Michael H. Saks
14755 Preston Road
Suite 600
Dallas, Texas 75254
Tel. (972) 788-1600
Fax (972) 702-0662
email redacted
Practice Areas
Real Estate, Business and Corporate Law
Education
Following completion of his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1974, Mr. Saks earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston, Bates College of Law in 1977. While at the University of Houston, he was selected for membership in the Order of the Barons. Earlier, Mr. Saks was recognized for his extra curricular work at the undergraduate level by election as a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society.
Court Admissions
Mr. Saks was admitted to the Bar of the State of Texas in 1977. He is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, and the U.S. Tax Court.
Professional Memberships / Affiliations
Mr. Saks is a member of the Dallas and American Bar Associations, as well as the State Bar of Texas. He has served on committees for the various bar associations, including the Commercial Leasing Committee of the Section of Real Estate and Trust Law for the American Bar Association, where he assisted in the research and writing for the Bar's publication on landlord lien rights in all 50 states. For a number of years, Mr. Saks was an associate member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Currently, Mr. Saks is an associate member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and a member of Real Estate Financial Executives Association (REFEA). He is also member of Doctors Referral Service (DRS of North Texas) providing representation to health care providers in the areas of real estate and business law.
Mr. Saks has maintained an affiliation with his undergraduate university, currently serving as President of the North Texas region of The Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association and a member of the University's alumni council. He also serves on the alumni school committee assisting the Office of Admissions for the University.
Mr. Saks is a frequent lecturer at legal seminars. His affiliations and speaking topics include the following:
- 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 CLE International, Negotiating Leases - "Key Lease Provisions: The Landlord's Perspective."
- 1994, 1996, and 1998 CLE International, Commercial Real Estate - "Due Diligence (in commercial real estate acquisitions)."
- 2000, 2001 CLE International, Negotiating Leases - "Leasing Potpourri."
- 2000 SMU Real Estate Law: Leases in Depth - "Negotiating Key Lease Provisions: The Landlord's Perspective."
- 2001 CLE International, Negotiating Leases - "Planning for Tornadoes and Other Natural Disasters."
- 2002 CLE International, Negotiating Leases - "New Legislation in Texas Affecting Commercial Leases."
- 2003 State Bar of Texas, Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course - "Rights of First Refusal."
- 2008 CLE International, Negotiating Leases - "The New Status of the 'AS IS' Provision in Commercial Leases."
Experience
Mr. Saks has practiced in the area of real estate and business law for over 25 years. He began his career in real estate law working as in-house counsel for a large developer in San Antonio, Texas. In private practice in Dallas since 1985, he has been involved in many aspects of real estate, representing clients in the acquisition, development, financing and disposition of real property. Over the years, he has developed a sub-specialty in leasing and landlord-tenant law, including representation of landlords owning multiple types of properties, from office to retail to industrial to, more recently, mixed-use, and representation of tenants, including several large retail chains with store operations throughout the country. In business law, Mr. Saks has represented clients with respect to their entity formations and governance documentation, capital financing, acquisitions, dispositions, and other contract negotiations. He has worked with a number of individuals serving as counsel to their start up businesses. In recent years, Mr. Saks has developed a representation of health-care professionals in the areas of real estate and business law and acquainting himself with their unique concerns.