Thomas J. Coyne

Practices

• Real Estate

Professional Experience

As Group Leader of the national Real Estate Practice Group, Tom concentrates his practice on the representation of commercial real estate owners, investors, developers and end users, including corporate and institutional real estate, on planning, development, acquisition, leasing and financing. Tom's commitment to superior client service has earned him high marks in several national ranking publications, including numerous editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Legal 500 United States, and as a BTI Client Service All-Star. Clients surveyed for these guides describe him as "an incredibly strong and pragmatic lawyer" who is "responsive, smart and efficient." Commercial developers and real estate owners characterize him as "a thorough and strategic thinker and a tough but fair negotiator".

Principal types of transactions include the following:

• Corporate Real Estate
• Office and Hotel
• Retail and Mixed Use
• Industrial, Warehouse and Other Commercial
• Government Incentives
• Distressed Real Estate Transactions
• Multi-Family, Condominiums and Large Scale Residential
• Arena and Stadium
• Other Special Use
• Brownfields
• Conservation
• Real Estate Borrower Financing/Workouts
• Financial Institution Real Estate
• Nonprofit Organization Real Estate
• Real Estate Entity Formation and Tax Planning
• Commercial Real Estate Disputes and Property Tax Contests
• Broker Matters

Education

• University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1985, Notre Dame Law Review, Editorial Board Member and Book Review Editor
• College of the Holy Cross, B.A., 1982, Phi Beta Kappa

• CORPORATE REAL ESTATE

  Representation of public and private companies in acquisitions and sales of real estate throughout the United States, and coordination of such transactions in foreign countries, including:
  
  
• Purchase and Sale. Representation of public companies and other entities in plant acquisitions and sales, including chemical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and other industrial, in the following states:
  
  

  Alabama	Kentucky	North Carolina
  Arizona	Louisiana	Ohio
  Arkansas	Maine	Oklahoma
  California	Michigan	Pennsylvania
  Connecticut	Minnesota	South Carolina
  Delaware	Mississippi	Tennessee
  Florida	Missouri	Texas
  Georgia	Nebraska	Virginia
  Illinois	New Hampshire	Washington
  Indiana	New Jersey	West Virginia
  Iowa	New York	Wisconsin

  
  

  and in the following foreign jurisdictions:

  
  

  Australia	Chile	Mexico
  Bahamas	China	Slovenia
  Brazil	England	South Africa
  Canada	France	Venezuela

  
  
• Plant Agreements. Representation of manufacturing companies in plant separation agreements and complex easement and operating agreements through U.S. and in several foreign jurisdictions.
• Industrial Leasing. Representation of landlords and tenants in hundreds of industrial and other commercial leases throughout the United States and in foreign countries.  Representative transaction:  representation of manufacturing company on leases in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and New Jersey.  
• Planning. Corporate facilities planning, including outsourcing of real estate management functions. Representation of undisclosed purchasers in straw man acquisition of properties through third party intermediaries.
• Real Property Tax. Numerous successful real estate tax reduction proceedings.
• Title Insurance. Negotiation of unique title insurance endorsements, including insurance against enforcement of recorded instruments, and forward commitments.
• Construction and Development. Representation of owners on construction and design contracts and development agreements.
  
  

• OFFICE AND HOTEL

  Representation of developers, landlords and tenants in office building and hotel transactions, including:
  
