Overview

Practice Areas

Mark’s transactional practice guides clients through all stages of real estate development and construction.

From site acquisition and due diligence to financing, design, construction documentation, and property transactions, his practice covers every aspect of the process. He is skilled in the development of condominiums, planned residential communities, and urban mixed-use projects. Mark has significant experience in negotiating and drafting construction contract documents for large-scale projects from both an owner’s and contractor’s perspective.

His practice spans representing owners, landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, lenders, contractors, architects, and engineers. He handles construction disputes, including contractual disputes, payment claims, defect claims, building code, and zoning matters. Mark has advised clients in the cannabis and brewing industries in their unique requirements when purchasing or leasing real property.

With a decade of experience as a registered architect, Mark’s combined experience in architecture and real estate development equips him to manage both broad concepts and detailed aspects of any real estate issue or transaction, delivering creative and effective solutions to achieve client goals.

Practice Areas

Representative Experience

  • Represents regional health care system in all real estate needs, including leasing, acquisitions, and a $86 million bond financing secured by real estate.
  • Represents multiple large construction management and design-build contractors in negotiating construction contracts and joint venture agreements, including agreements with respect to significant marque projects in Northeast Ohio.
  • Has represented homebuilders and residential developers, from small local builders to national production builders, in all phases of their business, including site acquisition, governmental approvals, construction contracts, homeowner’s associations, and sales practices.
  • Represented national health care system in purchase of local community hospital in the Ohio Valley.
  • Represent large automobile dealership enterprise in multiple transactions involving purchasing, leasing, constructing, financing and selling automobile sales facilities.
  • Represented multiple banks and financial institutions in preparing and negotiating documents in real estate secured loans, and in resolving issues with defaulting loans secured by real estate.
  • Represented large national telecommunications company with respect to telecommunications easements within railroad right-of-ways throughout Ohio.
  • Represents downtown Cleveland apartment building owners in converting their apartments to for-sale condominium units.
  • Represented colleges in bond financing transactions secured by campus real estate.
  • Routinely represents investors and small business owners in addressing their unique real estate needs.
  • Assisted regional brewery in obtaining zoning approvals for expansion facility.
  • Represented multiple non-profit and commercial building owners in subdividing their existing facilities into condominium units to permit separate ownership of one facility.
  • Represent national restaurant franchisee in leasing multiple new facilities.
  • Represent local private high schools in wide range of real estate issues.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1996
  • Kent State University, M.A., Architecture, 1986
  • Kent State University, B.A., Architecture, 1984

Bar and Court Admissions

  • State of Ohio

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow (2019 – Present)
  • The Jefferson Society (for Attorneys who are also Architects) (2012 – Present)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2000-Present)

Community Involvement

  • Lakewood Historical Society
    • Board Member (2020-Present)
    • President (2024-Present)
  • Lakewood Heritage Advisory Committee (2020-Present)
  • Cleveland 2030 District, Executive Committee/Secretary (2012-Present)
  • Lakewood Planning Commission, Chairperson (2010-2015)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Real Estate Section, President (2010)

Awards & Honors

  • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2022 – Present)
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in Construction Law (2016 – Present) and Real Estate Law (2019 – Present)

Publications

Presentations & Lectures

  • “The Related Real Estate Acquisition,” (Co-Presenter) Frantz Ward ACC Seminar (August 2022)
  • “IPD Deep Dive: Understanding the Costs and Benefits of IPD and the Critical Contract Provisions That Lead to Success,” Advice From the Trenches Frantz Ward Construction Webinar (April 2021)
  • “Transactional and Regulatory Compliance Considerations,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Health Care Law Section Webinar (December 2020)
  • “COVID-19’s Impact on the Real Estate Market,” Association of Corporate Counsel Webinar (October 2020)
  • “Real Estate Litigation,” Frantz Ward Litigation Seminar, Cleveland, OH (September 2019)
  • “Big Picture Issues to Understand in Real Estate Transactions,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
  • “Best Practices in CM at Risk and Design-Build Delivery,” Advice from the Trenches – Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
  • “Facility Management Issues,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (June 2017)
  • “Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreements—Ultimate Guide to Commercial Real Estate Law,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (December 2015)
  • “Purchase Agreements: Legal Pitfalls and How To Avoid Them,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 37th Annual Real Estate Law Institute, Cleveland, OH (November 2015)
  • “Handling Real Estate Transactions From Start to Finish,” National Business Institute, Akron, OH (May 2014)
  • “Managing Construction Issues and Protecting Rights,” Association of Licensed Architects, Cleveland, OH (September 2013)
  • “Business Contracts A-Z Reviews, Drafts and Negotiations,” Association of Licensed Architects, Cleveland, OH (April 2013)
  • “Design-Build Construction—Identifying Risks and Protecting Profitability” Association of Licensed Architects,” Cleveland, OH (December 2012)
  • “Drafting Real Estate and Construction Loan Documents,” Private National Bank, Akron, OH (October 2011)

