• T:  972.596.8685
• C:  214.763.8661
• E:  mitchell@fsblegal.com

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
• Thompson & Knight LLP

• Texas

• University of Texas Law School, J.D., 1987
• University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A. Finance, 1984

Mr. Mitchell has over 24 years of experience and expertise in a wide variety of real estate-related transactions.  Known by many as a "deal making" attorney, he prides himself in assisting his clients in achieving their goals with legal expenses minimized as much as possible.  Mr. Mitchell has developed the ability to efficiently guide parties to closings of deals ranging from fairly simple ones to those increasingly more complex, understanding that while the interests of his clients must be protected, on-going relationships in the real estate industry are common place and thus "win-win" solutions to problems as they arise are particularly valued by his clients and other transaction parties.  Mr. Mitchell has been often complimented on his ability to break down complex issues into a format that is more easily understood by business decision makers, as well as his ability to craft various legal provisions designed to more quickly guide the parties to reaching agreements customarily documented in connection with the applicable transactions.  To more effectively represent his clients, Mr. Mitchell has not only developed an extensive library of legal forms capable of being utilized to more quickly and efficiently close deals, but he also has at his disposal a substantial number of completed legal provisions that address complex/unique issues often encountered by business parties.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Mitchell has had the privilege to work with many extremely well respected professionals in the real estate industry.  He has also been fortunate to work on, at the time, some of the most well recognized transactions in the real estate industry.  As a result, his skills not only consist of the ability to efficiently and correctly prepare the various legal documents needed to close deals, but also the ability to share with clients his extensive business experiences and to draw upon, when necessary, the resources of his knowledgeable legal and business connections.  Since Mr. Mitchell has had opportunities to represent parties on either side of the "table", he is sensitive to the concerns/goals of legal and business counsel to non-client parties to a transaction, and he uses this sensitivity to better guide the transaction to a successful closing and to better advise his clients as to the best course of action to take along the way.

Mr. Mitchell has significant experience in real estate aquisitions and sales including transactions involving hotels, retail centers and malls, office buildings, industrial warehouses, and unimproved land.  He also has extensive experience in leasing transactions representing both landlords and tenants, with most recent transactions involving retail, office, operating, and credit leases and sales/leaseback transactions.  Mr. Mitchell's real estate finance experience involves representing both lenders and borrowers in connection with acquisition and construction loans, term and revolving credit loans, securitized loans, workouts, modifications and foreclosures.

Representative Transactions Include:

• Represented Texas commercial office building owners in connection with all aspects of ownership, in particular properties located in Dallas, Houston and Austin.
• Handled leasing and related transactions for commercial office and industrial tenants in numerous jurisdictions nationally and internationally (both single tenant and multi-tenant properties).
• Represented numerous tenants in retail leasing transactions in numerous states (both single tenant and multi-tenant properties).
• Represented various investment groups in numerous office building, shopping center, and hotel acquisitions in Texas and various other states, including financing transactions in connection therewith.
• Handled real estate matters related to corporate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financings and debt restructurings, with primary emphasis on energy sector clients.
• Represented national telecommunication companies in connection with various matters, with specialization in acquisitions, dispositions, leases and license agreements.
• Represented servicers of REMIC trusts, private real estate equity funds and commercial real estate lenders, including numerous special servicing matters such as workouts, restructurings, modifications, foreclosures and REO property dispositions.