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 Development–insured 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
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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
Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D.
Michigan State University, B.A.
- Business
- with honors
Admissions
- Florida
- Michigan
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