions involving asset types such as commercial and residential mortgages, manufactured housing receivables, and trade receivables.
Rudene serves as a Founding Member and Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Richmond & Henrico Public Health Foundation and is a Member of the Executive Committee at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the VCU Massey Cancer Center and is the Inaugural Chair of the VCU Massey Cancer Center Coalition, as well as a Trustee of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation.
Her prior leadership roles include service on the Board of Directors for YWCA Richmond, the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and the Board of Governors for the Virginia Bar Association, along with numerous additional leadership positions in legal and community organizations.
Rudene has received numerous honors, including the Outstanding Woman Award (Volunteerism) from YWCA Richmond and recognition as a Leader in Capital Markets: Securitization – RMBS by Chambers Global and Chambers USA. She has also been named a Richmond History Maker and received the Richmond Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
Additional recognitions include being named among the Influential Women of Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Women Worth Watching by Profiles in Diversity Journal, and inclusion on The National Black Lawyers Top 100 List for Virginia, along with many other distinctions throughout her career.
Her work spans Financial Services and Real Estate Investment and Finance, with practice areas including Capital Markets and Securities, Structured Finance and Securitization, Asset-Backed Securitization, Servicer Advance Financing, Blockchain and Digital Assets, Corporate Law, and LIBOR Transition.
Rudene earned her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. in Mathematics with distinction from the University of Virginia. She is admitted to practice law in Virginia.
