Benjamin F.S. Herd
Partner
Benjamin F.S. Herd
214.969.1184
Overview
Ben Herd is a real estate attorney in Holland & Knight's Dallas office, where his national practice focuses on real estate finance and commercial real estate. He has represented commercial mortgaged-backed securities (CMBS) lenders in hundreds of loan origination transactions, as well as whole loan sales, syndications and "b-note" purchases/sales. He also represents special servicers in relation to defaulted or troubled loan workouts, maturity default resolution, collateral foreclosure, lease negotiation and the sale of real estate-owned (REO) property.
Mr. Herd assists national and regional banks in complex commercial loan transactions, including ground leases, tenants-in-common, and acquisition and multi-tranche construction financing. He also provides advice and counsel to developers of large commercial projects, including Class A multifamily complexes, large retail shopping centers and office towers. Additionally, he advises borrowers in the defeasance of permanent debt facilities.
Representative Experience
- Represented NYC landlord in a $74 million CMBS refinancing of office building in New York
- Represented a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) in the $165 million CMBS financing of 90-property retail portfolio
- Represented a publicly traded REIT in the simultaneous defeasance of $169 million in CMBS loans secured by 58 properties located in 19 U.S. states
- Represented a special servicer in the negotiation and closing of a $261 million CMBS securitization
- Represented a commercial real estate investment firm in its refinancing of an historic Texas shopping center involving preferred equity and $17.3 million in senior and mezzanine CMBS debt
- Represented a commercial real estate investment firm in its acquisition of a shopping center, including preferred equity and a $41.75 million CMBS loan
- Represented a mortgage loan originator in its securitization of collateralized loan obligations with face value of $260 million
- Represented a securitized business trust (REMIC) (through its special servicer) in a commercial real estate loan workout involving a $82.5 million loan secured by a skyscraper in downtown Phoenix
- Represented a mortgage loan originator in its securitization of collateralized loan obligations with face value of $125 million
- Represented a securitized business trust, a real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC) through its special servicer in a commercial real estate loan workout involving a $44.5 million loan secured by a skyscraper in downtown Cincinnati
- Represented national developer in the purchase of a trophy mixed-use development in Newport, Kentucky
- Represented a national developer in the development, multi-tranche financing and ultimate sale of a trophy mixed-use development in Alpharetta, Georgia
- Represented an international hospitality chain in defeasance of 80 properties to reverse sale-leaseback transactions in conjunction with the disposition of a 700-property hotel portfolio
- Represented a national developer in the development of a $114 million mixed-use/student housing development in Florida and the negotiation of a $46.7 million construction loan
- Represented a national Class A multifamily developer in the acquisition and development of a 395-unit apartment complex in Texas and the negotiation of a $30 million senior construction loan and a $10 million mezzanine loan
- Represented a commercial real estate investment firm in its acquisition of an iconic Northern California shopping venue, including preferred equity and a $67.2 million CMBS loan
- Represented a national Class A multifamily developer in the acquisition and development of a 348-unit apartment complex in Texas and the negotiation of a $26.5 million construction loan
- Represented ownership of a minor league baseball club in the sale of the team, including attendance-based incentive payments and coordination and approval of Major League Baseball
Credentials
Education
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D.
- St. Mary's University, B.A.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Texas
Memberships
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), Fellow
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas State Bar College
- Dallas Bar Association, Real Property Section, Chair, 2016; Vice Chair, 2015; Secretary, 2014; Treasurer, 2013
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- West Dallas Community School, Board Member
- Park Cities Quail Coalition
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Dallas/Fort Worth Securitization and Structured Finance Law Lawyer of the Year, 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, 2019-2024
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Real Estate, 2019
- Irish Legal 100, Irish Voice, 2016-2022
- Texas Super Lawyers magazine, Real Estate, 2013-2022
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, Real Estate, 2015
- The Legal 500 United States, Recognized Attorney, Real Estate and Construction: Construction; Real Estate and Construction: Real Estate, 2015, 2020