Berman to Lead M&T Realty Capital Corp.
M&T Bank Names Michael Berman President and CEO of M&T Realty Capital Corp.
M&T Bank, Baltimore, named Michael Berman President and CEO of M&T Realty Capital Corp. 
M&T Realty Capital Corp. is a direct multifamily and seniors housing lender for Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing, Freddie Mac and FHA/HUD MAP and LEAN programs and provides life insurance company and CMBS loans for other commercial real estate property types through correspondent relationships. M&T RCC also offers a nationwide bridge lending program for multifamily, seniors housing and healthcare facilities.
Current M&T RCC President and CEO Tari Flannery is retiring after 28 years with the bank and almost two decades in her current role. Flannery was an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and most recently served on the MBA Board and the MBA Investment Committee. She also received MBA’s Distinguished Service Award.
M&T RCC originated $4.88 billion of multifamily and commercial loans in 2018 and currently manages an $18 billion servicing portfolio.
Berman was the Co-Founder, President and CEO of national multifamily and commercial real estate lender CW Capital. From 1991 to 2012, CW grew its annual loan production from $40 million to $4 billion. In 2011, CW Capital was the third-largest multifamily lender in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA programs.
Between 2012 and 2014, Berman served as Senior Advisor to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, serving as the secretary’s liaison to the White House and Congress on GSE reform and other housing issues. For the past five years, he has been a consultant to several multifamily and commercial lenders working on corporate growth as well as digital strategies. He has also continued his policy work as a Fellow at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the Wharton-Penn Institute for Urban Research, focusing on affordable rental housing and flood risk/resiliency.
Berman served as Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association in 2010-2011 and led the association’s GSE reform efforts in 2008-2011.
Riemer & Braunstein Expands Real Estate Finance and Commercial Lending Practices
Riemer & Braunstein LLP, a law firm specializing in the representation of financial institutions and debt and equity funds in real estate and commercial transactions, opened a new office in Miami.
Steve Klein, a real estate attorney representing lenders and developers in sophisticated real estate transactions in Florida and nationally, will manage the new office.
Klein most recently was a shareholder at a Miami firm and was previously a shareholder in the Miami headquarters of one of the country’s largest law firms. For more than 20 years, he has represented institutional lenders in all aspects of real estate finance including acquisition, construction, development, mezzanine and permanent loans, loan participations and syndications and multi-property and multi-state financing transactions. In addition, he regularly represents sponsor and developer clients in the purchase, sale, financing and development of commercial real estate projects.
Batjer to Join CBRE
CBRE, Los Angeles, announced retail investment sales specialist Jim Batjer will join CBRE Capital Markets as Executive Vice President.
Batjer will focus on the acquisition and disposition of large-scale retail and mixed-use developments across Texas and the Southwest. Based in Dallas, he will partner with CBRE’s Chris Cozby in Dallas-Fort Worth and Mark Witcher in Houston as a member of the firm’s National Retail Partners.
With 30 years of experience in real estate investment banking, Batjer most recently served as Senior Managing Director in HFF’s Dallas office. He has been involved in real estate asset sales for major corporate, institutional and entrepreneurial owners totaling more than $8.5 billion.
Vornado Announces Leadership Changes
Vornado Realty Trust, New York, appointed Michael Franco, age 50, the real estate investment trust’s President.
Franco has been with Vornado since 2011, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, where he was the lead for acquisitions, dispositions and financings and has been involved in all important decisions and strategy. Prior to joining Vornado, he was Managing Director, Head of MSREF US at Morgan Stanley.
David Greenbaum, age 67, was appointed Vice Chairman of Vornado. He previously served as President of the New York Division. He has decided to cut back while continuing his leadership as Vice Chairman. Greenbaum joined the Company in 1997 as part of Vornado’s acquisition of the Mendik Co.
Glen Weiss, age 49, the company’s Executive Vice President of Office Leasing, has been appointed to the additional position of Co-Head of Real Estate. He has been with Vornado since the 1997 Mendik acquisition.
Barry Langer, age 40, the Company’s Executive Vice President of Development, was appointed to the additional position of Co-Head of Real Estate. He has been with Vornado since 2003.
