A highly skilled attorney with extensive experience in analyzing transactions in the banking, corporate and real estate areas, Janet enjoys creating documents that reflect the exact intentions of the transaction, especially when the transaction is challenging and more unusual. With her comprehensive knowledge of all phases of a loan or credit transaction, she is able to chart the progress of a matter while explaining the technicalities and route to a successful closing.
Janet feels that the path to a successful transaction is through well-crafted documentation. In addition, she will always look ahead to consider what might be needed during the implementation process and any regulatory audits or exams that may arise. She takes pleasure in working with her clients to construct language that is clear, precise and transparent. She values listening to her clients and not only providing what they need at that moment, but thinking ahead, talking through the structure of a deal and smoothing over any troublesome issues. She offers the solutions to problems, but also provides an analysis of the issue.
She takes great pride in getting to know her clients on a personal as well as professional level, learning from them as well as striving to share her knowledge. She defines client service as responsiveness and truly looking out for her clients’ interests.
Janet has been accepted as a fellow of the prestigious American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA). Formed in 1974, ACMA is comprised of lawyers in North America who are authorities in mortgage law. The members of ACMA or fellows share a commitment to giving back to their profession, improving and reforming laws and procedures affecting real estate secured transactions and raising the level of performance of lawyers practicing in this area. Fellows have distinguished themselves as practitioners in the field of real estate mortgage law through their skills and practice experience, knowledge, professionalism and related accomplishments that are significant to mortgage transactions.
Active in firm activities, Janet currently serves as a member of both the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council and the Website Committee.
Representative transactions:
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $39M loan to a Delaware statutory trust borrower to acquire a condominium student housing property with a ground lease in Texas. Negotiated documents; resolved title and survey issues involving a “phantom” easement running under the improvements.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $10M loan to a private equity borrower acquiring an RV park in Oregon. Negotiated documents; resolved title and survey related to tidewater issues and lots with discrepancies with real estate tax numbers.
- Led transaction teams representing a credit union in numerous note-on-note transactions to various private equity borrowers.
- Led transaction teams representing a credit union in numerous transactions involving assignments of prior loan documents to effect tax savings for borrowers on properties in Florida and Tennessee.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $30M loan to a borrower to refinance a multifamily development in New York state. Drafted and negotiated documents including those assignments and other instruments required for tax savings under New York law in consultation with local counsel.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $32M loan to a private equity borrower to refinance a multi-family development in Alabama in which borrower separately acquired the ownership interests of the fee owner of the property resulting in a continuity of the entity in title.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $35M loan to a private equity borrower to refinance a mixed-use development in Alabama in which borrower separately acquired the ownership interests of the fee owner of the property resulting in a continuity of the entity in title.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $39M loan to borrowers to refinance a multi-family development in Illinois with six entities owning the property as tenants-in-common.
- Led a transaction team representing a credit union in a $13M loan to a borrower to refinance a mixed-use development in Oregon with four entities owning the property as tenants-in-common and with a carve out for a retail grocery store subject to a ground lease.
Janet’s work with not for profit companies includes providing fundraising counsel and other representation to the Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago, a nonprofit that primarily raises funds for its annual academic scholarship program for local youth.
Janet loves to knit, creating wonderful gifts for herself, her kids and for friends. She designs her own patterns and crafts amazing works of personal expression. Janet also enjoys distance running and looks forward to participating in half marathons. She is the first to admit that she really likes being with her teenage children, cooking, teaching them to sew or just exploring various areas of the city.