Gregory A. Cross is the partner-in-charge of Venable’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Group as well as the firm’s Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Practice. Greg is recognized as one of the country’s leading commercial real estate and structured finance litigators.
He is a leader in the securitization industry, where he frequently lectures and leads industry initiatives. Greg also serves on the firm’s management board. Greg has tried numerous cases involving issues of first impression in courts throughout the country, including the United States Supreme Court.
Greg’s clients include financial institutions, private equity firms, special servicers, and all of the constituent parties in a bankruptcy. Greg is an aggressive, results-oriented advisor who understands client needs in negotiations and disputes.
His combination of business and trial experience allows him to effectively handle all aspects of business litigation and workouts. His thoughtful strategies and deep understanding of complex financial structures and commercial real estate make him an invaluable counsel for both creditors and debtors in today’s economic environment. His work includes:
- Serving as lead counsel for the largest workouts in U.S. history for each type of commercial real estate asset—multifamily, office, hospitality, and retail
- Defining through multiple litigation the rights and obligation of parties to CLO, CDO, and CMBS structures
- Litigating and defining the rights of competing lenders in a structured finance capital stack
- Preparing fraudulent conveyance, denial of discharge, and other records supporting bankruptcy-related criminal convictions
- Serving as lead lenders’ counsel in the largest real estate bankruptcy case in the United States
- Advising and developing training programs on commercial real estate litigation and workouts.
Experience :
- Served as lead trust counsel in connection with all aspects of the litigation, workout, and sale of the $5.8 billion Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village loan
- Served as coordinating counsel for all secured debt in the General Growth Properties bankruptcy case, restructuring $14 billion of secured debt
- Served as lenders’ counsel in the Extended Stay Hospitality bankruptcy and fashioned a sale that permitted Venable’s client to recover 95% of its $4.1 billion claim
- Represented the state of Maryland in the bankruptcy involving the Preakness Stakes
- Organized the WaMu Bank Committee of Equity Holders.
Education :
- J.D.University of Virginia School of Law1987
- B.A.magna cum laudeDickinson College1984
Bar Admissions : Maryland, New York, District of Columbia
Court Admissions :
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Clerk Experience : Honorable Lawrence F. Rodowsky Maryland Court of Appeals 1987 1988
Professional Memberships :
- Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Maryland State Bar Association
- Member, Baltimore City Bar Association
- Member, Baltimore City LEADERship class, 2002
Community :
- Board member, Maryland Zoo
- Board member, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
- Chair, Judicial Nominating Commission for Baltimore City
- Former board member, YMCA of Central Maryland
- Member, Baltimore Mayor’s Charter Review Commission
Cost
Rate : $$$