Robert M. Siegel
Partner, Head of Commercial Finance
305-350-2421
rsiegel@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Corporate & Finance
“Robert Siegel is a thought leader on a national level in banking and finance.'”
- Chambers USA source
- Chambers USA source
Robert M. Siegel
Partner, Head of Commercial Finance
305-350-2421
GET TO KNOW
ROBERT
Bob, Head of Bilzin Sumberg's Commercial Finance group, was formerly an asset-based and real estate construction lender for a major regional bank in the Northeast. Bob has developed a national financial transactions practice concentrating on commercial and real estate finance, securitizations, debt restructuring and loan workouts.
For the past several years he has devoted an extensive amount of time in the representation of mortgage companies throughout the country in developing strategies to prevent or minimize potential losses resulting from mortgage investor repurchase and indemnification demands made in the aftermath of the mortgage market crisis, as well as in the negotiation of mortgage warehouse financing transactions, loan purchase and sale agreements, and other mortgage banking matters. Bob is a contributor to Bilzin Sumberg's Financial Services Watch blog, and he is a frequent speaker and author on mortgage banking and financial services topics.
Q & A
What industry expertise do you bring to the table?
I have been involved with finance throughout my entire career, and not just as a lawyer. Before I attended law school, I worked for a major regional bank as a lending officer in both commercial lending and later in real estate lending. I believe that my clients, whether borrowers or lenders, appreciate the added value of bringing my "business sense" to a transaction, because they realize that I understand the business objectives and concerns of both sides. I seek to reach agreements founded on mutual trust, and that forms the basis of a longstanding "partnership" between the parties to a deal.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
In addition to my strong financial background, I pride myself on seeking creative solutions to issues, in spotting potential negative trends on the horizon, which has often allowed me to counsel clients early on before the scope or consequences of an issue fully manifests itself. For example, well before the U.S. mortgage meltdown became readily apparent, from speaking with a client who had seen an uptick in mortgage repurchase demands from his mortgage loan purchasers, I knew that "bet the company" issues loomed on the horizon. I immediately began positioning my practice so I could help my loan originator clients fully understand their rights and offered solutions to help them address the issues early on.
EXPERIENCE
Refinancing of $1.7 billion senior credit and mezzanine facilities on behalf of LNR Property Corporation, a subsidiary of LNR Property Holdings Ltd., which was controlled by the private investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. The new credit facility is comprised of a $225 million revolving...
Representation of leading Florida healthcare services provider and a dozen of its affiliated entities in restructuring the provider's $75 million syndicated line of credit facility, increasing the line to $125 million.
Representation of Pacific Coral Seafood, seafood importer and distributor based in Miami, in the structuring, negotiation, and closing of a $60 million revolving credit facility for working capital purposes.
Representation of customer management solutions outsourcer with numerous international and domestic affiliates regarding increasing its $16 million asset-based credit facility to $36 million. After resolving complex issues including the use of funds by the various affiliates and an intricate cash ma...
Represented the bankruptcy estate of All American Semiconductor, Inc., in the prosecution of an antitrust action for price-fixing in the Northern District of California against the major manufacturers of DRAM.
Representation of a debt fund and property fund in connection with separate private placement fund offerings of limited partnership interests. Upon completion of the offerings, the funds expect to raise a combined amount of up to $4.0 billion.
INSIGHTS
Mortgage loan brokers, correspondents and loan originators ("Originators") who survived (or, in many cases, are still dealing with) the onslaught of "repurchase/indemnification" claims asserted by loan aggregators and government-sponsored entities (GSEs) (collectively, "Investors") following the Gre...
Robert M. Siegel moderates a panel at the IMN Real Estate Private Equity Forum on Land, Homebuilding, and Condo Development. Discussion topicsinclude thedifferences between mezzanine debt and preferred equity and the characteristics that make a project a good fit for structured capital.
Last week H.R.1625 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 was enacted. The Act includes a continuation of funding, until September 30, 2018, for the EB-5 Regional Center Program. EB-5 financing has been a low cost financing alternative for real estate developers when compared to other capital...
Robert M. Siegel moderates the debt/equity financing panel at the Information Management Network's4th Annual Real Estate Private Equity Forum on Land, Homebuilding, andCondo Development (East).
On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued proposed regulations ostensibly aimed at curbing inversions and earnings stripping, by companies located in the U.S. with overseas ties. If finalized, these regulations would become retroactive...
On March 31, 2016, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) issued its much anticipated white paper on the role of financial technology (“FinTech”) in the financial services industry. The paper, titled Supporting Responsible Innovation in the Federal Banking Syst...
CREDENTIALS
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University of Miami, J.D., University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, Order of the Coif, with honors, 1985University of Miami, B.A., 1976
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American Bar AssociationThe Florida BarBankruptcy/UCC Committee
Business Law Section
Steering Committee of The Florida Bar Legal Opinion Committee
One of the primary drafters of the upcoming revisions to the Business Law and Real Estate Sections joint Legal Opinions ReportFlorida Youth OrchestraBoard of DirectorsMiami Finance ForumSouth Florida Secured Lenders Association -
Florida
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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Band 2, Chambers USA, Banking & Finance: Transactional, 2009 - present
Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers, Finalist, 2007
Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers, 2006
Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated, 2013 Top Rated LawyerTM
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PRACTICES