The Legal 500

While the commercial construction market in the US continues to stutter and stall through the economic turbulence, many firms are managing to remain busy through a steady flow of public works projects, health and education building and refurbishment, infrastructure upgrades, and a boom in major energy projects; the price of natural gas, the reduction in solar energy costs and the retrofitting of nuclear facilities has meant that energy projects are providing a sustained and lucrative flow of work, with several firms’ workload increasing dramatically as a result. Despite the concern that government money for infrastructure projects is running out, the state of the nation’s infrastructure ensures that, one way or another, widespread construction upgrades on transportation and public works projects continue to go ahead.

The construction ranking takes into account both transactional and litigation work, and aims to reflect the quality and complexity of work undertaken as well as quantity. Regional practices with a high profile and experience in complex matters feature alongside nationally recognised practices.

The land use market is showing tentative signs of improvement in both the residential and commercial arenas with renewed investor interest, particularly in inner city urban development in areas such as New York and Washington DC. In 2011 typical projects remained redevelopment and re-zoning work, given a general lack of funding for large new developments, particularly in the more distressed regions of Arizona and Florida. Despite this, firms have noted an increase in work on public-private partnerships, as well as an increased flow of instructions from institutional clients such as universities and healthcare organizations. The rankings identify firms with a national presence and strong reputation, while also giving credit to those with a regional focus and strong local political connections.

As investor confidence grows, the real estate market is slowly gaining momentum and across all regions firms have seen the largest increase in new development and transactional work for many years. A variety of institutions are now offering loans and substantial equity is available, although onerous requirements and the preference for predictable, low-risk opportunities continue to limit the number of active developers. Mortgage and mezzanine loan foreclosures, as well as workouts and restructurings of secured loans and credit facilities, are still very visible in the market, and are set to continue as a large number of loans reach maturity. In the hospitality space, acquisitions and dispositions as well as hotel refinancings have kept firms busy, while condominium projects have all but dried up. Industrial projects have shown resilience, and office leasing continues to thrive in major cities. Residential multi-family projects are in abundance across all states, and public-private partnerships for affordable housing projects are increasingly visible. Threat of a double-dip recession temporarily froze the market at the end of the summer of 2011, but the fourth quarter showed renewed vigor in all areas going into 2012.

The real estate ranking is an assessment of firms’ national capability, and their utilization of resources to represent the interests of domestic or international clients across the US. Attention is paid to breadth of expertise, ideally within a diversified practice equipped for transactional and development work as well as sophisticated real estate financing. A group that focuses heavily on a particular geographic region or practice area may be included in the ranking if the caliber of work it undertakes is exceptional. REIT experience is taken into account, although this area receives specific coverage in the REIT subsection of the Investment Fund Formation and Management chapter.

With around 30 full-time construction lawyers and an additional 60 with construction expertise, Holland & Knight LLP is awarded ‘highest marks for service and industry knowledge’ by clients. With centres of expertise in Florida, Washington DC, New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts, the firm’s work encompasses signature urban and institutional developments, resort and mixed-use projects, major industrial facilities, power generation facilities, bridge construction, and other major infrastructure projects. Clients praise the firm’s ‘very good response times, industry knowledge, and appropriate advice’ and its strength in depth. The practice is led by ‘excellent trial lawyer’ Steve Shapiro, who was recently successful in defeating a construction surety’s $27m case against the Dormitory Authority of New York. The case, involving 36 parties in Federal Court litigation, was resolved through a series of settlements with a general contractor and several subcontractors, and the total amount of the defeated claim and affirmative recovery by the owner exceeded $40m. The firm also represented a manufacturer in the litigation and resolution of a $600m dispute arising from a wind turbine purchase agreement. The dispute involved highly technical claims and counterclaims concerning multiple projects, and was led by the ‘excellent, timely, and thorough’ Ben Subin, who ‘knows the construction industry inside out’. Frederick Rohn, who is praised for his ‘depth of knowledge and particular strength in contract interpretation and negotiation’ comes highly recommended. ‘Excellent attorney’ Andrew Stephenson, who recently represented an international infrastructure contractor in the drafting of standard teaming and engineering contracts, is also highly regarded.

The construction practice at Jones Day regularly advises owners/employers, contractors, consultants, and public sector entities on a wide variety of contracting and disputed matters throughout the US. The practice is known for its ‘great knowledge, prompt response times, good business acumen, and depth’, offering the full range of legal support for construction-related issues. It has a prominent foothold in the booming industries of energy and infrastructure, providing the ‘highest level of service for public entities’. Part of an integrated global firm, the team is able to draw on an enormous base of knowledge and experience for US construction projects. Stephen O’Neal’s ‘efficient, effective’ team in San Francisco is representing CityCenter, a joint venture of MGM Resorts International and Dubai World, in pending litigation with Tutor Perini over the construction of the 18 million sq ft, $8.5bn CityCenter project in Las Vegas; in 2010, Perini, the general contractor, filed suit against CityCenter, the owner, seeking $492m it was allegedly due, and CityCenter cross-complained for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for breach of contract and defective construction, including the highly publicised alleged structural defects of the Harmon Hotel – litigation to date has included resolution of claims by over 200 first-tier subcontractors whose demands exceeded $200m. O’Neal ‘tops the list of construction litigators in the country; there is nothing he cannot tackle’, and John Foust and David Buoncristiani, also based in San Francisco, are very highly rated. Daniel McMillan, in the firm’s Los Angeles office, is respected as ‘an extremely bright attorney with tremendous stamina and a strong work ethic’, and Andrew Ness in Washington DC is widely recognized as one of the US’ leading construction lawyers.

With 14 offices nationwide, the ‘deep and well-respected team’ at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton is valued for its ‘prompt service, excellent industry knowledge and spot-on advice’. It brings its considerable resources to bear on all aspects of large-scale infrastructure and energy construction, from procurement and contracts to project counselling, claims and complex litigation. Providing the full range of services to all within the industry, the firm represents developers, designers, contractors and equipment manufacturers, but focuses on representing public owners in large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. The practice is led from the Atlanta office by Brian Corgan, who ‘has the ability to study the issues and engage personnel at their level to achieve an understanding of the facts’, and is an ‘intense and focused’ presence in the courtroom. Corgan, along with recommended partner Chad Theriot, successfully represented the Choate Construction Company in an arbitration against Berkman Plaza II, LLC relating to the construction of the Berkman Plaza II project in Jacksonville, FL, and the subsequent collapse of the project’s parking garage. Highly rated litigator Randall Hafer continues to work on contractor claims worth $55m against the owner of the ‘Big Dig’ project in Boston. The firm also represented a pipeline contractor in a Texas state court in the defence of $40m in claims asserted by a pipeline owner and the subsequent assertion of a $14.8m counterclaim arising from the construction of a 31-mile pipeline project in Indiana and Illinois; the team was led by R Lee Mann, described as having ‘a key strength in legal writing’, and Joseph Henner, who is a ‘great facilitator of disputes and projects’. Neal Sweeney, the ‘walking, talking textbook of construction law’, is also recommended.

‘One of the best construction firms in the country, and the best in the New York/New Jersey area’, Peckar & Abramson changed its leadership in 2011. The chairmanship of the firm passed to Steven Charney, an attorney noted for his ‘subject-matter knowledge and business acumen’, while former chairman Robert Peckar, an ‘expert in all aspects of construction law’, continues to take an active role in representing major clients throughout the US and internationally. The nationwide boutique has eight offices across the country, with 78 attorneys practising exclusively in construction law, and is praised for its ‘extraordinary response times, strength in depth, and value for money’. The firm continued to grow in 2011, hiring former New York County assistant district attorney Richard Preiss, who will be focusing on regulatory compliance/government relations, internal investigations, and white-collar defence in order to maintain the firm’s commitment to expanding its interdisciplinary corporate support team. Craig Landy and Sean Ryan, both attorneys in the New York office’s contract review program, were made up to partner, as was Kevin O’Connor, a commercial litigator in the New Jersey office. Throughout 2011, the firm continued its work representing a Canadian energy infrastructure company in a $120m construction dispute with a US contractor relating to a $12bn, 2,000-mile oil pipeline. Meanwhile, in Miami, vice-chair and head of the firm’s Florida office Steven Reisman and S Joanne Linley successfully litigated and negotiated to resolution a multimillion-dollar construction defect claim involving multiple parties relating to a luxury high-rise condominium project. Steven Reisman in particular is praised as ‘highly knowledgeable, thorough, and incredibly responsive’. Also recommended are Michael Neal in Los Angeles; Patrick Green in New Jersey; Paul G. Monte in New York; and William Thompson in Washington DC.

Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP has nearly 100 attorneys operating exclusively in construction, design and engineering from offices in California, Nevada and Seattle. Described as ‘unbeatable at all levels’, the well-respected boutique represents many high-profile corporations, developers, and contractors, including Arch Insurance, Black & Veatch Corporation, DPR Construction and the Nevada Department of Transportation. In 2011, a team successfully represented an EPC contractor in a ‘baseball’ arbitration over a $1bn addition to an existing power plant. The team, led by Kathleen Barnes and Shelly Ewald, presented fact and expert witnesses and, after a four-week trial, the client was awarded over $32m plus arbitration fees. The firm also continued to represent Tishman Construction, negotiating and drafting subcontracts on the CityCenter project, an 18 million sq ft mega-development in the heart of the Las Vegas strip; the project is the largest private construction development in the US and the firm negotiated multiple settlement agreements on behalf of Tishman, its subcontractors, and the owner. The construction practice is headed by the ‘very knowledgeable’ Michael Long in Irvine, CA, and, while the group is renowned for its contentious work, it is also adept at dealing with government contracts, with Tim Heffernan described as ‘one of the best in the country in that area’. Lewis Baker is ‘very highly regarded’ by clients and fellow lawyers alike, as are Robert Fitzgerald and John Tieder. Bennett Lee, managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office, is ‘the best’ for contract preparation, administration and termination, as well as surety claims and defences.

