Divya M. Prasad
Associate
Divya is an attorney in the firm’s Real Estate and Commercial Transactions practice groups. In her role, she counsels clients in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions including but not limited to acquisitions and dispositions, borrower financing, representing financial institutions, commercial leasing and general corporate matters. Divya is detail oriented and uses her sharp critical thinking to provide clients with accurate and practical advice.
Prior to joining Friedlander Misler, Divya practiced in Baltimore City, Maryland, representing financial institutions and financing parties in structuring lending and leasing transactions involving commercial real estate (synthetic leases included), aircraft finance, equipment leasing, and asset-based lending.
She also previously clerked for the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City where she worked with a team of judicial clerks to support 26 judges in both civil and criminal matters.
While studying at American University Washington College of Law, Divya served as a legal intern in the Legal Development Finance group at the World Bank Group, and in the International and Trade Compliance group at Hughes Network Systems. As a staffer at the American University Business Law Review, she authored articles on pressing legal issues surrounding data privacy, artificial intelligence, smart contracts, blockchain, insurtech, and international trade sanctions.
Divya welcomes opportunities to use her legal skills to support the business community.
Professional & Community Involvement
- South Asian Bar Association of Washington, D.C.
- The Bar Association of Baltimore City
- Maryland State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Divya’s Representative Matters
Commercial Real Estate Financing
- Represented an international bank affiliate in nine real estate acquisition financing transactions in Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Michigan totaling $35 million, including negotiating transaction documents and title policies; reviewing and analyzing title, lease, American Land Title Association surveys, zoning reports, and environmental due diligence materials; and coordination of closings with opposing counsel and title company
- Prepared transaction documents and subsequent modification documents and monitored post-closing deliverables in connection with a $125 million syndicated real estate synthetic lease financing facility for an international bank affiliate for the purchase of medical treatment centers nationwide
- Prepared modification documents to facilitate London Interbank Offered Rate to Secured Overnight Financing Rate transition in connection with a $280 million real estate synthetic lease financing facility for acquisition and construction of a corporate headquarters building
- Prepared transaction documents for a base date closing in connection with a $60 million construction period lease financing facility by an international bank affiliate for a U.S. hospital system office building
Other experience and transactions also include:
- Prepared aircraft loan documents for a large national bank in connection with a $90 million refinancing of six Airbus aircraft for a commercial airline; conducted due diligence, including review and analysis of bills of sale, FAA registration certificates, FAA standard airworthiness certificates, lease agreements, governance documents, outside counsel opinions, insurance certificates, and lien searches; and coordinated closing deliverables with FAA counsel and borrower’s counsel
- Prepared modification documents in connection with renewal of a $6 million revolving credit facility made available by a large national bank
- Prepared aircraft lease documents for a large national bank financing a $60 million acquisition by a large public corporation
- Prepared transaction documents for a large national bank in connection with a $9 million refinancing of an aircraft acquisition by multiple borrowers, conducting due diligence, and tracking closing deliverables
- Prepared lease documentation of a $60 million syndicated motor vehicle titling trust transaction for a large national bank
- Prepared modification documents in connection with a $790 million syndicated communication satellite procurement financing facility for a new “constellation” of satellites
Publications
- “What Recently Finalized Regulation ZZ Means for LIBOR-Based Commercial Financing Contracts When LIBOR Sunsets”, JD Supra (March 2023)
- “Shiny New Tech in Insurance: Insurtech,” American University Business Law Review (March 2020)
- “U.S. Department of Commerce Adds Huawei to the Top of its List,” American University Business Law Review (October 2019)
- “Smile for the Camera: Potential Regulation of Facial Recognition Technology,” American University Business Law Review (October 2018)