Michelle Kelban, global Co-chair of the Real Estate Practice at Latham & Watkins, focuses her practice on all aspects of commercial real estate law, with a particular concentration on real estate finance. She represents capital providers in a range of real estate transactional structures and is a “skilled and extremely competent” lawyer who is "very knowledgeable and service oriented" according to The Legal 500 US.
- Single asset and multiple property portfolio real estate financings for a range of property types and performing and non-performing loan assets
- Mezzanine financings, preferred equity structures, equity investments, sale and leaseback transactions
- Joint ventures, development, acquisitions and dispositions
- Foreign investors with respect to all types of in-bound US acquisitions, joint ventures and financings
In 2014, Ms. Kelban was profiled by Law360 in the publication's "Rising Stars" feature, highlighting top lawyers across the country under the age of 40.
Ms. Kelban has significant experience with a range of property types such as:
- Hotels and resorts
- Casinos
- Shopping centers
- Assisted living facilities
- Office buildings
Ms. Kelban's experience includes advising:
- A private equity fund in the exercise of remedies in connection with a subordinated mezzanine loan secured by a 148 asset hotel portfolio located in 32 states and the transfer of such portfolio to the client, as lender, in lieu of a foreclosure
- An institutional lender in multiple, highly structured loans secured by non-performing loans, performing loans and portfolios of fee assets
- A Middle Eastern investor in acquiring the Intercontinental Barclay New York Hotel through a joint venture structure together with acquisition financing and construction financing and structuring for a major hotel renovation
- An institutional lender in connection with a mortgage loan with a future advance component secured by 36 commercial real estate assets and a mezzanine loan secured by the equity interest in mortgage borrowers
- A Middle Eastern investor in the purchase of the retail and hotel condominium components of a to be constructed trophy property in downtown Manhattan
- Representation of a foreign investor in connection with the complex development joint venture, acquisition and pre-development financing of One Wall Street, a landmarked office building located in downtown New York City
- A private equity fund as borrower pledging large non-performing loan portfolios as collateral under multiple loan transactions