The construction practice at DLA Piper LLP specialises in heavy construction, energy and infrastructure projects, with the firm’s size and depth allowing for a level of expertise and resource-sharing between offices and practices that few other firms can match. Delivering an ‘excellent overall level of service’, the practice negotiates and drafts a vast number of construction contracts a year. It also has experience handling large and complex disputes on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, including claims relating to breach of contract, termination, personal injury and construction defects. The firm continues to represent the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, including in the preparation and negotiation of critical construction management, design, and trade contracts. It is also representing an affiliate of BP Biofuels North America, advising in matters regarding delivery systems as well as drafting and negotiating contracts pertaining to the engineering, procurement and construction of a biofuels plant. The practice is led from three offices: Robert Crewdon’s practice in Atlanta focuses on both transactional and contentious work for owners, developers and contractors, with a particular emphasis on risk management and claims avoidance; and Anthony Meagher in Baltimore brings ‘great industry knowledge’ to his work in arbitration/litigation and the negotiation of contracts.

The construction practice at Duane Morris LLP draws on a ‘very solid knowledge base’ to provide a full range of legal services: assisting with the design, development, financing, performance and management of major construction and government procurement contracts across the country. The team also represents public and private owners, developers, prime contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, equipment suppliers, architects/engineers, and other design professionals and sureties in ADR and litigation. In 2011, it represented Airis Holdings LLP in negotiating a long-term ground lease to develop and operate a 400,000 sq ft air-cargo terminal at San Francisco International Airport, in subsequent breach of contract action resulting in a unanimous jury verdict against the airport on claims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; the ‘very professional’ Lock Holmes led the advice. Another active client is engineering and construction giant Bechtel; the highly recommended Robert Hendrickons led a case involving telecoms construction delay claims across hundreds of sites nationwide, the litigation following huge telephone systems lease renegotiations and the reissue of planning and building permits and construction in thousands of locations. The practice is led by Robert Prentice in Philadelphia, who has a well-regarded litigation practice and particular expertise in education construction; Albert Bates co-chairs in Pittsburg, and is noted for his litigation and arbitration work, across construction claims, commercial contract matters and other complex and technical environmental and business disputes. George Medved also a highly respected litigator.

The 25-partner construction team at Foley & Lardner LLP is spread across 13 offices nationwide, and has adapted to market difficulties by representing lenders in workouts, foreclosures, and failed projects, as well as representing contractors in a growing number of bid protests. The practice, led by the experienced and well-respected Jeffrey Blease, expanded with the addition of the highly rated Adam Adams III in Jacksonville and the promotion of Kevin Reck to partner in Orlando, and saw the incorporation of new technology which allows the remote access to huge amounts of information for attorneys throughout the world. The firm represented the Sanford International Airport Authority against a contractor which the Airport Authority assessed had destroyed the runway lighting system during construction and was responsible for delayed completion; the client sought to enforce a $5,000 per hour liquidated damages provision, which was awarded along with an additional $1,000 a day in damages, and a total verdict of $850,000.

The construction practice at K&L Gates is well respected as a trial specialist, with significant experience in litigation, arbitration and other forms of ADR, and offers the full range of construction services, from early-stage financing, through development, design, implementation, construction and project closeout. Clients are impressed by its ‘excellent service’ and its ‘industry knowledge, particularly in dispute resolution’. The firm recently served as lead trial counsel for Chicago Bridge & Iron Services, Inc in a false claims case, winning all issues on appeal. It also continued to represent longstanding client Desbuild Inc in both litigation and transactional matters. It is currently assisting MC Dean, Inc. in a large telecoms and IT infrastructure project, as well as representing Securus Technologies, Inc in connection with several bid protest proceedings around the country. Richard Piaciaroni heads the practice from Pittsburg, and is recommended for his ‘breadth of knowledge and cost-sensitive approach’. Jason Richey provides ‘excellent service’, and Timothy Pearce, a ‘leading trial lawyer’ in the Los Angeles office, is rated highly by peers. Josh Leavitt in the Chicago office is ‘really stepping into the limelight’.

Specialist energy firm Schiff Hardin LLP represents architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors and developers, but focuses mainly on owners in matters involving construction on a grand scale. In 2011, the firm took on some high-profile new clients, including Wisconsin and Iowa utility firm Alliant, and the Sam Zell company Equity Residential, which has a presence in 15 states. Kenneth Roberts and Mark Friedlander lead the nationwide practice from the Chicago office. Roberts specializes in construction procurement and risk management in the energy construction industry, across all aspects of construction from the preparation and negotiation of contracts through construction and completion, to mediation, arbitration, dispute review and litigation if necessary. Friedlander’s experience spans project delivery methods and advisory services to form and incorporate new businesses, as well as transaction structuring, the drafting and negotiation of contracts, and the resolution of disputes. Roberts and his team continue to advise Kansas City Power & Light; the group is providing project controls advice and oversight throughout the building phase of a $2bn-plus project intended to meet the future energy, economic, and environmental needs of the Greater Kansas City area. The practice has also been retained to advise and defend GenOn Energy Inc with respect to a $23m delay and inefficiency claim brought by a major utility contractor.

The 50-lawyer construction practice at Seyfarth Shaw expanded in 2011, hiring David Mancini and James Newland, formerly of Howrey LLP. The team is led by Richard McKim Preston, whose ‘overall experience and steadiness’ allow him to ‘provide the highest levels of representation’ in Washington DC, and Chip Ingraham in Atlanta, whose ‘very businesslike approach to solving problems’ is appreciated by clients. The practice, which is ‘expert in design-build’, continues to offer an inception-to-completion service throughout all phases of contentious and non-contentious matters. It has been assisting in the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts for Areas USA, the global airport retail, food and beverage company, as it expands its operations across the country; the project is led by Anna Palmer, who is praised for her ‘excellent representation when negotiating a construction contract’. The practice is also representing the Winter Construction Company in the prosecution and defence of claims against the owner of a mixed-use retail, hotel and office project involving allegations of delay, defective and incomplete design, and defective construction; claims and counterclaims exceed $50m, and are being resolved through a series of three arbitrations. Recommended attorneys include Bennett Greenberg, who is ‘a great lawyer’ and ‘extremely knowledgeable about the construction industry, and provides valuable business and legal advice’; the ‘collaborative and professional’ David Blake; and Steven Kmieciak, who is a ‘particularly skilled negotiator’.

‘All the attorneys demonstrate the utmost professionalism’ at Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP, with 58 construction lawyers working from eight offices nationally. The firm represents clients across the construction industry in litigation and transactional matters, including assisting with risk assessment, project delivery systems and environmental risk. With a ‘broad base of experience and knowledge’, the firm has particular expertise in federal contracts on both infrastructure and power projects. The construction practice expanded with the addition of Ernest Brown, along with two associates, to the office in San Francisco, which, along with an office in Los Angeles, has recently been opened. Robert Chambers leads the practice from the firm’s base in Atlanta, where he works on a range of public and private projects with a specialism in environmental and heavy construction matters. The firm continues to represent Berkman Plaza 2, LLC, as developer of a high-rise condominium in Jacksonville, Florida; following the collapse of a parking garage, which killed one worker and injured 20 more, the firm has represented the owner in multiple ongoing lawsuits worth over $40m. Over that past year the firm has also represented clients throughout the country in construction projects such as large public/private partnership infrastructure projects in California and Florida; federal government projects in Texas, Georgia and Virginia; energy projects in Connecticut and Louisiana; and healthcare projects in Illinois and California. Eric Nelson is a ‘most impressive attorney’; primarily a litigator, arbitrator and mediator, he also has significant non-contentious experience.

Construction boutique Stein Ray LLP’s focus is on the power industry, assisting clients in oil transmission, refining, power generation, and power distribution. It has built up an extremely strong client base in the Midwest and nationally, including Fluor Corp, AECOM, Bovis Lend Lease, Clark Construction, Thornton Tomasetti, Valero, Barclays and Duke Energy. The firm is ‘excellent in all respects’, but particularly strong in contentious work. It is currently acting as co-counsel with respect to a 2,000-mile oil pipeline project that encountered problems arising from delay as well as errors and omissions in design. It is also engaged in high-stakes litigation for a hotel and spa project on behalf of a lender which took possession from a defaulted borrower and became engaged in litigation with the contractors and others. Steven Stein is ‘one of the best in terms of business sense, legal skills, timeliness and value’, and Steven Ray is also highly regarded. Karl Popovski is very well thought of by clients and peers.

Akerman Senterfitt provides counsel on a range of transactional and administrative aspects of the construction process, as well as representing clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation. The firm has advised on many high-profile projects, including power generation facilities, healthcare facilities, sports facilities, mixed-use developments and military housing. Its active client list features names such as Ceco Construction Group, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Peabody Energy, Great Southwestern Construction Company, and the New World Symphony building in Miami. The practice also has a history representing the Architect of the Capitol in Washington DC, responsible to the US Congress for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of 16.5 million sq ft of buildings and more than 450 acres of land throughout the Capitol Complex. The team is led by Jeffrey Gilmore in Vienna, VA, who served as litigation counsel to Consolidated Edison of New York in connection with upgrades to an electrical transmission system serving the Hudson River valley. Qualified engineer Robert Smith in Madison, WI is the immediate past President of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and is internationally respected for his risk identification and dispute prevention expertise. He continues to represent The General Electric Company, providing a full range of contracting-related services for a highly complex, multi-year sediment remediation project. Also recommended are Kimberly Ashby in Orlando, for transactional matters and litigation, and Don Gavin in Vienna, VA, for his extensive experience in power, petrochemicals and government contracting.

