Today, The Danneman Firm is pleased to welcome Stephen M. Kessler as the firm’s Director of Title Operations and Senior Counsel. Kessler will work out of The Danneman Firm’s office in Wilmington, Delaware.
Kessler brings broad experience in commercial real estate law, title expertise and business transactions to The Danneman Firm. He has represented large and small companies, government agencies and institutions in financings, development and acquisitions, Low Income Housing Tax Credit transactions, leasing, zoning and land use.
Kessler received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden in 2003 and his B.A. in history from Muhlenberg College. He is a member of the bar in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and served on the board of directors of Goodwill of Delaware and Girls Inc.
“Steve’s knowledge and experience with complex real estate transactions, as well as his collaborative work ethic, will benefit our clients who rely on the firm to navigate complicated business arrangements,” said George J. Danneman, founder of The Danneman Firm.
The Danneman Firm recently marked its sixth anniversary of serving local, national and international clients from its offices in Wilmington, Delaware. The firm focuses its practice on Affordable Housing and Community Development, Business Formation, Corporate Counseling, Government Affairs, and Commercial Real Estate, including acquisition, financing, construction and leasing.
Danneman and Kessler have closed most of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit transactions in the State of Delaware since 2003, and multiple Low Income Housing Tax Credit transactions in Maryland. Danneman also closed the first Interest Rate Reduction (IRR) refinancing by the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service in the United States.
Clients represented by Danneman and Kessler in the past include a $67 million financing agreement for a business park in New Castle, Delaware; the zoning, approval and financing of a new Marriott hotel in Newark, Delaware; the first affordable housing development in the United States to receive Federal Stimulus Funds through the ARRA Tax Credit Exchange Program; and a $300 million financing agreement for a fuel cell company’s first public/private enterprise in the State of Delaware, including the construction of a factory in partnership with the University of Delaware.
They have also closed multiple development projects – for residential housing, hotels, chemical companies, schools and the Central YWCA in Wilmington, Delaware – many of which have required combination funding from banks, foundations, historic tax credits, affordable housing tax credits, sustainable energy credits, and the Delaware State Housing Authority.