Lester M.Bliwise
Counsel
Real Estate
lbliwise@seyfarth.com
Les’ commercial real estate practice focuses on real estate investment and financing for institutional clients.
More About Les
Real estate clients often require sophisticated analysis and structuring of transactions to accomplish their investment objectives. This is often combined with the need to quickly and thoroughly complete property due diligence, and document and negotiate the deal to a successful conclusion. Les has extensive experience in acquisitions and dispositions, joint venture investments, conventional and capital market mortgage lending, and debt restructurings and workouts. His practice is national in scope and encompasses all property types, including office, retail, industrial, apartment, and hotel properties.
As co-relationship partner of one of the largest real estate clients of the firm, Les leads legal teams of various sizes in handling transactions ranging from basic property sales to multistate, multiproperty joint venture investments with related acquisitions and financings, as well as interfacing with clients and ensuring that all matters, large and small, are being handled properly by the firm.
During his years of real estate investment and financing experience, Les has worked in many financial environments and markets, and handled many types of transactions for a wide variety of clients—all with their own needs and across numerous asset classes. Les also has experience in real estate transactions throughout the US. Working on so many of these national deals, paired with his activities in national organizations, means that Les has contacts throughout the country.
Les greatly appreciates the opportunity to put together and lead a team of outstanding attorneys in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and completing large complex transactions that often involve cross-office, cross-departmental partnerships with his highly talented Seyfarth colleagues.
As co-relationship partner of one of the largest real estate clients of the firm, Les leads legal teams of various sizes in handling transactions ranging from basic property sales to multistate, multiproperty joint venture investments with related acquisitions and financings, as well as interfacing with clients and ensuring that all matters, large and small, are being handled properly by the firm.
During his years of real estate investment and financing experience, Les has worked in many financial environments and markets, and handled many types of transactions for a wide variety of clients—all with their own needs and across numerous asset classes. Les also has experience in real estate transactions throughout the US. Working on so many of these national deals, paired with his activities in national organizations, means that Les has contacts throughout the country.
Les greatly appreciates the opportunity to put together and lead a team of outstanding attorneys in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and completing large complex transactions that often involve cross-office, cross-departmental partnerships with his highly talented Seyfarth colleagues.
- JD, Brooklyn Law School
Notes Editor, Brooklyn Law Review
- BA, Rutgers University
- New York
Related Services
- Led $1.1 billion joint venture investment with the surviving shopping center REIT in three regional malls, one of which had a separately owned (with a third party investor) lifestyle and power center.
- Led joint venture investment in an office building on Ninth Avenue in New York. This included the property acquisition from the investment company owner, forming a joint venture with the NYC operator/developer, and closing the mortgage and mezzanine financings.
- Represented an insurance company in the acquisition of a majority interest in the joint venture owning retail and residential portions of the newly developed condominium complex in Manhattan and the restatement of the venture agreement.
- Represented an insurance company in the acquisition of a nearly 50% interest in the retail portion of two hotels/casinos in Las Vegas. The representation included negotiation of the venture agreement, as well as the contribution and purchase agreements.
- Represented a venture comprised of an insurance company and a sovereign wealth fund in the purchase of a major San Francisco office building, including the assumption of a significant mortgage loan.
- Represented an institutional investor in the acquisition and sale at various times, of numerous properties, including the purchase of a Third Avenue New York office building; the purchase of a multifloor midtown New York retail property; the purchase of a landmark office building in Washington, DC; the purchase of two adjacent office buildings in Virginia; the sale of a portfolio of 12 industrial properties in several states; the sale of an office building in Bethesda, Maryland; and the sale of a regional shopping center in Georgia.
- Represented an institutional investor in the formation of a joint venture with a NYC company to develop a high-rise apartment building with ground floor retail space in Long Island City.
- Represented a venture comprised of an institutional investor and a publicly-traded REIT in the sale of a portfolio of 16 shopping centers in five states.
- Represented an institutional investor in the closing of an over $1 billion joint venture with a shopping center REIT to invest in four market dominant shopping malls including the negotiation of the venture documents.
