Overview
Pat Lennon concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development and zoning and land use. He is the leader of the firm’s Zoning and Land Use Practice and is co-leader of the firm’s Industrial and Office practice. Pat is a member of both the Michigan and Florida Bar Associations.
His specific areas of focus include the following:
- Counsels clients on complex transaction structuring
- Represents clients in procurement of land use approvals, entitlements and permits
- Assists clients with land assemblages, procurement of economic development incentives and facility location services
- Counsels industrial and manufacturing entities on the decommissioning, idling or relocating of facilities
Services
Practice Areas
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented global food-production company with respect to numerous real estate transfers, lease assignments and subleases resulting from multi-billion dollar spin-off of wholly owned divisions into new NYSE listed publicly traded company
- Represent national fueling station business with respect to entry into Detroit metropolitan market and zoning and land use approvals services for over 20 locations throughout Southeastern Michigan including Ypsilanti Township, Taylor, Eastpointe, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Livonia, Romulus, Harrison Township, Roseville, Lake Orion, Warren and West Bloomfield
- Represented global food-production company in North American real estate transactions and developments. Services include site selection, land assemblage, procurement of economic development incentives, build to suit leases, acquisition, liquidation, expansion, decommissioning, and relocation of production facilities, distribution centers and offices
- Represented owners of Pontiac Silverdome in connection with demolition and redevelopment of property
- Represent national big-box retail user in connection with PUD and site plan approvals in Independence Township, Michigan.
- Represent summer resort association owners of historic Harbor Springs community with respect to legal non-conforming uses and conversion of community to planned unit development
- Represented developer in connection with the re-development of minor league baseball stadium in Lansing, Michigan. The project resulted in the nationally recognized Outfield Lofts apartment project that connects to the stadium and overlooks the outfield. Services included successfully negotiating and closing a complicated development agreement (among multiple public and private parties), obtaining economic development incentives (including a grant, equity investment and brownfield benefits), establishing a specialized condominium and closing complicated construction and permanent financing packages
- Represented automaker in connection with comprehensive rezoning and redevelopment of Global Technical Center
- Represented new multi-billion dollar power plant in connection with development and land use approvals including rezoning, special land use and variance approvals
- Represented multiple national real estate developers in contentious land-use approval matters in the City of Ann Arbor, including approval of controversial new 14-story downtown apartment project
- Represent owner of former golf course with respect to zoning and land use approvals in connection with establishment of multi-family townhouses project in Walker Michigan
- Represent owner of former agricultural property in connection with rezoning to industrial property along I-275 in Ash Township, Michigan
- Represented large land owner in successful opposition to establishment of historic district
- Represented national advertising and media companies that operate large billboard businesses within Michigan with regard to all types of zoning and land use matters including establishment of new digital billboards throughout the state of Michigan
- Represented prestigious private country club in loan workout and complex financial restructuring
- Represented national student housing developer in zoning and land-use matters located throughout Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Allendale and Kalamazoo
- Represented international mining company with regard to zoning and land-use approvals related to establishment of new silica, sandstone, and limestone mine to be located in downriver Detroit area
- Represented medical institution with regard to site selection, property assemblage and development of substantial facility expansion in Bay City and Petoskey
- Represented developer of 200,000 square-foot mixed-use office building to be located in Midland, Michigan; project involved procurement and assemblage of land; negotiation and drafting of complex leases with multiple global institutions, a medical institution, and a financial institution; and procurement of economic development incentives
Prior Experience
- Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., Principal
Credentials
Education
Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D.
Michigan State University, B.A.
- Business
- with honors
Admissions
- Florida
- Michigan
Recognition
Awards
- Chambers USA
- Recognized as “Up and Coming” in the Real Estate field in Michigan, 2006 and 2007
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2024
- Recognized in practice area of Real Estate Law
- Kalamazoo Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2019
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2015-2019
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law, 2017, 2023
- Leading Lawyers, Public Finance Law, 2017, 2023
- Leading Lawyers, Real Estate Law: Commercial, 2017, 2023
- Business Review Magazine, Top Business Leaders Under 40, 2005
- State's Stars, Michigan State University Alumni Magazine, Spring 2011-Spring 2012
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, "2022 Go-To Lawyer for Real Estate and Condo Law"
Professional & Community Involvement
- Southwest Michigan First
- Board of Directors 2018 - Present
- Michigan State University Foundation Board of Directors
- Advisory and Honorary Directors Council, August 2019-2022
- Urban Land Institute – Michigan
- Western Region Chairman
- Executive Committee Member
- ULI National Meeting Spring 2018, Host Committee Member
- Lifetime Achievement Awards Committee
- Ascension Borgess Medical Center Foundation
- Board of Trustees, 2010-2020
- Chairman, 2017-2019
- Vice Chairman, 2015-2017
- Treasurer, 2013-2017
- Michigan Bar Association
- Real Property Law Section
- Florida Bar Association
- Estates, Probate, and Property Law Section