Don has extensive experience in all areas of real estate law, including the purchase and sale of residential and commercial properties, commercial, retail and office leasing, construction contracts, acquisition and leasing of minerals, financing, loan restructuring and workouts, and real estate tax issues.  Don's practice also focuses on corporate matters, business planning, entity formation and operation, stock and asset purchase and sale.  He also handles nursing home and healthcare projects.  Don is the Firm's managing director.

Education

Ohio State University (J.D., cum laude, 1970)

            Law Journal, Articles Editor

            Order of the Coif

Miami University (B.S., 1968)

Practice Areas

Real Estate

Purchases and Sales of Land and Projects

Commercial, Retail and Office Leasing

Construction Contracts

Office and Residential Condominiums

Acquisition and Lease of Minerals

Real Estate Finance

Acquisition, Construction and Permanent Loans

Sale-Leaseback Financing

Loan Restructuring and Workouts

Tax-Free Financing (Representing Borrower)

Corporate

Business Planning

Entity Formation and Operation

Partnerships/Joint Ventures

Stock and Asset Purchase and Sales

Nursing Home and Health Care Projects

Equipment Leasing

Real Estate Tax

Real Estate Tax Exemption

Real Estate Tax Valuation Litigation

Real Estate Conveyance Fee Issues

Bar Admissions

Ohio

Noteworthy Matters/Cases

Acquisition of land and participation in taxable note financing and leasing of medical office buildings and ambulatory surgery centers.

Represent the developer in the negotiation of a joint venture, construction, financing and leasing of a $60 million downtown Columbus office building and parking garage.

Represent a large nursing home company in the acquisition, financing and sale of several nursing homes.

Represent pension funds as landlord in the leasing of downtown and suburban office buildings.

Represent a national fast food franchisee in the acquisition, leasing and financing of numerous restaurants.

Negotiate, document and perform due diligence in connection with the acquisition of the assets of several companies controlling 60,000,000 tons of coal.

Represent the financial partner in the documentation of joint ventures for the development of motels and shopping centers.

Represent an insurance company in land sale-leaseback financing of suburban office buildings, and multifamily residential property.

Obtain real estate tax exemptions for charitable and church property.

Represent large nursing home company in the acquisition of several nursing homes in stock and asset acquisitions.

Represent banks in construction and permanent loan transactions with commercial developers.

Represent a coal mining company in the financing of a $16 million dragline, including mortgage security of coal in place to be mined.

Form residential and medical office building condominiums.

Represent tax payers in pursuing reduction and opposing increases in real estate tax valuation cases.

Negotiate building construction contracts.

Represent a professional soccer team in the negotiation of a ground lease for the construction of a soccer stadium.

Represent the lender in the workout of a loan with respect to a Maryland Eastern Shore resort and golf course.

Represent lenders in sale-leaseback financing of nursing homes.

Represent a congregate care developer in the acquisition of a senior living apartment project out of a foreclosure.

Negotiate the restructuring of a loan on an office building on behalf of a lender to permit the owner to retain the primary tenant.

Represent the owner in the acquisition and development of a stone quarry and asphalt plant.

Represent the developer of a golf course and condominium project in Phoenix, Arizona in refinancing of construction and permanent loans.

Represent the owners of neighborhood shopping centers in the negotiations of tenant leases.

Represent several partnerships as landlords in the leasing of space in medical office buildings.

Represent hospitals as owner's counsel in connection with tax-exempt financing.

Represent an insurance company in the sale and leaseback of its home office.

Commercial real estate foreclosures and workouts.

Represent the seller in the sale of six big box retail stores located in four states.

Represent a mobile telephone company in the acquisition and leasing of sites for mobile telephone towers.

Represent the developer of an upscale housing development in the sale of lots, development of a homeowner's association and creation of restrictive covenants.

Represent a developer in several build-to-suit leases for restaurants and service stations.

Represent a developer in the acquisition of several tracts of land for development of a 700 lot subdivision and sale of the lots to home builders.

Represent a private country club in refinancing of existing debt and financing renovations.

Negotiate the sale of a lime quarry and related manufacturing operations.

Membership and Community Involvement

Real Estate Section, American Bar Association

Real Estate Committee and Probate Law Committee, Columbus and Ohio Bar Associations

Contributor, Ohio Taxation, Judicial Remedies

CLE Lecturer- Various Real Estate Topics