PIERO BUSSANI
Boca Raton,FL
Summary
Seasoned general counsel and business executive that spent 18 years as chief legal officer and chief compliance officer for portfolio companies owned by the Blackstone Group. Piero excels at launching and scaling legal and risk functions across real estate investments and all asset classes. He aligns the legal and risk functions with the business strategies and company objectives, while protecting the reputation of owners and investors. Piero has spent his entire legal career in the real estate industry. As an expert and thought leader, he currently serves as Chairman of Florida Atlantic University, and Trustee of the Cleveland Clinic Weston and Cubesmart self-storage. Professional in legal leadership, equipped to drive strategic legal initiatives and ensure compliance. Expertise in corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory affairs. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, adaptable to changing needs. Renowned for critical thinking, effective communication, and ethical decision-making.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Legal Officer, Head of Insurance & Risk
HOMEBOUND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
02.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Homebound's team of construction, real estate and technology experts is focused on addressing our country's housing crisis, using a better and novel solution for homebuilding
- Homebound is the first tech-powered homebuilding company of its kind
- Build out and oversee the Legal, Risk and Insurance functions
- Oversee outside counsel on all capital markets work including debt and equity fundraising
- Implement legal regulatory & compliance structure to satisfy investor requirements, prepare Homebound for Series D investment round and IPO readiness
- Member of Executive Leadership Team tasked with business development and operations optimization
- Oversee litigation and claims
- Homebound's team of construction, real estate and technology experts is focused on addressing our country's housing crisis, using a better and novel solution for homebuilding
- Homebound is the first tech-powered homebuilding company of its kind
- Developed employee training programs for understanding legal implications of daily operations, improving overall organizational compliance.
Chief Legal Officer & Global Head of Legal & Risk
REVANTAGE CORPORATE SERVICES / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
08.2017 - 02.2023
- Company Overview: Revantage is Blackstone Real Estate’s exclusive shared service organization, providing a full suite of corporate services to Blackstone’s global real estate portfolio companies
- Consolidated all legal work and legal functions into one back office legal department while creating seamless oversight and partnership with legal counsel embedded in each acquired portfolio company
- Oversaw Legal and Risk functions for all Blackstone real estate portfolio companies, equating to $120B of TEV
- Managed a global team of 100+ attorneys and paralegals responsible for Blackstone’s real estate transactions and leasing programs, real estate development, litigation, governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, claims oversight, reputational management, and legal optimization
- Promoted to Global Head of Legal, with oversight of international offices, including Chicago, London, Luxembourg and Singapore
- Directed a global team of risk and insurance teams responsible for placing insurance and managing risk
- Revantage is Blackstone Real Estate’s exclusive shared service organization, providing a full suite of corporate services to Blackstone’s global real estate portfolio companies
- Managed a high-performing legal team to ensure timely and accurate legal support across all departments.
- Maintained professional relationships with external counsel for specialized legal advice when needed.
- Reduced litigation costs for the company by proactively addressing potential legal issues.
- Enhanced corporate governance by developing comprehensive compliance policies and procedures.
- Streamlined legal processes by implementing efficient contract management systems.
Chief Legal Officer & Managing Director
DIGITAL BRIDGE HOLDINGS, LLC
11.2015 - 12.2017
- Company Overview: Communications infrastructure company and owner of cellular and broadcasting towers, data centers, fiber optics, rooftop antenna management and distributed antenna systems (DAS) in the US, Latin America, and in other regions
- Retained to establish and implement the Legal, Compliance and M&A departments, processes and structure, with goal of transitioning the role to permanent staff once these roles are functional
- Manage the firm’s operational needs, including directing consultants and leading weekly deal tracking meetings
- Provide day to day legal support on all pending business matters, including providing legal advice in all areas of our business (Finance, Risk, M&A, Human Resources, Marketing, IT)
- Communications infrastructure company and owner of cellular and broadcasting towers, data centers, fiber optics, rooftop antenna management and distributed antenna systems (DAS) in the US, Latin America, and in other regions
Chief Legal Officer & Executive Vice President
INVITATION HOMES / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
11.2012 - 11.2015
- Company Overview: Joined at the start-up phase of what is now a publicly traded and largest owner / landlord of single family homes in the US, with over 100,000 units nationwide
- Partnered with CIO to oversee $9B of capital deployment in the acquisition of 50,000 single family homes
- Established, implemented and managed the Legal, Risk Management, and Corporate Governance departments
- Partnered with Capital Markets / Finance team to successfully launch and close initial revolving credit facility followed by seven (7) securitized deals with issuance of over $6B
- Interfaced with rating agencies, lenders and investors to satisfy their due diligence inquiries and requests;
- Project leader for Crisis Management response and ancillary business drivers
- Joined at the start-up phase of what is now a publicly traded and largest owner / landlord of single family homes in the US, with over 100,000 units nationwide
General Counsel & Co-Manager
LXR LUXURY RESORTS & HOTELS / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
05.2004 - 11.2012
- Company Overview: Co-lead hospitality advisory and management firm overseeing 75 full-service resorts and hotels owned by Blackstone
- Managed the company’s litigation, regulatory and legal compliance program, including union and labor matters inherited from numerous hotel acquisitions
- Provided legal counsel to all company-wide departments
- Supervised outside counsel on due diligence and closings for all hotel acquisitions and dispositions
- Oversaw process for roll-up of hotel portfolios and absorbing acquired hotels into one operation system
- Consult on all important legal disputes, business matters, and strategic business developments
- Co-lead hospitality advisory and management firm overseeing 75 full-service resorts and hotels owned by Blackstone
- Led complex and pivotal legal work in fast-paced environment.