- Represented an insurance company in the formation, with a non-US pension plan, of a venture to make or acquire $1 billion of commercial mortgage loans.
- Represented an institutional investor in the $170 million mortgage and mezzanine financing of its apartment building in mid-town, New York with an insurance company lender.
- Represented a private company whose principal owners were an investment bank and investors advised by an institutional advisor in the sale of landmark New York hotel.
- Represented governmental pension funds in the mortgage financing of a midtown Fifth Avenue New York office building.
- Represented an institutional investor in the capital markets mortgage financing of six student housing properties located in four states. The financing was structured as six separate project mortgage loans with portfolio level guaranties, future funding escrows, and levels of cross-collateralization.
- Represented a private shopping center owner in the capital markets financing of one of the largest shopping centers in the US, which included traditional anchors, big box retailers, more than 200 mall tenants, sit-down restaurants, and an indoor entertainment complex. Also represented the client in the prior construction loan financing for the center.
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04/04/2024
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08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
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- Recognized for real estate law, Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) (2008-2024)
- Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys
- Fellow, New York Bar Foundation
- Recognized Attorney, real estate (nationwide), The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2012, 2017)
- Listed in New York Super Lawyers for Real Estate (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2019)
- Cornerstone Award, Lawyers Alliance for New York (2008)
- New York State Bar Association (Real Property Law Section executive committee member and past section chair; Real Estate Financing Committee past committee chair)
- New York City Bar Association
- Commercial Real Estate Finance Council
- Pension Real Estate Association
- International Conference of Shopping Centers (Member, U.S. Law Conference Program Committee)
- Author, “Understanding Mezzanine Financing,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (April 2004)
- Author, “Real Estate Titles,” Chapter on Mortgages, New York State Bar Association (1984, Revised 2nd Ed. 1994, Revised 3rd Ed. 2001)
- Co-Author, “Lender Responses to Troubled Loans,” Real Estate Review (Fall 1993), reprinted in Japanese, International Legal Strategy (November 1995)
- Co-Author, “Bankruptcy Flaws Now Minimized - Real Estate Implications of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994,” The National Law Journal (January 1995)
- Seminar Speaker and Workshop Leader, International Council of Shopping Centers U.S. Shopping Center Law Conferences: “Borrowers in Default—Dealing with Everyone in the Capital Stack” (October 2009); “Issues for Borrowers in Capital Market and Other Financings” (October 2006);“Getting a Loan Closed—What Borrowers Want and Need and How to Get There” (October 2005); “Mezzanine Debt—Convergence of Debt and Equity” (October 2004); “Secured Lending in the Current Marketplace—Understanding the Important Legal Issues” (October 2002); “Secured Lending Today—The Key Issues” (October 2001)
- Panelist, “Building the Capital Stack: How to Make the Right Capital Decisions for Your Deal,” ICSC and NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association Capital Marketplace Conference (September 2008)
- Panelist, “Legal & Tax Aspects of Project-Level Real Estate Workouts, Defaults & Foreclosures,” U.S. Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum (May 2008)
- Panelist, “Real Estate Debt Strategies: Risk-Adjusted Return Opportunities in High-Yield Debt,” U.S. Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum (May 2007)
- Speaker, New York State Bar Association Programs on Advanced Real Estate Practice: “Selected Real Estate Financing Issues for Borrowers” (December 2006); “What’s Happening in CMBS Lending Today” (December 2005); “Issues and Concerns in Mezzanine Financing Transactions” (December 2004); “Construction Lending” (December 2003);“Capital Markets Issues” (December 2002); “Ground Leases and Leasehold Financing” (December 2001, 2000 and 1999)
- Panelist, “Commercial Real Estate Financing” (various topics), Practicing Law Institute Programs (February 2005 and 2004, May 2001, June 1999 and 1998, May 1997)
- Panelist, “The Relationship Among Co-Lenders When the Deal Goes Bad,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers Conference (April 1997)
- Mamaroneck Planning Board, member
- NYC condominium, president of board of directors
- Concert Artists Guild, friend
- Berkshire Opera Festival, supporter and pro bono provider
Les’ commercial real estate practice focuses on real estate investment and financing for institutional clients.
