David Waxman

David Waxman brings nearly 40 years of experience advising individuals and organizations across the country on commercial real estate development and redevelopment, financing, construction, leasing, corporate governance, environmental matters and insurance, and business acquisitions and divestitures.

David takes a direct, business-focused approach to his practice, tailoring his services to each client, including investors, business owners, real estate developers, property owners, lenders, and manufacturers, based on their needs to manage their complex matters efficiently and improve their returns on investment.

As a property owner and investor, David leverages his practical, hands-on real estate experience to handle client transactions and compliance matters. He provides guidance on real estate, operational, and corporate matters such as joint ventures, financing and capital structures, and large-scale development projects across the manufacturing and transportation industries and other sectors. Additionally, he has been active in Ohio’s cannabis sector since its inception, guiding clients through corporate finance, real estate and zoning, environmental, regulatory, transportation, and other contractual issues.

Prior to joining Frantz Ward, David was a member at a prominent national law firm. He also previously founded and managed a business law firm, counseling a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses on complex real estate, environmental, construction, and corporate law matters.

Representative Experience

• Served as lead counsel for sale of a 52-acre former manufacturing facility in North Canton, Ohio, involving over 100 parcels and EPA oversight.
  Provided lender’s counsel on one of the first cannabis-related commercial property financings in the U.S.


• Provided acquisition and financing counsel for a 500-acre mixed-use development in Raleigh, North Carolina.


• Counseled a publicly traded drug store chain on acquisition, sale, leasing, and environmental matters across multiple U.S. locations.


• Counseled a developer on acquisition, financing, and development of an international consumer product distribution center.


• Aided lenders and borrowers in construction and permanent financing transactions.


• Provided national environmental counsel for a lender in connection with financings and refinancings of automobile dealership properties.


• Assisted clients with environmental due diligence matters, Phase I/II assessments, and remediation plans.


• Negotiated environmental insurance, indemnities, and other long-term liability protections.


• Represented Tier I PRPs in Superfund matters.


• Counseled clients on compliance with TSCA’s lead-based paint regulations and successfully resolved U.S. EPA lead-based paint enforcement actions against them.


• Represented gas station owners and operators on matters pertaining to Ohio’s Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, and for others before Ohio’s Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board.


• Represented a public library in construction-related matters, including public bidding requirements, in connection with the major renovation of its main facility.
  Represented public school districts on construction-related documents and public bidding matters.


• Advised developers and investors on a wide array of matters on projects such as office buildings, gas stations, warehouse/distribution facilities, manufacturing facilities, condominiums and planned unit developments, apartment complexes, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and hotels.