DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Preston Hollow Community Capital (Preston Hollow or PHCC), a leading private credit solution provider for municipal finance borrowers, today announced key leadership changes that will position the company for continued growth and success. Longtime General Counsel John Dinan has been appointed Co-Head of Originations while Stephen Clarke has been promoted to General Counsel and Michel Benitez has been promoted to Senior Transaction Counsel, all effective September 1, 2024.
Dinan, who has served as General Counsel since the firm’s inception, brings a wealth of both business and legal expertise to his new role. Dinan previously served as Director and Senior Legal Counsel for a Dallas-based financial services firm, which he joined in 2001 to provide a multifaceted range of legal and investment support to the real estate, capital markets, corporate finance and municipal investment divisions. Before that, Mr. Dinan was a development partner with one of the nation’s largest multifamily merchant builders, after co-founding what became one of the 20 largest law firms in Dallas.
As Co-Head of Originations, he will work closely with Ramiro Albarran to expand the company’s origination efforts, focusing on driving strategic partnerships and enhancing deal flow. During his tenure as General Counsel, Dinan played an instrumental role in facilitating the successful execution of many high-profile transactions.
“I am excited to take on this new challenge and help lead our origination team,” said Dinan. “The company has experienced rapid growth and has a strong market position, as evidenced by our extensive pipeline financing opportunities. I look forward to building on our momentum and continuing to deliver value to our borrowers.”
Succeeding Dinan as General Counsel, Stephen Clarke has been a key member of the legal team after joining PHCC earlier this year from Winstead PC where he was a Shareholder representing businesses and individuals for more than a dozen years in high-stakes, complex commercial disputes across a wide range of industries, including financial services, real estate, construction, insurance, higher education, aerospace, and health care.
Before practicing law, Clarke clerked for Judge Edward C. Prado of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Chief Judge Mark E. Fuller of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. He graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as an articles editor for the Texas Law Review.
In the General Counsel role, Clarke will oversee all legal aspects of the company’s operations and support its strategic initiatives.
“We are thrilled to have Stephen step into the General Counsel role,” said Jim Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Preston Hollow. “His proven track record of delivering top-tier legal counsel makes him an ideal fit to lead our legal team as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Assistant General Counsel Michel Benitez was named Senior Transaction Counsel as part of the firm’s leadership changes. A seasoned municipal finance specialist, Benitez will lead the legal team’s efforts in structuring and closing real estate and construction loans, municipal bond investments, and structured finance transactions. Before joining Preston Hollow in 2015, Michel served as Assistant General Counsel for a Dallas-based financial services firm, where he provided legal support to the firm’s municipal finance business unit. Before that he was a public finance attorney in the Denver office of an international law firm.
About Preston Hollow Community Capital
Preston Hollow Community Capital is a market leader in providing specialized impact finance solutions for projects of significant social and economic importance to local communities in the United States. PHCC originates, owns, and manages a diversified portfolio of bespoke municipal finance transactions. PHCC has invested over $5.2 billion since its inception across various sectors of the municipal bond market, including real estate, K-12 and higher education, healthcare, infrastructure, hospitality, general government, and economic development.
Since its inception, Preston Hollow has raised $1.6 billion in committed, permanent equity capital from premier sponsors and investors like Stone Point Capital, HarbourVest Partners and TIAA. PHCC has received long-term BBB (Stable) and short-term K2 (Stable) ratings from Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
Visit www.phccap.com for more information.
