Brian represents commercial real estate lenders in complex mortgage, mezzanine and preferred equity financings throughout the US and Canada. His financing experience includes the representation of lenders in the origination of balance sheet loans (including extensive experience with New York City construction lending), sophisticated mezzanine debt (including senior and junior mezzanine debt originations), EB-5 financing and preferred equity investments as an alternative to mezzanine lending for ground-up developments. Brian also has experience with restructurings, workouts, the purchase and sale of debt pursuant to secondary market transactions, and the negotiation of co-lending and intercreditor agreements. He has extensive experience representing borrowers and guarantors in mortgage (including CMBS lending secured by high-value trophy assets in New York City) and mezzanine financing secured by properties in major markets across the US and Canada.

Brian also represents investors, operators, developers, REITs and funds in the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing and development of office buildings, industrial facilities, hotels, resorts, multi-family, senior housing, retail and mixed-use projects across the US and Canada. Brian’s experience includes the acquisition and disposition of trophy assets; the negotiation and formation of joint ventures for equity investments in commercial real estate; acting for landlords and tenants in the leasing of office, industrial and retail space; and corporate restructurings of real property portfolios. He also has experience in the acquisition and disposition of development rights (including inclusionary air rights).

Prior to moving to New York, Brian practiced commercial real estate law at a premier Canadian law firm in Toronto, where he gained significant experience in Canadian real estate transactions and represented major Canadian REITs, developers and investors in the acquisition, disposition and financing of properties in all major Canadian markets. He also acted for targets and acquirers in high-value mergers and acquisitions, as well as wind and solar energy companies in various renewable energy projects.

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• Represented an investor in a preferred equity investment within a development in Long Island City*
• Represented a national owner and operator of shopping malls in its disposition of its interest in a major shopping mall in Alabama*
• Represented a lender in its origination of preferred equity investments in real estate developments in Brooklyn and Manhattan*
• Represented a lender in a successful workout via deed-in-lieu of foreclosure with respect to a resort in Panama City Beach*
• Represented a lender in the purchase of second mortgage and mezzanine debt secured by a portfolio of properties across the US*
• Represented a lender in the origination of multiple first mortgage loans secured by Class A properties throughout the US*
• Represented a foreign investor in connection with the acquisition and pre-development financing of One Wall Street, a landmarked office building located in downtown New York City*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

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