Michael Fralin’s Path from Big Law to Finance Leadership

From a Small Town in Massachusetts to High-Stakes Finance

Michael Fralin didn’t grow up around Wall Street. He grew up in Stoughton, Massachusetts, the son of a United Methodist minister and a homemaker. But what he did grow up with was a strong sense of purpose.

“I was always fascinated by how decisions get made in big systems—how money moves, who writes the rules, and how people solve hard problems,” Fralin says.

That curiosity set him on a path that would span over two decades in real estate finance and structured lending, from the halls of elite law firms to boardrooms of fast-growing investment firms.

How Michael Fralin Built a Career in Real Estate Finance

Fralin got his start with a summer associate role at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in 2001. He joined full-time after graduating from Boston College Law School in 2002.

“I was lucky to start in Cadwalader’s real estate finance group. It was the most demanding but also the most formative,” he explains. “You don’t forget the intensity of your first deal.”

He spent three years there before heading to Chicago to join Sidley Austin in 2005. That move opened the door to his first major pivot.

One of Sidley’s clients, JPMorgan Chase, asked Fralin to join in-house. At JPMorgan, he led the Midwest real estate loan business as lead counsel.

“Being inside the bank taught me how lenders think at scale,” he says. “You’re not just papering deals—you’re managing portfolios and risk.”

The 2008 Financial Crisis and a Major Career Shift

Michael Fralin returned to New York in 2007 to work at RAIT Financial Trust, a publicly traded REIT. It was a turbulent time.

“2008 hit right after I joined RAIT. It was a crash course in restructuring. We had to triage debt positions daily.”

At RAIT, he handled over $3 billion in complex transactions, including mezzanine loans and preferred equity. These years sharpened his skill in problem-solving under pressure.

“I learned the value of creativity when the markets freeze,” he says.

From Big Law to Building a Business

In 2010, Fralin made an unusual move—he left law temporarily to run a Kidville franchise focused on children’s activities.

“It might seem like a detour,” he admits. “But running a business taught me how to think like an owner.”

He sold the franchise in 2013 and reentered big law with Kelley Drye & Warren, then Paul Hastings. But in 2016, another bold opportunity came calling.

“I got a call to help start a real estate investment firm from scratch,” he says.

That firm was SomeraRoad. Fralin became the first hire and its General Counsel. Over the next five years, he helped grow the firm from zero assets to over $2 billion in total transactions.

“We built it brick by brick—new markets, new lenders, new structures. The tax-exempt bond financing we did for Lightwell Tower was a real turning point,” he shares. “It showed how we could be innovative and credible at the same time.”

Returning to Private Practice with a New Mission

Since 2022, Fralin has practiced at Kriss & Feuerstein and Bogal & Kahn LLP. His focus is still commercial real estate finance, but now he’s expanding his expertise into general finance, private credit, and structured lending.

“I’ve spent 20 years in real estate, but I’m hungry to keep learning. Dentons, for example, really interests me because of how they approach broader finance,” he says, referring to a recent career move he considered.

He sees the next phase of his career as more collaborative and cross-disciplinary.

“There’s real value in being a translator between lenders, investors, and legal teams,” he explains. “My goal now is to help clients navigate all sides of a deal.”

What Drives Michael Fralin’s Approach to Law and Business

Fralin’s legal style is shaped by real-world execution. He focuses on getting deals done, solving hard problems, and managing capital stacks that can be layered and opaque.

“I’m not trying to be the smartest lawyer in the room,” he says. “I’m trying to be the most useful one.”

He brings this mindset not only to clients but also to mentoring junior attorneys. “The best thing you can do for a young lawyer is help them learn how to think commercially,” he adds.

Beyond the Office: Family, Football, and Giving Back

Fralin is also a proud father of two teenagers. He’s a devoted Michigan football fan—returning to Ann Arbor every year to catch a game at the Big House.

He supports the NAACP, Democratic causes, and local charities that help feed children and the homeless in New York. “It’s about staying connected to what really matters,” he says.

He also maintains a decades-long friendship with his “little brother” from Big Brothers Big Sisters, whom he met during law school.

A Career That’s Still Evolving

Michael Fralin’s journey is far from over. With a mix of big law experience, entrepreneurial grit, and institutional leadership, he brings a rare perspective to finance law.

“I’m not done yet,” he says. “If anything, I’m just getting started on the next version of my career.”

For Fralin, success means building something lasting—deals that work, teams that grow, and ideas that keep evolving.

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