Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C.

What Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C. does

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C. (HAO) is a Washington, DC-based boutique law firm founded in 1991 that specializes exclusively in HUD multifamily affordable housing legal services. With 22 employees and over 30 years of practice, the firm serves a national roster of for-profit and non-profit developers, owners, lenders, housing authorities, and government entities navigating complex HUD regulatory programs. The firm differentiates itself through deep institutional knowledge of HUD's internal processes and personnel, built over decades of practice, and through a team whose members have prior experience at HUD, in commercial real estate, and in regulatory compliance.

HAO's core offerings cover three primary practice areas — HUD Multifamily Programs, Affordable Housing Preservation, and Compliance and Enforcement — supplemented by specialized modules covering Section 8 HAP contract services, Mark-to-Market transactions, Chapter 15/Mark-Up-To-Market (MUTM) rent increases, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program conversions, HUD 202 and 236 loan programs, Transfers of Physical Assets (TPA), and Moving Section 8 budget authority transfers. The firm's work supports preservation transactions involving thousands of affordable housing units across urban markets including Oakland, Savannah, Chicago, Miami, Buffalo, and Hartford, with project sizes exceeding $80M in rehabilitation investment alone.

The firm operates as a privately held professional corporation with a partnership-style structure led by Managing Partner Sheila O'Leary and three other named principals (Deborah Klosko, Karen W. Kramer, Nicole S. Kadomiya). Revenue is generated through professional services fees on a quote-based, matter-by-matter basis (pricing not publicly disclosed). Distribution is direct client engagement, with clients induced by the firm's project portfolio, industry reputation, and professional networks rather than active marketing. Notable engagements include multi-phase work with Related Affordable, Vitus, Jonathan Rose Companies, Standard Communities, Wingate Companies, Fairstead Affordable, and Community Preservation Partners, signaling a client base of national-scale affordable housing developers and preservation specialists.

Name

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C.

Legal name

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C.

Website

https://hao-pc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C. is a Washington, DC-based boutique law firm founded in 1991 that provides specialized legal counsel for HUD multifamily affordable housing matters, serving national for-profit and non-profit developers, owners, lenders, and housing authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services – Affordable Housing

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Government-Backed CRE Lending (FHA/HUD/USDA) (FSALADAE)

Keywords

• HUD legal services
• Affordable housing preservation
• Multifamily housing law
• Section 8 HAP contracts
• HUD regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Legal Services for HUD Multifamily Affordable Housing: The firm provides legal representation and advisory services for clients navigating HUD programs, including HAP contract renewals, property acquisitions, rehabilitations, and regulatory approvals. Services are provided to for-profit and non-profit developers, owners, lenders, and housing authorities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C. is a Washington, DC-based law firm that provides specialized legal counsel for multifamily affordable housing matters regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The firm advises for-profit and non-profit owners, developers, lenders, housing authorities, and government entities on HUD program navigation, HAP contract renewals and bifurcations, Mark-to-Market transactions, Chapter 15/MUTM rent increases, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversions, FHA-insured financing, Transfer of Physical Assets, and compliance and enforcement matters.

Product overview

Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C. is a law firm that serves as specialized HUD counsel for multifamily affordable housing matters. The firm provides legal services across several interconnected practice areas: HUD Multifamily Programs (navigating HUD regulatory processes), Affordable Housing Preservation (structuring preservation transactions), and Compliance and Enforcement (responding to HUD inspections and audits). The core offerings are supplemented by specialized modules covering Section 8 HAP contract services, Mark-to-Market transactions, Chapter 15/MUTM rent increase services, RAD program conversions, HUD 202 and 236 loan programs, Transfers of Physical Assets, and Moving Section 8 budget authority transfers. The firm works nationally with for-profit and non-profit developers, owners, lenders, housing authorities, and government entities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HUD Multifamily Programs Legal counsel and representation for clients navigating HUD multifamily housing programs, including regulatory compliance, program applications, and approvals across Section 8, RAD, FHA financing, and related HUD mechanisms. Target clients: for-profit and non-profit owners, developers, lenders, housing authorities, and government entities.
• Affordable Housing Preservation Legal services for structuring and obtaining HUD approvals for preservation transactions of multifamily affordable housing properties, including recapitalizations, rehabilitations, and refinancing involving multiple subsidy and financing sources.
• Compliance and Enforcement Legal guidance for proactively addressing or responding to HUD inspections, audits, management reviews, and other enforcement matters affecting multifamily affordable housing owners and operators.

