Mr. Jo is the former managing director and head of commercial real estate finance-legal for Kroll Bond Ratings in New York. There he managed the legal department responsible for new issuance and surveillance of commercial mortgage backed securities and commercial real estate collateralized loan obligations. Prior to Kroll, he was head of legal for Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group where he established the company’s legal department and oversaw all legal matters that concerned structuring, negotiating, and closing commercial real estate investments.
Carlton Fields has brought on board three other experienced in-house lawyers over the last four months: Marguerita Brunson Sims (health care), Jonathan “Tre” Dixon (health care), and R. Quincy Bird (labor and employment). The firm also hired Troy Doll in the New York office from Kroll Bond Rating Agency less than a year ago.
“I’m pleased that we continue to attract lawyers with the reputations and experiences of Michael, Marguerita, Tre, Quincy, and Troy,” said Gary L. Sasso, Carlton Fields’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their first-hand appreciation of both in-house and outside counsel roles has sharpened their focus on the business and legal issues facing our most sophisticated clients.”
Mr. Jo, in particular, has a deep understanding of the legal and business issues that arise at both the commercial real estate loan and securitization transaction levels. He also has knowledge of the legal aspects pertaining to post-securitization matters that include interactions with servicers and trustees. Mr. Jo has significant workout experience counseling lenders, special servicers, and investors.
Greg Null, Carlton Fields’ Commercial Finance industry group leader said, “Michael is one of the brightest structuring lawyers in the business. Our clients will surely benefit from his experience managing deals as an originator, evaluating deals from an investor perspective, and working on behalf of sophisticated lenders.”
A senior transactional attorney and investment professional with an established track record of successfully originating and managing equity and debt investments, Mr. Jo has more than 18 years of experience at leading multinational law firms and investment companies with the structuring, negotiating, and closing of complex commercial real estate transactions, while developing and strengthening client relationships.
At Carlton Fields, he will advise private equity and capital markets clients in structuring and closing complex real estate transactions. He represents finance companies, banks, and insurance providers, and he is a trusted advisor to C-level executives on legal and business risks. His real estate investment experience includes mortgage and mezzanine financing, as well as preferred equity and equity investing.
Mr. Jo added, “Carlton Fields has a strong national reputation in the real estate industry. I also have a number of professional and personal relationships with attorneys in the firm and have worked with them in my prior roles. The firm’s collaborative culture among its lawyers and with clients is consistent with my own approach, and I’m excited to make a contribution.”
As an investment professional, Mr. Jo worked at KSL Capital Partners, LLC, Fortress Investment Group, and CWCapital Investments, LLC. Previously he practiced at the law firms Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.
Mr. Jo received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from State University of New York at Stony Brook, summa cum laude, and he attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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