THOMAS R. MERRITT has practiced for more than 25 years in Orange
County, California as an attorney and Certified Public Accountant (inactive). As
an experienced transactional attorney, Mr. Merritt has been involved in
the negotiation, documentation and coordination of numerous retail,
commercial, office, industrial and residential real estate
developments, including purchase, sale, leasing and franchising
transactions, loan originations and workouts, foreclosures,
construction and general corporate transactions.
As Consulting Counsel to Taco Bell Corp. for 10 years, Mr. Merritt
handled the negotiation, documentation and closing of numerous
multi-million dollar transactions involving the sale and franchising of
hundreds of Taco Bell restaurants. Mr. Merritt was also engaged in the
financial restructuring of numerous multi-unit Taco Bell and Burger
King franchisees, often involving multiple lenders, bankruptcy
complications and purchase leaseback financing.
Prior to completion of the successful bankruptcy reorganization and
sale of Edwards Theatres to Regal Entertainment in 2001, Mr. Merritt
handled all the legal affairs for the real estate and property
management departments at Edwards Theatres, including the closure,
termination, assignment, sublease and/or renegotiation of over 45
theatre development projects. As part of the bankruptcy reorganization,
Mr. Merritt spearheaded the legal strategy for the defeat or reduction
in creditor’s claims from more than $100 million to less than $55
million.
Prior to starting his own law practice in 1996, Mr. Merritt served as
Assistant Vice President in the franchise law department at Coldwell
Banker Corporation’s headquarters in Mission Viejo, California. Mr.
Merritt graduated in 1985 from the University of California, Hastings
College of Law, San Francisco, California.
Mr. Merritt is or has been an active member of the International
Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the ABA Franchising Forum and the
Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives and Attorneys.
Contact Thomas R. Merritt
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