Sophia M. Deseran

Professional Experience

Sophia was an Assistant Vice President with National City Bank before joining the legal profession. Coupling her banking experience with her legal expertise has provided Sophia with invaluable insight when representing lenders and borrowers. Sophia focuses her practice on the purchase and sale of real property, real estate financing, leasing and general matters of commercial real estate law.

Sophia is the co-author of "Amendment to CERCLA, RCRA Affects Lenders," National Law Journal, 1997; and "CERCLA Lender Liability Rule Codified," Lender Counsel Group ALTA Annual Convention, 1996. She is the author of "The Pro Bono Debate and Suggestions for a Workable Program" for the Cleveland State Law Review, 1990

Areas Of Emphasis

• Representing buyers and sellers of various types of real property, including vacant land, shopping malls, agricultural and industrial properties, apartment complexes and retail properties
  
  
• Representing a major chemical company in connection with the formation of joint ventures involving 10-plus industrial facilities in five states and two Canadian provinces
  
  
• Representing the owners of shopping center property, industrial sites, and mixed use residential/office and retail sites in connection with the preparation and negotiation of complex declarations of covenants, restrictions, and easements
  
  
• Coordinating lot split and subdivision approvals
  
  
• Counseling landlords and tenants in matters concerning occupancy leases and subleases of retail, office, warehouse and industrial space
  
  
• Effectuating Section 1031 like-kind exchanges of real property
  
  
• Representing a national lender in individual purchases of construction loans and portfolio sales of loans
  
  
• Advising lenders in connection with acquisition, development, construction, and permanent loans secured by assorted real property, including vacant land, office buildings, shopping centers, marinas, and multi-family residential projects
  
  
• Providing counsel in matters of loan modifications, workout matters, and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, including the representation of a national developer in the simultaneous surrender of two regional shopping malls to the lender
  
  
• Representing borrowers and lenders in leasehold mortgage financing transactions
  
  
• Acting as local counsel to out-of-state financial institutions in real estate transactions
  
  
• Advising borrowers in conduit financing transactions, acquisition, development and construction loans

Professional & Community Associations

• Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association – President, Vice President, past Membership Director and Trustee
  
  
• Commercial Real Estate Women, Cleveland Chapter
  
  
• American Bar Association - Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association - Real Property Section
  
  
• Cleveland Bar Association - Real Estate Law Section
  
  
• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Northern Ohio Chapter - Awards Committee

Awards & Recognition

• 2006 - President, Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association
  
  
• 2005-2006 - Vice President, Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association
  
  
• 2002 - Affiliate of the Year, Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association

Articles by Sophia Deseran

• Co-author of "Amendment to CERCLA, RCRA Affects Lenders", National Law Journal, 1997
  
  
• Co-author of "CERCLA Lender Liability Rule Codified", Lender Counsel Group ALTA Annual Convention, 1996
  
  
• Author of "The Pro Bono Debate and Suggestions for a Workable Program" for the Cleveland State Law Review, 1990