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Overview

Marie Caroline Bertrand, co-chair of the Real Estate, Environmental and Land Use practice, assists clients with the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of commercial real estate. She has experience drafting and reviewing equity documents, including joint venture agreements; property management agreements and acquisition documents.

Marie has assisted purchasers and sellers in the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate, including office buildings and multifamily residences, throughout the United States, China, England and South Korea. She has represented purchasers of loans and subordinate debt, as well as borrowers and lenders, in the negotiation, documentation and amendment of commercial real estate mortgage loans. Marie has also reviewed and strategized work-out, restructuring and foreclosure options for distressed borrowers and/or potential distressed debt purchasers.

Marie serves as co-chair for the Day Pitney Diverse Attorneys Network and is actively engaged in the firm's efforts to promote diversity in the legal profession.

Prior to joining Day Pitney, Marie worked in a boutique real estate firm in New York City for four years and interned at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. She is fluent in Portuguese and conversational in French and Spanish.

Experience

Represented primary equity investor in the joint venture to develop and finance a 294-unit residential apartment building directly adjacent to Miami Metrorail in Miami, Florida

Represented lender in connection with $30 million construction to permanent mortgage loan secured by office space to be leased by a university in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Represented primary equity investor in the joint venture to develop and finance a mixed-use development consisting of three phases located in the NoMa submarket of Washington, D.C.

Represented purchaser in connection with acquisition of 20-story office building containing approximately 271,000 rentable square feet of office space, together with 120 parking spaces in a two level underground parking garage

Represented lender in connection with $170 million financing of a 33-property portfolio acquisition in Miami, Florida

Represented purchaser in connection with acquisition of $195 million shopping center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Numerous financings, including construction financing, of New York City office, retail, hotel, multi-family and condominium properties, including:

  • Represented lender in connection with $390 million construction financing of two luxury residential towers to be developed with affordable housing component
  • Represented lender in connection with $56 million financing transaction secured by major hotel chain
  • Represented lender in connection with $185 million financing transaction on ground leased office building
  • Represented co-lender in connection with purchase of $150 million loan participation
  • Represented lender in connection with $50 million construction financing for conversion of office tower into residential and commercial condominium

Represented real estate investment adviser in connection with acquisition of $120 million residential apartment complex in Edgewater, New Jersey with affordable housing units

Represented developer in connection with the sale of Blue Back Square, West Hartford, to Starwood Capital Group

Represented lender in connection with $70 million financing of downtown Boston hotel

Assisted on real estate matters in connection with $60 million bond issuance refinancing

Assisted in representation of national servicer in connection with Connecticut foreclosure

Education and Credentials

Education

  • American University Washington College School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007, American University Law Review
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, 2004

Admissions

  • State of Connecticut
  • State of New York

Affiliations

  • American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Fellow
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Fellow
  • Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association, President-Elect, 2017-2019
  • Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity, Secretary, 2017-2019
  • Real Estate Finance Association

Languages

  • French
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish

Recognition and Community

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.

Recognitions

Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Real Estate Law, 2023-2025

Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) Rising Stars, Real Estate, 2014-2022

Chosen as one of the Connecticut Law Tribune's 2015 New Leaders in the Law

Completed 2010 ING New York City Marathon

Community Involvement

Hartford YWCA, Investment Committee

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