More About Les
Real estate clients often require sophisticated analysis and structuring of transactions to accomplish their investment objectives. This is often combined with the need to quickly and thoroughly complete property due diligence, and document and negotiate the deal to a successful conclusion. Les has extensive experience in acquisitions and dispositions, joint venture investments, conventional and capital market mortgage lending, and debt restructurings and workouts. His practice is national in scope and encompasses all property types, including office, retail, industrial, apartment, and hotel properties.
As co-relationship partner of one of the largest real estate clients of the firm, Les leads legal teams of various sizes in handling transactions ranging from basic property sales to multistate, multiproperty joint venture investments with related acquisitions and financings, as well as interfacing with clients and ensuring that all matters, large and small, are being handled properly by the firm.
During his years of real estate investment and financing experience, Les has worked in many financial environments and markets, and handled many types of transactions for a wide variety of clients—all with their own needs and across numerous asset classes. Les also has experience in real estate transactions throughout the US. Working on so many of these national deals, paired with his activities in national organizations, means that Les has contacts throughout the country.
Les greatly appreciates the opportunity to put together and lead a team of outstanding attorneys in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and completing large complex transactions that often involve cross-office, cross-departmental partnerships with his highly talented Seyfarth colleagues.
As co-relationship partner of one of the largest real estate clients of the firm, Les leads legal teams of various sizes in handling transactions ranging from basic property sales to multistate, multiproperty joint venture investments with related acquisitions and financings, as well as interfacing with clients and ensuring that all matters, large and small, are being handled properly by the firm.
During his years of real estate investment and financing experience, Les has worked in many financial environments and markets, and handled many types of transactions for a wide variety of clients—all with their own needs and across numerous asset classes. Les also has experience in real estate transactions throughout the US. Working on so many of these national deals, paired with his activities in national organizations, means that Les has contacts throughout the country.
Les greatly appreciates the opportunity to put together and lead a team of outstanding attorneys in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and completing large complex transactions that often involve cross-office, cross-departmental partnerships with his highly talented Seyfarth colleagues.
- JD, Brooklyn Law School
Notes Editor, Brooklyn Law Review
- BA, Rutgers University
- New York
Related Services
- Led $1.1 billion joint venture investment with the surviving shopping center REIT in three regional malls, one of which had a separately owned (with a third party investor) lifestyle and power center.
- Led joint venture investment in an office building on Ninth Avenue in New York. This included the property acquisition from the investment company owner, forming a joint venture with the NYC operator/developer, and closing the mortgage and mezzanine financings.
- Represented an insurance company in the acquisition of a majority interest in the joint venture owning retail and residential portions of the newly developed condominium complex in Manhattan and the restatement of the venture agreement.
- Represented an insurance company in the acquisition of a nearly 50% interest in the retail portion of two hotels/casinos in Las Vegas. The representation included negotiation of the venture agreement, as well as the contribution and purchase agreements.
- Represented a venture comprised of an insurance company and a sovereign wealth fund in the purchase of a major San Francisco office building, including the assumption of a significant mortgage loan.
- Represented an institutional investor in the acquisition and sale at various times, of numerous properties, including the purchase of a Third Avenue New York office building; the purchase of a multifloor midtown New York retail property; the purchase of a landmark office building in Washington, DC; the purchase of two adjacent office buildings in Virginia; the sale of a portfolio of 12 industrial properties in several states; the sale of an office building in Bethesda, Maryland; and the sale of a regional shopping center in Georgia.
- Represented an institutional investor in the formation of a joint venture with a NYC company to develop a high-rise apartment building with ground floor retail space in Long Island City.
- Represented a venture comprised of an institutional investor and a publicly-traded REIT in the sale of a portfolio of 16 shopping centers in five states.
- Represented an institutional investor in the closing of an over $1 billion joint venture with a shopping center REIT to invest in four market dominant shopping malls including the negotiation of the venture documents.
- Represented an insurance company in the formation, with a non-US pension plan, of a venture to make or acquire $1 billion of commercial mortgage loans.
