Frank C. Aiello
Associate Professor
B.A. Michigan State University 1998
J.D. Wayne State University Law School 2001
Before joining Cooley, Professor Aiello was an Associate with Bodman LLP. He represented financial institutions in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of commercial and real estate loans, including construction and end mortgage loans, working capital arrangements, acquisition and mezzanine facilities, leveraged buyout financings, and agented and syndicated transactions. He represented several banks in complex, multi-million dollar real estate transactions, involving retail, office, residential, and office projects located throughout the United States.
Professor Aiello's current research interest is effective land use and conservation techniques. He has provided hundreds of hours of pro bono legal service to land trusts in Michigan, assisting them with the acquisition of real property held for natural preservation. Professor Aiello also serves as the editor of the Michigan Model Conservation Easement, a project hosted by the Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy, where he is also a member of the Board of Directors. He involves Cooley students, as volunteers or research assistants, in his work whenever possible. Professor Aiello also encourages Cooley students to involve themselves in matters of environmental law and policy as a faculty advisor to the Cooley Auburn Hills Environmental Law Society. Professor Aiello’s interest in land use issues began early when, while still a student at Michigan State University, he was appointed to the East Lansing City Council and became its youngest member at the age of 20.
Professor Aiello is actively involved in Cooley’s efforts to support student career development and placement, serving as Vice-Chairperson of the school’s faculty committee focused on these issues. To further the relationship between the school and bar he frequently participated in bar related functions and serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association.
Professor Aiello is also a member of the Board of Director of Affirmations, Metro Detroit’s community center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies.
Professor Aiello teaches Property Law, Secured Transactions and Land Use Planning and Zoning Law.
Bibliography
Articles
Frank C. Aiello, Not Losing the Forest for the Trees: Distinguishing Conservation Transfer Fees from Other Private Transfer Fees, 64 Me. L. Rev. 1 (2011).
Frank Aiello, Student Author, Gambling with Condemnation: An Examination of Detroit’s Use of Eminent Domain for Riverfront Casinos, 46 Wayne L. Rev. 1639 (2000).
Presentations
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Where to Draw the Line? – Conservation Easement Negotiation Exercise (Lansing, Michigan, Nov. 2009) (Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy Member Summit).
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Public/Private Partnerships for Wetland Conservation (Portland, Oregon, Oct. 2009) (Land Trust Alliance Rally 2009).
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Where to Draw the Line? – Conservation Easement Negotiation Exercise (Columbus, Ohio, Apr. 2009) (Land Trust Alliance Midwest Conference).
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Michigan Model Conservation Easement Revision Project Status Update (Lansing, Michigan, Dec. 2008) (Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy Member Summit).
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Land Acquisition Primer (Flint, Michigan, Jan. 2008) (Genesee County Regional Greenways Summit).
Frank C. Aiello, Facilitator, Panel Discussion on Conservation Easement Best Practices (Lansing, Michigan, Dec. 2007) (Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy Member Summit).
Frank C. Aiello, Presentation, Feels Good and Saves You Money: The Conservation Easement (Pontiac, Michigan, Oct. 2007) (Tax Section of the Oakland County Bar Association).
