Practice Areas
  • Business and Corporate
  • Real Estate, Construction and Development
  • Commercial Restructuring
Academic Credentials
  • Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1996
  • Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, B.L.S. summa cum laude, University Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, 1993
Bar Admissions
  • Ohio, 1997
Professional Credentials
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
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Profile:

Lori M. Ambriola is a partner in Sonkin • Koberna and a part of the firm’s transactional group. Prior to joining Sonkin • Koberna in June 2005, Lori spent nine years in the Cleveland offices of Baker Hostetler LLP, where she developed a real estate and transactional practice with emphasis on acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and financing matters, including transaction structuring, document preparation, negotiation, due diligence and closing. While at Baker Hostetler, she served as the lead attorney on many complex transactions, with responsibility for selecting and supervising other team members, including attorneys and paralegals specializing in other practice areas, and coordinating third-party service providers such as brokers, title agents, surveyors and similar consultants. She also served as primary client contact and team leader for several manufacturing, retail and service industry clients, guiding them through the acquisition and disposition of over 100 properties, including environmentally-challenged sites. In addition, Lori assisted on numerous complex tax-credit transactions.

While at Sonkin • Koberna, Lori has practiced in all areas of real estate, including distressed properties, office, warehouse and retail leasing, as well as corporate structuring and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial finance. Lori regularly drafts and negotiates purchase agreements, easements, options and rights of first refusal, big-box retail, office and warehouse leases, commercial loan documents, operating agreements, shareholders’ and close corporation agreements, confidentiality agreements and other commercial contracts. She has vast experience reviewing and advising clients on due diligence matters including resolution of complex title, survey and environmental issues. Lori provides support to a number of the Firm’s clients who look to Sonkin • Koberna as general corporate counsel. She also serves an integral role in Sonkin • Koberna’s new lawyer training.

Lori regularly advises landlords, manufacturers, and a number of local and regional automobile dealerships.

Representative Engagements:
  • Restructuring and merging of approx. 20 separately held entities into two parent holding companies
  • Negotiated credit agreement, promissory note and related security documents, and facilitated closing of $95 million senior secured credit facility
  • Hotel and conference center for an Ohio university foundation, including construction and ground leasing agreements and New Markets Tax Credit transaction
  • “Big Box” leasing for a major property owner/manager with national chain tenants such as TJX Companies (TJ Maxx and Marshall’s), Bed Bath and Beyond, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Purchase/Sale transactions of many automobile dealerships
  • Financing, refinancing and loan work-outs for many clients
  • Represented buyers and sellers in numerous 1031 exchange transactions
  • Acquisition of approximately 158,000 square foot warehouse and office facility in Warrensville Heights, Ohio
  • Acquisition of 66-unit residential apartment complex in Barberton, Ohio
  • Sale of 100-unit residential apartment complex in Cleveland Heights, Ohio
  • Negotiated key tenant lease for 73,284 square foot medical and office building in Middleburg Heights, Ohio
  • Representated property owners in BUSTR compliance matter
  • Representated property owner in connection with VAP grant award with the City of Sandusky, Ohio
  • Representated property owner in connection with retail ground lease in Medina, Ohio