Tony Toranto specializes in real property, business, and energy transactions. Having previously worked in private equity and having been a corporate and real estate client, Mr. Toranto brings a strong financial and business orientation to each engagement and advises clients across a wide range of complex transactional issues. He regularly counsels clients on the acquisition, disposition, development, financing and leasing of real property. His expertise includes advising lenders, borrowers, and guarantors on loan documentation, workout and loan enforcement issues across loans totaling billions of dollars. He also advises clients on general business, corporate and transactional matters, from entity formation to complex contractual negotiations. He chairs the firm's energy practice group, and advises energy clients on real estate, financing, and other transactional matters, including the negotiation of power purchase agreements. Recent Work / Representative Matters Energy. Representation of energy developer in connection with real estate and financing issues for an approximately $700 million power plant. National representation of renewable energy developer in acquisition of over 20 utility-scale power plant sites. Advised renewable energy developer in US energy regulatory and tax related matters in connection with its European IPO. Advised renewable developer in connection with site acquisition issues, power purchase agreement negotiations, and financing matters. Representation of renewable energy investor in acquisition, title matters, and project finance involving $220 million renewable energy project. Representation of lender in developing solar project debt financing program. Representation of developer in connection with power purchase agreement, siting and financing issues for multiple renewable energy projects hosted on government facilities. Real Estate. Representation of lender in connection with an approximately $90 million loan on a redevelopment project in Southern California, including a deferred equity agreement and affordable housing. Representation of lender in connection with a $50 million construction loan for a build-to-suit office project in Southern California. Representation of lender in connection with a $100 million secured line of credit. Representation of lender in connection with a $64 million industrial build-to-suit in Nevada. Representation of lender in a $60 million financing in connection with a portfolio of cross-collateralized income properties. Representation of a national retailer in lease negotiations. Negotiation of a complex joint venture agreement on behalf of a developer with a landowner for a mixed-use project with approximately 120 residential units in Northern California. Negotiation of loan documents on behalf of a borrower for an $89 million construction loan to build a 290,000-square-foot retail power center. Representation of borrower in the workout of approximately $30 million in loans from multiple lenders in connection with a large condominium project in Northern California. Representation of a shopping center owner in lease negotiations with anchor and inline tenants. Representation of buyer in connection with the negotiation of a hotel purchase and sale agreement, together with related agreements involving non-compete issues, subdivision issues, and future development rights. Drafting form loan documents for multiple lenders with varying needs, including conventional banks, life insurance companies, bridge lenders, and hard money lenders. Representation of lender in negotiation, documentation, and subsequent workout of $13 million construction loan for a mixed use project in Southern California. Business / Corporate. Representation of over a dozen companies as outside general counsel in connection with corporate and real estate transactions. Advise fund on structuring and other matters related to business of making loans secured by personal property. Representation of various companies and funds in connection with private placements. Representation of an owner in an interest under a long term ground lease in connection with a proposed joint venture / acquisition proposal. Memberships State Bar of California. Urban Land Institute. Stanford Club of San Diego - Board of Directors. Salk Institute Excelerators - Cabinet Member. Stanford Graduate School of Business Young Real Estate Professionals (Land Dogs) - Founder and Member. CleanTECH San Diego - Capital Formation Committee. Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA). Special Notes Mr. Toranto is also the inventor on various issued or pending patents. He has lectured in the areas of transactional due diligence and real estate development, and has published a series of articles on real estate finance and enforcement pitfalls. Recognition Daily Journal - "Luce Forward lawyer energized $683 million power plant project with a 10-year electricity deal" - One of Top Five Real Estate Development Deals Highlighted - July 27, 2011. Industries Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology Financial Institutions Real Estate Publications / Presentations Select Linked Articles 11 | 19 | 2009 Legal e-Update
