Susan J. Pontigas
Of Counsel
305-350-7379
spontigas@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Real Estate, CMBS
Susan J. Pontigas
Of Counsel
305-350-7379
GET TO KNOW
SUSAN
Susan is a real estate lawyer with a sophisticated, diverse practice that includes acquisitions and dispositions, development, financing, and leasing. She has experienced several major shifts in the real estate market. As a result, Susan is particularly adept at guiding clients in mitigating risk and leveraging opportunities during both downturns and upswings.
Susan’s clients include property owners, developers, lenders, and tenants. She also advises loan servicers of commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), primarily on matters involving hospitality assets. For the Firm’s CMBS clients, Susan handles assumptions, transfers of interest, consents and loan modifications, as well as issues related to distressed loans such as workouts, forbearances, restructurings, and foreclosures.
Susan’s clients include property owners, developers, lenders, and tenants. She also advises loan servicers of commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), primarily on matters involving hospitality assets. For the Firm’s CMBS clients, Susan handles assumptions, transfers of interest, consents and loan modifications, as well as issues related to distressed loans such as workouts, forbearances, restructurings, and foreclosures.
Q & A
How has your experience shaped your practice?
Through more than 25 years in practice I have experienced several real estate cycles and have developed strategies for guiding clients no matter the market conditions. Having gone through downturns before, I know how to spot areas of liability for my clients and anticipate opportunities for them that might be right around the corner.
How do you address concerns your clients may have?
I stay very informed on anything that will affect my clients. For some, that means staying focused on interest rate trends and the signals the Fed is sending. Changes in interest rates have a direct effect on the value of real estate, particularly income-producing properties. I monitor those changes and advise clients on adjusting both their long-term and short-term plans.
EXPERIENCE
Represented special servicer of commercial mortgage-backed securitized loan secured by a 400 room Hyatt hotel located in downtown Columbus, Ohio in connection with the disposition of the hotel asset by federal court-appointed receiver.
Representation ofspecial servicer in the administration, servicing and resolving of hotel loans in the aggregate amount of $1 billion. Representation involved work-outs, forbearances, restructurings, sales, assumptions and transfers of beneficial interests, coordination of foreclosures and state and...
Representation of a California-based real estate hedge fund in negotiating, structuring and closing three separate constructions loans totaling $474.7 million. The project includes three high-visibility condominium and hotel projects in Miami.
Representation of special servicer of loan secured by leasehold interest in a Times Square hotel, in connection with the sale of the hotel operations to a Sharia-compliant investment group and the related assumption of and necessary modifications to the existing loan structure to comply with Islamic...
Representation of Conrad Miami in the $72 million sale of the Conrad Miami Hotel. The deal was complex as the building in which the hotel is located includes an office component, an asset the firm previously negotiated sale of for $142 million.
Representation of one of the country's largest special servicers in a $50 million loan assumption secured by two Texas properties.
CREDENTIALS
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University of Florida, J.D., Levin College of Law, Associate Student Works Editor of the University of Florida Law Review, with honors, 1988University of Florida, B.S.B.A., with high honors, 1985
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The Florida BarReal Property, Probate & Trust Law Section
Condominium and Planned Unit Development CommitteeUniversity of FloridaBergstrom Real Estate Center, Advisory Board, 2013 - presentUrban Land Institute (ULI)Southeast Florida/Caribbean, Hospitality & Recreational Development Council, 2013 - present
Women's Leadership Initiative, Research Committee Chair, 2013 - 2014
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Florida
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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PRACTICES