Lawrence Ceriello will join Morrison & Foerster’s real estate finance group in New York as a partner, the firm said Monday. 

Ceriello advises commercial lenders, investment banks, life insurers, hedge funds and others in major real estate transactions, particularly those involving complex debt financings and securitizations. 

He will bring to the firm two decades of experience originating large commercial real estate loans, with an emphasis on loans destined for the CMBS market. 

Mark Edelstein, chair of MoFo’s real estate finance and distressed real estate practices, says Ceriello is joining the team at an opportune time as the pace of the recovery of the commercial real estate market continues to grow.

“Larry’s broad finance experience is a perfect fit for us,” said Edelstein. “The lending markets are back up and running and liquidity is returning to the marketplace.”

Edelstein noted that as the recovery continues and the pace of CMBS originations grows, Ceriello’s experience will be invaluable. 

Ceriello added, “He brings longstanding relationships with leading financial institutions, including insurance companies, regional banks and other important participants in the market, and helps deepen the breadth of our already significant client base. We are delighted to welcome him to the firm.” 

Ceriello’s extensive experience handling mezzanine debt and workouts of distressed real estate, as well as equity investments and the purchase, sale, restructuring and foreclosure of performing and non-performing commercial mortgage and mezzanine loans is a strategic fit with the firm.