As chair of Parker McCay’s corporate department, Mariel understands the practical realities and industry pressures facing her business clients. Descending from a multi-generational family of New Jersey entrepreneurs, she understands that the success of an organization depends on its ability to plan for the future.  Combining her life experience in a South Jersey family business with the knowledge she has gained through the array of matters she has handled and clients she has counseled, her practical advice is a central focus of her advice to clients.  Often acting as general counsel for her clients, Mariel works alongside business owners and their C-level employees to develop efficient business processes to protect, prevent, and solve the challenges businesses face.

When issues arise, Mariel endeavors to think creatively to construct practical solutions to complex legal challenges tailored to the client to effectively suit their needs.  She offers insights into transactions, develops effective approaches to negotiations, formulates the most productive strategies and uses all resources at her disposal to protect and defend the interests of her clients.  Mariel often advises and consults clients to think and plan ahead of the problems, to avoid the hassle of “cleaning up” after it is too late.

Honors & Awards

• Recipient, NJBiz's 2019 Best 50 Women in Business Award
• Recipient, SJBiz's 2019 "20 Under 40"
• Recipient, Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Burlington County Times, Class of 2017 Emerging Leaders

Professional Activities

• New Jersey State Bar Association
• Chair, Casino Law (May 2012-May 2013)
• Officer (May 2010-May 2013)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association

• Burlington County Bar Association
• Atlantic County Bar Association

Community Activities

• National Association of Women Business Owners, South Jersey Chapter (NAWBO-SJ)
  • Former Public Policy Director
• Burlington County Women's Advisory Council
• Rancocas Woods Business Association
  • Chair
• American Red Cross, South Jersey Chapter
  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Experience

Mariel has secured favorable outcomes for her clients across all industries.  Certain of the most notable representations are summarized below.

Outside Corporate Counsel

• Represent and advise various companies in the Southern New Jersey region through all aspects of the business life cycle, including business formation, growth and investment strategy, and wind down and dissolution processes.
• Advise companies across various industries, including global logistics, supply chain solutions, fleet management, risk management, insurance, financial and banking, real estate development, technology, life sciences, healthcare companies, general contractors, private equity, academic health systems, marketing design industry, special interest and lobbying, and gaming, on all business related and legal issues.
• Advised clients on various aspects of CARES Act, including Paycheck Protection Program and state and federal employee leave requirements.
• General Counsel to a solo entrepreneur in the medical and biotechnology industries in Southern New Jersey.
• General Counsel and advisor to supply chain logistics management companies in Southern New Jersey.
• Advisor to nationally-recognized residential real estate affordable, mixed-use, military and student housing developer.
• General Counsel to various private, family-owned equity investment companies, including advice related to family trusts.

Business Transactions

• Routinely counsel various sized companies through various mergers and acquisitions, including asset and equity interest purchase agreements and advice related to structure, diligence, risk, liabilities, obligations, and financing.
• Acted as general counsel for company in connection with $400 million private equity investment.
• Represented company in connection with $90 million equity redemption from private equity owner, including refinancing of existing debt facility and creation of preferred equity interest in company.
• Negotiated and drafted equity investment and acquisition of New Jersey casinos.
• Advise family owned, leading general contractor business in South Jersey in various private investments in diverse industries.
• Conducted full diligence review for leading academic health system in connection with a potential acquisition.
• Advise and counsel start up and development stage companies, including life sciences companies, in all aspects of early stage growth, including private funding and equity investments.
• Counseled owners of dialysis facilities in drafting and negotiations of documents related to joint ventures. 
• Represent companies through issuance of various equity raises, including drafting and negotiating stock purchase agreements and revisions to corporate charters.

Gaming

• Negotiated and drafted equity investment and acquisition of New Jersey casinos.
• Represented Atlantic City property owner in successful application to New Jersey Casino Control Commission for statement of compliance.
• Represent owners of sports wagering facility in connection with New Jersey regulatory approvals and negotiation of online sports betting license agreement.

Commercial Real Estate

• Represented owner of self-storage facilities, including creation of corporate structure and advice related to Reg. D filings.
• Represented the Seller in a $20 million asset sale of two dialysis facilities to nationally recognized dialysis provider.
• Represented the Seller in the $20 million asset sale of a nursing facility in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
• Negotiated and drafted various purchase agreements for land condominium acquisitions in Camden, New Jersey.
• Advised clients through Garden State Growth Zone (GSGZ) & Urban Renewal PILOT agreement processes.
• Negotiated and drafted Grow NJ tax credit purchase agreements.
• Represented equity investor in entity acquisition of a $65 million student housing development in Boston, Massachusetts, including purchase, refinancing, and corporate reorganization.
• Represented seller of $90 million student housing development in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Represented equity investor in acquisition of general partner interest, including full diligence review of various complex real estate investment structures and equity interest documents.

Finance

• Represent lenders and borrowers in secured lending and bank financing transactions, including asset based lending, letters of credit, and syndicated facilities.
• Representing corporation in connection with joint venture agreement with private equity firm, including corporate reorganization, refinancing $32 million debt facility, which includes $6 million line of credit.
• Represented joint venture borrower in connection with $155 million syndicate financing for the construction and operation of office tower commercial space in Camden, New Jersey.
• Represented affordable housing borrower in $37 million construction financing for mixed-use residential apartment complex in Camden, NJ.
• Counseled client and negotiated $10 million liquidity support facility in connection with guarantee obligation.
• Represented Borrower/Purchaser in acquisition and financing of $17 million multi-tenant office building in Camden, NJ.
• Represented Borrower in refinance of existing credit facility $27 million credit facility and $8.4 million construction loan amendment.
• Represented company in connection with $32 million debt refinancing and corporate restructure.

Corporate Governance and Compliance

• Draft formation documents, operating agreements, by-laws, partnership agreements, stock restrictions agreements, buy-sell agreements, and other governance documents.
• Draft and negotiate restrictive covenants, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, for C-level employees and owners.
• Draft and advise clients on privacy policies and other various compliance policies.
• Routinely advise boards of directors, board committees, individual directors, stockholders, and members on fiduciary duties, obligations and liabilities, corporate governance and compliance programs, conflict of interest issues, and obligations relating to specific transactions.

Corporate Leasing

• Routinely represent landlords and tenants in the negotiation and drafting of commercial leases, including commercial office space, retail space, and building and rooftop structures, including billboard and rooftop structure leases and all of the commercial retail leases for one of the world’s most recognized casino brands.

Case Studies

News & Speaking Engagements

Articles

Service Offerings

• Outside Corporate Counsel
• Business Formation and Transactions
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Commercial Finance
• Commercial Real Estate
• Corporate Governance and Compliance
• Economic Development
• Succession Planning