- Represented an institutional investor in the $170 million mortgage and mezzanine financing of its apartment building in mid-town, New York with an insurance company lender.
- Represented a private company whose principal owners were an investment bank and investors advised by an institutional advisor in the sale of landmark New York hotel.
- Represented governmental pension funds in the mortgage financing of a midtown Fifth Avenue New York office building.
- Represented an institutional investor in the capital markets mortgage financing of six student housing properties located in four states. The financing was structured as six separate project mortgage loans with portfolio level guaranties, future funding escrows, and levels of cross-collateralization.
- Represented a private shopping center owner in the capital markets financing of one of the largest shopping centers in the US, which included traditional anchors, big box retailers, more than 200 mall tenants, sit-down restaurants, and an indoor entertainment complex. Also represented the client in the prior construction loan financing for the center.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
04/04/2024
Jason Polevoy Elected to American College of Real Estate Lawyers
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Recognition
Aug 19, 2021
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2022
- Recognized for real estate law, Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) (2008-2024)
- Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys
- Fellow, New York Bar Foundation
- Recognized Attorney, real estate (nationwide), The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2012, 2017)
- Listed in New York Super Lawyers for Real Estate (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2019)
- Cornerstone Award, Lawyers Alliance for New York (2008)
- New York State Bar Association (Real Property Law Section executive committee member and past section chair; Real Estate Financing Committee past committee chair)
- New York City Bar Association
- Commercial Real Estate Finance Council
- Pension Real Estate Association
- International Conference of Shopping Centers (Member, U.S. Law Conference Program Committee)
- Author, “Understanding Mezzanine Financing,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (April 2004)
- Author, “Real Estate Titles,” Chapter on Mortgages, New York State Bar Association (1984, Revised 2nd Ed. 1994, Revised 3rd Ed. 2001)
- Co-Author, “Lender Responses to Troubled Loans,” Real Estate Review (Fall 1993), reprinted in Japanese, International Legal Strategy (November 1995)
- Co-Author, “Bankruptcy Flaws Now Minimized - Real Estate Implications of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994,” The National Law Journal (January 1995)
- Seminar Speaker and Workshop Leader, International Council of Shopping Centers U.S. Shopping Center Law Conferences: “Borrowers in Default—Dealing with Everyone in the Capital Stack” (October 2009); “Issues for Borrowers in Capital Market and Other Financings” (October 2006);“Getting a Loan Closed—What Borrowers Want and Need and How to Get There” (October 2005); “Mezzanine Debt—Convergence of Debt and Equity” (October 2004); “Secured Lending in the Current Marketplace—Understanding the Important Legal Issues” (October 2002); “Secured Lending Today—The Key Issues” (October 2001)
- Panelist, “Building the Capital Stack: How to Make the Right Capital Decisions for Your Deal,” ICSC and NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association Capital Marketplace Conference (September 2008)
- Panelist, “Legal & Tax Aspects of Project-Level Real Estate Workouts, Defaults & Foreclosures,” U.S. Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum (May 2008)
- Panelist, “Real Estate Debt Strategies: Risk-Adjusted Return Opportunities in High-Yield Debt,” U.S. Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum (May 2007)
- Speaker, New York State Bar Association Programs on Advanced Real Estate Practice: “Selected Real Estate Financing Issues for Borrowers” (December 2006); “What’s Happening in CMBS Lending Today” (December 2005); “Issues and Concerns in Mezzanine Financing Transactions” (December 2004); “Construction Lending” (December 2003);“Capital Markets Issues” (December 2002); “Ground Leases and Leasehold Financing” (December 2001, 2000 and 1999)
- Panelist, “Commercial Real Estate Financing” (various topics), Practicing Law Institute Programs (February 2005 and 2004, May 2001, June 1999 and 1998, May 1997)
- Panelist, “The Relationship Among Co-Lenders When the Deal Goes Bad,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers Conference (April 1997)
- Mamaroneck Planning Board, member
- NYC condominium, president of board of directors
- Concert Artists Guild, friend
- Berkshire Opera Festival, supporter and pro bono provider