Law firm Ballard Spahr is rolling out a Commercial Real Estate Recovery Group, using its background in handling distressed real estate to focus on emerging lending opportunities in the commercial real estate space and financial markets. Ballard Spahr said the group is an expansion of its Ballard Spahr Distressed Real Estate Initiative, which was launched three years ago to help clients through the U.S. adapt to the down real estate market. Members of the new group will provide counseling on senior and mezzanine loan transactions, as well as CMBS lending programs and single asset and portfolio investment opportunities. The change merges the company’s distressed real estate segment with the side of the house already handling real estate finance, capital markets, complex investment and joint ventures, as well as real estate development and taxation. Ballard Spahr has 475 lawyers in 13 offices across the nation. Write to Kerri Panchuk.