Bank Counsel for Lending, Products, and Regulatory Compliance

Stephen regularly represents real estate developers, financial institutions, owners, and general contractors in a wide range of engagements, including commercial real estate lending and finance; and commercial development and acquisitions. He negotiates architect’s agreements and construction contracts for owners and contractors, including multifamily projects financed by conventional lenders, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Notable Work & Achievements

Design and Construction Contracting Services for Owners and Contractors

Negotiates and drafts architect’s agreements and construction contracts for commercial and mixed-use projects. Stephen has provided legal services for a wide range of projects including corporate headquarters design and construction, industrial office and warehouse development, manufacturing plan renovation and expansion, design-build services for a state-of-the-art parts distribution center, medical facilities and medical office building design, construction, and renovation, and multifamily design and construction. 

Healthcare Facilities Finance and Hospital Development

Represents lenders and health systems on projects that align construction risk, licensure milestones, and continuity of patient care. He closed construction financing for a new medical practice facility serving a large physician group and advises a hospital on ongoing renovations of administrative and clinical spaces. He also represented a hospital in the development, design, and construction of a fourteen-story treatment facility and administrative offices, negotiating architect and contractor agreements to address life-safety requirements, commissioning, and schedule control.

Complex Commercial Lending and Portfolio Transactions

Represents bank and non-bank lenders in commercial loan transactions and credit facilities that pair real estate collateral with operating-company needs. Representative engagements include: a $30,000,000 credit facility for a national manufacturer; an $11,800,00 industrial plan acquisition loan and related $2,000,000 revolving line of credit; a business acquisition loan secured by a pledge of limited liability company membership interests; a $9,000,000 multi-phase commercial real estate loan for the purchase of an office building paired with $3,000,000 in related equipment and working-capital lines to an affiliate; financing for the acquisition of a 244-unit apartment complex; and acquisition financing for an industrial site to support expansion. Stephen also restructured multiple loans to a multi-state restaurant holding company while extending additional credit to stabilize cash flow.

Real Estate Project Development

Represented an owner in a series of transactions leading to the development of a high-rise residential tower including the negotiation of purchase and sale documents for the acquisition of a 170 unit, bay-front apartment complex; the negotiation and purchase of the stock or a corporation that owned real property essential to the development of the high-rise residential tower; the analysis of title, survey, and subdivision issues relating to the development; and the drafting and negotiation of easements and other instruments, agreements, and documents relating to the development.

Provided legal advice to an owner in connection with the development of several residential subdivisions including the drafting and negotiation of purchase and sale agreements; the negotiation and closing of project financing; and the sale of developed units in the various subdivisions.

Provided legal advice to a property owner in connection with the development of a solar farm on the owner’s property including the negotiation and drafting of a ground lease with the solar farm developer and operator; analysis of local zoning and conditional use permit issues; and property restoration issues following the end of the useful life of the solar farm. 

Self-Storage Development, Acquisition, and Disposition

Represents an owner of multiple self-storage facilities in connection with the acquisition, financing, operation, expansion, and potential sale of various self-storage facilities.