Jon Chassen
Senior Counsel
305-350-7270
jchassen@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Real Estate
Jon Chassen
Senior Counsel
305-350-7270
GET TO KNOW
JON
Jon is a transactional lawyer with a litigation background, and that makes him a powerful advocate for his clients. Jon has handled all types of real estate matters, including commercial real estate transactions, contracts, loan documentation and leases. He has represented lenders, purchasers, sellers, developers, landlords, and tenants in transactions such as the acquisition/sale, development and operation of warehouses, shopping centers, marinas, office buildings, and industrial property.
Jon also has extensive experience handling matters involving distressed real property assets, including workouts, foreclosures (representing borrowers, lenders and receivers in commercial property foreclosure actions) and the disposition of real property assets through and after foreclosure.
Jon also has extensive experience handling matters involving distressed real property assets, including workouts, foreclosures (representing borrowers, lenders and receivers in commercial property foreclosure actions) and the disposition of real property assets through and after foreclosure.
Q & A
What separates you from other lawyers?
My breadth of experience coupled with my litigation background gives me an advantage. There’s nothing like having to defend a contract in court to teach you what can go wrong and to give you insight when preparing contracts. I have a perspective and breadth of experience that few of my competitors have.
In addition, I tend to take my clients' matters very personally. I once had a client tell me he knew I was worrying about his deal more than he was. I take their concerns that seriously. My role is to ensure my clients are as protected as possible from future liability and risk.
In addition, I tend to take my clients' matters very personally. I once had a client tell me he knew I was worrying about his deal more than he was. I take their concerns that seriously. My role is to ensure my clients are as protected as possible from future liability and risk.
How do you approach the practice of real estate law?
I prefer not to rely heavily on a boilerplate contract. I’ve seen what happens when other lawyers do — to the point of not understanding what a particular provision actually means, which can turn out badly. When I’m drafting a contract I frequently use tailored language that addresses the unique circumstances my client faces in clear, plain language, which not only serves the client better, it reduces the likelihood of future disputes which can arise from ambiguous language.
What keeps your clients up at night?
Real estate and the economy are always in flux. So many deals involve long lead times, whether they involve development and construction or acquisition of an existing project which the client wants to remodel or reposition. Clients who are doing well will now worry about what happens if there is a downturn. Of course, the flip side of that is a number of my clients do best in a downturn, because they can take advantage of it and acquire assets on favorable terms.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of Rialto Capital regarding acquisition and disposition of more than 5,500 distressed commercial and residential assets acquired from regional and national lenders and the FDIC.
Representation of a joint venture between PTM Partners and Estate Investments Group in connection with a $55.4 million mortgage loan from Bank OZK and an $18 million mezzanine loan from Nationwide Life Insurance Company in order to finance the construction of 360 new, attainably priced, first-class ...
Counsel to 13 Pista LLC, an entity led by a prominent Argentine developer, in connection with a 160-acre public-private partnership on underutilized land owned by Miami-Dade County. Negotiated a 90-year lease and development agreement with the County and handled negotiations with community partners,...
Representation of an entity comprised of Starwood Capital, the LeFrak Organization, and Invesco Ltd. in the purchase and substantial $340 million renovation of one of South Beach's largest oceanfront luxury resort properties, the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. Our team handled contract negotiation...
Serve as counsel to the client in connection with virtually all transactional matters with respect to the development of The Plaza Coral Gables project. The Plaza Coral Gables is a 5.8-acre mixed-use development site with approximately 2.25 million square feet of residential, office and retail space...
Representation of developer in the purchase and development of Skyrise Miami, a 1,000-foot bay-front tower in downtown Miami. Bilzin Sumberg negotiated the 99-year ground lease, helped renegotiate the master lease and is handling all legal aspects related to the project's construction, including fin...
INSIGHTS
Miami’s ever-changing skyline is set for its biggest upgrade yet. With the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent decision to allow buildings in Miami to reach a height of 1,049 feet above sea level, One Brickell City Centre is expected to surpass the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower to be...
CREDENTIALS
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University of Florida, J.D., Levin College of Law, Order of the Coif, 1980Duke University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1976
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Commercial Industrial Association of South FloridaMember
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Florida
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- The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2013 - present
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers - Government Relations winner, 2015
- Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers of the Year - Mixed Use finalist, 2014
- Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers of the Year - Hotels, 2013
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2012 - 2014, 2017 - 2020
- South Florida Business Journal, Heavy Hitters in Commercial Real Estate, 2011, 2013
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2011 - present
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PRACTICES