Mark W. Schlussel is active in ZEK’s corporate, real estate, and transactional practice. He has extensive experience in all aspects of bank financing, including commercial and trade finance, asset based lending, acquisition and real estate financing, syndicated loans, participations and intercreditor issues. Prior to joining the firm, Mark served as principal outside counsel to The Merchants Bank of New York, a publicly held, highly regarded New York City commercial bank, prior to its merger with Valley National Bank. A significant portion of Mark’s practice concerns bank regulatory matters, structuring finance transactions and providing daily advice to senior management. Mark also represents a wide variety of closely held companies and entrepreneurs. He provides counsel in the acquisition and sale of businesses, including professional practices, their formation and capitalization. Most recently, Mark has been providing advice and counsel to a bank providing pre-development and construction loan financing to major New York City developers. As a result of his close working relationship with small business entrepreneurs, Mark has been asked to provide estate planning advice, help administer large estates and create trusts and other business entities in order to transfer control of businesses to younger generations. Mark makes a point of finding time for sailing, a passion he enjoys as often as he can.