Jim brings over 25 years of real estate and debt restructuring experience to the HMS Team. He draws on extensive experience in the negotiation and restructuring of retail, office and industrial leases and in the restructuring of commercial real estate loans and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).
Jim spent his early career with a Wall Street law firm where he specialized in representing lenders in complex transactions. Prior to joining HMS, Jim was a partner in the corporate finance group of a national law firm. He has worked with a multitude of asset types, including retail and office projects, warehouses, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, commercial jets, railcars, car dealerships, wineries, schools, a motor speedway and an amusement park. Jim distills complex problems into pragmatic solutions.
Representative client engagements (corporate/franchise):
Bassett Furniture, Round Table Pizza (Chapter 11), Uno Chicago Grill (Chapter 11), Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Burger King, A&P/Pathmark Supermarkets, El Pollo Loco, Panda Express, Caribou Coffee, Applebee’s, Captain D’s, Smokey Bones, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Abuelo’s, Regis Salons, Cycle Gear, Arizona Culinary Institute
Professional activities(past and present):
Rabobank, N.A, Regional President’s Advisory Council, United Trustees Association, Turnaround Management Association
Publications, Quotes:
“Six Questions a CEO Needs to Ask the Director of Real Estate,” May 18, 2011, ChiefExecutive.net; “Occupancy Costs, Key in Location Profitability,” February 7, 2011, GlobeSt.com; “Turnaround, Restructuring Execs See Middle Market Improvement; Red Flags Remain,” January 11, 2011, DistressedDebt.Dealflow.com
Education:
Univ. of Pennsylvania, JD; Columbia, BA
What makes us different:
“We get beyond the emotion and what went wrong, and focus instead on the solution. Once the parties realize that their interests can be aligned, we’re able to move swiftly to agreement.”