  
• Recapitalizations. Representation of owner in recapitalization of $320 million office building and hotel facility; and representation of owner in recapitalization of $70 million office building.
• Acquisitions.  Representation of purchasers of office buildings, including advice regarding historic rehabilitation tax credits and REA's. Representation of ground lessee of hotel property in Florida in acquisition of fee interest.
• Redevelopment. Representation of office building owner in redevelopment of 450,000 ft. office building, including: (a) $20 million federal NMTC leveraged lender financing, (b) TIF financing, (c) negotiation of job creation tax credit agreement, and (d) related incentive programs.
• Sales. Representation of seller of Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa, in Key West, Florida in $90 million sale to Ashford Hospitality Group. Representation of seller of $10 million office building, and navigation of issues regarding right of first refusal to purchase held by tenant; and representation of  seller of $50 million office building and parking garage.
• Partial Sales. Representation of seller of one-half interest in $300 million office tower and hotel.
• Build to Suit Leases. Representative transaction:  representation of tenant in build to suit lease for 120,000 sq. ft. office building in Virginia for regional headquarters, including options to require landlord to construct additional buildings and options of tenant to purchase additional buildings.
• Office Leases. Representation of landlords and tenants in numerous office lease transactions throughout the United States, including development of standard lease forms for office development projects; evaluation and development of operating expense programs (inclusions and exclusions), insurance programs, and policies regarding coordination of expansion options.  Representative transactions:  representation of investment brokerage company in headquarters office lease in the loop district in Chicago; and office lease for benefit of Charles F. Shreve Consulting, philatelic consultant, and Robert A. Seigel Auction Galleries, at Dallas International Center.  
• Ground Leases. Representation of ground lessors, ground lessees and purchasers of ground lease interests, including REA's and similar easement documentation.  Representative transaction:  representation of entity that was both fee owner of one half of building and ground lessee of other half of building in acquisition of fee under the ground lease, subject to gold clause adjustments and associated litigation regarding operation of gold clause.
• Subleases. Representation of sublessors and sublessees in sublease transactions (as well as "desk license" agreements) through the United States, including office subleases in Washington D.C., Dallas and Chicago.
• Local Counsel. Representation of California-based national real estate company on Ohio transactions.
• Easements. Drafting and negotiation of numerous easement and license agreements, including reciprocal easement agreements for office buildings and hotel properties, utilities easements, ingress and egress easements, easements for building support, and declarations of easements, restrictions and conditions.
• Property Management.   Representation of owners and managers in property management agreement transactions for office buildings, and in negotiation of outsourcing agreements for real estate functions. Development of standard form services agreement for security and other services for fortune 100 company office campus.
  
  

• RETAIL AND MIXED USE

  Representation of developers, landlords and tenants in retail and mixed use projects, including:
  
  
• Shopping Center Development. Counsel to developers of new shopping centers, including 1.6 million square foot outdoor regional mall in Lee County, Florida. Representation of redeveloper and in "de-malling" and redevelopment of existing shopping center.
• Acquisitions and Sales. Representation of purchasers and sellers of regional and community shopping centers throughout the United States.
• Retail Leasing. Representation of landlords in numerous anchor leases, big box leases and other retail lease transactions, including many restaurant leases.  Representative transaction:  representation of developer in lease to Bass Pro Shops at Gulf Coast Town Center, Florida.  
• Big Box. Representation of developers in sales to big box users, and drafting and negotiation of OEA's, COREA's, Site Development Agreements and related documents.
• In-Line Lease Forms. Representation of landlords in development of master form "in line" lease agreements.
• Mixed Use Development. Representation of developer of mixed use project in Hallendale, Florida, subject to COREA with adjacent racetrack/casino project. Representation of joint venture partner in negotiation of development agreement and management agreement for $120 million mixed use riverfront project.
• Redevelopment. Local counsel to Chicago, Illinois developer and international hotel operator in $60 million project, including acquisition and redevelopment of retail arcade facility;  project supported by tax increment financing, historic tax credits and multiple layers of public financing.
• Urban Development. Representation of non-profit institutions in redevelopment of inner-city neighborhoods, including low-income housing tax credit transactions and redevelopment of neighborhood shopping centers.
• Supermarkets. Representation of regional grocery store chain in numerous retail supermarket leases in Ohio and Chicago, Illinois markets.
• Restaurants. Representation of regional restaurant chains in acquisition, development, leasing, franchising and liquor permit matters.
  
  

• INDUSTRIAL, WAREHOUSE AND OTHER COMMERCIAL

  Representation of developers, landlords and tenants in other commercial projects, including:
  
  
• Development. Representation of warehousing company in numerous development projects and acquisitions throughout the U.S., including purchase of a 500,000 sq. ft. building out of a bankruptcy estate.
• Sale Leaseback. Counsel to seller in sale leaseback transactions with W.P. Carey.
• Parking Facilities. Acquisition of parking garages and other parking facilities throughout the Midwest. Negotiation of numerous parking facility leases and management agreements.
• Landfill. Representation of municipality in acquisition of shale pit site and adjoining acreage in connection with settlement of multi-year litigation opposing use of land as a landfill.
• Industrial Office Park. Representation of wine distributor in purchase of 15-acre site (including portions of two lakes) in an industrial office park, and construction and development of 90,000 sq.ft. office/warehouse building, with restrictions on adjoining property. Local counsel to Texas real estate investment fund on industrial office park leasing matters.
• Warehousing. Representation of warehousing company in lease of space in California, Ohio and Texas.
• Options to Purchase. Representation of tenant in a lease of a manufacturing facility in California with option to purchase and right of first refusal.
• Construction. Drafting and negotiation of architect and construction agreements.
• Railroads.  Representation of numerous property owners in transactions and disputes with railroad companies, including eminent domain, easements and spur line agreements.
  
