Survive or Surrender?

Leo Jacobs on the Art of Restructuring in Real Estate

When the Market Turns: Survival Isn’t Optional. It’s a Strategy.

In the opening keynote of the ReDeal Forum, Leo Jacobs didn’t just talk about distress — he confronted it.

In Episode 01 of ReDeal, the founder of Jacobs PC takes the stage to unpack the mindset, mechanics, and mistakes that define real estate survival when the music stops and the fog sets in.

No fluff. Just war stories, real numbers, and the raw truth behind what it means to navigate bankruptcy, protect equity, and preserve credibility — when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

Distress Doesn’t Just Happen. It Builds.

From his beginnings in Bushwick to restructuring $5B+ in debt and equity, Leo built Jacobs PC to serve a very specific type of client:
Those who need to make high-stakes decisions — in the worst of times.

Because surviving isn’t about getting lucky. It’s about making decisions through uncertainty, with a different team and a different mindset.

As Leo puts it:

“When the fog sets in, you don’t need more opinions. You need a restructuring strategy.”

What Happens When the $100M Deal Goes Sideways?

Leo walks through real-life examples of stalled projects, sinking portfolios, and general partners under immense pressure — and the tactical steps they must take to:

• Talk to lenders without triggering litigation
• Evaluate when to fight… and when to let go
• Renegotiate personal guarantees and escape liability
• Create leverage without burning bridges
• Protect future deals by protecting your name

He also shares the rule — and the exception — to letting go:

“If it’s just another project, walk.
If it’s your family’s legacy, fight — but do it with a plan.”

The Framework for Surviving Real Estate Distress

In today’s contracting market, these aren't hypotheticals. They’re happening every day.

Leo outlines a clear survival framework built on:

• Time: Buying enough of it to negotiate better outcomes
• Team: Having the right legal, financial, and brokerage experts
• Temperament: Making rational decisions under emotional weight
• Transparency: With lenders, with partners, with yourself

This isn’t about ego. It’s about execution.

The Most Powerful Move Is Letting Go

Sometimes, the best decision is to walk away from a losing asset and protect what’s left.

But sometimes, the fight is worth it — when you have the right note buyer, the right judge, and the right team at your side.

From Fifth Avenue condos to massive LP disputes, Leo shows exactly how his firm navigates the unspoken — and unwritten — rules of real estate bankruptcy.

“You don’t win by yelling. You win by knowing what to say — and when to say it.”

This Episode Is a Masterclass in Distress

If you're a developer, GP, LP, or advisor operating in today's market, this episode is more than a keynote — it’s a playbook.

📌 Watch Now

🎧 Watch Episode 01 — and hear how seasoned professionals actually survive, restructure, and come back stronger.

PODCAST - Confronting the Impossible with Leo Jacobs.

Leo Jacobs, Founder and CEO of Jacobs PC

Known for finding creative, expedient solutions to complex and high-profile cases, Leo excels in matters including distressed investment and asset management, real estate law, corporate law, dispute resolution, business divorces, negotiation, and more. Leo’s extensive expertise in debt and equity structures enables him to employ a full spectrum of legal tools to achieve swift, optimal results for clients. His practice, Jacobs P.C., bridges commercial litigation, corporate transactions, and financial rehabilitation, handling cases across federal, state, and bankruptcy courts, as well as administrative tribunals.

If you would like to join the podcast email requests to pr@jacobspc.com