Overview
David brings nearly 40 years of experience advising individuals and organizations across the country on commercial real estate development and redevelopment, financing, construction, leasing, corporate governance, environmental matters and insurance, and business acquisitions and divestitures.
David takes a direct, business-focused approach to his practice, tailoring his services to each client, including investors, business owners, real estate developers, property owners, lenders, and manufacturers, based on their needs to manage their complex matters efficiently and improve their returns on investment.
As a property owner and investor, David leverages his practical, hands-on real estate experience to handle client transactions and compliance matters. He provides guidance on real estate, operational, and corporate matters such as joint ventures, financing and capital structures, and large-scale development projects across the manufacturing and transportation industries and other sectors. Additionally, he has been active in Ohio’s cannabis sector since its inception, guiding clients through corporate finance, real estate and zoning, environmental, regulatory, transportation, and other contractual issues.
Prior to joining Frantz Ward, David was a member at a prominent national law firm. He also previously founded and managed a business law firm, counseling a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses on complex real estate, environmental, construction, and corporate law matters.
Representative Experience
- Served as lead counsel for sale of a 52-acre former manufacturing facility in North Canton, Ohio, involving over 100 parcels and EPA oversight.
- Provided lender’s counsel on one of the first cannabis-related commercial property financings in the U.S.
- Provided acquisition and financing counsel for a 500-acre mixed-use development in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Counseled a publicly traded drug store chain on acquisition, sale, leasing, and environmental matters across multiple U.S. locations.
- Counseled a developer on acquisition, financing, and development of an international consumer product distribution center.
- Aided lenders and borrowers in construction and permanent financing transactions.
- Provided national environmental counsel for a lender in connection with financings and refinancings of automobile dealership properties.
- Assisted clients with environmental due diligence matters, Phase I/II assessments, and remediation plans.
- Negotiated environmental insurance, indemnities, and other long-term liability protections.
- Represented Tier I PRPs in Superfund matters.
- Counseled clients on compliance with TSCA’s lead-based paint regulations and successfully resolved U.S. EPA lead-based paint enforcement actions against them.
- Represented gas station owners and operators on matters pertaining to Ohio’s Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, and for others before Ohio’s Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board.
- Represented a public library in construction-related matters, including public bidding requirements, in connection with the major renovation of its main facility.
- Represented public school districts on construction-related documents and public bidding matters.
- Advised developers and investors on a wide array of matters on projects such as office buildings, gas stations, warehouse/distribution facilities, manufacturing facilities, condominium and planned unit developments, apartment complexes, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and hotels.
Education & Admissions
Education
- University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1986
- The Ohio State University, B.A., 1982
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section
- Land Use and Environmental Group, Chair of the Environmental Committee
- Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group, Vice Chair of the Purchase and Sale Committee
- Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Real Estate Law Section, Past Chair
- Real Estate Law Institute, Past Co-Chair
- National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Member
- Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Rulemaking Committee
- National Cannabis Industry Association, State Regulations Committee (2024 – 2025)
- ULI Cleveland “Building the 21st Century City: The Future is Now!” Symposium, Core Committee (2020 – 2021)
Community Involvement
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Risk Management Committee (2022 – Present)
- American Jewish Committee, Board and Executive Committee Member (2018 – Present)
- South Euclid, Ohio
- Zoning Board of Appeals (1996)
- Ward Councilman (1996 – 1999)
- Legislative Committee Chair (1996 – 1999)
- Planning & Zoning Committee Member (1996 – 1999)
Awards & Honors
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Real Estate Law and Corporate Law (2020 – Present)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers List (2017 – 2024)
- Named a “Leading Lawyer” in Northeast Ohio’s Inside Business Magazine and Ohio Business Magazine (2002 – 2017)
- Listed as AV Preeminent Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
- “U.S. EPA’s Hazardous Substance Designation of Certain PFAS Compounds Impacts Real Estate Due Diligence,” (Co-author) HAZMAT Magazine (April 2024)
- “What’s Next For Adult-Use Marijuana In Ohio,” (Co-author) Law360 (August 2023)
- “NY, NJ Regs Give Clarity to Cannabis Investors, Ancillaries,” (Co-author) Law360 (July 2023)
Presentations & Lectures
- “Inside the Cannabis Legal Maze,” (Panelist) Ohio Cannabis Health & Business Summit (October 2024)
- “Operational Concerns in a Maturing Market,” (Co-presenter) Innovation CannaTech (April 2024)
- “Crain’s Cannabis Summit Breakout Session,” (Co-presenter) Crain’s Cleveland Business (January 2024)
- “PFAS Mitigation Strategies and the Regulatory Environment,” (Co-presenter) 2023 International Elastomer Conference (October 2023)
- Midwest Cannatech Conference (June 2023)
- “Raising Capital: Sources, Options, and Keys to Success,” (Co-presenter)
- “Emerging Issues in Cannabis Law,” (Co-presenter)
- “A Blunt Discussion of the Emerging Legal Issues Facing the Cannabis Industry Today,” Michigan CannaTech Expo (May 2023)
- “PFAS: The Coming Storm?” (Co-presenter) ACC Northeast Ohio CLE (March 2023)
Representative Experience
- Served as lead counsel for sale of a 52-acre former manufacturing facility in North Canton, Ohio, involving over 100 parcels and EPA oversight.
