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

Ballard Spahr LLP fields a multidisciplinary practice with experience handling a wide scope of development, structuring, condominium, and mixed-use properties, along with a considerable pipeline of single-family residential property work. Alongside their real estate finance group, the practice is also particularly experienced in the hospitality sector, evidenced by its resort, hospitality and timeshare group. The firm is also distinct in its affordable housing niche, where the team regularly works with private and governmental bodies, including the New York City Housing Authority and Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, on affordable housing and social infrastructure developments and maintenance matters. The department is headed by Baltimore-based chair Amy McClain, with Dominic De Simone leading the private equity, loan servicing, and distressed real estate teams from Philadelphia. Joining them from Washington DC are Mary Jo George, head of housing finance, Katherine Noonan, leader on development and transactions, and Molly Bryson, affordable housing and community development group head. Denver-based Christopher Payne heads the resort, hospitality and timeshare group. Experienced on mergers, acquisitions and retail bankruptcies, Michael Ostermeyer is noted for his expertise advising on corporate portfolios and public real estate projects from the firm’s Phoenix office.

The real estate finance group at Ballard Spahr LLP assists with real estate transactions including mezzanine, construction, and mortgage loans all over the US. Distressed real estate and loan restructurings and enforcement are another key pillar of the practice as well as its private credit and equity real estate practice. Dominic De Simone, Siobhan O’Donnell, and Thomas Hauser all co-lead the group from Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Baltimore respectively. Finance expert De Simone handles transaction structuring and restructuring as well as distressed real estate matters. He is also well-versed in balance-sheet and CMBS loan originations and construction loans. O’Donnell is a commercial real estate finance expert and often represents investment banks and commercial banks, Hauser handles complex real estate transactions, while in Philadelphia, Tina Makoulian is experienced in office, retail, and industrial leasing issues.