Michelle Kelban is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where she is a member of the Real Estate Practice. Ms. Kelban's practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate law with a particular concentration on real estate finance. She has been cited as a "name to note" and a "skilled and extremely competent" lawyer by Legal 500 US.
Ms. Kelban has significant experience in single asset and multiple property portfolio real estate financings, including securitized financings and participations and syndications secured by a range of property types such as hotels/resorts, gaming casinos, shopping centers, assisted living facilities and office buildings. Ms. Kelban also has substantial experience in mezzanine financing, preferred equity structures, equity investments, and single asset and portfolio sale leaseback transactions.
Ms. Kelban has represented lenders in connection with troubled loans involving amendments, restructuring, negotiating workouts and exercise of remedies. She has also worked with joint venture partners and real estate private equity funds in the formation and negotiation of complex joint venture agreements for purposes of developing, operating or addressing distressed situations with respect to various asset types including branded hotel/casinos and entertainment complexes.
Ms. Kelban is also well-versed in property development, including the obtaining of regulatory gaming approvals, management agreements, development agreements, reciprocal easement and shared use agreements, and has also handled the acquisitions and dispositions of various types of commercial real estate on behalf of sellers and purchasers, and has negotiated commercial leases and subleases on behalf of both landlord and tenant for office and industrial space.
Ms. Kelban is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Section of the New York State Bar Association. She is an active public speaker and a participant in volunteerism for organizations such as New York Cares and Student Sponsor Partners. Ms. Kelban also provides leadership to initiatives at Latham & Watkins, including for Women Enriching Business, which gathers accomplished women across industries to further their professional interactions and knowledge.