  

• GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES

  Representation of developers and end users in tax credit and government incentive transactions, including:
  
  
• New Market Tax Credits (NMTC)
• Historic Tax Credits (HTC)
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
• Various forms of real estate tax abatement, including Enterprise Zone, Community Reinvestment Act, and Community Urban Redevelopment programs.
• Income tax credits
• Infrastructure and highway improvements
• Numerous other Federal, state, county, and municipal grants, loans and related programs.
  
  

• DISTRESSED REAL ESTATE

  Representation of various purchasers and sellers of distressed properties, including:
  
  
• Strategy. Evaluation and planning of strategies to acquire and sell distressed properties in context of foreclosures, auctions and bankruptcy, including Section 363 sales.
• Acquisitions. Representation of private equity fund in purchase of distressed industrial properties throughout the midwest and southern U.S., including acquisitions through foreclosure, including judicial and non-judicial.
• Resales. Representation of private equity fund in resales of distressed properties, including sale of paper plant in Berlin, New Hampshire to Patriarch Partners, a Lynn Tilton Company.  
• Foreclosures and Workouts. Representation of lenders and borrowers in commercial foreclosure proceedings, forebearance agreements, loan restructuring, workouts and deed-in-lieu transactions.
  
  

• MULTI-FAMILY, CONDOMINIUMS AND LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL

  Representation of developers in numerous projects, including:
  
  
• Vertical Development.  Representation of developer of vertical regime, condominium/retail project, including multiple-air-rights parcels and complex declaration of easements, covenants and restrictions.
• Urban Redevelopment. Representation of  nonprofit redeveloper in several major urban redevelopment projects involving hundreds of "for sale" and rental units, as well as mixed use condominium project.
• Joint Venture. Representation of national developer of stalled condominium project in joint venture and redevelopment for mixed use and mulit-family rental project.
• Management. Representation of developer of upscale fractional share resort in Arizona on management, marketing and licensing agreements with Discover Resorts International, and on membership agreement with Prestige Resorts.
• Subdivision. Development of upscale residential subdivision. Coordination of subdivision approvals, variances and land use issues.
• Condominiums. Representation of developer of urban apartments and condominiums, including complex reciprocal easement agreement affecting apartment facility and adjoining condominium association, and expansion of condominium to include apartment project after expansion of historic tax credit holding period.
• Sales. Representation of seller of thousands of acres of residential development land in New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, Washington and Arizona.
  
  

• ARENA AND STADIUM FACILITIES

  Representation of various parties in arena and stadium projects, including:
  
  
• Purchases. Acquisition of condominium properties in upscale retirement communities, including property in Naples, Florida.
• Ground Leases. Drafting and negotiation of ground leases for professional sports arena projects.
• Subleases. Representation of sublessee under a ground lease on a $150 million sports arena facility, including negotiation of options to purchase fee and groundleasehold estate, with such options secured by mortgages; and representation of sports arena developer in sublease to an NHL hockey team.
• Easements. Drafting of numerous easements for utilities and utility relocation in connection with baseball stadium project and basketball arena.
• ADA Compliance. Representation of football stadium lessee in analysis of ADA compliance issues.
• Suite Agreements. Drafting of agreements for loge boxes/founder suites for arena facility events.
• Licensing. Representation of arena owner in licensing of facility for concerts and other special events.
  
