Michael is a Partner at the firm and Chairman of its Real Estate, Corporate, Finance & Non-Profit Groups. Michael has over 25 years of experience as a commercial attorney handling a variety of business transactions in areas including complex real estate acquisitions and development, finance and leasing. Michael regularly serves as counsel to commercial and residential developers, non-profit organizations, landlords and various institutional and other lenders with regard to mortgage, construction, mezzanine and asset-backed financing. Michael also specializes in the acquisition of distressed debt.
Education
- Brooklyn Law School, J.D.; 1993
- State University of New York at Albany, B.A.; 1989
Admissions/Courts
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- New York Metropolitan Area Super Lawyers® in Real Estate Law; 2018-2022
Professional Associations
- New York State Bar Association
Selected Matters
- A REIT in various mezzanine loans to a shopping center/apartment complex owner aggregating approximately $25,000,000
- A residential home developer in the acquisition, financing, development, construction and sale to end purchasers 100 plus home subdivision
- A regional college in its leasing of 125,000 square feet of space for a new campus location
- A not-for-profit health care provider in leasing, acquiring and financing various facilities including New Markets Tax Credit financing
- A major manufacturer of railway cars in the leasing of office and manufacturing facilities
- Numerous regional developers in the development of mixed use residential/commercial projects including a $100 million plus residential condominium development and a senior living facility
- Commercial and private lenders in the workout and restructuring of loans, including deed in lieu of foreclosure agreements
- Investors purchasing performing and non-performing loan portfolios
- Clients in the structuring and negotiation of partnership/operating agreements
- An auto industry parts manufacturer, a software company and other entities in the preparation and negotiation of all types of commercial agreements, including asset purchases, supply agreements, licensing deals, temporary use agreements, contracts with contractors and architects, and easements and other documents conveying rights in real property
Case Studies
Effective representation of clients engaged in large scale redevelopment projects starts at the local level and involves regional, state and national interests that require a multi-disciplinary integrated team of counsel with practical and creative approaches to guide projects to completion.
Community Service
- American Jewish Committee, Westchester Chapter, Board Member; 2012-present
- March of Dimes, Real Estate Breakfast Organizing Committee Member
- March of Dimes, March for Babies, Executive Leadership Committee Member
- Westchester Jewish Council, Past Board Member; 2014-2018
- White Plains Little League, Past Board Member
Extracurricular
- Michael is an avid skier and boater.
- He has two children and lives in Stamford with his wife, Lauren Candela-Katz.
In residential real estate transactions, sellers and buyers frequently rely on the expertise of licensed real estate brokers to show properties, negotiate terms of a sale, attend inspections and otherwise bring deals to closing.