Michelle focuses her practice on commercial real estate finance, structured finance, and securitization matters. She has extensive experience in structuring bankruptcy-remote commercial mortgage loan originations and mezzanine loan financings related to real property, as well as providing legal isolation opinions under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Michelle represents a diverse range of clients, including financial institutions, real estate developers, and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs).

Michelle has played a pivotal role in high-profile CMBS transactions, such as Bear Stearns’ $20 billion mortgage and mezzanine financing of Blackstone’s acquisition of Hilton Hotels and JPMorgan’s $7 billion financing of TPG/Apollo’s acquisition of Harrah’s. She also represented a NYSE-listed telecommunications company in financing a $500 million securitized portfolio and a GSE in structuring a $531 million affordable housing loan.

• Representative CMBS transactions include Bear Stearns’ $20 billion mortgage and mezzanine financing of Blackstone’s acquisition of Hilton Hotels in 2007; JPMorgan’s $7 billion mortgage and mezzanine financing of TPG/Apollo’s acquisition of Harrah’s in 2008; Bank of America’s $460 million financing of Florida East Coast Industries in 2009; and JPMorgan’s $2 billion mortgage financing of Centerbridge/Paulson/Blackstone’s purchase of the assets of Extended Stay Hotels in 2010.
• Represented a NYSE-listed telecommunications company in financing the acquisition of a $500 million securitized portfolio of more than 1,800 communication sites.
• Represented a GSE in structuring and closing a $531 million affordable housing loan.
• Other structured or securitized finance transactions include credit tenant lease securitizations, bondable lease-backed debt financings, and equipment lease receivable financings.
• Represented a Bermuda-domiciled monoline insurance company in the out-of-court restructuring and commutation of $12 billion in ABS CDO’s.