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP is experienced in handling transactional aspects of major private and public construction projects, as well as resolving disputes arising from the construction process. With 24 attorneys working from seven offices across California, the practice is adept at advising in relation to the design and construction of public works projects, publicly financed projects, and private development projects. On the contentious side, it provides services relating to bidding, contracting, negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. In 2011, it represented a general contractor with a claim in excess of $35m on a complex laboratory project; this involved more than ten parties and was resolved through multi-day mediation before significant litigation. The practice was also involved in the representation of the developer/owner in connection with the preparation and negotiation of a guaranteed maximum priced construction contract for the construction of the Bressi Village retail centre located in San Diego; the project consists of approximately 12 acres of sitework, with the total contract value over $15m. Specialising in contract review and negotiation, dispute resolution and government contracting, the firm is also committed to providing legal support, strategy and contract negotiations in relation to green and sustainable design and related construction issues. The practice is led by Raymond Buddie in San Francisco and Delmar Nehrenberg in Century City, Los Angeles.

The construction practice at Ballard Spahr LLP works closely with the firm’s real estate and other groups. The construction litigation team is part of a wider litigation practice, while transactional matters are headed by a specific group concentrating on construction contracting and permitting. The practice’s co-chairs are Alan Ritterband, who specialises in complex transactional matters and regularly negotiates design, construction, and design-build agreements on behalf of owners and developers, and Mark DePillis, who focuses on development, secured lending, retail and office leasing, and design and construction contracting. The firm has advised the $150m National Centre for the American Revolution in Philadelphia regarding project delivery systems, risk management issues, as well as negotiating all agreements and contracts. It has also been drafting construction management agreements for the construction of several new buildings at Temple University in Philadelphia worth over $200m.

Based primarily in Florida and the Southeast, Carlton Fields handles all aspects of construction, including pre-bid considerations, contract drafting and letting, construction administration, liens and bonds. The focus, however, is on dispute resolution; it draws on a broad base of experience in assisting on claims through every level of litigation, mediation and arbitration. The firm represents the country’s largest stadium and arena construction company, and is negotiating the construction management contract between the project manager and the project developer for the construction of the $100m-plus spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs. The practice also represented DCR Construction in bringing a claim against a contractor for non-payment of termination damages. Following arbitration, DCR was awarded $6.5m including interest, and is in the process of executing the judgement. The practice is led by Luis Prats from the firm’s Tampa office, which also boasts the talents of George Meyer, who is highly respected by clients and fellow attorneys. Meyer recently represented the construction manager in the negotiation of a highly technical contract with the project owner in the construction of the multimillion-dollar Mayo Clinic Proton Therapy Facility in Phoenix.

With offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco, the full-service construction practice at Cox, Castle & Nicholson provides a wide range of services to contractors, developer, homebuilders, owners, lenders, investors, landlords and tenants. It has significant experience in all phases of project delivery, and draws on integrated insurance and labour expertise to tackle the financially complex construction projects in which it specialises. The practice also works on the routine defence and resolution of mechanic’s lien, stop notice, and bonded stop notice claims on behalf of owners, lenders and non-contracting parties. The practice has been representing a New York-based investor partner which was required to take over and complete a large mixed-use project following the abandonment of the project by a general contractor; complex litigation ensued, involving a multitude of mechanic’s lien, defective workmanship, delay and other claims. The firm is also litigating the responsibility of the developer, lender, bonding companies and others for a $200m-plus shortfall in completion of a resort development. Kenneth Williams is the key contact for transactional issues, while Edward Quigley and senior counsel Robert Campbell are highly respected litigators, in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Faegre Baker Daniels is the product of the merger, in January 2012, between Minnesota’s Faegre & Benson LLP and Indiana-based Baker & Daniels LLP. The firm represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, product suppliers and sureties in a range of sophisticated contract negotiations and complex disputes across the US. Experienced litigator William Joyce leads the practice from Minneapolis, and has represented some of the largest general contractors in the country. Patrick O’Conner is also widely respected within the industry, and has acted for numerous clients in contract negotiations involving heavy industrial and large commercial projects as well as representing sureties in connection with performance and payment bond claims. The practice currently represents the 11 utilities that own the $1.7bn CapX2020 project, which involves the construction of 700 miles of high-voltage power lines from North Dakota and South Dakota across Minnesota and into Wisconsin; as a result, up to 73,000 individual landowners may receive easement payments for hosting power lines.

The 18-attorney construction practice at Farella Braun & Martel LLP is headed by Richard Van Duzer in San Francisco, and represents public and private owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals in transactions and disputes. Its range of experience spans large-scale energy, infrastructure and transportation, healthcare, further education, commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family residential projects. In 2011, the firm continued to work on the Highland Hospital project in Alameda County, CA; following successful transactional work and defence in a bid protest, the well-respected Jeff Sykes was engaged to provide ongoing assistance to the County throughout design and construction. The practice also recently prepared construction contracts for a number of affordable housing projects in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda and Emeryville for Resources for Community Development; Richard Shapiro led the project, and is described as a lawyer who ‘makes a real difference’. Other recommended attorneys are Deborah Ballati, who was elected President of the American College of Construction Lawyers in February 2011, and Charles Sink; both are extremely highly rated by peers.

Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner & Senet has a 25-strong construction practice; John Heuer left, but Phil Zvonicek was promoted to partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. The practice represents public and private owners, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers, and ‘provides excellent service’ at all stages of the construction process. The practice is led by Richard Wittbrodt in Los Angeles. In 2011 it worked to achieve a $52.1m verdict for the City of Victorville, CA, after the design engineer was found liable for professional negligence, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of express warranty, and breach of fiduciary duty in relation to the failed Foxborough Cogeneration Power Plant. It is also lead outside counsel for Layton Construction, a general contractor, and multiple subcontractors which have asserted claims totaling $45m in relation to alleged owner-caused breaches, with the owner counterclaiming for $10m in lost profits. ‘Outstanding lawyers’ Barbara Gadbois and Theodore Senet, who heads the firm’s green building team, are highly recommended, as is Marion Hack.

Greenberg Traurig LLP provides a ‘superior level of service’ to a diverse list of clients, including owners, developers, construction lenders, construction managers, subcontractors, vendors, architects and engineers from the initial conception and project delivery of projects through to their completion; it handles both litigation and transactional matters, with experience in the negotiation of contracts and preparation of bids as well as the resolution of disputes. The practice is headed by the experienced Michael Hornreich, a qualified engineer, in Orlando, and the well-respected Jeffrey Walsh in Phoenix, who has 30 years of experience in construction law and litigation. The firm represented the San Jacinto River Authority in the development and negotiation of a $190m construction manager at risk agreement, as well as the pre-construction, and construction services contract, for the construction of the Surface Water Facilities Water Treatment Plant. James Miller ‘goes the extra mile when delivering services’, and Michael Burnett is also highly recommended; he has attracted significant work to the firm since his arrival from Coats Rose Yale Ryman Lee.

The construction practice at Hanson Bridgett LLP has expanded in the last year, adding nine new attorneys to its office in Sacramento and promoting former counsel Lisa Del Gallo to partner. The team specialises in cutting-edge projects involving integrated project delivery, lean design and construction, and building information modelling. The practice offers the full range of transactional services as well as handling complex litigation for a wide range of owners, contractors and designers. Recent work includes providing all construction legal services for the $6.5bn Sutter Health Program, including contract drafting, counselling and dispute resolution; the program is noted as the first major use of integrated project delivery in the US in projects such as the California Pacific Medical Centre, which has a project value exceeding $1bn. The practice, in association with AECOM, is also developing NASA’s standard specifications for the use of building information modelling on its capital projects, which will be used system-wide at NASA facilities across the US and abroad. The practice is headed by Howard Ashcraft, who is a nationally respected construction lawyer.

The construction team at Holland & Hart LLP provides the full range of construction law services, and can advise on a project from beginning to end, with experience in RFP preparation, procurement, construction and privatisation. It has experience handling a range of transactional matters as well as claims, trials and arbitrations. It acted as lead counsel in a government contracting case involving hundreds of millions of dollars arising from the attempted construction of a state-of-the-art nuclear waste treatment facility at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. It has also been assisting one of North America’s largest gas pipeline companies in the use of a web-based programme to review its design, construction, procurement, service and management operations and contracts; and acted as counsel for an art museum in connection with $30m of claims relating to technical problems arising from the construction of a high-profile extension. The key contact is David Zimmerman in Salt Lake City.

The ‘extremely responsive’ team at Jenner & Block LLP has a major presence in the Chicago construction industry, drawing on expertise in related practice areas such as insurance and government contracts to deliver the full range of contentious and non-contentious services. The firm is experienced in advising clients in relation to contract bidding, drafting and negotiation, performance under contracts, and public and private mechanic’s lien and bonding matters. The firm also handles litigation, mediation and arbitration cases, ranging from substantial payment disputes to cases involving major defects in large commercial and industrial structures. The team is led by the ‘exceptionally talented’ Joseph Bisceglia, who has over 35 years of experience and is ‘very patient in getting to the best possible outcome’. Bisceglia represented Exelon in a complex, wide-ranging $1bn dispute relating to the financing and construction of two power plants in Massachusetts. The team also advised Teng & Associates, the architects of a planned 82-story condominium/hotel tower in Chicago in disputes exceeding $100m.

King & Spalding LLP’s 41-attorney construction practice focuses mainly on the representation of owners/developers, handling the full range of transactions and litigation. The practice is an energy specialist – clients include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Exelon, Inc and Shell Oil Company – and has taken on substantial work in this sector; it is at the forefront of construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. The team is led by Scott Greer in Houston, who is valued for his ‘invaluable advice’ and ‘high level of industry knowledge’. Greer is currently taking the lead in representing Freeport LNG and Cherniere Energy regarding the development and construction of the first LNG export terminals in the continental US; the developments will be at existing import terminals near Freeport, Texas and Sabine Pass, Louisiana. The group is also representing the Atlanta Falcons Football Club, negotiating agreements relating to the construction of a new football stadium. Counsels Angelica Alfaro and Sandra Cofer have a ‘very good understanding of the current market for construction transactions’. On the litigation side, Craig Ledet, a former engineer, has a ‘great knack for combining legal strategy and issues with good common sense’, and Michael Youtt is ‘a great all-round litigation attorney’.

The construction litigation team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents clients involved in projects for commercial buildings, nuclear generating systems, sports stadiums, industrial plants, underground tunnels, airports and residential developments. The firm represented Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in a serious personal injury claim by a worker at Trump Tower, claiming the client was in part responsible for unsafe design; it filed a summary judgement and the plaintiff and other parties stipulated that they would not contest, and the case was dismissed with prejudice. The firm has significant expertise in mass tort cases, and continues to represent Verizon, a building owner defendant in what is believed to be the largest mass tort litigation in the country; the case involves around 1,500 claims brought by workers engaged in the clean-up and repair of buildings damaged in the September 11 attacks, involving hundreds of defendants; the cases have been consolidated in a single docket in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The construction practice is led by experienced litigator James Nowacki, who is highly regarded within the industry. Elizabeth Hess is also recommended.

‘Efficient, coordinated, professional and comprehensive’, Moye, O’Brien, O’Rourke, Pickert & Dillon, LLP maintains impressive geographical range and a high-profile workload from its single office in Maitland, FL. The boutique firm has an enviable client list including Peter Kiewit Sons’Inc., Odebrecht Construction, Inc., PCL, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., Arcadis and MACTEC. It has extensive experience working on large infrastructure projects involving various state Departments of Transportation, as well as local government entities across the country. It is representing the general contractor with regard to phase three of the seismic retrofit of the Golden Gate Bridge; after previously working on phases one and two, the firm regularly advises on ongoing project issues and potential claims. It also acts as general counsel for the managing general contractor for the $1.5bn reconstruction of concourses A, B, C and D, and associated terminal work, at Miami International Airport. The ‘brilliant’ James Moye is highly recommended, as are the ‘thorough and detailed’ Sean Dillon and Stephen Pickert, who is ‘passionate about his work and has diverse experience in the industry’.

In March 2011, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP took on a team of 14 construction attorneys formerly at Howrey LLP. These included practice co-chair John Heisse, held to be one of the best construction lawyers in the country, and David Dekker, ‘one of the premier attorneys in his field’ of construction insurance law. The firm provides ‘first-rate legal services and advice’ to clients including Hunt Construction, Entergy, Stanford University, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Drawing on the strength of the firm’s strong real estate, government contracting and energy groups, the construction team is integrated closely with other practices in the firm, and is gaining both a fine reputation and greater national presence as a result of its expansion. The practice has been providing ongoing advice relating to public procurement, contracting and counselling aspects of major expansion proposals, as well as energy efficiency and renewable generation advice for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. Robert James and Scott Barat are the key contacts for transactional work, while Michael Evans Jaffe is a well-respected litigator.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, government agencies, sureties and lenders in a wide range of transactional and contentious work. The practice regularly drafts and negotiates contracts, advises on California’s mechanic’s lien law, and represent clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation relating to both public and private projects. Clients include Salesforce.com, Inc.; having prepared and negotiated various contracts, it is now advising on issues including wrap-up insurance and bonding matters on new headquarters with an estimated cost of over $600m – working on the matter is associate Meredith Jones-McKeown, who is ‘a very solid construction lawyer with experience beyond her years’. The practice also defended Washington Group International (now the Washington Division of URS Corporation) and its joint venture partner against claims for $25m by the owner, the LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for alleged deficiencies in the design and construction of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Light Railway. Experienced partner Hal Hamersmith has particular expertise in construction procurement disputes, and practice head John Yacovelle is also recommended. ‘Tenacious’ young partner Scott Hennigh is also highly regarded.

The construction practice at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP expanded with the promotion of Lawrence Dany to partner, and the hire of Robert Owen in New York and former judge Kent Sullivan in Houston. The firm is praised for its ‘business acumen, industry knowledge, appropriate advice and value for money’, and provides the full range of construction law services to owners, developers, construction managers, contractors, government owners, design professionals, energy firms, speciality subcontractors and building materials firms. It continues to represent a client in the development of numerous solar photovoltaic projects in New Jersey, Arizona and California, preparing and negotiating the EPC and project procurement and development agreements. It is also assisting the DeKalb County School System on the review of all construction contracts and dispute resolution for its $500m Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) construction programme. The practice is led by the well-respected Jennifer Fletcher, who is an ‘excellent trial lawyer’. Peter Quittmeyer also comes highly recommended.

With 17 full-time construction lawyers located in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, Thompson Hine LLP is also assisted by six full-time design and construction professionals employed by its wholly-owned subsidiary of nationally known construction consultants, Project Management Consultants LLC. The construction practice is recognised for both transactions and advocacy work, and is national counsel for design giants URS Corporation. With a specialism in stadium and arena construction, the firm is providing full legal services for the construction of a retractable roof ballpark for the Florida Marlins baseball team, as well as advising in relation to the design and construction of the new home of the San Francisco 49ers. It is also serving as lead project counsel for the developer of the $400m Amway events centre and future home of the Orlando Magic NBA team. On the contentious side, the firm represented Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co and J-Way Leasing on a $4m unforeseen site condition claim on the $90m Navy pier replacement project located in Norfolk, Virginia; it obtained a $3.6m quantum meruit based judgement following trial in federal court. The practice is led by Jeffrey Appelbaum in Cleveland, a lawyer who commands great respect in the construction market.

Based in Oakland, the ‘top-notch’ Wulfsberg Reese Colvig & Firstman represents public and private entities at all stages of the construction process. The team was retained by a national healthcare provider as it began an ambitious project to build new medical centres and hospitals throughout the country; the size of the project required considerable versatility in dealing with differences of legislation across the various states, and different local authorities – the team developed strategic procurement approaches and took the lead in negotiations for six contracts for large projects with values in excess of $3bn. On the contentious side, a joint venture of EPC contractors has engaged the firm regarding disputes relating to an ongoing coal-fired construction project located in the Southeastern US; potential disputes exist with the project owners and major equipment supplier regarding project completion and performance related issues. The ‘terrific’ H James Wulfsberg is ‘exceptional in pre-trial settlement negotiations, and even better as a trial lawyer’. ‘Careful, rational thinker’ Tim Colvig is also recommended, as is the well-respected Stephen Cali.

With a 22-strong team ‘totally familiar with all phases of engineering and construction’, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is a well-respected boutique firm in the New York area. The firm counsels throughout the planning, design and construction process as well as representing clients in a variety of national forums in dispute resolution and litigation. It also advises on business formation and risk management, and tends to focus on the representation of developers, engineers and architects. Active clients include Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP Goshow Architects Halcrow, and The Dermot Company. Headed by Michael Zetlin, who is praised for his ‘invaluable advice’, and the ‘excellent’ Michael De Chiara, the firm is representing a world-renowned structural engineer in major litigation concerning a high-profile project in New England. It is also handling construction agreements worth hundreds of millions of dollars for a large educational institution, a major airport, and a renowned entertainment venue, as well as acting as lead counsel in multimillion-dollar sick building litigation concerning a project in Boston.

Full-service Austin-based boutique Allensworth & Porter primarily represents clients in litigation and arbitration, but also has expertise in negotiating and drafting contract documents, as well as assisting with lien filings and contract administration. The firm also maintains a small legislative practice working in bill monitoring and the preparation of testimony for legislative hearings. Following the sad death of well-respected co-founder Winston Wade Porter in February 2011, the team is led by founding partner William Allensworth, who has over 35 years’ experience as a litigator and is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers.

In Houston, Andrews Myers, P.C. has a 20-strong construction team, with many of its attorneys offering over two decades of experience in the industry. The full-service firm advises on all aspects of construction law, including construction claims, construction default, construction and design defects, and mechanic’s lien and payment bond claims, as well as handling the full range of contract drafting and negotiations services. Thomas Myers has expertise across transactions, claims and insurance, risk management, surety workouts, and litigation and arbitration work, representing a wide range of clients at all levels of the construction process. William Andrews works mainly the contentious side, bringing decades of experience to projects as diverse as transport infrastructure, industrial and warehouse facilities, hospitals, pipelines, and energy infrastructure.

The core attorneys in Arent Fox LLP’s construction practice have worked together for over 15 years. The group provides a broad range of traditional services to the construction and design industries, including front-end project documentation, litigation and contract administration. The New York-based practice has particular expertise in transactions, construction industry M&A, and green building. The practice’s Early Response Initiative is also worthy of note; it is designed to offer a pre-emptive, multi-disciplinary program to protect clients from market consequences and large losses as a result of manmade or natural disasters. The practice is led by James Frankel, who has 30 years of experience in a wide range of areas including risk transfer, dispute resolution, failure and collapse, and technological issues, and Eugene Scheiman, who specialises in litigation, ADR and business advisory services. The firm continues to represent the City of New York in various proceedings relating to the collapse of 7 World Trade Center on September 11 2001, and has had $1bn in claims dismissed.

The ‘exceptional’ construction practice group at Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. consists of 18 full-time construction attorneys, 16 of them board certified. The practice has traditionally had a reputation for residential construction matters, though it has diversified and become increasingly involved in commercial cases. The group has experience representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, designers and manufacturers in connection with high-rise and other residential developments, condominium conversions of older rental property, mixed-use projects and governmental buildings. It is aggressively pursuing collection of a $4m lien claim on behalf of WG Yates & Sons Construction Co from a tenant which contracted the construction firm then filed an assignment for the benefit of creditors; the case requires a degree of creativity in pursuing payment from an apparently insolvent party. The practice is led by Steven Lessar, who comes recommended as the ‘best of class in his field, as well one of the best attorneys in the state of Florida’. Herbert Brock is a lawyer one ‘would want on one’s side in combat’, and William Strop is also highly recommended.

The team at Texas-based Bracewell & Giuliani LLP represents clients including contractors, engineers, architects, owners and developers in almost all types of real estate litigation. It has experience litigating cases relating to design and construction and water intrusion; claims asserted under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; and claims involving residential property asserted under the Texas Residential Construction Liability Act. It has successfully represented NCI Group, Inc, one of the largest building component manufacturers, in a case against Cannon Storage Systems involving claims that one of NCI’s longstanding metal roofing products was defective; Cannon sought over $5m and after a three-week jury trial, a verdict was returned in favour of NCI. The practice is led by Phillip Sampson, who has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state courts, federal courts and before arbitration panels as well as successfully trying a number of jury and non-jury cases.

Clients praise the ‘always exceptional response times’ and ‘courteous staff’ of Bricker & Eckler LLP, whose team of 13 professionals provides the full range of services on public and private construction projects. The practice focuses on the representation of public owners, heavy highway contractors, healthcare facility owners, and water and wastewater facility owners. It has also been active in education projects, representing an Ohio school district in a bid dispute lawsuit brought by a bidder that the district rejected on responsibility grounds; the case resulted in a decision at the appeal stage that reinforced the ‘abuse of discretion’ standard in bid disputes in Ohio. The practice is led by the well-respected Jack Rosati in Columbus. Christopher McCloskey is recommended by clients as ‘being able to communicate effectively in any situation’ and Sam Wampler and Sylvia Gillis are praised for their ‘willingness to work collaboratively toward an outcome’.

Bryan Cave LLP advises clients from project conception through completion, preparing and negotiating all aspects of design and construction-related contracts on projects covering all asset classes. The firm works particularly with national retailers, and has remained busy in this area despite a depressed market. In 2011, the firm combined with Denver-based Holme Roberts & Owen, adding to its capabilities in the Rocky Mountains area, and opening up a stream of work from the latter firm’s energy clients. The practice is currently assisting a Fortune 500 company with design and construction aspects of its world headquarters campus project, budgeted at over $1bn. The key contact at the firm is Steven Becker, whose practice includes the representation of public and private companies in commercial and industrial construction transactions throughout the US and internationally.

Canterbury Elder Gooch Surratt Shapiro & Stein P.C. advises general contractors, subcontractors, owners, sureties and construction industry trade associations in both transaction and litigation work. Located in Dallas, the firm has particular experience in negotiating and drafting contracts, lien claims, bond claims and bid protests. Founding shareholder Joe Canterbury is nationally respected as a litigator, and David Surrat comes highly recommended for his expertise in dispute resolution, particularly mechanic’s lien matters.

Coats Rose Yale Ryman Lee has a ten-partner construction practice whose ‘advice is always top notch’. In 2011, former co-chair of the practice Michael Burnett left for Greenberg Traurig LLP, but the practice brought in Charles Conrad and continues to be led by well-respected attorney Patrick Gaas, in Houston. The group represents various public and private sector clients in arbitration of disputes, commercial and residential projects, transport and infrastructure work, and projects involving industrial facilities and professional sports venues. It also focuses on the surety industry, providing underwriting and claim advice for a range of different surety products. It recently represented a non-destructive examination contractor in a $600m lawsuit with a pipeline operator over a 31-mile natural gas pipeline in Ohio and Indiana; after a five-week trial, the case was settled favorably in favor of the contractor two days before being submitted to jury. The ‘extremely well versed’ Richard Reed brings ‘a great amount of credibility to any negotiation’.

Cokinos, Bosien & Young provides nationwide coverage on all construction matters from offices in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Providing both transactional and litigation services, it represents clients in a range of industries, working on commercial, industrial, civil, pipeline, offshore, heavy highway and residential projects. Gregory Cokinos, the first Houston attorney to be elected to the American College of Construction Lawyers, is highly regarded in the industry; he has 28 years of litigation experience but also takes on a significant amount of contract negotiation work, as well as acting as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the International Center for Dispute Resolution.

The 20-strong team at Dorsey & Whitney LLP specialises in higher-value construction litigation and insurance cases, with a list of clients that includes URS Construction, Xcel Energy, Enclos Corporation, Kraus Anderson Construction and Deltrak Inc. In 2011 the firm concluded its defence of URS Corporation in approximately 120 separate lawsuits arising out of the 35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in August 2007, one of the most significant cases in the region’s history; the work involved public relations support, navigation of multiple governmental investigations, co-ordination of electronic document presentation and Data Practice Act requests, addressing licensing concerns, and representation in litigation at both district court and appellate level. The practice is led by Stephen Champlin and the ‘first-rate’ Jocelyn Knoll, who is very well thought of by peers.

Minnesota-based Fabyanske Westra Hart Thomson has a specialist construction and real estate focus with national reach. It has worked extensively in both the public and private sectors, with clients including contractors, owners, design professionals, subcontractors, sureties, insurers and lenders. In early 2012, the practice secured a $13.2bn arbitration award on behalf of an ethanol plant in North Dakota for damage incurred as a result of faulty equipment. Marvin Fabyanske, a founding fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, is a key contact. Dean Thomson also has vast experience, having arbitrated in over 25 cases, and mediated in over 50.

With a particular focus on construction, Texas firm Ford, Nassen & Baldwin has a 15-strong practice working from offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin. The ‘great-value’ team has expertise preparing and reviewing contracts for projects such as high-rise commercial office structures, regional shopping centres, industrial facilities, resorts, golf courses and a wide range of government projects. The group is also experienced in dispute resolution and litigation, regularly presenting bid protests and other award-related disputes involving breaches of contract, construction defects, design responsibility controversies, change order disputes, lien claims, claims prosecution and defence, and insurance matters. Recent work for the practice includes successfully pursuing claims arising from an urban transit rail project against the project designer, and negotiating a joint venture for a $150m mechanical subcontract on a major new county hospital. Practice heads Jeffrey Ford, George Baldwin and Jeffrey Chapman have a wealth of experience and are highly recommended. Anthony Whiteley is ‘very responsive’, and Timothy Matheny’s background in federal government has proved valuable to clients.

Frost Brown Todd LLC advises construction managers, general contractors and trade and speciality contractors in both transactions and litigation, and is recommended for its ‘attentiveness, service, and depth of knowledge’. Its client base ranges from smaller entrepreneurial companies to larger national contractors and speciality contractors such as Turner Construction and Baker Concrete Construction. The practice is currently representing the site development contractor in lawsuits against a developer and a sanitation district involving multimillion-dollar claims on a sewer line project. It is also representing four subcontractors with complex combined claims exceeding $16m involving secured interest, real estate and notices of commencement validity, in the largest ($131m) foreclosure case in the history of Hamilton County, Ohio. Scott Gurney leads the practice in Cincinnati, and is ‘very well connected in the construction field’. Also recommended is ‘great negotiator and practical litigator’ John Higgins and Stephen Withee in Columbus, who provides ‘practical business advice in a personal manner’.

Attracting high praise for ‘the quality and level of its service’, McCarter & English, LLP has 11 full-time construction attorneys serving owners, architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, developers, subcontractors and suppliers in matters arising throughout the construction process, from project planning to dispute resolution. In 2011, the Northeast-based practice’s client list grew with the addition of names such as GenConn Middletown LLD, Technion, and the Town of Manchester, CT, joining existing clients such as The Whitehouse Historical Association, OSCO Construction, and Consorcio Gavilan. The practice is led from New York by Mary Jane Augustine, who is highly regarded in construction law circles. She has drafted contracts and settled various disputes relating to the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, the new home of the New Jersey Nets Basketball team. Also recommended is the ‘responsive, thoughtful and knowledgeable’ Brian O’Rourke, who is representing a national big box retail chain in litigation arising from the reconstruction of a Sam’s Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Robert Bernstein is also a key contact.

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP’s construction practice works closely with the firm’s highly rated government contracts group and has expertise in federal and state infrastructure and public works construction, as well as providing services for commercial and private works projects. The practice is led by San Diego based Mark Budwig, who is representing the owner in $30m of defects and delays disputes relating to the $100m construction of the subterranean pump house and turbine generators at the Lake Hodges hydroelectric plant in Southwest California. The team also represented Balfour Beattie LLC when a competitor challenged a $150m military housing contract awarded to the client. Recommended individuals include Peter Ippolito, who is an experienced litigator, mediator and arbitrator; and Lawrence Phillips, also a litigator, with experience in bid protests, subcontractor listing issues, termination issues, Miller Act claims and actions under the California and federal False Claims Acts. The firm merged in March 2012 with Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP, significantly increasing the firm’s presence in California, as well as adding Roger Haerr’s construction team in San Diego.

Porter Hedges LLP has 12 full-time construction attorneys working out of its office in Houston, and ‘provides depth, experience and knowledge that other firms do not offer’. It is a specialist in commercial and industrial construction, and represents contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, construction managers and owners in resolving complex construction transactions and disputes. The practice is led by David Peden, who has experience in insurance, surety, and commercial litigation in addition to his construction work. In 2011 the firm represented Brasfield and Gorrie in a $50m construction defects and delay case involving a new condominium tower in Galveston, Texas; the case is currently on mandamus appeal after the client’s venue victory. Allison Snyder, praised for her ‘years of experience and contacts within the industry’, served as chair of a three-person arbitration panel in a ten-week arbitration hearing involving $78m in claims for multiple construction defects in two condominium towers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kerry McMahon and Nicholas Simms are praised for their ability to ‘anticipate and resolve future issues before problems occur’, and associate Timothy Ross has ‘impressed with his knowledge of construction projects and legal acumen’.

The construction practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP focuses on all aspects of energy and infrastructure matters, with particular expertise in renewable power and especially solar projects. Representing a diverse client base, including owners, utilities, contractors, lenders and investors, the firm also has a niche advising on the construction of transmission lines. It advised Hudson Transmission Partners LLC in the construction and financing of its $850m, 660MW underwater transmission line between New Jersey and Manhattan. The firm also continues to work with key client First Solar, recently providing transactional and financing advice for four major solar photovoltaic projects in California and Arizona, as well as advising on conventional fossil-fuel projects such as the 600MW Harry Allen gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Nevada. The key contacts at the firm are Lance Brasher, who along with Paul Kraske advises on the development, financing and acquisition of energy and infrastructure assets; and Edward Meehan who specialises in disputes concerning power plant and other major construction projects.

The construction practice at Smith Pachter McWhorter handles a wide range of transactional matters and litigation. With particular expertise in the management of complex, multi-party cases and default and convenience terminations on both public and private contracts, the firm also assists with project administration and offers the full range of trial and ADR services; arbitration clients have included Bechtel, the City of Sarasota, Lane Construction, The Norman Rockwell Museum and Foulger-Pratt Construction. A key contact within the group is Val McWhorter, who, with over 30 years’ experience in construction law, has represented scores of contractors in high-profile, complex disputes regarding state, federal and local government contracts, as well as negotiating contracts between private parties.

The ‘highly responsive, extremely client-focused’ attorneys in Vedder Price’s full-service practice place a particular emphasis on litigation. The group represents contractors, subcontractors, design builders, developers, building owners and architects, with particular expertise in the representation and cross-examination of accounting and construction defect experts. The firm successfully defended Edgewater Growth Capital Partners LP and Edgewater Private Equity Fund III LP in a lawsuit arising out of the sale of an environmental remediation firm to Sam Zell’s WRS Holding Company, which claimed for $280m in damages and attorneys’ fees, alleging misrepresentations around the sale. Karen Layng, the head of the practice, is ‘technically without peers’ and praised for her ‘outstanding interpersonal competence’. Danielle Metzel Cassel is well respected for her transactional work. Richard Pearse is also a highly rated figure by peers.

The 18-attorney practice at Venable LLP handles transactional and litigation matters from offices throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. The team is supported by strong groups in other practice areas, including land use, real estate, environment, and particularly insurance. The group is led by Leonard Goodman in Washington DC; with over 20 years experience in transactions and litigation, and LEED accredited, he is able to advise on the unique aspects of sustainable building and to negotiate green provisions into clients’ design and construction contracts. The group continues to serve as primary outside counsel for OTO Development, LLC, the nation’s most active developer of select-service hotel brands; it is assisting with 41 hotel deals (worth $750m) either open, under construction, or in the entitlement process. John Milliken in Virginia is at the forefront of the firm’s PPP work, representing private entitites partnering with the states of Virginia, Florida, Texas and Missouri in highway infrastructure projects.

Texas-based Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has a team of contract law specialists, construction litigators and arbitrators, and transactional attorneys with construction experience. It tends to focus on large energy and public infrastructure projects, as well as complex or unusual public and private building construction. The practice’s clients include Bechtel Corporation, NRG Energy and The Port of Houston Authority. In 2011, it represented Deloitte in purchasing land and negotiating the construction-related contracts for the 750,000 sq ft Data Centre Project, a proposed data centre and staff training facility in Westlake, Texas. The practice is led by Ferguson McNiel in Houston, who has over 30 years of construction litigation behind him and is a highly experienced trial lawyer. Also recommended is young partner Kaam Sahely, a transaction specialist with experience in numerous facets of the energy business, including upstream, pipeline, LNG, refining and chemicals, power generation and transmission projects, and mining and metals transactions.

The ‘very client-focused’ team of trial specialists at Atlanta-based Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial ‘packs star power at very reasonable rates’. The 20-attorney construction practice represents general contractors, EPC contractors, owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties and insurers in all aspects of the construction process, including contract drafting and negotiation. The group represented American Bridge Company in disputes arising from the collapse of the Hoover Dam Bypass Colorado Bridge Project; a $74m claim was defeated, as the group prevailed with a counterclaim worth approximately $6m. A team from the practice’s Nevada office is currently representing the design team in relation to claims and potential legislation arising out of the design and construction of the hotel and casino for the MGM Mirage CityCenter project in Las Vegas. The practice is led by excellent trial attorney’ David Diall, who has experience representing entities across the construction industry. Ross Ginsberg and John Flynn ‘both get excellent results’.

Winston & Strawn LLP has 36 attorneys in its construction practice, working out of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Washington DC. The team is well known for its experience litigating complex claims cases, and in ADR and mediation. It also has expertise in preparing and negotiating contracts, project finance, bid protests and bonding on both public and private contracts. The firm represents a wide range of clients involved in the construction of major capital, infrastructure and energy projects, with the construction team working closely with colleagues in other areas. The practice is led by Peter D’Ambrosio, who concentrates on public and private construction contracts; David Romm, who specialises in construction, engineering, surety and government contract claims; and Jeffrey Rosenstein, who focuses on infrastructure and engineering matters from the firm’s New York office. D’Ambrosio is representing the Smithsonian in a $15m claim against a major contractor involved in an extension to the Museum of American History, and the team is also representing XL Insurance in a $90m subrogation claim against the Department of Defence.

DLA Piper LLP’s land use, development and government relations practice has a national presence, with 17 partners based across six offices coast to coast. The group recently represented The Ratkovich Company in the acquisition of 11 historic buildings in the Playa Vista, including the Spruce Goose hangar, totalling over 575,000 sq ft; this included the review of an environmental impact report, a historic resources treatment plan and a mitigated negative declaration. The team also assisted RedLeaf Properties in the acquisition of 81 acres of land comprising the 1.1 million sq ft Highland Mall shopping center in Austin, Texas, as part of a public-private partnership with Austin Community College. Theodore Novak chairs the group from the Chicago office.

The ‘outstanding’ team at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP handles land use and zoning instructions out of its New York office. The group is ‘strong from top to bottom’, and represents a variety of developers and institutions in transactions involving the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York City Industrial Development Agency, and the Empire State Development Corporation. Stephen Lefkowitz is praised as ‘the best land use attorney in New York City’, and is working alongside Richard Leland and Carol Rosenthal on the redevelopment of Piers 92 and 94 on the Hudson River in New York City, involving a 400,000 sq ft trade show facility for Merchandise Mart Properties. Melanie Meyers is also recommended.

Greenberg Traurig LLP’s ‘superb’ practice is traditionally strong in Florida, and the group’s co-chairs Debbie Orshefsky and Jay Segal based in the Fort Lauderdale and New York offices respectively. Orshefsky is working alongside colleagues from other practice groups within the firm on the Anthem Project, in which a consortium of developers, institutions, and industry professionals are proposing to create a unique veterans urban village on a 7-acre site in the City of Miami’s Medical District; the project is valued at $450m. The firm’s presence is also strong in New York, where it advised Extell Development Company on the Extell Riverside Center: an 8.5-acre, 3.1 million sq ft development on New York West Side. Reggie Bouthillier is highly recommended, for his ‘practical approach, attention to detail, and excellent communication and negotiation skills’.

Holland & Knight LLP has a strong presence across the Mid-Atlantic region, and is praised for its ‘outstanding level of service’ and ‘depth of experience’. Steven Elrod chairs the team from Chicago. Recent work includes advising the governor of the State of Illinois on the development of a third airport in south-suburban Chicago; the airport will be developed as a public-private partnership, between the State of Illinois, a consortium of local governments and an internationally known development partnership, with the initial development estimated at $400m. The team also continues to work on a major mixed-use development for Akridge in Washington DC: the Burnham Place Project, involving up to 3 million sq ft of office, retail, residential, and hotel space. San Francisco partner David Preiss is ‘very detail oriented’ and ‘well versed in the technical, legal and political aspects of this sensitive work’. Joseph Goldstein is also recommended.

‘One of the top land use firms in the city’, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP’s land use group operates out of New York. The land use department is complemented by a condemnation practice, giving the team broad experience in litigation and negotiation. The ‘very well-versed and experienced’ team is acting for Extell Development Company in obtaining development rights and zoning compliance for the International Gem Tower and One57 – a 1,000 ft hotel and residence. Other instructions include acting for South Street Seaport in connection with a proposal to alter and reposition Pier 17 and the development of a new mixed-use development on adjacent waterfront areas. The ‘highly respected’ Paul Selver is co-chair of the department with Michael Sillerman; the ‘resourceful and efficient’ Elise Wagner and of counsel Samuel Lindenbaum are also highly regarded.

In 2011 the land use department at Latham & Watkins LLP became the energy and infrastructure project siting and defense practice group, reflecting the practice’s expertise in these areas across the West Coast. The group handles permitting for major energy and infrastructure projects, including permitting refinery and other manufacturing facilities, university campus planning and approvals, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessment requirements. Christopher Garrett, Lucinda Starrett and Michael Carroll are global co-chairs of the practice. Recent work includes acting for Iberdrola Renewables in all aspects of permitting the Tule Wind Power project: a 200MW wind turbine project located on Indian tribal land, State of California land, and private and federal lands, for which final approval was given in December 2011.

The ‘excellent’ land use and development practice group at Akerman Senterfitt serves as local land use counsel to developers, REITs, institutional investors, and other real estate clients. Cecelia Bonifay chairs the team out of Orlando, and the practice is also represented in New York, Tallahassee and Miami. Bonifay’s recent work includes assisting Landstone in relation to approvals for a mixed-use development on a 4,000-acre parcel in Sumter County, Florida. Neisen Kasdin is recommended for his ‘business acumen and political connections’, and recently represented Miami Design District Associates in the development of a one million sq ft retail district.

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP operates in seven offices across California, handling land use negotiation and litigation. Work highlights included representing Abengoa Solar on a $1.6bn solar energy project in San Bernadino County, including assistance on compliance under NEPA and the Federal Endangered Species Act. The team also acted for Diamond Generating, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, as land use counsel and expert witness in California Energy Commission proceedings regarding the approval of a gas-fired power plant in Alameda County. Michael Durkee, William Devine and Sonia Ransom lead the group.

