Michael E. Zatezalo
Managing Director
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"The real leader has no need to lead; he is content to point the way.”
- Henry Miller
Zatezalo currently serves as the Managing Director of the firm and focuses his practice primarily in the areas of Real Estate & Financing and Gaming Law, for which he serves as practice chair. He has been with Kegler Brown since 1986.
Real Estate & Financing
Michael’s real estate experience includes all aspects of real estate development, including sales and acquisitions, leasing (office, retail, industrial and telecommunications towers), zoning, land use, development issues, construction and permanent financing. He has also represented a number of businesses seeking financial incentives in connection with the location and expansion of their facilities in Ohio. Such incentives have included the negotiation of enterprise zone agreements; tax incentive financing; and obtaining job creation tax credits. Michael’s experience also includes serving as lead real estate counsel in the initial public offering of Glimcher Realty Trust, one of Central Ohio’s largest real estate investment trusts, and representing several institutional investors in connection with multi-state acquisitions of properties and major loan transactions. Some of his representative clients include AT&T Wireless Services, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, and other institutional investors, pension funds, lenders, buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords of all sizes.
Gaming
Serving as chair of the firm’s Gaming Law practice, Michael represents local, national and international clients, including charitable organizations, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers within the gaming industry. He is experienced in the legal issues that affect operators of skill games, sweepstakes, and the online gaming community. Michael is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and has been a presenter at the annual American Bar Association Gaming Law Minefield seminar.
Zatezalo currently serves as the Managing Director of the firm and focuses his practice primarily in the areas of Real Estate & Financing and Gaming Law, for which he serves as practice chair. He has been with Kegler Brown since 1986.
Real Estate & Financing
Michael’s real estate experience includes all aspects of real estate development, including sales and acquisitions, leasing (office, retail, industrial and telecommunications towers), zoning, land use, development issues, construction and permanent financing. He has also represented a number of businesses seeking financial incentives in connection with the location and expansion of their facilities in Ohio. Such incentives have included the negotiation of enterprise zone agreements; tax incentive financing; and obtaining job creation tax credits. Michael’s experience also includes serving as lead real estate counsel in the initial public offering of Glimcher Realty Trust, one of Central Ohio’s largest real estate investment trusts, and representing several institutional investors in connection with multi-state acquisitions of properties and major loan transactions. Some of his representative clients include AT&T Wireless Services, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, and other institutional investors, pension funds, lenders, buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords of all sizes.
GamingServing as chair of the firm’s Gaming Law practice, Michael represents local, national and international clients, including charitable organizations, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers within the gaming industry. He is experienced in the legal issues that affect operators of skill games, sweepstakes, and the online gaming community. Michael is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and has been a presenter at the annual American Bar Association Gaming Law Minefield seminar.
Career Highlights
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and as an Ohio Super Lawyer® by Law & Politics magazine.
- Selected to serve on the State Capital Global Law Firm Group’s board of directors.
- Elected to serve as managing director of Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter in 1999.
- Former section chief of the charitable law and consumer frauds and crimes sections of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
- Played a major role in assisting a local developer with its initial public offering as a real estate investment trust and has represented several institutional investors in connection with multi-state acquisitions of properties and major loan transactions.
Professional Memberships
- California Bar Association, member
- Columbus Bar Association, Managing Partners Diversity Initiative Advisory Committee, chair
- Columbus Council on World Affairs, member
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), member
- International Masters of Gaming Law, member
- Ohio Land Title Association, member
- Ohio State Bar Association, member
- State Capital Global Law Firm Group, board of directors, member
Publications & Presentations
- Emerging Jurisdiction Report, ABA 11th Annual National Institute on Gaming Law Minefield, Las Vegas, Nevada, presented February 2007
- Effect of the Economy on Gaming Initiatives, 15th Annual World Gaming Congress & Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada, presented October 2001
- REIT - Real Estate Investment Trusts, Columbus Bar Association, Real Property Institute, February 1995
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Education
- Juris Doctorate (1975)
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Cum laude
- Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering (1972)
West Virginia University
Sigma Gamma Tau, National Aerospace Honorary Society