Courtney Arena

A dedicated member of the firm’s SBA lending transactional team, Courtney joined Jellum Law in 2022, bringing extensive experience representing community, regional, and national lending institutions.  Her practice centers on the legal and financial aspects of commercial real estate acquisitions, debt refinancing, start-ups, franchise lending, business acquisitions, and other sophisticated transactions.  She has recently guided clients through large, complex loan originations and intricate loan modifications, further deepening her subject-matter expertise.  Prior to joining the firm, Courtney served as in-house counsel for a regional lending institution with a national small business lending platform.  Courtney has practiced law with a focus on SBA lending transactions for over 20 years.

Known for her organization, initiative, and ability to pair high productivity with exceptional client service, Courtney brings a systematic, solutions-oriented approach to every transaction—anticipating her clients’ needs and tracking each milestone through closing to keep matters efficient and on pace.  Clients value her reliability, collaborative spirit, and approachability, while colleagues appreciate her readiness to mentor and support the broader team.  Courtney is committed to delivering sophisticated and approachable analysis to serve each client at the highest level.

In her free time, Courtney enjoys reading, traveling, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with her husband, son, and goldendoodle.  Courtney and her family reside in Knoxville, Tennessee where they cheer on the Tennessee Volunteers and are active members of their church.