Overview
David is Chair of McDonald Hopkins' Business Department. His practice focuses on real estate and finance. He understands the complex and challenging issues facing the real estate and commercial finance industries. David’s experience spans the areas of real estate, commercial finance, construction, public finance, economic incentives, and general corporate law and includes real estate acquisition and dispositions, sale-leasebacks, joint venture agreements, leasing, complex loan and finance documentation, negotiations/contracts, economic incentive transactions, and fund development. David has represented national lenders and other financial institutions; borrowers; national, regional and local developers; institutional and corporate owners; national retailers, and privately held businesses.
David earned a J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law in 1994. He received a B.A. from Lake Forest College in 1989.
Representative Cases & Matters
- Represented developer to obtain economic incentives for $35 million hotel project
- Represented private equity company in the acquisition and financing of Colorado company and 2 facilities
- Represented lender in the financing of $150 million credit facility
- Represented borrower in a $30 million bond financing and economic incentive transaction for construction of manufacturing facilities in Ohio
- Represented owner in sale of 5,300 apartments in multiple states to single buyer
- Represented lender group in the $800 million financing for two casinos
- Represented owner in the acquisition of 500 unit apartment complex in South Carolina
- Represented owner in the sale leaseback of world headquarters for large manufacturing company.
- Represented owner in the acquisition of 450 unit apartment complex in Ohio
- Represented owner in the development of 500,000 square feet of industrial property in South Carolina
- Represented lender in a $670 million construction loan for a mixed-use project in New York, New York
- Represented lender in the financing of acquisition of 16 retail sites in four states totaling $20 million
- Represented lender in the financing of over $50 million in retail acquisition financing
- Represented owner in sale leaseback of four manufacturing facilities in the US and one in Europe as part of $500 million stock sale.
- Represented lender group in the financing of $130 million Racino
- Represented an owner in the construction of a one million square foot new world corporate headquarters.
- Represented an owner in the construction of 100,000 square foot aquarium
- Represented national retailers in leasing work around the country
- Represented private equity company in financing $100 million acquisition
- Represented developer in the development of a $45 million mixed-use university project
- Represented lender in multi-site healthcare facility transactions
- Represented large non-profit agency in acquisition and sale of numerous commercial property in Cleveland Arcade.
- Represented an owner in the acquisition and financing of multiple manufacturing facilities in multiple states
- Represented a buyer of a national brand hotel
- Represented developer in the development, financing, and construction of a hotel
- Represented lender in the construction financing of 500 multi unit apartment complex in Florida
- Represented university in construction of over 500,000 square feet of new buildings
- Represented private equity company in the sale/leaseback of its manufacturing facilities in North Canton, Ohio
- Represented French company in the sale of New Jersey manufacturing facility
Honors & Recognition
Named by The Best Lawyers in America for Construction and Real Estate Law (2008-2013, 2017-2024)
Named an “Ohio Super Lawyer” by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2009-2011, 2025)
Named an “Ohio Super Lawyer-Rising Star” by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2005-2008)
Elected to Cleveland Marshall School of Law Hall of Fame (2021)
Credentials
Education
Cleveland State University College of Law
Lake Forest College
Admissions – Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Admissions – State
- Ohio
Professional & Civic
Professional Activities
American Bar Association, Member
Ohio Bar Association, Member
Association of Corporate Growth, Member
International Council of Shopping Centers, Member
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Board Member (2007-2009)
Community Involvement
Cleveland State University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2012-2021)
Cleveland State Foundation Board of Trustees
Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation, Board of Trustees
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Leadership Counsel
The Centers for Families and Children, Board of Directors
Neighborhood Centers Association, Board of Trustees
Greater Cleveland YMCA, Board of Trustees
Safe Harbor, Board of Trustees
News & Insights
Events
Speaking Engagements
Annual speaker since 1996 at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Real Estate Institute on real estate, finance and construction related topics
Frequent speaker for NBI, Inc., on real estate, finance and construction related topics
"Real Estate Transactions: Avoiding Pitfalls with Purchase and Sale Agreements, Loan and Other Documentation" National Business Institute, November 2020