Sam Hollander recently joined OakNorth’s US debt originations team to help grow the bank’s direct lending platform, originating bridge and construction loans across a broad range of asset classes. Before joining OakNorth, he worked at Urban Standard Capital, where he experienced the bank’s approach firsthand as a co-lender. 

We caught up with Sam to talk about what attracted him to OakNorth, what makes the current market so interesting, and what it’s like helping build a lending platform at a pivotal stage of growth. 

Q: What brought you to OakNorth? 

Sam: I’d actually worked with OakNorth at my previous firm and got to see how they operate firsthand. What stood out was their commonsense approach. Whether they’re dealing with co-lenders or direct borrowers, they treat people like adults and focus on getting good deals done. 

You can tell pretty quickly when a lender is focused on finding solutions rather than creating obstacles. OakNorth has that mindset. When the opportunity came up to join the team, it was an easy decision. 

Q: How does OakNorth’s approach to CRE lending compare to what you’ve seen elsewhere? 

Sam: The underwriting process here is genuinely rigorous. The team looks at macro data for individual submarkets to understand whether a project is likely to face headwinds or tailwinds, then combines that with granular diligence on the borrower and the asset. 

It’s a more complete picture than most lenders are looking at. You’re not just assessing what’s happening today – you’re trying to understand what the market could look like over the life of the loan. 

Q: What does the opportunity set look like in the US market right now? 

Sam: It’s strong, though it looks different depending on where you are. 

In some markets, land prices reset after the rate cycle and developers are raising equity around genuinely repriced projects. In others, land never fully corrected, but rental rates have proven stickier than expected, so the risk profile has improved anyway. 

Suburban office is coming back. Boutique hospitality is growing. Every market and asset type has its own story right now, which makes it an incredibly interesting time to be originating across the board. 

Q: What’s it like building out a direct lending platform from the ground up? 

Sam: Exciting. OakNorth already has a strong platform and a proven track record working alongside co-lenders. Now we’re building on that foundation and continuing to define our appetite for direct risk. 

That’s a rare opportunity. You’re not walking into a finished product – you’re helping shape it. There’s a lot of responsibility, but there’s also a lot of ownership. The focus right now is on backing good borrowers in markets we understand well and growing the book responsibly. 

Q: What does it take to succeed in this role? 

Sam: You have to wear two hats and switch between them quickly. One minute you’re focused on what makes a deal work – the quality of the sponsor, the strength of the business plan, the opportunity in the market. The next, you’re pressure-testing every assumption, asking what could go wrong and how you’d protect the bank if it does. 

The best deals are the ones where both versions of that conversation lead you to the same conclusion. 

Q: What are you most looking forward to in the months ahead? 

Sam: Finding our niche and going after it hard. 

There’s a lot of opportunity out there. The challenge isn’t finding deals – it’s being disciplined about where we focus and building something that can scale over time. We’re still in the early stages of that journey, which makes it a great time to be part of the team.