General Counsel, Director of Development / Executive Vice President
EXTENDED STAY HOTELS / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
06.1996 - 06.2007
- Company Overview: Joined at the start-up of a first of its kind hotel concept and business model
- In connection with the fastest built hotel company in history (400 hotels built in 3 years), managed entitlement, permit and due diligence process for all hotel site acquisitions, including environmental, zoning, title and all real estate closings;
- Supervised company’s litigation and legal dispute matters
- Managed regulatory and legal compliance program;
- Advised CEO and Board of Directors on all pending legal issues and strategic business projects;
- Responsible for establishing and meeting legal department budget, reporting to CEO;
- Responsible for Company’s compliance with loan covenants
- Joined at the start-up of a first of its kind hotel concept and business model
Senior Real Estate Counsel
BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
07.1995 - 06.1996
- Managed all aspects of Blockbuster Video and Blockbuster Music Real Estate Legal function for the U.S
- And Canada
- Managed roll-up of existing video store chains in fragmented industry, along with the roll-out and development of over 400 new store openings and 350 renewals by amendment per year;
- Provided legal support to all Blockbuster corporate and franchised stores in North America;
- Managed lease negotiations and legal review of all contracts
- Performed real estate due diligence on video store acquisitions
Associate
ARENT FOX (law firm), Washington, D.C.
08.1991 - 07.1995
- Real Estate Group
- Represented clients in office development and leasing, multi-unit retail development, shopping center development and leasing, and Landlord-Tenant representation
- Litigation
- Represented multifamily developers in commercial, construction, and environmental litigation, from discovery through trial
- Represented national retail chains involved in contract disputes and litigation
Education
Juris Doctor -
School of Law, State University of New York At Buffalo
Buffalo NY01.1991
Bachelor of Arts - International Studies
The American University
Washington, D.C.01.1987
Bar Memberships
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Connecticut
- Florida (Authorized House Counsel)
- Illinois (Authorized House Counsel)
Philanthropy
- Cleveland Clinic of Florida
- Montefiore / Albert Einstein School of Medicine
- Rush Hospital Chicago
- Dapper McDonald ALS Foundation
Board Of Director Roles
- FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, CHAIRMAN, 08/21, Present, Appointed by the Governor, Elected unanimously twice as Chairman, FAU serves more than 30,000 students across 6 campuses in Florida, and is ranked as a top 100 universities with designation as an R1 Carnegie Research Institution
- CUBESMART, TRUSTEE, 02/10, Present, CubeSmart is a publicly traded REIT focused on the ownership, operation, acquisition and development of self-storage facilities in U.S., Nominated to Board of Directors since February 2010, serving as Trustee;, Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee;, Member of Compensation Committee
- CLEVELAND CLINIC - WESTON FLORIDA, TRUSTEE, 08/21, Present, Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital is part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region with a total of 5 hospitals and numerous outpatient centers with expertise in 55 specialties.
Timeline
Chief Legal Officer, Head of Insurance & Risk
HOMEBOUND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
02.2023 - Current
Chief Legal Officer & Global Head of Legal & Risk
REVANTAGE CORPORATE SERVICES / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
08.2017 - 02.2023
Chief Legal Officer & Managing Director
DIGITAL BRIDGE HOLDINGS, LLC
11.2015 - 12.2017
Chief Legal Officer & Executive Vice President
INVITATION HOMES / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
11.2012 - 11.2015
General Counsel & Co-Manager
LXR LUXURY RESORTS & HOTELS / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
05.2004 - 11.2012
General Counsel, Director of Development / Executive Vice President
EXTENDED STAY HOTELS / BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
06.1996 - 06.2007
Senior Real Estate Counsel
BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
07.1995 - 06.1996
Associate
ARENT FOX (law firm), Washington, D.C.
08.1991 - 07.1995
Bachelor of Arts - International Studies
The American University
Juris Doctor -
School of Law, State University of New York At Buffalo
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