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Biography

Michaelโ€™s real estate practice focuses on representing hospitality companies, borrowers, owners, developers, operators, private equity companies, institutional investors and lenders in all aspects of hospitality law and real estate ownership, finance, development, management, leasing, acquisition and disposition. His deep understanding of the real estate, hospitality and finance space allows him to counsel clients on complex commercial real estate and hospitality transactions, including representing borrowers, lenders, owners, operators and investors in commercial real estate and asset-based lending. Michael has represented global investment banks, multinational financial services holding companies, major global real estate investor and other large financial institutions in connection with complex mortgage and mezzanine debt, loan acquisitions and sales, construction loans, loan modifications and related secondary market transactions.

Additionally, Michael counsels owners, operators, developers, investors, management firms and lenders in complex commercial real estate finance and hospitality transactions, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating critical transaction documents, performing diligence and coordinating with third parties to ensure smooth, successful transactions.

Prior to joining FBT, Michael was Deputy General Counsel for one of the largest hospitality and hotel management companies, with a portfolio of over 155 hotels located in 36 states and the United Kingdom, where Michael was responsible for negotiating and drafting myriad hospitality, real estate, development, leasing, financing and other related agreements.

Michael's Relevant Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Facilitated the sale and transition of $332M+ portfolio of 21 hotel assets between two leading real estate investment firms.

Drafted and negotiated Hotel Management Agreements and Letters of Intent with (x)ย one of the largest global investment companies for a four-pack limited-service hotel portfolio located in Alabama, (y)ย one of the worldโ€™s leading lifestyle operators for a three-pack boutique hotel portfolio with locations in Brooklyn and Chicago and (z)ย one of the largest global investment management firm for a full-service hotel located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Negotiated $31.5M distressed note purchase and closed subsequent โ€œnote on noteโ€ financing secured by a full-service hotel located in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Successfully applied for and closed $28M+ in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Negotiated Purchase and Sale Agreement for $11M acquisition of leasehold interest in Washington Dulles Marriott Airport Hotel.

Managed and settled โ€œbet the companyโ€ trademark infringement litigation brought against the largest Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant for its logo.

Propelled 200% increase in footprint of restaurant franchise into two new markets through subleasing portfolio of seven restaurants.

Negotiated favorable outcomes with Department of Labor auditors concerning two separate audits, averting penalties, including treble damages.

Drafted and negotiated purchase contract for local real estate developerโ€™s acquisition of multi-family housing complex in downtown Louisville using historic rehabilitation tax credits and low-income housing tax credits.

Closed $230M sale of portfolio of five student housing complexes located across four states.

Negotiated loan documents to close over $140M in loans for a publicly traded hotel REIT from a variety of lenders.

Commercial Real Estate Finance Transactions

Represented major global real estate investor as borrower in $1.8B+ floating-rate refinancing, requiring partial defeasance and secured by 2,917-room Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.

Advised multinational investment bank and financial services company in $200M line of credit facility secured by a portfolio of single-family residences located across seven states.

Counseled multinational investment bank and financial services holding company in $1.2B+ 80% fixed-rate, 20% floating-rate loan secured by more than 140 office complexes throughout four states.

Represented multinational financial services company in $1B+ financing in connection with real estate investment advisorโ€™s public merger and acquisition of 82 shopping centers located in nine states.

Advised lender in credit agreement and revolving capital commitment-subscription credit facility to worldโ€™s largest private equity investment management and financial services firm in initial amount of $100M, with accordion option of up to $1B.

Represented multinational investment bank and financial services company in $710M mortgage loan and $340M mezzanine loan secured by portfolio of 155 skilled nursing facilities.

Counseled lender in $740M mortgage loan to worldโ€™s largest private equity investment management and financial services firm, secured by a portfolio of 27 properties located across the US.

Represented lead syndicate bank in $585M fixed-rate loan secured by one of the countryโ€™s largest malls and securitized in a stand-alone securitization.

Other Info About Michael

Education

Law School

Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 2013

Undergraduate School

University of Colorado, B.A., Political Science, 2007

Bar Memberships

Michael is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Kentucky

North Carolina

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Bar Association

Louisville Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association