Credit Warming: First New CMBS Sale in Over Two Years Ready to Close 11 | 04 | 2009 Legal e-Update
You Can "Extend and Pretend," "Delay and Pray," or "Pay and Pray" and Not Get Criticized . . . Sort Of 09 | 17 | 2009 Legal e-Update
Major New Opportunity to Modify CMBS Loans Created by New Tax Rule - Special Servicer's Hands Untied 01 | 01 | 2009 Western Independent Bankers Lending & Credit Digest
Enforcement Issues in the New Wave of Loan Defaults - Common Pitfalls - Part IV 10 | 17 | 2008 Legal e-Update
U.S. Department of the Treasury TARP Capital Purchase Program 10 | 07 | 2008 Legal e-Update
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008: Bailout or Band-Aid? 10 | 01 | 2008 Western Independent Bankers Lending & Credit Digest
Enforcement Issues in the New Wave of Loan Defaults - Common Pitfalls - Part III 07 | 01 | 2008 Western Independent Bankers Lending & Credit Digest
Enforcement Issues in the New Wave of Loan Defaults - Common Pitfalls - Part II 04 | 01 | 2008 Western Independent Bankers Lending & Credit Digest
Enforcement Issues in the New Wave of Loan Defaults - Common Pitfalls - Part I Media Presence / Articles About Attorney / Attorney Contribution 08 | 01 | 2011 Recognition
Luce Forward Secures Two of Daily Journal's Top Five Real Estate Development Deals 07 | 27 | 2011 Industry Presence
Luce Forward lawyer energized $683 million power plant project with a 10-year electricity deal 01 | 05 | 2010 New Partners
Luce Forward Announces Partner Class of 2010 All Authored Works "Credit Warming: First New CMBS Sale in Over Two Years Ready to Close" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - November 19, 2009. "You Can "Extend and Pretend," "Delay and Pray," or "Pay and Pray" and Not Get Criticized . . . Sort Of" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - November 4, 2009. "Major New Opportunity to Modify CMBS Loans Created by New Tax Rule - Special Servicer's Hands Untied" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - September 17, 2009. "Enforcement Issues in the New Wave of Loan Defaults - Common Pitfalls" - Western Independent Bankers Lending & Credit Digest: Part I - April 2008; Part II - July 2008; Part III - October 2008; Part IV - January 2009. "U.S. Department of the Treasury TARP Capital Purchase Program" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - October 17, 2008. "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008: Bailout or Band-Aid?" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - October 7, 2008. Presentations Moderator: ""Landmark Rooftop Solar Project: Project AMP - A Window on the Future?" - Distributed Solar Summit - San Diego - December 1, 2011. Moderator: "PPA Agreements" - 4th Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit 2011 - San Diego - September 13, 2011. Panelist: "Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day: Navigating the Legal Maze of Implementing Solar Programs in Residential Communities" - Luce Forward Residential Development Roundtable (San Diego - May 5, 2011) (San Francisco - May 12, 2011). Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit 2011 - San Diego - March 21 through 24, 2011: · Welcoming Comments & Closing Remarks: "Workshop: Solar Power Project Market 101" - March 21, 2011. · Speaker: "Makeup Of The Solar Project Market" - March 21, 2011. · Moderator: "Price Competition and Project Viability: Houston, We Have A Problem" - March 23, 2011. Distributed Solar Summit 2010 - San Diego - December 1 through 3, 2010: · Moderator: "Utility Distributed Gen Programs in California" - December 1, 2010 · Moderator: "Project Asset M&A" - December 2, 2010. Moderator: "China and its Plans for Utility Scale Solar in the U.S. Market" - 3rd Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit - September 15, 2010. Moderator: "The Benefits of Solar for Residential Developers" - Luce Forward Seminar - June 9, 2009. Speaker: "Lenders and Distressed Properties: Understanding and Preserving Residential Real Estate Development Collateral" - October 16, 2008. Mr. Toranto has lectured in the areas of transactional due diligence and real estate development. (Also at San Diego and Los Angeles Offices) |