Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s real estate finance practice, co-led by David Drewes and Carly Glover Saviano in New York, alongside Misty Sanford who chairs the West Coast practice from California, handles complex transactions for lenders. The practice is particularly active in advising debt funds, banks, and life insurance companies on loan originations, syndications, and remedies across various asset classes including life sciences, data centers, gaming, and industrial properties. The group leverages its multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with the firm’s corporate, tax, and restructuring teams to handle sophisticated transactions, including the acquisition and disposition of balance sheet and CMBS mortgage loans and mezzanine loans on behalf of lenders. Joint ventures and financings form the core of Daniel Backer and Jennifer Coffey‘s practice. Krystyna Blakeslee and Thomas Henry have left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Key clients
- Adept Development
- AGC Equity Partners
- Aspen Skiing Company
- Breakthrough Properties
- The Broad Museum
- Brookfield
- Cain International
- Capital Senior Living Corporation
- Caruso Affiliated Holding
- Centerbridge Partners
Work highlights
Represented Henry Crown & Company on the $3.5 billion refinancing of Rockefeller Center, in what was the largest CMBS issuance ever for a single office asset.
Represented HBC, parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, on its $2.65 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group, parent company of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
Represented Choice Hotels in Exchange Offer to acquire Outstanding Shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Lawyers
Practice head
David Drewes; Carly Glover Saviano; Misty Sanford
Other key lawyers
Daniel Backer; Jennifer Coffey; Karen A. Lorang; Melissa Fischetti; Aimee M. Contreras-Camua