Christopher M. Luken

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7067
F +1.216.696.0740

Overview

Chris Luken focuses his practice on business, corporate and real estate matters, assisting private equity firms and public and private companies across industries in a range of business matters, including debt finance, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance. He has substantial experience conducting purchaser and seller due diligence, as well as drafting, reviewing and negotiating transaction documents.

In his real estate practice, Chris represents developers and lenders in complex financing transactions, using both traditional and nontraditional financing sources including state and federal tax credits and government grants and incentives. He also has substantial experience representing landlords and tenants in retail, office, warehouse and other commercial leasing transactions.

Select Experience

  • Assisted in the representation of a NYSE-listed manufacturer of advanced aerospace components in multiple acquisitions and divestitures in the aerospace, defense and transportation industries.
  • Assisted in the representation of a NASDAQ-listed welding products and systems company in several acquisitions.
  • Assisted in the representation of private equity clients in the acquisition and divestment of portfolio companies in a variety of industries.
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Experience

  • Assisted in the representation of a NYSE-listed manufacturer of advanced aerospace components in multiple acquisitions and divestitures in the aerospace, defense and transportation industries.
  • Assisted in the representation of a NASDAQ-listed welding products and systems company in several acquisitions.
  • Assisted in the representation of private equity clients in the acquisition and divestment of portfolio companies in a variety of industries.
  • Assisted in the representation of a Fortune 50 healthcare services company in numerous acquisitions and divestitures.
  • Assisted in the representation of a project sponsor on the ground-up development and financing of a $1.5 billion state-of-the-art steel mini-mill in Northeast Arkansas, selected by IJGlobal Americas (formerly Project Finance Magazine) as the 2014 North American Mining and Metals Deal of the Year. Project capital sources include equity from financial and strategic investors, senior secured debt from private and government lenders, mezzanine debt, EB-5 financing, and various grants and other financial incentives from state, county and municipal governments and commercial partners. 
  • Represented a developer in connection with the historic rehabilitation of the Wick Tower in Youngstown, Ohio, utilizing construction and permanent debt financing, various financial incentives from the city, and federal and state historic tax credits.
  • Member of the team representing the developer of a mixed-use development project that includes retail space, commercial space, and low-income and market-rate residential housing. Assisted in the negotiation and acquisition of the real estate, submission of the condominium form of ownership, commercial leasing matters and new markets tax credit financing. Project sources include traditional construction financing, new markets tax credits, subordinate debt, bond financing and local government grants and loans.
  • Negotiates retail and commercial leases for a national dental practice management company.
  • Lead associate representing a private school in its financing and development of a new school facility in Cleveland, utilizing state and federal new markets tax credits and bridge financing.
  • Lead associate representing a nonprofit early childhood intervention program with the development and financing of a new facility located in Columbus, Ohio, utilizing tax credit and other financing sources. 
  • Assisted with the representation of the lender providing construction financing for a portion of a mixed-use development in Dublin, Ohio. The project utilized tax-exempt and nonexempt bond financings and combined a capital leasing structure and a complex condominium regime.

Recognitions and Memberships

Prior Positions

  • Extern to the Honorable Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2013)
  • Ohio Senate Minority Caucus Counsel’s Office: Legal Intern (2013)
  • The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law: Research Assistant to Professor Edward Foley, Director of Election Law (2011)
  • The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law: Research Assistant to Professor Peter Shane, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law (2011)

Admissions

  • Ohio, 2013

Education

  • J.D., The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, 2013, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • B.A., Political Science, University of Notre Dame, 2010