Media Coverage

Representative Experience

  • Represents regional health care system in all real estate needs, including leasing, acquisitions, and a $86 million bond financing secured by real estate.
  • Represents multiple large construction management and design-build contractors in negotiating construction contracts and joint venture agreements, including agreements with respect to significant marque projects in Northeast Ohio.
  • Has represented homebuilders and residential developers, from small local builders to national production builders, in all phases of their business, including site acquisition, governmental approvals, construction contracts, homeowner’s associations, and sales practices.
  • Represented national health care system in purchase of local community hospital in the Ohio Valley.
  • Represent large automobile dealership enterprise in multiple transactions involving purchasing, leasing, constructing, financing and selling automobile sales facilities.
  • Represented multiple banks and financial institutions in preparing and negotiating documents in real estate secured loans, and in resolving issues with defaulting loans secured by real estate.
  • Represented large national telecommunications company with respect to telecommunications easements within railroad right-of-ways throughout Ohio.
  • Represents downtown Cleveland apartment building owners in converting their apartments to for-sale condominium units.
  • Represented colleges in bond financing transactions secured by campus real estate.
  • Routinely represents investors and small business owners in addressing their unique real estate needs.
  • Assisted regional brewery in obtaining zoning approvals for expansion facility.
  • Represented multiple non-profit and commercial building owners in subdividing their existing facilities into condominium units to permit separate ownership of one facility.
  • Represent national restaurant franchisee in leasing multiple new facilities.
  • Represent local private high schools in wide range of real estate issues.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1996
  • Kent State University, M.A., Architecture, 1986
  • Kent State University, B.A., Architecture, 1984

Bar and Court Admissions

  • State of Ohio

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow (2019 – Present)
  • The Jefferson Society (for Attorneys who are also Architects) (2012 – Present)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2000-Present)

Community Involvement

  • Lakewood Historical Society
    • Board Member (2020-Present)
    • President (2024-Present)
  • Lakewood Heritage Advisory Committee (2020-Present)
  • Cleveland 2030 District, Executive Committee/Secretary (2012-Present)
  • Lakewood Planning Commission, Chairperson (2010-2015)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Real Estate Section, President (2010)

Awards & Honors

  • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2022 – Present)
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in Construction Law (2016 – Present) and Real Estate Law (2019 – Present)

Publications

Presentations & Lectures

  • “The Related Real Estate Acquisition,” (Co-Presenter) Frantz Ward ACC Seminar (August 2022)
  • “IPD Deep Dive: Understanding the Costs and Benefits of IPD and the Critical Contract Provisions That Lead to Success,” Advice From the Trenches Frantz Ward Construction Webinar (April 2021)
  • “Transactional and Regulatory Compliance Considerations,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Health Care Law Section Webinar (December 2020)
  • “COVID-19’s Impact on the Real Estate Market,” Association of Corporate Counsel Webinar (October 2020)
  • “Real Estate Litigation,” Frantz Ward Litigation Seminar, Cleveland, OH (September 2019)
  • “Big Picture Issues to Understand in Real Estate Transactions,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
  • “Best Practices in CM at Risk and Design-Build Delivery,” Advice from the Trenches – Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
  • “Facility Management Issues,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (June 2017)
  • “Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreements—Ultimate Guide to Commercial Real Estate Law,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (December 2015)
  • “Purchase Agreements: Legal Pitfalls and How To Avoid Them,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 37th Annual Real Estate Law Institute, Cleveland, OH (November 2015)
  • “Handling Real Estate Transactions From Start to Finish,” National Business Institute, Akron, OH (May 2014)
  • “Managing Construction Issues and Protecting Rights,” Association of Licensed Architects, Cleveland, OH (September 2013)
  • “Business Contracts A-Z Reviews, Drafts and Negotiations,” Association of Licensed Architects, Cleveland, OH (April 2013)
  • “Design-Build Construction—Identifying Risks and Protecting Profitability” Association of Licensed Architects,” Cleveland, OH (December 2012)
  • “Drafting Real Estate and Construction Loan Documents,” Private National Bank, Akron, OH (October 2011)

Media Coverage

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