Distressed real estate, like many complex investment undertakings, is ultimately about defining value and identifying opportunities. Specific, localized contacts and knowledge coupled with a mastery of a broad range of legal disciplines are especially vital to these dealings. Success often hinges upon having a knowledgeable, capable partner with the right resources at its disposal.

The Bilzin Sumberg Distressed Property Group is focused on delivering meaningful, comprehensive legal service to owners, investors, lenders and financing sources in matters related to distressed and special opportunity real estate and real estate financing matters. The Group is comprised of attorneys from our Real Estate, Real Estate Capital Markets, Corporate & Securities, Litigation, Restructuring & Bankruptcy and Land Use practice areas, providing the multidisciplinary approach necessary to address the intricacies of distressed property and to develop creative solutions. As a firm widely known for our expertise in the real estate industry and our representation of homebuilders, the largest special servicer of securitized loans in the country and other real estate market participants in and out of Florida, we have a unique, comprehensive understanding of all phases of the market cycle, including the inevitable downturns.

The depth of experience and wealth of knowledge of our Real Estate Capital Markets Group with respect to all aspects of securitizations, structured finance and CMBS loan servicing issues makes our Distressed Property Group uniquely qualified to handle distressed CMBS real estate loans.

Our Distressed Property Group represents and advises lenders and borrowers of senior and mezzanine financing on every possible solution to distressed real estate loans, including:

• Restructuring
• Workouts
• Foreclosure
• Deeds in lieu of foreclosure
• Receiverships
• Disposition of distressed property

These workouts and restructurings often involve portfolios of and individual significant properties throughout the country, including office buildings, industrial facilities, retail centers and malls, condominiums, hotels and resorts, apartment buildings and projects, residential communities, entertainment facilities, sports arenas, golf courses, marinas and mixed-use projects.

We also represent and advise public and private real estate funds, special opportunity and equity funds and other investors and developers in the acquisition, development, financing and disposition of distressed properties.  We represent institutional and other investors in organizing special opportunity and investment funds, providing take-out financing, and acquiring distressed property and other assets in the marketplace and out of bankruptcy.

The areas of expertise represented by our Distressed Property Group distinguish Bilzin Sumberg as a leading regional and national law firm. As one of only nine firms nationwide to be nominated for the prestigious Chambers USA 2007 National Award for Excellence in Real Estate, we are especially well-suited to advise our clients regarding every legal aspect of the real estate industry, at every phase of the economic cycle.

Our Restructuring and Bankruptcy practice, an integral part of the Distressed Property Group, is highly regarded for its successful representation in high-stakes, complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters. Additionally, our attorneys have advised secured and unsecured creditors' loan servicers, asset purchasers and other interested parties in major debt restructurings.

Our Corporate & Securities Group lends its extensive experience to the Distressed Property Group. Our lawyers, experienced in handling multi-billion dollar transactions in the real estate sector (such as homebuilding company acquisitions, real estate development joint ventures and real estate mortgage fund offerings), represent private equity and investment funds and provide a solutions-oriented approach to a wide variety of complex and sophisticated matters. We also have extensive experience advising hedge funds and private equity funds involving a range of distressed real property and distressed assets, on U.S. federal tax consequences relating to the operation of offshore funds and structuring offshore fund operations in a tax-efficient manner. We advise offshore funds on U.S. federal tax consequences of direct and indirect investments in a variety of U.S. investments, including real estate, REIT's and REMIC's.

Participation by our Litigation Group is a key component of the Distressed Property Group. The attorneys in this group have an intense concentration in developing meaningful strategies to deliver constructive solutions to issues surrounding distressed property and to market participants who purchase, own, sell or finance such property. In our experience, most productive solutions to a distressed property resolution are improved by aggressive, thoughtful litigation strategy. Our lawyers have significant experience in prosecuting and defending real property actions and ancillary disputes, and in guiding pre-claim planning and strategy, involving, among others, foreclosure claims, lender liability actions, partnership disputes and corporate governance claims.

For more information regarding our Distressed Property Group, please contact Carey A. Stiss at 305.350.2419 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .