Overview

Pat Lennon concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate transactions, zoning, and land use. He represents clients in Michigan and Florida in the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing, and development of virtually all types of real estate and also leads clients through complex and controversial approval, permitting, and entitlements processes. 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 facility location services
  • Advises on and procures state and local economic development incentives
  • Counsels industrial and manufacturing entities on the decommissioning, idling, or relocating of facilities
  • Represents multifamily housing owners and developers regarding affordable housing incentives, including Section 42 tax credit programs and Department of Housing and Urban Developmentinsured loan projects

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

  • 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
  • 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
  • Represented national loan servicers and their affiliates in connection with the management, sale positioning, and disposition of commercial and multifamily property portfolios throughout the U.S.
  • 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

Admissions

Recognition

Awards

  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Recognized as “Up and Coming” in the Real Estate field in Michigan, 2006 and 2007
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2023
    • 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
  • Michigan State University Foundation Board of Directors
    • Advisory and Honorary Directors Council, August 2019-present
  • 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-present
    • Chairman, 2017-2019
    • Vice Chairmen, 2015-2017
    • Treasurer, 2013-2017
  • Michigan Bar Association
    • Real Property Law Section
  • Florida Bar Association
    • Estates, Probate, and Property Law Section
    • Michigan State University MSU Foundation
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory and Honorary Directors Council, 2019-present

News & Insights

News

  • Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon is quoted in the MiBiz article “Investors flee volatile real estate markets for opportunities in West Michigan”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon is featured in the MiBiz article “Crystal Ball 2015”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon is quoted in MiBiz article “Aging population spurs development of senior facilities”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon is quoted in the MiBiz article, "Commercial Development Conundrum: Banks say they're lending, but developers think otherwise"
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon featured in the Detroit Legal News article "Developmental Stage: Attorney spearheads large, sophisticated real estate projects"
    Media | Also featured in Oakland County Legal News and Macomb County Legal News |
  • J. Patrick Lennon quoted as Chair of the new Urban Land Institute-Michigan, Western Region in the MLive article “Detroit-based Urban Land Institute branches out to create West Michigan chapter”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon quoted in the MiBiz article “Real estate should be consideration in buy, sell and succession planning”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon was interviewed by the MiBiz editorial board and quoted in the article “SW commercial real estate seeing start of recovery”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon featured in MiBiz article “Borgess Foundation adds J. Patrick Lennon”
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon mentioned in Kalamazoo Gazette and MLive.com section “At The Watercooler in Kalamazoo … People are talking” regarding his appointment to the Borgess Foundation Board of Trustees
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon mentioned in Kalamazoo Gazette and MLive.com regarding a seminar on tax appeals and assessments
    Media |
  • J. Patrick Lennon’s move highlighted in AmLaw Daily article “The Churn: Lateral Moves and Promotions in The Am Law 200”
    Media | Also highlighted in Business Review West Michigan/MLive.com |

Publications

  • Michigan’s New Lead Based Paint Laws Raise the Stakes for Landlords and Property Managers
    Publication | Enterprise Magazine |

Alerts

Seminars & Events

  • Public-Private Partnerships Involving Pontiac Silverdome
    Event | City of Portage Rotary, Portage, MI |
  • Public Policy Challenges in Michigan's Future
    Event | East Lansing, MI | | Speaker
  • Industry Leaders Series: Career Conversations and Lessons Learned with Joel I. Ferguson
    Event | Lansing, MI | | | Moderator
  • Meds and Eds Panel and Industry Leaders Conversation
    Event | Kalamazoo, MI | | | Moderator
  • Public Private Partnerships P-3 Forum
    Event | Grand Rapids, MI | | | Moderator
  • Understanding Your Real Estate Tax Responsibilities
    Event | Portage, MI | | | Panelist
  • Significant Differences Between Michigan and Florida Real Estate Transactions
    Event | Orlando, FL |
  • Redevelopment Ready Communities Forum
    Event | Lansing, MI | | | Moderator
  • Real Estate Property Tax Appeals
    Event | Kalamazoo, MI | | | Panelist
  • Compensation Protection Under the Commercial Broker Lien Act, Reconciling Commission Payment and Collection Policies and Legal Issues Related to Commercial Real Estate
    Event | Kalamazoo, MI | |
  • Relocating Major Tenants in a Shopping Center
    Event | Las Vegas, NV | |
  • New Commercial Brokers Lien Law, Property Tax Appeals and Government Incentives Update
    Event | Grand Rapids, MI | |
  • Questions You Were Afraid To Ask About Your Property Taxes
    Event | Kalamazoo, MI | |
  • Florida Real Estate Issues Facing the Out-of-State Investor-Significant Differences Between Florida and Michigan Law
    Event | Orlando, FL | |
  • Negotiating and Structuring Complex Commercial Property Sales Agreements
    Event | Kalamazoo, MI | |
  • The Impact of Homeland Security Threats on the Operation of Commercial Real Estate Facilities
    Event | Lansing, MI | |
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