Jack S. Levey

An attorney in the firm’s Columbus office, Jack S. Levey focuses his practice in the areas of real estate, commercial leasing and contracts, business law, construction contracts and finance, and corporate aircraft transactions.

Mr. Levey has nearly 30 years of experience representing a wide range of clients, including the Franklin County Convention Facilities, lending institutions, developers, retailers, office tenants, manufacturers and developmental agencies. He is experienced in drafting and negotiating complex multi-party agreements for projects requiring close cooperation between governmental bodies and private developers or other businesses.

A core area of Mr. Levey’s practice includes the representation of owners and operators of corporate aircraft. Mr. Levey has extensive experience with aircraft purchases, leases and sales, fractional ownership agreements, maintenance agreements and related financing services.

Mr. Levey has also literally “written the book” on Ohio real estate law. A co-author of “Baldwin’s Ohio Practice, Ohio Real Estate Law,” he is recognized as a leading commercial real estate attorney, successfully negotiating and closing numerous multi-million dollar transactions on behalf of lenders, retail and commercial property owners and quasi-governmental bodies.

Representative Client Work

• Represented lessor in negotiation of 45-year ground lease for convention center hotel, including extensive construction and co-marketing obligations on the part of the lessee/hotel operator
• Represented buyer in a transaction totalling more than $100 million for the purchase of five new long range business jet aircraft from a foreign manufacturer, as well as the resale of various pre-owned, multi-million dollar aircraft
• Issuer’s counsel in the sale of $97 million convention center bonds, including credit enhancements from other local government entities
• Represented borrower in $17.2 million securitized mortgage refinancing of medical office complex
• Successfully negotiated with Ohio Attorney General’s office to resolve dispute about charitable solicitation license for operator of chain of thrift stores
• Represented aircraft owner in the termination of fractional ownership share and the $5 million purchase and financing of used mid-range replacement aircraft in deferred third party tax free exchange, hangar lease and charter management agreement
• Represented redevelopment agency in the purchase of certified historic office building, leasing of office space and subsequent resale of building to private developer, including joint sale agreement with the City of Columbus, development covenants and restrictions, and repurchase option
• Represented borrower in multi-party, multi-state $8 million secured asset-based refinancing
• Lender’s counsel to non-profit private redevelopment agency in connection with incentive subordinate construction loans to foster development of downtown housing
• Represented investors in private placement of membership interests in real estate limited liability company including preferred distribution rights
• Represented investor in the purchase, refinancing and subsequent resale of office building

Professional Affiliations

• Columbus Bar Association (Real Property Committee)
• Ohio State Bar Association (Real Property Committee)
• American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section - Title Insurance Committee (past vice chair); Title Insurance Subcommittee on Partnerships and Closely Held Corporations (past chair); Commercial Leasing Group; Uniform Laws Committee (past vice chair)

Publications and Lectures

• "Why is This Tenant Different from Other Tenants? Representing a Tenant with a Kosher Business,” American Bar Association's Probate & Property magazine, July/August Issue
• "Ask the Expert - Be Careful with e-Mail and Voice Mail," Commerical Real Estate Women (CREW) Columbus Newsletter, Summer 2008
• Kuehnle & Levey, “Baldwin’s Ohio Practice, Ohio Real Estate Law” (3d ed. West, 2003, 3 volumes, updated annually)
• "Commercil Leasing - Recent  Cases & Troublesome Provisions," Columbus Bar Association Annual Real Property Institute, Columbus, OH, January 31, 2008
• "Commercial & Real Estate Loan Documents - More Than Just Paper," Lorman Education Services, Columbus, OH, July 31, 2007 
• “Title Examination in Ohio,” Lorman Education Services annual seminar, Columbus, OH, 1996-present
• “Negotiating & Drafting Trouble-Free Commercial Real Estate leases”, National Business Institute, Columbus, Ohio, August 2006
• “Ohio Law Update,” CLE, International Council of Shopping Centers Regional Conference, Columbus, OH, February 2005
• “Commercial Real Estate Transactions,” CLE, National Business Law Institute, Columbus, OH, February 2005
• “Commercial Leasing in Ohio,” Lorman Education Services, Columbus, OH, February 2004  
• “Advanced Real Estate Law in Ohio,” National Business Institute, Columbus, OH, February 2004
• “Keys to Success in a Real Estate Transaction in Ohio,” National Business Institute, Columbus, OH, March 2002
• “Pulling it all Together – Title Insurance Issues in a Multi-State, Multi-Site Transaction,” American Bar Association Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, Spring Section Meeting and CLE, 2001

Publications

• Why Is This Tenant Different from Other Tenants?
• Ask The Expert- Be Careful with E-Mail and Voice Mail
• Balancing FAA and IRS Requirements