  

• OTHER SPECIAL USE FACILITIES

• Racino.  Local counsel to international hotel investor/operator in connection with joint venture redevelopment of racetrack, casino and related developments.
• Special Licensing. Representation of owner in licensing of property in North Carolina to Cirque de Soleil for performance of Draglion.
• Airport Land; FAA. Representation of developer of proposed lakefront museum at airport location, including negotiation with the FAA concerning land release.
• Exposition Facilities. Representation of operator of 1 million square feet exposition center on real estate matters.
• Telecom Hotel. Representation of developer of telecom hotel in connection with negotiation of rights for conduit lines within public rights of way and sale of conduit lines.
• Cell Towers. Representation of buyer of cellular towers in Florida.
• Golf Course Properties. Representation of seller in preparation of sale of Donald Ross designed golf course.
• Landfill. Representation of owner of landfill in structuring and negotiation of agreements regarding transport and deposit of solid wastes from New Jersey and other states.
  
  

• BROWNFIELDS

  Representation of sellers and buyers of contaminated properties and in connection with brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, including:
  
  
• Acquisitions. Representation of purchasers of sites with known contamination including Superfund site in Delaware subject to chlorine and benzene contamination, and Superfund site in New Jersey. Coordination of redevelopment and remediation programs in accordance with requirements of Ohio and federal law, including Ohio's Voluntary Action Program (VAP).
• Government Incentives. Identification and coordination of Brownfield redevelopment incentives for purchasers and redevelopers.
• Remediation. Representation of sellers of contaminated sites, including representation of Massachusetts company in sale of contaminated property with post-closing remediation obligations, and representation of seller of contaminated industrial site in Anaheim, California.
• UST's. Coordination of UST removal and hazardous waste remediation issues on behalf of buyers and sellers.
• Superfund Sites. Representation of PRP on real estate aspects of settlement on superfund site relative to $200 million claim for environmental contamination of riverbed and adjoining land, including acquisition of contaminated property, leaseback and purchase option in connection with remediation plan.
  
  

• CONSERVATION

  Representation of parties in conservation and in other environmentally sensitive transactions, including:
  
  
• Donor Representation. Representation of property owners in drafting and negotiation of various conservation easement instruments, including conservation easement a 4,000 acre plantation in southern Georgia (formerly owned by John Quincy Adams).
• Donee Representation. Representation of conservation organizations in real estate transactions, including receipt of conservation easements and representation of national land trust in Ohio real estate transactions.
• Historic Buildings. Representation of owner of National Historic Landmark retail arcade facility on facade easement.
• Sales. Representation of nonprofit in sale of 630 acres of land to Trust for Public Land, for ultimate transfer to National Park Service through federal funding process.
• Submerged Lands. Representation of lessee in submerged land lease matters adjacent to waterfront resort in Florida.
• Wetlands. Representation of developers in wetland mitigation matters.
• Water Rights. Representation of developer of land adjoining dam and compliance with state and federal regulations relating to modifications to dam.
  
  

• REAL ESTATE BORROWER FINANCING AND WORKOUTS

  Representation of  borrowers in numerous conventional and securitized real estate loan transactions involving commercial properties throughout the United States, including:
  
  
• Construction and Permanent Loans. Representation of borrowers in  construction financing and permanent financing, including office, retail, warehouse and mixed use (including a landmark hotel in Key West, Florida), and including securitized financing.
• Leasehold Mortgages. Representation of borrowers in leasehold mortgage financing transactions.
• Workouts and Foreclosures. Representation of borrowers in workout proceedings, foreclosures and deed-in-lieu transactions.
• HUD Insured Loans. Counsel to borrowers on HUD insured loan transactions for multi-family projects.
  
  

• FINANCIAL INSTITUTION REAL ESTATE

  Representation of financial institutions on loan and other transactions, including:
  
  
• Loan Transactions. Representation of lenders on over one hundred commercial loans, including office buildings, shopping centers, multi-family and mixed use facilities (including loan secured by a commercial condominium and an art gallery in Manhattan).
• Opinions; Local Counsel Matters. Local counsel opinions and advice to national and international lenders on Ohio law matters.
• Intercreditor Transactions. Drafting loan purchase agreements, intercreditor agreements and loan participation agreements.
• Asset Management. Representation of financial institutions in corporate facilities transactions and sales of bank branches and REO properties.
• Defaulted Loans. Representation of lenders in the context of performance and maturity defaults, including strategy, forebearance agreements, deed in lieu transactions, foreclosure proceedings and workouts.  Local counsel to major bank in foreclosure of project owned by TIC.
  
  

• NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS

  Representation of numerous nonprofit organizations in real estate transactions.
  
