T. Thomas Gates, CRE
Managing Partner
Before founding Mirador Real Estate Advisors and his law firm, The Law Offices of Tilman Thomas Gates PLLC, Tom Gates worked as development director at Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse in Baltimore, completed a master’s degree in real estate at The Johns Hopkins University, and represented commercial real estate developers and investors at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson in Charlotte, NC, where he was a shareholder and chair of the real estate development and finance practice group.
Over more than two decades representing real estate developers, investors, lenders, and managers, Tom has guided borrowers and lenders through all aspects of the acquisition, restructuring, management, and disposition of distressed commercial real estate assets and debt.
An instrument-rated pilot and avid outdoorsman, Tom spends his personal time hunting, fishing, sailing, diving, and exploring the islands with his family.
Representative Experience
Guided regional developers and investors in addressing receivership, foreclosure, and restructuring issues related to retail shopping center debt
Advised property managers acting as receivers for financial institutions
Guided investors in the acquisition of distressed loans secured by residential, retail, and office properties
Advised owner of a high-rise office building in uptown Charlotte through debt restructuring, a partnership dispute, and a partner bankruptcy
Counseled owner and manager of approximately 1 million square feet of furniture showroom space in High Point, NC through workout, receivership, and foreclosure process
Advised lender in the takeover and restructuring of a failed condominium project
Professional Affiliations
Counselors of Real Estate, 2010-present
Interlaw Delegate, 2008-2016
Mecklenburg County Bar, Grievance Committee, 2011-2014
Leadership Charlotte, Class 27
North Carolina Bar Association, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section, 2000-present
Community Affiliations
Catawba Lands Conservancy, Board of Directors, 2004-2010 and 2018-present; Secretary, 2008- 10; Executive Committee 2008-2010; Lands Acquisition Committee, 2000- 2012, Chairman, 2004-2010
Queens University of Charlotte, Board of Visitors, 2015-present
Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, 2003-2014; Chairman, 2006 and 2012-2014
Charlotte Preschool Partnership, Board of Directors, 2006-2008; President, 2008
Honors and Awards
Woodward/White, Inc. The Best Lawyers in America real estate, 2012-present
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, real estate, 2008-present
Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated™
Counselors of Real Estate National Chair’s Award, 2012
Education
Duke University, JD, 1998
Johns Hopkins University, MS in Real Estate, 1996
Duke University, AB, cum laude, 1992