(CHARLOTTE) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP today announced that Frank E. Arado, one of Charlotte’s top commercial real estate attorneys, is joining the firm. Arado’s practice focuses on the origination and restructuring of debt secured by real estate assets, the acquisition and disposition of loans secured by real estate assets, and joint venture formation.

“Frank’s knowledge and experience with a wide spectrum of real estate transactions and asset classes will add another strong dimension to our growing real estate practice,” said Vincent A. F. Sergi, national managing partner at Katten.

Arado is the latest in a series of high caliber real estate attorneys hired by Katten in the past several months as the real estate market starts to show signs of recovery. The other recent hires include Peter Sugden, the new managing partner of Katten’s London affiliate, and Allan Abshez and Elizabeth Camacho in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Arado’s clients include commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, pension funds, REITs and opportunity funds. He represents many of these entities in the full range of real estate finance transactions, including loan originations, restructurings and the purchase and sale of debt. Additionally, Arado has represented these clients in connection with traditional real estate matters including the acquisition, disposition and leasing of hotels, resorts, office buildings, shopping centers, multifamily properties and industrial properties throughout the United States. According to Chambers USA, “Clients benefit from his ‘big-picture perspective and thoughtful advice.’”

“Frank’s proven leadership and strong reputation will be a great asset to Katten and will contribute to the firm’s growing presence in Charlotte and the Southeast,” said Daniel S. Huffenus, managing partner of Katten’s Charlotte office. “Not only is Frank a great attorney, he is also a great citizen who is extremely active in Charlotte’s civic, business and philanthropic communities.”

Arado is a regular lecturer at IMN conferences and for Lorman Education Services on various topics related to real estate finance. He is a member of the American Bar Association; the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce; president of the Toastmasters, Charlotte Chapter; a member of the Board of Directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Charlotte; a member of Leadership Charlotte; and a member of the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Additionally, Arado is listed as an “up and coming” attorney in North Carolina real estate in Chambers USA.

Arado earned his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Illinois.