Chaired by Tina Makoulian in Philadelphia, Ballard Spahr LLP’s ‘outstanding’ practice represents, among others, developers, healthcare and education institutions, and pharmaceuticals companies. The team is praised for its ‘responsiveness, acumen, depth and professional approach’. In 2011 it acted for JG Petrucci in obtaining all land-use entitlements on approximately 135 acres in Philadelphia, requiring multiple municipal, state and federal approvals. Another highlight was representing the master developer of Baltimore’s UMB BioPark; the development will include 1.8 million sq ft of laboratory and office space, and is valued at $1bn in ultimate development potential.

Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP maintains a strong presence in Florida, with its sole office situated in Miami. The group is serving as counsel to Wexford Miami in the development of the University of Miami Life Science and Technology Park, a $105m project involving approximately 170,000 sq ft of offices and laboratories and an 80,000 sq ft university tissue bank. Another client is real estate developer Bridgeport Landing, which the team is representing in a 2.8 million sq ft mixed-use marina redevelopment on a 52-acre peninsula in Connecticut.

Bryan Cave LLP advises clients on obtaining a variety of municipal and state approvals related to zoning, construction, building codes, and historic preservation, as well as land use litigation. The team, which is led by Robert Davis in New York, recently acted for new client New York University in obtaining approvals for the development of the ‘Plan 2031’ project, a long-term expansion of the university’s core campus in Manhattan. The group also obtained approval for The Rockefeller Group and TDC Development’s joint venture project in Queens, New York, a 1.1 million sq ft mixed-use, five-building complex.

Carlton Fields has six offices across Florida, with the core of the land use team based in Tallahassee and Tampa. The group has particular experience in Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs), comprehensive plans and plan amendments, and land use litigation. Recent work includes acting for the Villages of Lake Sumter in relation to land use and infrastructure approvals for the largest single-site residential real estate development in the US; the site spans over 26,000 acres in three adjoining counties in Florida. Nancy Linnan is highly regarded by peers.

Based in San Francisco, Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass is a mid-size firm with regional strength across California. Highlights included representing the San Francisco 49ers in relation to the proposed development of a new 68,000-seat National Football League (NFL) stadium in the City of Santa Clara, valued at $900m. The team also represents a variety of medical institutions; in 2011 this included advising California Pacific Medical Center on its $2.5bn five-campus rebuilding project; in 2011 the environmental review process was completed. Pamela Duffy is the name to note.

With 25 lawyers across California, Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s practice has particular expertise in energy and natural resources, and is praised for its ‘fantastic’ response time and ‘excellent’ advice. The team acted for Terra Gen Power in obtaining land use and environmental permits for the 1,500MW Alta Wind Energy Center in Kern County, California; and for the California Wind Energy Association in the negotiation of a conservation and renewable energy land plan covering over 23 million acres in southern California’s desert regions. Clark Morrison and Anne Mudge are recommended as ‘foremost experts’ in the area.

Based in Phoenix, boutique land use and zoning firm Earl, Curley & Lagarde, PC has experience across a range of residential, commercial, industrial, office, retail and institutional projects, as well as master-planned communities. Founding partners Stephen Earl, Michael Curley and Lynne Lagarde each have more than 25 years of experience in the area, and have built strong relationships with municipal and county staff and officials throughout Arizona. Clients have included Four Seasons, Costco and American Express.

Fowler White Boggs P.A. is praised as ‘the best in Florida’, with practice head Linda Shelley recommended as providing ‘responsive, imaginative, and appropriate advice’, with ‘depth and breadth of perspective and experience’. Recent work includes defending Miami Corporation’s comprehensive plan amendment for a 47,000-acre mixed-use project against a challenge by a state agency and third party. The firm also acted for Butler Enterprises in a local comprehensive plan and zoning approval for a 1.5 million sq ft expansion of Butler Plaza shopping center. New clients include Venecredit Securities and ARX Holding.

Goodwin Procter LLP acts as counsel to developers, investors, non-profit organizations and lenders, and is praised for its ‘outstanding’ service and ‘impeccable’ advice. Martin Healy chairs the real estate development and permitting practice out of Boston. Recent work includes acting for Massachusetts Port Authority on multiple projects, including the expansion of the Conley terminal in south Boston. The team also continues to represent Federal Realty on all aspects of a 5 million sq ft mixed-use development, the largest commercial real estate project in Massachusetts.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP offers land use services from three main locations, in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County, and the team is praised for its ‘excellent service, stemming from a deep bench of talented lawyers’. In 2011 it represented the city market of Los Angeles in entitling nearly 2 million sq ft in downtown Los Angeles for a mixed-use project including over 1,000 residential units and 250,000 sq ft of retail space: one of the largest projects proposed for downtown Los Angeles.

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP operates out of Los Angeles and Atlanta, and has experience handling entitlements for major landmark developments, master-planned communities and mixed-use historic and redevelopment projects. Recently the team has worked on an amendment re-zoning the specific plan for the Boulevards development at South Bay: a public-private partnership involving $120m of public funding to create 2 million sq ft of commercial space and 1,550 residential units. Other clients include The Monarch Group and Westfield.

Perkins Coie LLP’s land use practice was significantly strengthened in 2011 with the arrival of five attorneys in the San Francisco office from Bingham McCutchen LLP. The team recently represented Stanford University, Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in their successful effort to obtain environmental and land use approvals for the development of 2.5 million sq ft of hospital, clinic, and research facilities; the environmental review and permitting process for the $5bn project, which took almost four years, included nearly 100 public hearings.

The team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has significant experience in areas such as coastal and waterfront development, urban redevelopment, mixed-use projects, timber and mining, and provides an ‘excellent’ level of service with strength throughout California. Notable highlights included representing Salesforce in the development of 14 acres in Mission Bay, San Francisco, for a 2 million sq ft corporate headquarters: the project represents the largest private land acquisition in recent San Francisco history. Other clients include Wal-Mart and KSL Resorts.

Based in Chicago, the land use practice at Vedder Price assists developers and investors in obtaining land use entitlements and financial assistance, including governmental financial incentives, for the expansion, relocation and redevelopment of properties. 2011 saw the team represent Target in three large projects, including obtaining development approvals enabling the client and the Chicago Housing Authority to complete a land exchange; this involved a former public housing development, and required re-zoning the site for a 3.6-acre store development. Other clients include Bridgeview Bank and the University of Chicago. Danielle Meltzer Cassel is ‘most responsive and very knowledgeable’.

Boutique firm Bercow Radell & Fernandez PA is based in Miami, with a strong presence in the south Florida market. The team assisted Homestead Miami Speedway in relation to the addition of 12,000 seats and 120 acres of land, which required approvals for a comprehensive plan amendment, a Development of Regional Impact order and an application to extend the county’s urban development boundary. Jeffrey Bercow is highly recommended.

Cooley LLP undertakes land use and zoning work throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. The firm in 2011 handled a variety of work relating to the Dulles corridor rail extension project, representing clients at each of the 11 stations along the line, including Capital One and MITRE. The team produces ‘consistent and successful results’, and Antonio Calabrese is ‘adept at and creative in finding real-world solutions to complex matters’.

Farella Braun & Martel LLP has regional strength in northern California, chaired by Steven Vettel in San Francisco. The ten-strong team undertook work for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in an expansion of approximately 235,000 sq ft; this required various permit and re-zoning approvals, alongside an environmental impact report; initial approvals were received in November 2011.

Led by Michael Phalen, Fennemore Craig handles land use instructions from its Phoenix office. In 2011 the team undertook a review of zoning entitlements for a 7,000-acre master-planned community in Buckeye, Arizona, while other highlights included representing a local energy services provider in amendments of special use permits for a gas-fired power station and a nuclear power station.

With offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Gibson Dunn has a strong presence across California. The firm recently completed the entitlement process for a former naval station for developer Treasure Island Community Development; and advised the America’s Cup Event Authority on CEQA matters and the land use entitlement process.

Gunster Law Firm handles land use entitlements, permitting and litigation, as well as environmental services such as advising on air quality and emissions issues. Recent work includes assisting Midbrook 1st Realty with strategies and approval for a DRI in Martin County, Florida, consisting of an approximately 3.9 million sq ft research and development park.

The ‘outstanding’ Herrick, Feinstein LLP is a full-service firm based in New York. The land use team, led by Mitchell Korbey, represented Community Preservation in the redevelopment of the Domino Sugar complex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn into a 220,000 sq ft mixed-use community. Other clients include Heritage Realty, Mercedes-Benz and Toll Brothers.

Hopping Green & Sams PA is a boutique Tallahassee-based firm with experience representing private landowners and developers as well as local governments, regional planning councils and other public entities. In 2011 the firm secured a final air construction permit for Rentech, for its proposed 55MW biomass power plant in Port St Joe, Florida.

‘Top-notch’ firm Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. has particular experience in DRI work and comprehensive plan amendments. The firm represented Pineloch Management in a 2,000-plus acre DRI in Osceola County, Florida, a project approved in January 2011. Other clients include RaceTrac Petroleum, which the firm assisted with amendments, re-zonings and development agreements. The team is praised as ‘knowledgeable, professional and responsive’.

Morrison & Foerster LLP strengthened its land use practice with the hire of Dian Grueneich and Theresa Cho in March 2011 as partner and of counsel, respectively. Work highlights included the entitlement and development of the proposed 3.1 million sq ft Apple Campus 2 in Cupertino. The firm also represented EnXco on environmental and land use aspects of a wind and solar development, including compliance with NEPA and the CEQA.

The ‘highly knowledgeable’ team at Paul Hastings LLP advises on both development entitlement and litigation, as well as providing environmental services. Jeffrey Haber is ‘intelligent and thorough, and has built the contacts necessary to be successful’. The group recently advised Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in obtaining approvals relating to the construction of a 400,000 sq ft outpatient and research building.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP offers a wide range of land use services including major re-zonings, special permits, subdivisions, and historic preservation approvals. The team recently represented Chevron Products in permitting major new replacement units at Chevron Richmond Refinery, including an environmental impact report. Ronald Van Buskirk is recommended.

