Robert Unell

Prior to joining Ankura, Robert was a senior director in the real estate asset group of a large global consultancy. He previously served as a senior vice president at Bank of America’s real estate managed assets group. In that position he was responsible for workout and disposition strategies for commercial real estate assets and oversaw the resolution of more than $3 billion in distressed assets of all types. Robert began as a client manager in the bank’s commercial real estate banking group, handling a homebuilder and residential development loan portfolio that exceeded $100 million annually.

Robert’s representative experience includes:

• Analyzed an alleged breach of the right of first refusal and the cost associated with obtaining market-rate financing.
• Provided expert testimony in a lender-liability case related to construction loan policies and procedures.
• Consulted on debt restructuring and operations for a large P3 provider of student housing.
• Performed interest-rate analysis and loan-term review for various lenders in all aspects of the capital stack.
• Advised on real estate risk-management policies and lending guidelines for a regional bank.
• Retained by the advisory board of a land fund to assess the disposition strategy of more than $250 million of assets.
• Provided assistance in litigation related to development rights and lending standards on mixed-use developments
• Performed underwriting and due diligence on real estate secured loans for a national lending platform.
• Assisted a regional restaurant group with the optimization of real estate assets.
• Implemented policies and procedures on a portfolio of more 9,000 real estate-secured loans for a national lender.
• Negotiated leases and store closures, among other real estate support, in the bankruptcy proceedings of a restaurant chain with more than 125 locations.
• Provided third-party reviews of appraisals, Phase I ESA, and property condition reports for commercial mortgage-backed securities lenders, life insurance lenders, and banks.
• Evaluated the real estate investment model and returns for a private equity firm.
• Performed due diligence on behalf of a public entity for the assignment of a lease to a new owner of a Minor League Baseball franchise.
• Managed the conservation easement process for a developer with a national platform.
• Testified in state court action related to commercial real estate underwriting practices in procedures and presentation of borrower financial statements.
• Analyzed and negotiated leases for biotech supplier in conjunction with raising new capital and restructuring existing corporate debt.