Greg Sylvester – The BAM Companies

As the general counsel at The BAM Companies, Greg Sylvester brings over a decade of experience in commercial real estate transactions to his role. Based in Indianapolis, he has overseen more than $1 billion in transactions. Sylvester joined The BAM Companies in June 2021 as associate general counsel and quickly ascended to his current role in October 2021. As part of the Executive Committee, he oversees all risk management, compliance and product formation.

Greg Sylvester | The BAM Companies | General Counsel

The BAM Companies is a private equity firm raising funds to invest in multifamily real estate. The company currently manages over a billion in assets across four separate funds. Sylvester focuses on forward-thinking strategies rather than past or current operations. He played a crucial role in the development of Fund 2 ($75 million), Fund 3 ($100 million), and Fund 4 ($150 million).

Sylvester’s responsibilities include developing investment strategies, determining fund structures, and translating complex legal documents into client-friendly formats. He enjoys crafting solutions and using his legal and business acumen to articulate the risk-reward implications of various decisions, advising leadership accordingly.

“My role is to manage legal risks and drive strategic initiatives that propel our company’s growth and success. I thrive on crafting innovative solutions and translating complex legalities into actionable strategies for our team and investors,” Sylvester says.

Building a sustainable culture

BAM’s fully integrated operations drive the company’s success. Their ability to efficiently and cost-effectively manage multifamily properties ensures the necessary returns. To create those operational efficiencies, the company focuses on creating a supportive culture in order to retain top talent, reduce attrition and enhance operational predictability. This culture is vital to ensure the company’s and investors continued growth and success.

The organization’s current objective is to offer a diverse investment portfolio to existing investors while expanding its investor base. BAM aims to provide access to institutional-type real estate investments typically unavailable to many investors. This strategy blends traditional real estate operations with the strategic focus of a private equity firm.

Sylvester’s role in shaping BAM’s direction also includes forming and operating a captive insurance company to enhance strategic control and cost efficiency in risk management.

“This initiative aligns with BAM’s goal of optimizing returns for investors while mitigating risks,” he says.

BAM has several significant projects planned for the rest of 2024 and beyond, Sylvester says.

The company recently launched its first private credit fund, an evergreen fund offering higher risk-adjusted returns with a liquidity component. Additionally, BAM intends to develop and launch another fund focused on select development projects in target markets.

Empowering legal talent

Sylvester identifies the biggest legal challenge facing BAM as developing and maintaining efficient policies and procedures for compliance and risk management amidst substantial growth over the last two years. He emphasizes the importance of evolving these initiatives to keep pace with the company’s expansion. This challenge requires BAM to create a strong internal legal and compliance team.

Fostering a culture that encourages collaboration and growth is a challenge in any modern work environment, but it is a challenge Sylvester embraces in the legal department.

Currently, Sylvester’s team consists of four people. Recruiting the right talent with the necessary experience and work ethic to align with BAM’s culture has been challenging. However, retention is easier once onboard due to the interesting, ever-evolving work and the company’s supportive culture.

“We have created a team atmosphere of empowerment, and we allow team members to own different aspects of the legal department’s workflows,” he explains. “I have a lot of confidence in my team, so I provide support, but also try to stay out of the way to allow my team members to grow.”

The hiring process has been challenging, and Sylvester says it is the one hardest part of his job. Despite thorough interviews, the true measure of a candidate’s fit is only revealed once they start working. Conversely, the best part of his job is his involvement in developing the company’s strategic initiatives to achieve annual goals, which allows him to work with various talented individuals who challenge and expand his perspectives.

Reflecting on his career, Sylvester acknowledges that his biggest challenge was being patient while collecting experiences that would lead him to the right place and role where he could best succeed. Drawing on his background in sports, where he thrived in team environments, Sylvester found that BAM’s culture allowed him to rediscover that team spirit and find his voice as an executive leader, helping to drive the company’s growth.

Path to legal expertise

Sylvester has carved a notable path to his current role. His journey began with a degree in political science from DePauw University, followed by a JD from Valparaiso University School of Law. His interest in law was sparked by a mentor and further solidified through conversations with professionals across various industries. Law school presented an opportunity to develop versatile skills applicable to many career paths. However, Sylvester did not have a fixed long-term plan after law school and joined private practice like many of his peers.

The turning point came when Sylvester’s wife transitioned from private practice to an in-house role. Observing the benefits and challenges of in-house counsel work through her experiences piqued his interest in pursuing a similar path. Deciding that private practice was not his long-term calling, Sylvester began building connections, leading him to an in-house position.

In June 2021, he joined BAM Companies as an associate general counsel, quickly proving his capabilities and dedication. By October 2021, he had advanced to the role of general counsel. Since then, Sylvester has been instrumental in steering BAM’s legal strategies and operations, leveraging his extensive background and expertise.

Outside of his professional life, Sylvester enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two sons. He and his wife, the general counsel at an AI healthcare company, share a unique bond through similar career challenges. A former college football player, Sylvester’s passion for sports continues as he coaches his sons in their athletic pursuits, fully embracing the role of a dedicated sports dad.