Mike Austin represents clients in complex real estate transactions. His practice includes real estate private equity fund formations, joint ventures, sale-leaseback transactions, acquisition and disposition of real estate, and commercial leasing of retail and industrial space throughout the United States. In addition, he has assisted clients involved in developing public-private partnerships (P3s) with states, municipalities, and universities for the operation of major infrastructure assets, such as tollways, bridges, utility systems, and parking systems. Mike has been involved in some of the largest P3 infrastructure transactions in the United States, including representing The Ohio State University in connection with the monetization of its parking facilities for $483 million and the monetization of the University's energy assets.
In addition to Ohio State, Mike works regularly with clients such as LaSalle Investment Management, Meyer Bergman, Orion Capital Managers, Shake Shack, StepStone Real Estate Group, Transwestern Investment Group, and TriGate Capital. He also helped represent the City of Detroit in the confirmation of its plan of adjustment, focusing on the City's infrastructure assets, including its electrical system, art collection, and real estate.
Prior to attending law school, Mike worked as a legal management consultant, providing consulting services to in-house legal departments for Fortune 500 companies.
Experience
"He is highly productive and responsive."Chambers USA
- Stanford University (J.D. 2011; Hilmer Oehlmann, Jr. Award for excellence in legal writing; Winner, 2010 Jean Monnet Prize for EU law-related research paper; Pro Bono Distinction); Carleton College (B.A. in History magna cum laude 2006; Phi Beta Kappa)
- Illinois
Chambers Global — "Up and Coming" in PPP (2022)
Chambers USA — "Star Associate" (real estate) and recognized as an up-and-coming partner in the PPP space (public-private partnership) (2021); "Associates to Watch" (real estate) (2017-2020)
Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2017-2021)
- Judicial Extern to Ronald Robie, Associate Justice, California Courts of Appeal, Third District (Summer 2009)