  
• Neighborhood Shopping Centers. Representation of non-profit institutions in redevelopment of inner-city neighborhoods, including low-income housing tax credit transactions and redevelopment of shopping centers.
• Residential Redevelopment. Representation of nonprofit as catalyst to redevelopment of several Cleveland neighborhoods, including Ohio City, Fairfax, Glenville and Hough.
• Land Transactions. Representation of nonprofit in sale of 630 acres of land to the Trust for Public Land, for disposition to the National Park Service.
• Museums. Representation of contemporary arts organization in iconic museum project designed by Farshid Mousavi, Foreign Office Architects.
  
  

• ENTITY FORMATION AND TAX PLANNING

  Formation of limited partnerships and limited liability companies for real estate ventures, and negotiation of limited partnership and LLC operating agreements with third parties.
  
  
• Joint Ventures; TIC's. Representation of developers and investors in joint venture real estate development projects, including REIT joint venture partners.
• REITs. Representation of national real estate company in preparation of SEC registration statement for proposed initial public offering and formation of real estate investment trust with UPREIT structure.
• Exchanges. Coordination of 1031 exchanges.
• Planning. Coordination of review of strategy and tax planning for real estate transactions.
• Leasing. Evaluation of tax planning on lease transactions.
• Entity Restructuring. Representation of owner of partially completed projects in admission of new joint venture partners and restructuring of operating agreements.
• Sales of Equity Interests. Representation of seller of equity interests in distressed, partially completed projects in various states including North Carolina, Arizona and Washington.
• Tax Credits. Coordinate tax credit transactions, including new market tax credits, with public finance counsel and accounting/consulting firms.
  
  

• REAL ESTATE DISPUTES AND PROPERTY TAX CONTESTS

  Assist in evaluation and resolution of real estate disputes, including:
  
  
• Rights of First Refusal. Representation of sellers and buyers in disputes regarding options to purchase and rights of first refusal to purchase property (including sales of property plus additional land).
• Tenant Estoppels. Representation of parties in disputes concerning the effect of tenant estoppel certificates.
• Bankruptcy. Negotiated settlement of operating expense dispute in Chicago with successor to a trustee in bankruptcy that succeeded to landlord’s interest in an office building. Evaluation of effect of bankruptcy on various leases, operating agreements, option agreements and reciprocal easement agreements in retail and mixed use projects.
• Purchase Agreements. Handle disputes concerning real estate tax prorations and tax allocations in purchase agreements and leases.
• Lease Disputes. Representation of landlords and tenants in lease disputes, including exercise of remedies following default, numerous disputes concerning audits and pass through of operating expenses, and disputes regarding rental during renewal period.
• Real Property Tax Challenges. Representation of owners of major downtown office buildings and retail, hotel, manufacturing and assisted living facilities in successful real estate tax assessment challenges, including obtaining one hundred percent of requested reduction on multiple office building properties and on a marina facility, and coordinating cases in other jurisdictions.
• Title Claims. Representation of owners and lender in assertion of claims against title companies under title insurance policies, one relating to a gas main in a vacated road and one relating to changes in the course of a river running through a marina property.
• Eminent Domain. Representation of national manufacturer in eminent domain matters in Harrison, New Jersey, including evaluation of potential claims against Redevelopment Authority based on the “economic imprisonment” theory based on inaction of taxing authority.
• Easement Disputes. Representation of owner of land in dispute with neighboring owner concerning interpretation of historical access easement and restarting of easement to permit proposed development project.
• Hold Back Agreements. Representation of buyers in disputes regarding hold back sums, including suit relating to required lease termination.
• Casualty Insurance. Representation of landlord in a million dollar dispute with tenant arising from casualty event, including effect of waiver of subrogation claims.
• Gold Clause Lease Litigation. Assist litigation team as counsel to property owners, lessees and sublessees in gold clause litigation cases and settlements.
  
  

• BROKER MATTERS

  Representation of various parties in broker transactions, including:
  
  
• Purchase and Sales. Counsel to sellers, purchasers, landlords and tenants in broker selection process and negotiation of broker agreements and consulting agreements.
• Leasing Transactions. Counsel to landlords and tenants in drafting specialized broker agreements and consulting agreements.
• Broker Disputes. Representation of owners in disputes concerning broker listing agreements in sales and leasing transactions.