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Related AffordablemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with Related Affordable on preservation transactions for multifamily affordable housing projects, including elderly housing rehabilitation in Oakland, California and revitalization of historic properties in Dayton, Ohio.
• VitusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO assists Vitus in obtaining HUD approvals for recapitalization and rehabilitation of affordable housing, including historic scattered-site homes in Savannah's Historic District.
• Jonathan Rose CompaniesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with Jonathan Rose Companies on multi-phase redevelopment projects including HAP contract bifurcations and HUD approvals for Athens Midtown Apartments.
• Essence DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO assists Essence Development with HUD approvals for rehabilitation of elderly housing in Toledo, Ohio, including GRRP financing.
• Integra Property GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with Integra Property Group on recapitalization of Mark-to-Market properties in Toledo, Ohio.
• Redwood HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO helps Redwood Housing obtain HUD approvals for renovation of historic senior affordable housing projects.
• Community Preservation PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with CPP on Section 8bb budget authority transfers and HAP combination transactions.
• Fairstead AffordablemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with Fairstead on 202 loan prepayments and recapitalization of elderly housing in Miami, Florida.
• SAA|EVImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with SAA|EVI on Mark-to-Market use agreement transfers to facilitate redevelopment of Pilgrim Village in Buffalo, New York.
• Standard CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO assists Standard Communities with Chapter 15/MUTM approvals and Moving Section 8 transactions for Chicago high-rise preservation.
• AlcocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO assists Alco with Section 8bb moving subsidy transactions and disaster recovery-related HUD approvals.
• Heritage HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with Heritage Housing on preservation of five affordable housing projects in Hartford, Connecticut.
• St. Mary Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAO works with St. Mary Development Corporation on revitalization of Biltmore Towers in Dayton, Ohio alongside Related Affordable.
• Savannah Neighborhood Action Project (SNAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner233-unit affordable community in Savannah, Georgia's Historic District that HAO helped preserve through HUD approvals.
• Noble TowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner195-unit affordable elderly housing community in Oakland, California preserved through HAO's work with Related.
• Barbour GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartford property that had its HAP contract abated and was revived through HAO's work with Heritage Housing.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Venable LLP: DC-based national firm with a real estate and affordable housing practice covering HUD programs, multifamily finance, and preservation transactions. Comparable because it serves similar institutional developer/owner clients on HUD matters from the Washington, DC market.
• Polsinelli PC: National law firm with an active affordable housing and community development practice advising on HUD programs, tax credits, and multifamily finance. Competes for similar institutional clients and handles comparable HUD regulatory work.
• Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP: Mid-sized national firm with an affordable housing practice advising developers and lenders on HUD multifamily programs, RAD, and preservation transactions. Comparable client base and HUD practice scope, though with broader service offerings.
• Holland & Knight LLP: Large national firm with an active affordable housing practice advising on HUD programs, LIHTC, RAD, and multifamily preservation. Competes for the same institutional client roster and is comparable in providing HUD-specific counsel alongside broader real estate capabilities.
• ArentFox Schiff LLP: Major DC-based firm with significant government contracts and HUD-related practices, advising on multifamily housing programs and federal regulatory matters. Comparable in regulatory focus and DC-anchored positioning serving national affordable housing clients.
• Dentons US LLP: Global law firm with a real estate practice that includes affordable housing and HUD multifamily work for developers, lenders, and housing authorities. Comparable in serving institutional affordable housing clients across national deals.
• Nixon Peabody LLP: Large national firm with a significant affordable housing and community development practice covering HUD programs, tax credits, and multifamily finance. Comparable because several HAO principals previously worked there and the firm competes for similar institutional developer/lender clients.

Direct peers

• Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP: Boutique public finance firm with a substantial affordable housing practice representing issuers, developers, and lenders on tax-exempt and HUD-related multifamily transactions. Comparable in its specialized focus on affordable housing finance and HUD program work.
• Kutak Rock LLP: National law firm with one of the largest dedicated HUD multifamily housing and finance practices, advising owners, developers, and lenders on HAP contracts, Mark-to-Market, RAD, and FHA-insured financing. Directly comparable in client base, regulatory focus, and practice areas to HAO.
• Klein Hornig LLP: Boutique Washington, DC law firm specializing in affordable housing, tax-exempt financing, and HUD-related multifamily matters. Highly comparable as a similarly sized, DC-based boutique serving the same institutional developer and lender clients on HUD preservation transactions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hessel-aluise-and-neun-p-c-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hessel Aluise & O'Leary, P.C.