Chris Paul

Chris’s vast affordable housing development experience at Diamond includes new construction and preservation rental developments, funded with 4% and 9% LIHTC as well as any available gap financing sources, along with owner-occupied projects. Chris played a pivotal role in expanding Diamond’s footprint, securing funding for and closing Diamond’s first 9% development in Delaware and working with developers on projects in NY state.

Prior to joining Diamond, Chris worked for Wells Fargo Bank’s Community Lending and Investment division, working with the construction debt platform for LIHTC transactions as well as assisting with restructuring workout transactions.  While at Wells Fargo, she closed deals in multiple jurisdictions, including New York City, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Chris was Real Estate Development Coordinator and In-House Counsel at the Women's Community Revitalization Project.  Chris also served as Vice President for Legal Services at Friends Rehabilitation Program, Inc. where she worked on LIHTC and homeownership development projects. Prior to Friends Rehabilitation Program, Inc., she served as a Clinical Instructor and Director of the Temple University Beasley School of Law Center for Community Nonprofit Organizations and she started her affordable housing and community development career as a Staff Attorney for Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS), on whose board she now serves as President.

Chris is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MA and a JD from Temple University.  She maintains her license to practice law in Pennsylvania and works occasionally on pro bono cases for Philly VIP. She was Chair of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2009 and on its Executive Committee from 2003-2010. She currently serves as President of the board of Regional Housing Legal Services and serves on the boards of Pensdale I and II. She helped to launch a PA chapter of Women in Housing and Finance and was co-chair of the Steering Committee through 2019 and a Steering Committee member until 2022. Chris grew up in a Philly suburb and has spent her adult life living and working in Philadelphia, including in services for unhoused persons, prior to and during law school.