Steven C. Serio

Practice Focus

Business Banking and Finance, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate, Securities, Private Equity and Venture Capital

Steven Serio, a partner in our Business Section, is a results-oriented attorney with a reputation for spearheading complicated transactions from start-to-finish in an organized, detailed, and efficient manner. Steven is ranked by Chambers and Partners USA for Real Estate – Louisiana, with clients praising “his acumen and knowledge on all issues,” as well as noting that he is “always one step ahead when it comes to getting the deal done.”

Steven represents a diverse group of business clients, both big and small, including real estate developers, landlords, commercial tenants, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and lenders. His practice includes all aspects of real estate development—acquisitions and sales of commercial retail properties, office buildings, apartment complexes, mixed-use town centers, and industrial properties; leasing; condominium development; and commercial loan transactions. Steven has significant experience negotiating CMBS financings and non-recourse loans. He also counsels clients in the areas of commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law.

Steven is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the preeminent association of commercial real estate lawyers focused on service to clients, colleagues, and the profession. He is also a member of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association and currently serves on the Louisiana Government Affairs – State Subcommittee. Steven is the former State Chair of Louisiana for the International Council of Shopping Centers and was part of the Council for a Better Louisiana’s 2014 Leadership Louisiana Class.

Steven is a licensed title insurance producer and Vice President of Commercial Title Agency, L.L.C. As an authorized agent of First American Title Insurance Company and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Steven handles title insurance matters of all sizes in commercial real estate transactions. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Education

J.D., cum laude, from American University's Washington College of Law, 2005
- Editor-in-Chief of the American University Law Review
B.B.A. in Accounting, cum laude, from University of Notre Dame, 2000

Publications / Presentations

Panelist, “Common Pitfalls in a Purchase and Sales Agreement (PSA) for Buyers and Sellers,” ICSC (Innovating Commerce Serving Communities) Local New Orleans (Nov. 10, 2022)
Speaker, National Business Institute seminars in the practice areas of real estate and mergers and acquisitions
Speaker, Loyola University’s College of Law in the areas of business transactions

Representative Matters

Lonestar Electric Supply, the 20th largest distributor in the electric space, regarding corporate and real estate matters for its first out-of-state distribution center in Louisiana.
Stirling Properties, a full-service commercial real estate company servicing the Gulf South region, in its recent acquisitions of Beck Partners and IV United Plaza.
Ambassador Town Center, a 425,000 square foot retail center in Lafayette, La., anchored by Costco Wholesale, including the acquisition, construction financing, title work, and implementation of a payment in lieu of taxes program for infrastructure and site improvements.
Stirling Medical Lacombe’s $22M acquisition and financing of the Louisiana Heart Hospital in Lacombe, La.
Mid-City Market, a 107,000 square-foot Winn-Dixie anchored shopping center on Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans, La., involving the acquisition and construction financing.
Fremaux Town Center, an 80 acre retail center anchored by Kohls, Best Buy, Dick’s and Dillard’s; the transaction involved the buyout of the original developer group through a stock purchase, a joint venture agreement between Stirling Properties and CBL Properties, as well as the construction financing and title work.
Numerous CMBS refinancings of shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, and multi-family apartment complexes throughout Louisiana.
Pan American Life Building in New Orleans, La., acquisition and permanent financing.
Rouses Markets’ negotiated acquisition of over 20 A&P and Sav-A-Center grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi.