Schnader Announces New Leadership Roles

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is pleased to announce several new leadership roles at the Firm. Partner Kevin Blanton, previously Administrative Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group, now will chair the group. He succeeds Richard Kessler in the role. Partner Sarah Hewitt will lead the Corporate Group and partner Melissa Blanton will head up the Finance Practice Group.

“We are pleased that Kevin, Sarah, and Melissa will be taking on these roles. Each of them brings valuable experience and insight to their groups,” said managing partner Nicholas LePore. “Dick’s leadership of the Real Estate group has been invaluable, and we appreciate his time and dedication.”

Business Services interim chair George Kalikman noted, “We look forward to a continuation of the growth of these groups under their stewardship, and to expand upon the efforts Dick and others have made to advance the firm.”

Mr. Blanton, a LEED Green Associate, concentrates his practice on real estate matters, with an emphasis on the representation of institutional and private interests in complex real estate acquisitions, development, leasing and financing transactions as well as serving as local counsel on numerous multistate, syndicated and securitized financing transactions. He counsels clients in transactions involving combinations of multiple public and private financing sources and the resolution of title matters, easement and land use concerns. Mr. Blanton assists clients in all phases of development and construction projects from acquisition, determination of project delivery methods, drafting and negotiating contracts with architects, contractors and other trades or disciplines, to final completion of the project. He is active in the community, serving as president of the board of directors for the AIDS Fund, and as a member of the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program.

Ms. Hewitt represents public and private companies, both U.S. and international, including emerging companies, family businesses, women and minority-owned businesses and nonprofit corporations, in the areas of corporate and securities law, private equity and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and general corporate counseling. She also represents borrowers and lenders in secured and unsecured financing transactions, including asset-based loan transactions, most recently focusing on loans secured by fine art. She advises clients in a wide range of industries, including art, energy, financial services, gaming, mining, services, software, technology, and telecommunications. Ms. Hewitt is a member of The Junior League of the City of New York’s ethics committee, a member of the board of governors and corporate secretary of The Cosmopolitan Club, and an angel investor and member of Astia Angels.

Ms. Blanton represents financial institutions, funds and developers in various types of residential, retail, office, hotel and industrial financing transactions, in syndicated secured real estate credit facilities, in line of credit transactions and in the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of workout and forbearance agreements. She also represents investors and institutional clients in complex real estate sales and acquisitions. In addition, Ms. Blanton has significant experience representing landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions. She is a member of the Forum of Executive Women and a board member of the Fleisher Art Memorial, where she serves on its finance and investment committees, of Perkins Center for the Arts and of the National Association of Women Business Owners – South Jersey Chapter, where she serves as co-chair of programming.