Jones Day advises lenders and borrowers across a range ofasset classes, with notable strength in transactional workouts and a broad borrower-side practice spanning mezzanine, syndicated, and CMBS loans, as well as tax-exempt financings. The practice is jointly led by San Francisco-based David Paulson, who regularly handles finance transactions alongside distressed loan restructurings and resolutions, and Atlanta-based Richard Rosenblatt, whose practice spans the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and leasing of commercial real estate. Also in Atlanta, John Tomes is recommended. In Chicago, David Woods advises on construction lending and hotel financings, while Washington-based Michael Riess represents banks in the negotiation, documentation, and closing of secured and unsecured lending transactions. The New York team welcomed two new arrivals in 2025, Jeff Ruskin from McDermott Will & Schulte in August and Jeff Philip from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in September.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Jones Day provides comprehensive real estate counsel. As a client, I always feel I am protected.'
- 'Jeffrey Ruskin is outstanding. His technical knowledge of not only the law but the real estate business provides for superior results during negotiations.'
Key clients
- The Ardent Companies
- Banco Santander, S.A.
- Bank of America
- Blackstone Inc.
- Blue Flag Capital
- Cain International Advisers Limited
- Citizens Financial Group
- Greystar Real Estate Partners
- Henderson Park Real Estate Fund
- KeyBank
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
- Mill Creek Residential Trust
Work highlights
Represented Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the bank syndicate, and Wells Fargo Securities, as arranger, in connection with a $1.475 billion incremental increase of a revolving credit facility which provides for total revolving credit commitments of $5.75 billion. The revolving credit facility is secured by several data center properties located in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Represented a fund managed by Cloud Capital, as borrower, in connection with a construction loan with total commitments up to $467.5 million for the construction of four data centers across the U.S.
Represented an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies in connection with a $189 million loan secured by 49 industrial storage properties located across 22 states.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
David Paulson; Richard Rosenblatt
Other key lawyers
David Woods; Michael Riess; John Tomes; Jeff Ruskin; Jeff Philip