Donald G. Lussier

Don Lussier has extensive experience in real estate, finance and corporate matters. On the real estate side, he has counseled developers and investors in connection with the acquisition, development, operation and disposition of commercial real estate, including multifamily, hotel, office, retail and golf course properties throughout the United States. His experience includes portfolio acquisitions involving complex debt and equity structures. He also has represented both office and retail property owners on leasing matters and has represented commercial property owners in connection with a variety of land use issues.

On the finance side, Don represents lenders and borrowers in commercial and real estate finance transactions. He has represented commercial banks and financial institutions on bridge and permanent mortgage loans, construction loans, mezzanine financings and unsecured lines of credit, and has represented conduit lenders in connection with the origination and securitization of mortgage loans. He has represented borrowers in these types of financial transactions. Don has also drafted and negotiated intercreditor, participation, syndication and note purchase agreements, and has represented both borrowers and lenders in workout and debt-restructuring arrangements.

As to corporate law, Don has counseled companies in a myriad of industries in general corporate governance matters. He has negotiated joint venture agreements in a variety of commercial contexts, merger and purchase and sale agreements, venture capital and "angel" investments (from both the investor and company sides of the table), operating and shareholder agreements, licensing arrangements for patents and other types of intellectual property, and a variety of other contractual matters.

Immediately prior to joining Saul Ewing, Don was the General Counsel of Sawyer Realty Holdings LLC, a privately held, fully integrated real estate investment and management company specializing in the multifamily sector. He oversaw legal affairs in connection with general operating matters and capital transactions executed by the company, and handled the transactional work on many matters himself during a very active business cycle. Don's experience at Sawyer allowed him to view transactions from a businessperson's perspective, and helped him develop an inventive, practical approach to solving problems.