Dominic De Simone > Ballard Spahr LLP > Philadelphia, United States > Lawyer Profile

Ballard Spahr LLP‘s real estate team serves a diverse client base from coast to coast. The team provides services to lenders, private equity firms, REITs, insurance companies, and borrowers on a vast array of transactions and matters. The team is led by Amy McClain, department chair based in Baltimore, whose practice focuses on representing housing authorities and affordable housing developers in the context of mixed-use finance transactions. McClain is supported by a large leadership team, which includes Dominic De Simone in Philadelphia who leads the private equity, commercial loan servicing, and distressed real estate teams. Further, acting out of Denver, Christopher Payne leads the resort, hospitality, and timeshare team. In addition, highlighting the breadth of expertise at the firm, in the Washington office sits Mary Jo George, who is housing finance practice leader; Katherine Noonan, who is development and transactions practice leader; and Molly Bryson, affordable housing and community development team leader.

The real estate finance group at Ballard Spahr LLP maintains a strong national presence handling complex debt and equity transactions across the United States. The practice is particularly adept at structuring and documenting various types of loans, including senior and junior mortgage loans, construction financing, bridge loans, and mezzanine facilities. The firm has latterly served clients facing problems with legacy loans, assisting with loan restructurings, enforcement, and sales. The group operates under the leadership of Dominic De Simone  in Philadelphia as finance co-chair, alongside real estate finance practice group leaders Siobhan O’Donnell in Los Angeles and Thomas Hauser in Baltimore. Finance specialist De Simone is experienced in representing real estate purchasers, sellers, and developers and routinely advises on balance sheet and CMBS loan originations, and construction loans. Hauser has expertise in the purchase, sale, and financing of office and multifamily complexes, senior living facilities, and student housing. CMBS loan originations and bridge lending form a key pillar of commercial real estate finance expert O’Donnell’s practice. Ashley DeLuca specializes in the development of commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Maulin Vidwans, Chrissey Barba, Jennifer Santangelo in Philadelphia and Joseph W. Weill in New Jersey are other key lawyers to note.