M. Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Brown has extensive experience representing national and regional banks and other institutional lenders in structuring, negotiating and documenting secured and unsecured transactions ranging in size from $1 million to several hundred million dollars. That experience includes acquisition and development loans, construction loans, bridge loans, mezzanine loans, multi-property revolving credit facilities, tenant-in-common financings, working capital lines of credit, syndications, participations and intercreditor arrangements. His local lending practice has included financings of retail, office, industrial, multifamily, medical properties, power plants, solar and wind facilities, hotels, resorts and sports arenas in Arizona.

Lawrence also regularly represents borrowers in connection with their financing needs. This includes negotiating term sheets and loan documentation as well as coordinating closings. His borrower-side experience has included financing a wide variety of real estate assets, including residential developments, affordable housing and redevelopment projects, condominium projects, office and industrial buildings, retail centers, golf courses, hotels, restaurants, medical facilities, power plants, solar projects, as well as unsecured and asset-backed facilities.

Having a broad finance practice also means Lawrence advises owners, lenders and distressed debt purchasers in connection with restructurings and forbearances related to both individual sites and multi-property portfolios.

Representative Experience

• Representation of lending syndicates in multiple homebuilder credit facilities exceeding $250 million each
• Representation of buyer in financing acquisition of major sports franchise
• Representation of auto retailer in connection with inventory, warehouse, and securitization facilities
• Representation of foreign financial institution in financing construction of $100 million cement plant
• Representation of national bank in financing the acquisition of a resort and five-star restaurant
• Representation of regional bank in financing airport administration facilities
• Representation of utility in perm financing of power plant
• Representation of borrower in connection with revolving credit facility for development of hotel properties
• Representation of institutional investor in financing acquisition of healthcare property portfolio
• Representation of developer in $50 million financing of student housing project
• Representation of energy services company with respect to is asset-backed $100 million credit facility

Lawrence Brown regularly represents local, regional, national and international clients in the real estate development and hospitality industries. His experience includes acquisition, financing, development, operation and disposition of projects which have ranged from an individual retail pad to a million square foot mixed-use project.

Representative Experience

• Representation of developer in contested purchase of property out of a bankruptcy proceeding, developing 90,000 sf healthcare facility, and sale of the building
• Representation of the buyer and capital partner with respect to the acquisition of nine medical office buildings located in three states in a transaction involving the creation of a $100 million joint venture
• Representation of P3 in structuring, developing and leasing of multi-phased Scottsdale mixed-use project
• Representation of buyer of Arizona mining operation and mining rights on BLM land
• Representation of seller of Scottsdale resort
• Representation of owner group in restructuring portfolio of 90+ franchised restaurants
• Representation of developer in ground leasing large Phoenix in-fill parcel from the Arizona State Land Department and development of the same
• Representation of buyer, developer and ultimately seller of 430,000 sf office project in Tempe
• Representation of buyer and developer of downtown Phoenix assemblage
• Representation of capital partner in series of hotel development projects
• Representation of different developer of hotel properties in national development program

Lawrence Brown has more than 15 years of transactional deal experience representing local, regional, national and international clients with their legal needs. In that time, Lawrence has counseled clients in financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, real estate purchases, sales and developments, joint venture formations, and a wide variety of other contractual arrangements. Lawrence has been privileged to represent clients in many industries, including the financial, real estate development, education, hotel, energy services, construction, institutional investment, hospitality, entertainment, high technology and healthcare sectors.

Representative Experience

• Representation of capital partner in the establishment of multiple $100 million real estate development joint ventures
• Representation of sponsor/development/minority interest partner in a transaction involving the establishment of a $30 million joint venture
• Representation of purchaser of 100+ employee private company
• Representation of company in contested buy-out of co-founder’s interest
• Representation of primary investor in joint venture to acquire over 3,000 acres of raw land
• Representation of USAID contractor with agency contracting issues in former Soviet republics
• Representation of foreign investor in joint venture acquiring and developing real estate project
• Representation of agribusiness owner in $45 million sale to Fortune 200 company
• Representation of Arizona business from formation to growth to ultimate sale

Bar Admissions

• Arizona

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Arizona

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.)
  • Primary Editor, The Tax Lawyer
• American Graduate School of International Management (M.B.A.)
• University of Oklahoma (B.A.)

Awards & Recognition

•  The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2021-2025); Commercial Finance Law (2023-2025)
  • Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Finance Law (2025)

Previous Professional Experience

• Commonwealth of Independent States Contracts, Burson-Marsteller, Financial Administrator, Washington, DC
• Ruesch International, Currency Trader, Washington, DC

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Arizona State Bar Association
• East Valley Partnership

Community Involvement

• Mountain Park Community Church, Board Member and Kids Leader
• YMCA/AYSO Soccer and Baseball Coach
• Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Past Development Committee
• American Heart Association, Past Heart Walk Committee
• Volunteer Lawyers Program

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “P3 101-Is Your Local Legal Team Ready to Help on a P3 Project?,” Co-Author, JD Supra (March 26, 2014)
• “Cayman Islands Corporation Engaged in U.S. Trade or Business: Inverworld v. Commissioner,” 50 Tax Law 659
• Regularly conducts in-house seminars for clients and attorneys regarding real estate and finance matters
• Regularly speaks at schools ranging from grade schools through graduate schools on legal topics and access to credit markets