- Provided lender’s counsel on one of the first cannabis-related commercial property financings in the U.S.
- Provided acquisition and financing counsel for a 500-acre mixed-use development in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Counseled a publicly traded drug store chain on acquisition, sale, leasing, and environmental matters across multiple U.S. locations.
- Counseled a developer on acquisition, financing, and development of an international consumer product distribution center.
- Aided lenders and borrowers in construction and permanent financing transactions.
- Provided national environmental counsel for a lender in connection with financings and refinancings of automobile dealership properties.
- Assisted clients with environmental due diligence matters, Phase I/II assessments, and remediation plans.
- Negotiated environmental insurance, indemnities, and other long-term liability protections.
- Represented Tier I PRPs in Superfund matters.
- Counseled clients on compliance with TSCA’s lead-based paint regulations and successfully resolved U.S. EPA lead-based paint enforcement actions against them.
- Represented gas station owners and operators on matters pertaining to Ohio’s Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, and for others before Ohio’s Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board.
- Represented a public library in construction-related matters, including public bidding requirements, in connection with the major renovation of its main facility.
- Represented public school districts on construction-related documents and public bidding matters.
- Advised developers and investors on a wide array of matters on projects such as office buildings, gas stations, warehouse/distribution facilities, manufacturing facilities, condominium and planned unit developments, apartment complexes, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and hotels.
Education & Admissions
Education
- University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1986
- The Ohio State University, B.A., 1982
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section
- Land Use and Environmental Group, Chair of the Environmental Committee
- Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group, Vice Chair of the Purchase and Sale Committee
- Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Real Estate Law Section, Past Chair
- Real Estate Law Institute, Past Co-Chair
- National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Member
- Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Rulemaking Committee
- National Cannabis Industry Association, State Regulations Committee (2024 – 2025)
- ULI Cleveland “Building the 21st Century City: The Future is Now!” Symposium, Core Committee (2020 – 2021)
Community Involvement
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Risk Management Committee (2022 – Present)
- American Jewish Committee, Board and Executive Committee Member (2018 – Present)
- South Euclid, Ohio
- Zoning Board of Appeals (1996)
- Ward Councilman (1996 – 1999)
- Legislative Committee Chair (1996 – 1999)
- Planning & Zoning Committee Member (1996 – 1999)
Awards & Honors
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Real Estate Law and Corporate Law (2020 – Present)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers List (2017 – 2024)
- Named a “Leading Lawyer” in Northeast Ohio’s Inside Business Magazine and Ohio Business Magazine (2002 – 2017)
- Listed as AV Preeminent Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
- “U.S. EPA’s Hazardous Substance Designation of Certain PFAS Compounds Impacts Real Estate Due Diligence,” (Co-author) HAZMAT Magazine (April 2024)
- “What’s Next For Adult-Use Marijuana In Ohio,” (Co-author) Law360 (August 2023)
- “NY, NJ Regs Give Clarity to Cannabis Investors, Ancillaries,” (Co-author) Law360 (July 2023)
Presentations & Lectures
- “Inside the Cannabis Legal Maze,” (Panelist) Ohio Cannabis Health & Business Summit (October 2024)
- “Operational Concerns in a Maturing Market,” (Co-presenter) Innovation CannaTech (April 2024)
- “Crain’s Cannabis Summit Breakout Session,” (Co-presenter) Crain’s Cleveland Business (January 2024)
- “PFAS Mitigation Strategies and the Regulatory Environment,” (Co-presenter) 2023 International Elastomer Conference (October 2023)
- Midwest Cannatech Conference (June 2023)
- “Raising Capital: Sources, Options, and Keys to Success,” (Co-presenter)
- “Emerging Issues in Cannabis Law,” (Co-presenter)
- “A Blunt Discussion of the Emerging Legal Issues Facing the Cannabis Industry Today,” Michigan CannaTech Expo (May 2023)
- “PFAS: The Coming Storm?” (Co-presenter) ACC Northeast Ohio CLE (March 2023)