Elizabeth Kiernat

Member

Minneapolis

(612) 260-9000

(612) 260-9080

Recent News:

Am Law 100 Firm Cozen O’Connor Finalizes its Merger with Minneapolis-based Moss & Barnett

Cozen O’Connor has completed its acquisition by merger of Moss & Barnett, one of Minnesota’s leading law firms, adding more than 50 attorneys and bringing the overall roster to over 1,000 attorneys.

With close to 30 years of experience, Betsy is a leader of Cozen O'Connor's real estate practice team that represents Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae lenders nationwide. Betsy focuses on lender representation in the origination, closing, sale, pooling, and servicing of loans under Freddie Mac’s multifamily real estate programs.

Betsy joined Cozen O'Connor in 2026 along with her colleagues from Moss & Barnett. The M&B multifamily finance team has successfully closed thousands of these loans across every product line across the United States. Betsy’s experience includes multifamily housing, manufactured housing, affordable housing, condominiums, multi-property pooled transactions, and securitized assumptions and transfers of interest. She provides lenders with guidance and management for the development, negotiation, and documentation of standard loans and unusual apartment financing, including transactions involving 1031 exchanges, ground-leased properties, tenant-in-common structures, and mixed-use projects.

Betsy also works with buyers and sellers in all phases of the purchase and sale of commercial and residential real estate – from negotiations to due diligence, document preparation, and closing. When representing landlords and tenants, Betsy negotiates and prepares retail, office, industrial, and warehouse space leases.

Betsy earned her B.A., cum laude, from St. Olaf College and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.

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Experience

News

Am Law 100 Firm Cozen O’Connor Finalizes its Merger with Minneapolis-based Moss & Barnett

January 05, 2026

Cozen O’Connor has completed its acquisition by merger of Moss & Barnett, one of Minnesota’s leading law firms, adding more than 50 attorneys and bringing the overall roster to over 1,000 attorneys.

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1998
  • St. Olaf College, B.A., cum laude, 1993

Awards & Honors

Moss & Barnett Paul Van Valkenburg Service Award (2013)

Notable Women in Banking and Finance (2022)

Minnesota Rising Stars (2008)

Minnesota State Bar Association

Hennepin County Bar Association

Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

Minnesota Women Lawyers

Moss & Barnett, Adjunct Board of Directors