Laura is an energetic, savvy, and pragmatic commercial real estate lawyer.   Clients appreciate Laura because she gets things done!

Laura counsels developers, lenders and business owners involved in all aspects of commercial real estate including sale and acquisition, financing, borrowing, development, workouts and leasing transactions for commercial properties.  She has handled numerous commercial real estate transactions, including permanent and construction financing, working capital arrangements and conduit financing.  Laura is highly experienced with real estate loan enforcement, workouts and restructurings, including foreclosure by advertisement and negotiating and documenting forbearance and settlement agreements.

Laura also represents developers and Homeowner’s and Condominium Owner’s Associations in operation and governance matters, including drafting Master Deeds, Bylaws, Building and Use Restrictions, Reciprocal Easement and Maintenance Agreements and related documentation.  Laura negotiates and drafts purchase agreements, opinion letters, property management agreements, loan documentation, leases, option agreements, letters of intent and memoranda of understanding.  Her corporate experience includes general corporate, partnership and limited liability company matters.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Assisted a regional grocery chain in a multi-parcel acquisition transaction, including negotiating easements and reciprocal operating agreements with a major regional retail chain
• Represented a local developer in the acquisition of a large multi-tenant office building and later successfully settled a dispute with the seller over alleged fraud related to the sale
• Counsel to major lending institutions, including the area’s largest bank, in documenting, negotiating and closing loans totaling millions of dollars.
• Prepared and negotiated Master Deeds and Bylaws for a variety of condominium developments, including site condominiums, loft-style condominiums and business condominiums
• Negotiated and drafted commercial leases for landlords with national and regional chain tenants
• Obtained favorable result for a developer client in annexation proceedings before the Michigan State Boundary Commission
• Counsel to several local major developers in the acquisition, financing and development of multi-parcel, multi-tenant projects.  Activities included:
  • Attending land division applications and hearings;
  • Reviewing site planning matters;
  • Negotiating and drafting reciprocal easement and maintenance agreements;
  • Drafting Planned Unit Development Agreements
• Represented local developers in several major refinancing and construction financing loan transactions with national lenders  

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC LEADERSHIP

• State Bar Commercial Real Estate, Ownership & Finance Committee
• Recipient (together with husband Jim) of Circle of Hope Award, October 2008, from the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County  
• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beverly Hills, Member
• Marian High School Alumnae Association, Past President and Member
• Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County, Board of Directors (2000-2013), Past Member of Strategic Planning, Bylaws, Finance and Building Committees
• Birmingham Country Club, Member, Food and Beverage Service Committee
• Spartans Will/Motor City Blight Busters project, Volunteer

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• Speaker on Commercial Leases, Lunch and Learn with Lawyers, Tech Town Fast Track Business Incubator Program

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Michigan
• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan