Bridge Lending

Bridge lending plays a critical role in real estate finance by providing short-term capital to support acquisitions, repositionings, refinancings, and transitions to permanent financing. These loans are often deployed where assets are not yet stabilized or otherwise eligible for long-term financing and require structures that balance speed, flexibility, and risk management.

Attorneys in Barnes & Thornburg’s Bridge Lending practice advise lenders and other market participants on the structuring, documentation, and execution of bridge loan transactions across a wide range of asset classes. The team brings a practical understanding of market dynamics and exit strategies, informed by experience with both performing and distressed loans.

Our attorneys advise on all phases of bridge lending transactions, including:

  • Origination, structuring, and documentation of bridge loans, including senior, mezzanine, and equity bridge facilities
  • Portfolio and programmatic bridge lending platforms, including development of form loan documentation
  • Cross-collateralized and cross-defaulted loan structures
  • Bridge loans supporting repositioning, lease-up, renovation, and stabilization strategies
  • Coordination of bridge financing with anticipated permanent capital sources, including agency and other institutional lenders
  • Bridge loan servicing, workouts, restructurings, foreclosures, and other enforcement actions
  • Bridge financing in connection with securitization structures, including collateralized loan obligations (CLOs)

    • Industry and Asset Class Experience

    Our team has represented lenders and capital providers in bridge financings involving a range of property types, including multifamily, senior housing, office, retail, industrial, mixed-use, and other commercial real estate assets. Attorneys regularly address issues specific to transitional assets, underwriting constraints, zoning and land use considerations, and borrower repositioning plans.

    Integrated Real Estate Finance Support

    Bridge lending matters are handled in close collaboration with Barnes & Thornburg’s broader Real Estate and Finance practices, including attorneys focused on workouts and restructuring, CMBS and securitization, tax, construction, land use, and litigation. This integrated approach allows the firm to support bridge lending transactions from origination through exit, including in distressed or complex scenarios.

     

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