• Co-Author, "The Fundamentals of Green Leasing" · BNA's Environmental Due Diligence Guide, 2011
• Author, "Professionalism is Everything" · The National Law Journal, June 2008
• Co-author, "Tax and Other Inducements for the Development of Real Estate" · The ACREL Papers, Fall 2006, Seattle Washington
• Author, "Real Estate Law Update" · Midwest Real Estate News, October, 2005
• Author, "How to Draft Conservation Easements" · The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, November 2003
• Author, "Electronic Signatures in Real Estate Transactions" · Ohio Lawyers Weekly, March 25, 2002
• Author, "Government Inducements to Real Estate Development Abound" · Ohio Lawyers Weekly, September 17, 2001
• Author, "Old Arcade Restoration Presents Complex Challenge" · Ohio Lawyers Weekly, April 30, 2001
• Author, "A Primer on Real Estate Tax Complaints," · Ohio Lawyers Weekly, March 12, 2001
• Co-author, "Ownership of Company Real Estate a Key Choice" · Crain's Cleveland Business, December, 1998
• Co-Author, "Guidelines on How to Obtain a General Building Permit in the City of Cleveland" · Utilized by the City of Cleveland Building Department, 1999
• Author or co-author of various articles, including "First Special Improvement District Formed in Ohio - Impacts Owners, Tenants and Lenders", "Government Inducements to Real Estate Development in Ohio", and "Tax Increment Financing" · TH&F Real Estate Report
• Author, "Legal Aspects of an ADA Audit" · The Corporate Analyst, November 1993
• Author, "Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff: A Final Requiem for the Public Use Limitation on Eminent Domain?" · 60 Notre Dame Law Review 388, 1985

• Moderator, "New Market Tax Credits: Upfront Guidelines for Developers", Urban Land Institute, December 4, 2012
• Moderator, "Solar and Wind Opportunities and Risks", In-House Seminar, November 17, 2010
• "The Top Ten Issues in Ground Leases", Ohio State Bar Association, December 20, 2007
• Panelist, "Operating and Easement Agreements for Retail Developments", Cleveland Bar Association, Real Estate Law Institute, October 31, 2006
• Panelist, "Carrots and Sticks; How Governments Cajole and Bludgeon Developers Into Submission", American College of Real Estate Lawyers, October 6, 2006
• Panelist, "Mixed Use 'Vertical' Development", Cleveland Land Development Conference, October 20, 2005
• Panelist, "Breakfast Briefing: Kelo v. City of New London", July 26, 2005
• "Drafting Considerations for Conservation Easements", ALI-ABA/National Historic Preservation Conference, October 8, 2002
• Moderator, "Hyatt Regency Cleveland Project" , Urban Land Institute Cleveland District Council , June 5, 2001
• Moderator, "Obtaining Building Permits in the City of Cleveland", BOMA Greater Cleveland Seminar, January 19, 1999
• Moderator, "The Anatomy of a Taking", Real Estate Roundtable Sponsored by Cohen & Company, July 15, 1997
• "A Primer on Easements - Drafting Tips and Other Helpful Hints", Cleveland Bar Association Real Estate Law Institute, November 14, 1996
• "Counseling the Owner on Real Estate Management Agreements", Cleveland Bar Association Real Estate Law Institute, November, 1994
• "Legal Aspects of an ADA Audit", Ohio State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 15, 1992
• "Forms and Drafting Points on Environmental Provisions in Sales Contracts and Leases", Ohio State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 15, 1992

• Listed as top tier lawyer in Real Estate Law in multiple editions of Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
• Recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star, 2011-2012
• Listed in Legal 500 in Real Estate, 2011
• Crain's Cleveland Business "40 Under 40," 1995
• Listed in Inside Business as one of Ohio's Leading Lawyers (Real Estate), multiple editions
• Commended by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio and the Federation for Community Planning for pro-bono legal and development work
• Recipient of Beaumont Award from Beaumont High School (2008) for Service and Philanthropy.
• Featured in The Plain Dealer for success in developing and renovating housing units for nonprofit organization providing transitional housing and assistance to homeless families
• Listed in Super Lawyers in multiple editions of Ohio Super Lawyer magazine.
• Listed in multiple editions of The Best Lawyers in America
• Listed in International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Real Estate 2012; recognition by peers as one of world’s leading practitioners in real estate