William J. Meléndez Díaz, a partner at Cassin & Cassin LLP, primarily focuses on representing lenders in the financing of multifamily properties through the Freddie Mac Seller-Servicer program and the Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting & Servicing program, with an emphasis on affordable housing. With nearly two decades of experience advising on complex affordable housing and multifamily transactions, he is well versed in structuring and negotiating multi-layered affordable transactions and achieving tailored solutions to novel issues.
Prior to joining Cassin, Mr. Meléndez served as Associate General Counsel at Freddie Mac, where he played a key role in shaping and executing legal and business strategy for a high volume of Targeted Affordable Housing transactions, including 4% and 9% LIHTC deals, tax-exempt loans, and preservation rehabs. In addition, he conceived and led Freddie Mac’s first use case to develop a custom AI Agent for the Multifamily Real Estate Legal department, which would enhance legal productivity and accuracy, and to pave the way for broader adoption across the organization. Prior to Freddie Mac, Mr. Meléndez was an attorney at Ballard Spahr LLP and Krooth & Altman LLP, where he represented lenders in HUD/FHA financings for multifamily, nursing home, and assisted living projects, with a strong emphasis on affordable housing, tax credit financing and tax-exempt bond transactions. He has extensive experience across a range of financing structures, including ground leases, regulatory agreements, bridge loans, RAD conversions, and various public and private subordinate debt programs, among others.
Mr. Meléndez received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, and both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, with a concentration in economics. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland, Spanish is his native language, and has a strong commitment to pro bono service, particularly in immigration, veterans’ rights, and nonprofit legal support.
