Busillo and Lawrence join Arnold & Porter

According to Arnold & Porter LLP, real estate finance lawyers John Busillo and Alan Lawrence joined the firm as partners. Both were partners at a major Wall St. law firm prior to joining Arnold & Porter. "John and Alan will expand our transactional capabilities in New York, strengthen our firm's real estate and finance practices, and complement our bankruptcy and corporate restructuring practice," said Thomas Milch, chair of Arnold & Porter. "Their primary background is in the financial services sector, an area where we already have exceptional breadth and visibility. We're very pleased to have them on board." Busillo advises major financial institutions, commercial and investment banks, insurance companies, public sector entities, and developers in real estate financing matters and the workout of distressed properties. Much of his background has focused on mortgage and mezzanine financing transactions (portfolio and securitized) in the U.S., and he has handled similar transactions in Mexico. He has also handled other types of commercial real estate financings; loan and property acquisitions and sales; and commercial leasing transactions. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Lawrence represents institutional lenders and funds in all aspects of real estate financings and restructurings and has practiced in London as well as in the U.S. His experience includes the representation of lenders, participants, and servicers in the origination and restructuring of mortgage and mezzanine loans, revolving credit facilities, public-to-private financings, and other loans relating to commercial real estate. He also advises investors in private equity and joint venture transactions involving commercial properties and real estate lending. Lawrence graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was an associate editor and special projects editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. "John and I are excited about teaming up with Arnold & Porter's real estate group, with a focus on expanding the firm's practice in New York," said Lawrence. "Arnold & Porter also has a great reputation in the REIT, financial services, and bankruptcy areas, with talented lawyers who are skilled at handling sophisticated and complex matters. We look forward to working with all of them." "We are well positioned at Arnold & Porter to continue to expand our services," said Busillo. "The current environment in the credit markets, including a significant rise in distressed debt obligations, means that clients are increasingly looking for representation in the area of real estate finance." Arnold & Porter has continued to expand its New York office throughout the past year in both its transactional and litigation capabilities, with the addition of corporate tax lawyer Cynthia Mann; former federal prosecutor Marcus Asner, who joined the white collar criminal defense practice; former SEC enforcement lawyer Claudius Sokenu; and hedge fund and private equity fund lawyer Richard Chen. Arnold & Porter has an international real estate practice, with lawyers practicing in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and London. The team represents developers, REITs, lenders, public-private partnerships, and institutional investors, among others, to evaluate, develop, and implement their real estate goals. The real estate group is ranked in the number one band for the District of Columbia in Chambers USA 2009. The team is also ranked as a "leading firm" in Washington, D.C. and as "highly recommended" nationally in PLC's Cross-Border Corporate Real Estate Handbook 2009. The firm's corporate and securities practice, which is based in the U.S. and London offices, handles matters ranging from complex, high-profile mergers and acquisitions to a wide variety of capital markets transactions and vital business transactions. The group is ranked as a national firm for M&A (large deals) by The US Legal 500 2009. The practice is also ranked in London for M&A (lower mid-market deals and venture capital) by The UK Legal 500 2009. The group was named a leading practice for Corporate/M&A in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia by Chambers USA 2009 and ranked as "highly recommended" for Corporate/M&A in Washington, D.C. by PLC's Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2009.