Tim serves as the chair of Moss & Barnett’s Real Estate Finance and Real Estate practice group, as well as the chair of the firm’s board of directors. He primarily represents lenders who originate and sell multifamily mortgage loans to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, many of which are then pooled and sold into securitization trusts. Tim also represents portfolio lenders – including life insurance companies, bridge lenders, and banks – who finance office, industrial, hospitality, retail, and multifamily projects.

Additionally, Tim works with buyers and sellers in all phases of the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate, and also represents landlords and tenants in negotiating and drafting commercial leases. In all aspects of his practice, he examines and resolves title issues affecting real estate.

Multifamily Finance

Through Tim’s leadership, Moss & Barnett has become one of the leading law firms nationwide in representing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae lenders. The firm has closed thousands of these loans in every product line, including:

  • Portfolio and capital markets executions
  • Credit facilities and other structured transactions
  • Tax-exempt bond and other targeted affordable housing programs
  • Seniors housing
  • Manufactured housing
  • Small-balance loans

These transactions span the spectrum of deal structures, including joint ventures, tenancies-in-common, ground leases, master leases, condominiums, phased developments, preferred equity, and investment funds. Tim maintains a database of analysis and documentation and has developed efficiencies to close a large volume of transactions.

With many loans now being pooled and securitized, Tim focuses on structuring single-purpose entities and examining the many legal issues necessary for compliance with Standard & Poor’s U.S. Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) Legal and Structured Finance Criteria. He has published two articles on the topic, Freddie Mac Revives CMBS Market: Capital Markets Execution (CME) Revisited (June 2011) and The Return of Securitized Lending: Freddie Mac Launches CMBS Loan Product (September 2009).

Tim has been selected to serve on the Freddie Mac Multifamily Legal Advisory Council. In that role, he works with Freddie Mac’s legal division to update and improve legal documentation and loan requirements to address legal and industry developments. He plays a similar role as part of Fannie Mae’s Legal Issues Forum.

Commercial Real Estate Finance

Tim has considerable experience representing life insurance companies, bridge lenders, and banks in transactions involving office, industrial, hospitality, retail, and multifamily projects.

These transactions include construction, mini-perm, and permanent loans, as well as tax-exempt bond financing. He routinely works on complex portfolio transactions where the collateral consists of many properties located in multiple jurisdictions.

Tim also represents borrowers, providing insights from both sides of the table into negotiating loan documents, managing expectations, and addressing closing requirements.

Acquisitions, Sales, and Leasing

Tim’s counsel in this area includes negotiation and preparation of letters of intent, purchase agreements, leases, and closing documents, as well as examination of title and other legal due diligence. He regularly addresses matters involving use restrictions, easements, development agreements, and unique subdivisions and plats.

Experience

  • Represented lender on the closing of an $878 million loan secured by a multifamily project in California, the largest single property loan ever purchased by Freddie Mac.
  • Represented life insurance company lender on the closing of a portfolio loan transaction involving industrial projects located in multiple jurisdictions.
  • Represented national real estate investor, serving as local counsel on Minnesota transactions, which included review of documents for local law issues and the issuance of related opinions.

Credentials

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, J.D.; cum laude; executive editor and staff member, William Mitchell Law Review

Hamline University, B.A., magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America (2024)

Minnesota Rising Stars (2000-2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

  • Minnesota Multifamily Finance & Technology Summit, Golden Valley Country Club, 7001 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427, 09.22.2023
  • Legal Issues Every Producer/Analyst Should Know When Originating a Fannie Mae Loan
    Client Training, 06.13.2023
  • Multifamily Financing with Freddie Mac: Legal Basics
    Online Client Presentation, 04.20.2023
  • Structuring Preferred Equity in Agency Loan Transactions
    Online Client Presentation, 03.09.2023
  • Title and Survey Review
    Online Client Presentation, 10.26.2022
  • Title and Survey Review
    Online Client Presentation, 03.03.2021
  • Freddie Mac Convential Loan Training
    Client Webinar, 10.21.2020
  • ACC Online Education, 08.15.2019
  • Getting Your Freddie Mac Deal Under Application: Key Legal Points
    Client Webinar, 11.08.2018
  • Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans: The Legal Side
    Client Training, Newport Beach, CA, 2017
  • Closing Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans: The Legal Process
    Client Webinar Training, 2016
  • Multifamily Financing with Tax-exempt Bonds
    Client Training, Minneapolis, MN, 2009
  • Closing Your Freddie Mac Deal with Ease
    Client Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2002

Affiliations

Professional Associations

  • Mortgage Bankers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association – Real Property Section
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