Michael E. Lyon

Partner

Contact Me

Services & Specializations

Admissions

California

Address

12544 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92130

Office Tel.

760.496.0782

Fax

619.398.0198

VCard

Overview

Mike counsels clients in a wide range of real estate transactional matters involving commercial, residential and mixed-use projects. He focuses on mezzanine lending, acquisitions and sales, financing, development projects, joint venture formation and other equity investments. Mike has extensive experience in joint development agreements and reciprocal easement and operating agreements for shopping centers and business parks.

Assists major financial institution in documenting and closing equity investments and mezzanine loans to residential developers in excess of $125M to date, for development of over 6900 homes with total development values in excess of $1B.
Represented redevelopment agency in connection with development of approximately 300,000 SF retail center involving preparation and negotiation of retail anchor leases including ground leases for “big box” anchor tenant and fast food/restaurant tenants, build-to-suit leases for major retail tenants and over 30,000 SF of in-line tenant space, as well as all project operating documents.
Served as California real estate counsel for national child care provider with responsibility for negotiating purchase and lease documents (ground, build-to-suit and space leases), due diligence, title and survey review, drafting escrow instructions and coordinating closings for over 25 properties located throughout California.
Restructured in excess of 35 leases for a regional restaurant operator including lease amendments for operational, rent and other relief, termination agreements, assignments and subletting and other exit strategies.
Represented private developer in joint development project with local utility company in which client is developing and will operate a business park with in excess of 2 million SF of office, R&D and industrial uses (including multi-tenant, corporate, distribution facilities and ancillary commercial services). Anchor tenants are slated to include a 550 megawatt power plant and an extensive state of the art medical campus. Key legal milestones included structuring and negotiating joint development and related development management agreements, navigating all land purchases in assembling of over 186 acres of unimproved land, assisting with all acquisition, development, and construction financing, formation of development partnerships, sale and lease of improved and unimproved parcels following completion of infrastructure and other project improvements, preparing easement agreements and other project level operating documents, managing all title matters and handling a variety of prime construction contracts valued in excess of $25M both in connection with the business park infrastructure as well as vertical building construction.

“Procopio has operated as a seamless extension of our legal team for years now, helping us on a wide variety of real estate, financial and other matters. We appreciate the responsiveness and attention to detail by Michael Lyon and other attorneys at the firm, a reflection of Procopio’s commitment to client service. We can always count on Procopio to get the deal done right and within our time constraints, regardless of unexpected challenges or increasing complexity.” — Brad Termini, CEO, Zephyr Partners

DISCLAIMER: These testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Law, 2025
Best Lawyers®, Real Estate Law, 2019-Present
Super Lawyers®, Real Estate Law, 2007-2017, 2019-2022
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating
Top Lawyers, San Diego magazine, 2013–present
Public/Private Deal of the Year, San Diego Business Journal, 2013
Top Attorneys, Real Estate & Construction Transactional, The Daily Transcript, 2009

JD, University of California, Davis
BA (Economics) with honors, University of California, Davis

Speaker. “Legal Aspects of Real Estate Finance,” University of San Diego (Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate), San Diego, CA, 2006- 2017.

Temple Solel, Pro Bono Legal Counsel
San Diego County Bar Association, Mentoring Program Mentor
San Diego County Football Officials Association, CIF high school and youth football

Huard, Ray. “Rising Interest Rates Have Yet to Rattle Market,” San Diego Business Journal, June 18, 2018.
de Crescenzo, Sarah.“Procopio Ushers in Leadership Changes in New Year,” San Diego Business Journal, January 3, 2018.
“Public/Private Deal of the Year,” San Diego Business Journal, February 25, 2013.

A Record 81 Procopio Attorneys Named to 2025 Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch Lists

Appellate Law Services

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Representative Matters

Assists major financial institution in documenting and closing equity investments and mezzanine loans to residential developers in excess of $125M to date, for development of over 6900 homes with total development values in excess of $1B.
Represented redevelopment agency in connection with development of approximately 300,000 SF retail center involving preparation and negotiation of retail anchor leases including ground leases for “big box” anchor tenant and fast food/restaurant tenants, build-to-suit leases for major retail tenants and over 30,000 SF of in-line tenant space, as well as all project operating documents.
Served as California real estate counsel for national child care provider with responsibility for negotiating purchase and lease documents (ground, build-to-suit and space leases), due diligence, title and survey review, drafting escrow instructions and coordinating closings for over 25 properties located throughout California.
Restructured in excess of 35 leases for a regional restaurant operator including lease amendments for operational, rent and other relief, termination agreements, assignments and subletting and other exit strategies.
Represented private developer in joint development project with local utility company in which client is developing and will operate a business park with in excess of 2 million SF of office, R&D and industrial uses (including multi-tenant, corporate, distribution facilities and ancillary commercial services). Anchor tenants are slated to include a 550 megawatt power plant and an extensive state of the art medical campus. Key legal milestones included structuring and negotiating joint development and related development management agreements, navigating all land purchases in assembling of over 186 acres of unimproved land, assisting with all acquisition, development, and construction financing, formation of development partnerships, sale and lease of improved and unimproved parcels following completion of infrastructure and other project improvements, preparing easement agreements and other project level operating documents, managing all title matters and handling a variety of prime construction contracts valued in excess of $25M both in connection with the business park infrastructure as well as vertical building construction.

Testimonials

DISCLAIMER: These testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

Recognitions

Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Law, 2025
Best Lawyers®, Real Estate Law, 2019-Present
Super Lawyers®, Real Estate Law, 2007-2017, 2019-2022
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating
Top Lawyers, San Diego magazine, 2013–present
Public/Private Deal of the Year, San Diego Business Journal, 2013
Top Attorneys, Real Estate & Construction Transactional, The Daily Transcript, 2009

News Coverage

Huard, Ray. “Rising Interest Rates Have Yet to Rattle Market,” San Diego Business Journal, June 18, 2018.
de Crescenzo, Sarah.“Procopio Ushers in Leadership Changes in New Year,” San Diego Business Journal, January 3, 2018.
“Public/Private Deal of the Year,” San Diego Business Journal, February 25, 2013.

Services & Specializations

Admissions

Address

Office Tel.

Fax

Overview

Representative Matters

Testimonials

Recognitions

Education

Thought Leadership

Community

News Coverage

Services & Specializations

Admissions

Address

Office Tel.

Fax

Overview

Representative Matters

Testimonials

Recognitions

Education

Thought Leadership

Community

News Coverage