About Frank E. Arado

Frank Arado has a broad-based, national practice with extensive experience in closing diverse real estate transactions, including the origination, modification and restructuring of commercial mortgage loans, the sale of loan pools and the leasing and sale of office buildings, data centers and all other types of assets. Frank also serves as a trusted advisor to developers and equity sources for the development and ownership of a variety of real estate assets. 

Understands lending and leasing for diverse assets

When debt funds and institutional lenders need to close complex real estate finance deals or negotiate and document corporate or real estate loan restructurings, they turn to Frank. Frank's lending experience includes a focus on construction lending for various types of assets, secured and unsecured loans in hospitality and retail and negotiating and documenting loan and corporate restructurings secured by real estate, primarily as counsel to senior lenders and lender groups. He also represents commercial banks in their sale of individual loans and pools of loans secured by real estate.

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Practice Focus

  • Secured and unsecured real estate finance transactions
  • Joint venture transactions
  • Real estate space and ground leasing transactions
  • Real estate acquisition and disposition transactions

Representative Experience

  • Represented a commercial bank in connection with a $125 million credit facility and construction loan for Toringdon Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Represented a commercial bank as the anchor tenant in the construction and leasing of 555,000 square feet in a newly constructed Class AA office tower in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Represented a commercial bank in the sale and leaseback of three data center facilities for $185 million located in three states.
  • Represented a commercial bank in the restructuring of a $7 billion credit facility for a large casino/hotel operator secured by casinos and hotels in multiple states. *
  • Represented a commercial bank in the restructuring of a $3 billion construction loan for a casino and resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, which remains the largest private construction project in the United States. *
  • Represented a commercial bank in connection with a $200 million credit facility to a national homebuilder for the construction of various projects throughout the United States. *
  • Represented a commercial bank in connection with a $100 million credit facility to a regional homebuilder for the construction of five projects throughout North Carolina. *
  • Represented a commercial bank in connection with the forbearance of over 100 homebuilder loans throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. *
* Experience prior to Katten

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • University of Illinois, JD
  • University of Illinois, MBA
  • The University of Chicago, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • North Carolina
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
  • Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Charlotte
  • Leadership Charlotte
  • Queens University of Charlotte, McColl School of Business Board of Advisors
  • Toastmasters, Charlotte Chapter
  • American College of Mortgage Attorneys
  • Urban Land Institute
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Real Estate Law, 2018–2025
  • Chambers USA
    Real Estate: Finance, 2012–2025
  • Charlotte Business Journal
    40 Under 40, 2010
  • Connect CRE
    Annual Lawyers in Real Estate, 2023
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2011, 2020–2021, 2023–2025
  • Super Lawyers
    North Carolina, 2017–2025
Award Methodologies