Wayne S. Cook, Jr.

Partner

New York, NY
156 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019
P 212.237.1032 P 212.237.1032 | F 212.262.1215

NEWSROOM EVENTS

Experience

Wayne S. Cook, Jr. represents various institutional lenders in real estate financing transactions, including mortgage loans and mezzanine loans. He also represents clients in connection with construction loans, real estate acquisitions, dispositions, workouts, and restructuring of distressed loans on behalf of borrowers and lenders, and the purchase and sale of various loans. Recently, Mr. Cook's work has included large foreclosure actions and deed in-lieu resolutions in numerous states.

Prior to joining Windels Marx, Mr. Cook worked at a boutique general practice firm as an associate where he focused on representing private lenders and developers in real estate matters. He gained valuable finance and capital markets experience at Prudential Securities and Credit Suisse First Boston before attending law school.

Representations of Note

Represented an established real estate investment/insurance company in closing over $1 billion of term and / or construction loans across the U.S. within a 2 year period.
Represented ULLICO in a $420 million construction loan to the developers (a joint venture of Brookfield Properties and G&S Investors) for Phase 2 of Hudson Exchange in Jersey City, NJ. The project consists of approximately 800 residential units, a Shop-Rite as anchor tenant plus 115,000 sf of additional retail and green space tied to the Sixth Street Embankment, an elevated rail line.
Represented SCALE Lending in a $170 million construction loan to Terra for phase one of the Upland Park project in West Miami-Dade County (Florida). The loan will be utilized for construction of 578 multifamily apartments with a 2025 start date. Upland Park is envisioned as a $1 billion mixed-use community, and is being billed as the largest public-private transit-oriented development in the area’s history.
Represented the lender in a $135 million “exit facility” loan to a REIT with properties throughout Texas, which was shifting to a new property class, while also contending with a bankruptcy reorganization and SEC investigation.
Represented a prominent lender in a $50 million loan to the purchaser of the historical Wildenstein townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side, which was noted as the priciest townhouse to be sold in the City's history at the time.
Represented Fortuna Realty Group in its acquisition of the Wyndham Hotel in the Flatiron District of New York, NY.
Served as counsel to a prominent real estate developer in its recapitalization by the California State Teachers' Retirement System.
Counseled a construction lender in connection with a $158 million loan to two SPEs to finance the construction of two buildings in Los Angeles, CA.
Represented the seller in its $24.3 million sale of a fully occupied 127,771 sf warehouse in Pompano Beach, FL. The warehouse is the headquarters of Spice Lab, a seasoning and cookware company.
Represented the petitioner in bankruptcy proceedings pertaining to 162-164 East 82nd Street (New York, NY), and their subsequent $17.5 million purchase at auction of the property, including a first mortgage loan for $7.2 million of the total purchase price.

Speaking Engagements

Bisnow National Real Estate Finance Summit - Panel Moderator: A reprise of Solving for X: How to Get Financing in Today's Climate (September 24, 2019).
Bisnow National Real Estate Finance Summit - Panel Moderator: Solving for X: How to Get Financing in Today's Climate (September 6, 2018).
Bisnow 6th Annual Hotel and Investment Forum - Panel Moderator: Acquisitions and Development (April 21, 2016).