Manuel A. Fernandez | McCarter & English, LLP

Clients seek out Manny to help them close some of the largest real estate transactions in Florida and beyond.

Manuel Fernandez represents developers, family offices, lenders, and other real estate investors in a wide array of real estate matters, including financings, acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leases, transactions involving distressed real estate assets and loans, and joint ventures. He is a leading attorney in the commercial mortgage finance space and recognized for his vast experience in connection with the closing of CMBS mortgage loan financings as well as construction and mezzanine loan financings. Office, retail, multifamily—Manny handles every property type and structures transactions from the simple to the complex to help clients achieve their business objectives.

Over the last two decades, Manny has handled noteworthy real estate transactions, including the purchase of the Southeast Financial Center for more than $500 million, which was hailed at the time by the Miami Herald as the largest single-building transaction ever completed in Miami. More recently, Manny has represented an investor in the acquisition of various distribution centers throughout the United States for more than $2 billion as well as the acquisition of a multifamily project in Chicago for $231.5 million.

Manny is regularly recognized as a leader in real estate by prominent legal publications, including Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers, and has been recognized as a “Top Latino Lawyer” by Latino Lawyers Magazine for his real estate transactional work and his leadership in the Latino Community.

An active speaker on developments in real estate, Manny has spoken at conferences of the Florida Bar and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers on a variety of topics, including alternative capital structures, ground leases and the negotiation of intercreditor agreements.

Represented the City of South Miami in negotiating the term sheet for redevelopment of the City’s facilities, including a new City Hall, administrative offices, police station, park and recreation areas, and a public library, all as components of a larger mixed-use, multi-family, and retail development on a ground lease from the City. Developer, 13th Floor, will develop the new City facilities into the larger development as part of its consideration for the ground lease. Following extensive negotiations between the City and the Developer and a public hearing before the City commission, the commission unanimously approved the term sheet. The firm is now authorized to continue its representation of the City in preparing and negotiating the project documents that will implement the concepts in the term sheet.

Represented CollectionSuites, a developer and operator of luxury private storage facilities, designed for high-end collectibles, on two construction loans for a combined $36.6 million senior loan financing commitment from Sunrise Realty Trust. The loans will fund two projects located in Doral and Palm Springs, Florida. CollectionSuites set a new standard in luxury industrial real estate, offering elegantly designed condominium suites and operating the facilities with premium features tailored for discerning collectors.

Represented Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, Rialto, LMF Commercial, and other financial institutions in closing hundreds of CMBS loans (with aggregate principal amounts in the tens of billions of dollars), including refinancing trophy assets such as the Watergate 600 Building in Washington, DC and the La Playa Resort in Naples, Florida.

Represented the purchaser in acquiring the Southeast Financial Center in Downtown Miami for $517 million.

Represented the purchaser in acquiring Pacific Place, a mixed-use office, retail, and hotel project in San Francisco, California, for $470 million.

Represented the purchaser in acquiring a block of commercial retail property on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach for $370 million.

Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of the Dana Hotel & Spa, a boutique hotel located on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, for $72.5 million and in negotiating the lease of the property to Eurostars.

Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a portfolio of industrial properties located in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin for a purchase price of $905 million.

Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a portfolio of industrial properties located in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Canada for a purchase price of $702.85 million.

Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of an industrial facility located in Carneys Point, New Jersey for a purchase price of $197 million.

Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a multifamily project located in Chicago for a purchase price of $231.5 million.

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