The BIG platform will acquire and originate high-yield performing and distressed whole loans, mezzanine loans, B notes, gap equity and select CMBS investments on behalf of its clients, according to a release. Along with debt investment, BIG will provide origination, lending and underwriting support to third parties on a separate account basis.

In a release, Heyman says that "the lack of liquidity in the current market, coupled with the senior lenders' reluctance to advance more than 60% to 65% of today's property values, creates amazing opportunities for BIG to provide the 'gap equity' or mezzanine debt to fill in the capital gap. We will also target investments in the senior debt and CMBS space in order to create a well balanced, diverse portfolio with attractive risk adjusted yields for our clients."

As president, Heyman will build the debt investment platform, raise and deploy capital, as well as develop, manage and oversee the company's operations. She brings BIG more than two decades of experience in the commercial real estate finance industry, most recently at CWCapital. There, she led a team of 80 professionals that originated more than 500 loans totaling in excess of $6 billion in fixed, floating and mezzanine lending collateralized by commercial real estate assets--including JEMB's.