People
Christopher N. Swank
Chris Swank's practice includes general commercial real estate law and commercial real estate lending, with an emphasis on conventional commercial real estate finance, low-income housing tax credit finance, historic tax credit finance and government-based subsidized finance and guaranty programs. His practice also includes general real estate matters relating to the acquisition, development, leasing, and sale of commercial real estate, together with residential and commercial condominium projects.
Chris is best known for his extensive experience representing financial institutions in tax credit financing transactions throughout Ohio, the Midwest and the United States. He has assisted financial institutions in closing hundreds of construction and permanent loans for projects supported by a combination of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), historic tax credits, USDA Rural Development 515 financing, USDA Rural Development 538 loan guaranties, HUD based financing and other types of subsidized financing, including complex construction loan transactions that involve multiple layers of financing and grant sources.
Chris represents banks and financial institutions in connection with acquisition loans, construction loans, equity bridge loans, permanent loans and other commercial financing. He has significant experience in representing financial institutions in conventional commercial real estate lending transactions of all types, including real estate loan workouts and restructurings.
In addition, Chris represents real estate clients in connection with the acquisition, development, leasing and sale of commercial real estate projects and the development, creation and conversion of both residential and commercial condominium projects, including, but not limited to, medical office building condominiums.
Experience
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Port authority bond transaction for a LIHTC project
Assisted a lender in connection with financing a low-income housing tax credit project in Ohio using a port authority bond structure, along with an OHFA HDL loan and conventional permanent loan.
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LIHTC project involving historic tax credits
Represented a national bank in connection with a construction loan for a nine-percent low-income housing tax credit transaction for an affordable housing project located in Dayton, Ohio. The project involved historic tax credits, a port authority lease structure, a complicated condominium structure, tax credit equity and additional governmental financing.
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$6.5 million construction and $1 million AHP LIHTC project
Represented a lender in connection with a low-income housing tax credit construction
for an affordable housing project in Cincinnati, Ohio. -
Rural development 538 LIHTC project
Represented a lender in connection with financing a low-income housing tax credit project in Michigan.
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$38 million LIHTC project
Represented a lender in regard to financing a $38 million low-income housing tax credit project in Washington D.C.
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Scattered site LIHTC project
Represented a national platform bank in connection with the construction and permanent financing for a scattered site low-income housing tax credit project located in Ohio.
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Rural development 538 LIHTC project
Represented multiple banks in connection with over 100 construction and permanent loans for low-income housing tax credit projects utilizing the USDA Rural Development 538 Loan Guaranty Program.
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Equity bridge loan for a massive LIHTC project
Represented a national platform bank in connection with an equity bridge loan for an approximately $115,000,000 low-income housing tax credit rehabilitation project in Massachusetts involving MHFA Bond financing and Fannie Mae financing
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9% LIHTC revitalization project
Represented a national platform bank in connection with construction loans totaling $15,000,000 for two phases of a Section 8, low-income housing tax credit, revitalization project in New Jersey involving a ground-lease structure and County Bond proceeds, HOME Loan proceeds, FHLB Loan proceeds and HUD Replacement Housing Factor Funds.
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Multi-state shopping center refinance
Represented a super regional bank in connection with a $37,000,000 line of credit/refinance transaction for a multi-state shopping center portfolio involving a co-obligor arrangement with a Canadian parent entity.
Presentations & Published Works
- Speaker, “Entity Structures of LIHTC Borrowers,” national platform lending client, August 2013
- Speaker, "Tips for Obtaining RD 538 Permanent Loan Note Guaranty", Section 538 Rural Rental Housing (GRRH) Regional Conference, October 23-24, 2007
- Speaker, "ABC's of Leasing," Bricker & Eckler LLP Lender Seminar, February 21, 2008
Bar Admissions & Activities
- Member, American Bar Association (Affordable Housing and Community Development)
Awards & Recognition
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law), 2010–2023
- Columbus Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law), 2022
- Recognized, ChambersUSA, Real Estate with a Band 3 ranking, 2013–2022; Band 4 ranking, 2012; Up and Coming ranking, 2010–2011
- Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers (Real Estate: Business; Banking), 2005–2007, 2009–2016
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D. with honors, 2002); Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
- Miami University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1999)
