Columbus partner Harlan Robins was invited to address the International Council of Shopping Centers' (ICSC) 2009 Regional Retail Development & Law Symposium, held March 5-6, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. ICSC is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. The symposium focused on the needs of legal, financial, leasing and other real estate professionals who serve the interests of shopping center developers, owners, lenders, retail tenants, leasing agents and managers.
Robins, who maintains an active commercial real estate and general business practice, moderated the panel, "Who Can Show Me the Money? Financing and Workout Alternatives in a Post-CMBS World":
With financing through the issuance of Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities becoming extremely scarce, if not non-existent, owners of real property are anxiously in search of alternative sources of financing. If current sources of funds do not provide an acceptable refinancing option, the borrower may find its most viable option is an extension, modification or workout. The seminar explored current sources of financing and the terms and underwriting standards imposed by the lenders and further delved into various workout strategies that are worthy of consideration in today's marketplace.