BREAKOUT SESSION: Opportunities in Non-Agency: Capturing Growth in a Shifting Market

Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder, MAXEX, LLC

Tom Pearce is a co-founder of MAXEX and serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board. He brings over 30 years of expertise within the community banking and insurance arenas as well as expertise within the mortgage finance, credit and asset management arenas. Prior to MAXEX, Pearce served on the Board of Directors of Five Oaks Investment Corp (NYSE: OAKS), a mortgage REIT sponsored by XL Group Plc. From 2002 to 2011, he was founder and Managing Partner of Vertical Capital, LLC which was sponsored by Bank of America to specialize in the management of non-agency RMBS as well as bank loans. At its peak, Vertical managed more than $14 billion in assets. Prior to founding Vertical Capital, from 1998 to 2002, Pearce was a founder and CEO of Peachtree Financial, LLC which was a middle-market commercial lending firm and rated servicer sponsored by First Union Bank and A.J. Gallagher. From 1986 to 1998, he served as a Managing Director/Principal and senior member of the Mortgage Department at Bear Stearns where he focused on risk management solutions and portfolio optimization for community banks and insurance companies. Pearce holds a BA from Washington and Lee University where he still serves on the Advisory Board of W and L’s Connelly School for Entrepreneurism.

Partner, Mayer Brown LLP

Haukur Gudmundsson is a partner in Mayer Brown LLP’s Structure Finance practice. Haukur’s practice is focused on structured finance and other transactions involving all types of residential mortgage loans and other residential real property-related assets, including mortgage servicing rights, servicing advances, REO properties, single-family-related properties, home improvement loans and home equity products.