John Milliken leads the team at Venable LLP in Tyson’s Corner, whose service levels are ‘excellent’. It continues to represent Vornado/Charles E Smith, in 2011 gaining approvals for the redevelopment of Crystal City, a 25 million sq ft mixed-use development. Milliken is noted for his ‘depth of experience, professional background, and exceptional knowledge of local issues’.

Withey Morris PLC is a boutique firm based in Phoenix, which specializes in land use entitlements and zoning and has experience in matters such as general plan amendments, re-zoning, use permits and variances, site plans and public and private development agreements. The firm has represented such clients as Exxon Mobil, SunCor Development and Lowe Enterprises.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP’s 12-partner team attracts ‘superb’ work, and continues to provide ‘exemplary service’. It has a particularly strong presence in the New York market, but is also active in Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia. The real estate practice has ‘fantastic coverage’, combining complex financing, acquisitions and dispositions, iconic development and landmark leasing. The group is chaired by the ‘impressive’ and ‘extremely smart’ Jonathan Mechanic, who is counsel to Condé Nast in its ongoing negotiation of a one million sq ft lease at One World Trade Center. He is also representing SL Green in its joint investment with Stonehenge to acquire eight retail and multi-family properties on Fifth Avenue, and continues to act for a private equity investment consortium in its $3.9bn financing for the acquisition of the Extended Stay Hotels business and assets. Mechanic and the ‘devoted’ and ‘very knowledgeable’ Robert Sorin represented the Moinian Group in connection with a joint venture to recapitalize a 1.1 million sq ft Class A waterfront office tower in downtown Manhattan. Sorin’s portfolio of high-profile clients includes Goldman Sachs, Macklowe Properties and Google. Joshua Mermelstein and Meyer Last represented Brookfield in a host of construction, conversion and leasing projects at the World Financial Center. Ross Silver has been particularly active in the hospitality space, and recently represented Highgate Hotels in the sale of the Radisson Lexington Hotel. Operating from Washington DC, which remains one of the top investment markets in the US, Franz Rassman assisted Tishman Speyer with a range of large-scale commercial leases. He and Mechanic recently advised the company on its agreement with Nike for the development of a new 600,000 sq ft headquarters in Shanghai. Stephen Lefkowitz and Melanie Meyers are active in the firm’s specialist land use and zoning practice. Fiona Kelly joined the practice in September 2011, with extensive experience in sophisticated cross-border transactions.

After a spell in the firm’s London office, Philip Feder returned to Los Angeles in 2011 to chair Paul Hastings LLP’s ‘great and knowledgeable’ department. The practice can draw on an international network of 38 partners and 83 other legal staff to provide an ‘outstanding’ level of service with ‘impressive subject-matter expertise and rapid response times’. The team stands out for its capacity to attract the largest and best-known developers, financial institutions, opportunity funds and other real estate players, and participates across a wide spectrum of real estate transactions. Feder and Robert Keane advised TPG Capital on the completion of a $505m transaction in which the private investment firm acquired a portfolio of Catellus properties from distribution facility owner ProLogis. Bruce DePaola was instructed by The Related Companies on the acquisition, consolidation and recapitalization of a $1bn asset portfolio through significant equity investments by International Market Center. ‘Superstar’ Peter Olsen was instructed by major real estate developers on various multimillion-dollar purchase and recapitalization deals in New York City, and the ‘fantastic’ Eric Landau and Eric Allendorf assisted longstanding client Morgan Stanley with the origination of a $102m financing for private equity firm Savanna. Another highlight saw Rick Kirkbride, chair of the resort, restaurant and recreation practice group, engaged by Starwood Capital in respect of its bid for the $1.2bn Innkeepers hotel portfolio. In another matter, Keane assisted Infinity World Development Corp, the Dubai-based holding company of Dubai World, on its acquisition of a 50% stake in CityCenter Holdings, a deal worth $2bn. Also recommended are ‘superb lawyers’ Stephen Berkman and Michael Kovaleski; the ‘responsive, decisive, and timely’ David Phelps; and ‘great’ of counsel Martin Edelman. Other clients include Oaktree Capital Management, Groupe du Louvre, Nobu and City of Atlanta.

The team at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP focuses on high-profile real estate finance, and represents large private equity firms and financial institutions on transactions notable not only for their size but also for the level of expertise required for their completion. Based in New York City, the four-partner team is led by Gregory Ressa, and handles national and international deals. One client is Blackstone, which instructed the team in relation to the largest real estate deal since the financial crisis: the acquisition of the US assets and platform of Australian Centro Properties Group and its managed funds for $9.4bn. Affiliates of Blackstone also instructed the practice in relation to, among other deals, the acquisition of a large portfolio of Merrill Lynch’s real estate interests in the US, Latin America and Europe; a new mortgage and mezzanine financing in respect of 22 office buildings mainly located in California, with a value of $1.33bn; and the $230m sale of Channel 1 shopping mall in Shanghai to a Hong Kong-based conglomerate. In other significant matters, the group assisted Boca Resorts, owner of six hotels in Florida, with the restructuring of the existing mortgage and mezzanine debt of its affiliates; Northwood Investors with the $400m acquisition of a hotel in Manhattan and the purchase of Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Florida; and affiliates of The Carlyle Group in connection with a partner buyout and the recapitalization of 650 Madison Avenue in New York City. The team also handled some notable joint venture deals, such as a matter for Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund aimed at the acquisition, financing and redevelopment of a building in Manhattan: a project valued at more than $300m. The team also includes the ‘excellent’ Sasan Mehrara, Scott Kobak and newly promoted partner Erik Quarfordt.

Harvey Uris is the newly appointed global head of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s real estate department, to which ‘all the superlatives apply’. With 17 partners spread across the firm’s offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Hong Kong, the ‘superb’ team excels at multi-disciplinary and cross-border transactions. Its ‘top-notch’ practitioners are valued for their ‘consistently sound advice’, and deploy ‘unsurpassed experience’ in all areas of real estate. The team recently handled the $9.4bn property sale for Centro Properties Group to Blackstone, a transaction that drew on the firm’s resources in real estate, tax, bankruptcy and corporate departments. In another highlight, Neil Rock, who heads the New York real estate group, represented a consortium of private investment companies including TPG Capital in its bid for Anglo Irish Bank’s debt portfolio, involving $5bn of distressed loans. Rock also played a key role in a transaction led by Uris, whereby ongoing client SL Green combined, with Vornado Realty Trust, its interest in two office towers located at 280 Park Avenue into a 50/50 joint venture holding $400m in debt. The firm is also noted for its work in the healthcare sector – the ‘extremely knowledgeable, highly sophisticated’ Meryl Chae recently represented Nationwide Health Properties in its $7.4bn acquisition by Ventas, resulting in the creation of the largest healthcare-focused REIT in the country; the ‘bright, aggressive, very diligent’ Evan Levy led a team representing HCP in its $6.1bn acquisition of the real estate assets of healthcare facilities provider HCR Manor Care; and the team also advised Genesis HealthCare Corporation in a $2.4bn deal to sell its assets to Health Care REIT. Benjamin Needell – praised for his ‘legal and industry knowledge, practicality’ and ‘business acumen’ – assisted Larry Liverstein in the $2.6bn Liberty Bond financing of Towers 3 and 4 at the World Trade Centre site; the ‘very bright’ Allan Mutchnik was instructed by Mexican bank Banco Inbursa on the foreclosure of the property at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, together with the subsequent sale of the property; and Martha Feltenstein acted for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the proposed $10bn ARC Project for the construction of two new railroad tunnels from New Jersey to Manhattan. Nancy Olson, who heads the practice in Chicago, is also recommended.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s practice delivers an ‘outstanding’ level of service and ‘superior results’. With ten New York-based partners and two more in Asia, the team’s ‘business acumen, industry knowledge, insights and advice are all first class’. The multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled practice was behind numerous recent high-profile debt restructuring deals, M&A transactions and distressed debt purchases. Highlights included advising in relation to SL Green Realty Corp and Vornado Realty Trust’s acquisition of 280 Park Avenue in New York City and related $1.5bn recapitalization, with Arthur Adler leading. The team also handled financial restructurings involving various other properties in New York, among them the ‘Lipstick Building’ at 885 Third Avenue for Goldman Sachs, the 1.5 million sq ft office tower at 666 Fifth Avenue for Vornado Realty Trust, and One Park Avenue for Vornado Capital Partners. Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds instructed Anthony Colletta on the recapitalization of its Tharaldson and CNL portfolio companies, which own hotels nationwide valued at $1.6bn. On the M&A side, Joseph Shenker and Ivan Deutsch assisted the Heyman Family in its $3.2bn sale of International Specialty Products to Ashland. The ‘unparalleled’ Shenker – who heads the practice and attracts very high praise from peers as well as clients – also teamed up with Benjamin Weber to advise Lazard Alternative Investments on the sale by merger of a portfolio of senior housing facilities located in 27 states to leading healthcare REIT Ventas for approximately $3.1bn. Colletta and Weber acted for CIM Group, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment company, in its bailout of the Sapir family by acquiring three of its fully or partially-owned buildings in Manhattan. Robert Downes advised Goldman Sachs in its block-trade purchase of $112m worth of shares of Taubman Centers’ common stock, where it acted as sole underwriter in the Michigan-based REIT’s registered public offering. Andrew Dietderich, William Farrar, Gary Israel and Robert Schlein are the other partners in the group.

DLA Piper LLP’s team has excellent geographic coverage, with 175 real estate lawyers operating from 13 US offices. Esteemed Washington DC-based practice chair Jay Epstien leads the full-service real estate group, which is very experienced in hotel, office and multi-family transactions. Jeffrey Keitelman, who splits his time between Washington DC and New York, continues to head a team of nearly 60 lawyers in the ongoing representation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in all real estate aspects of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, the team recently advising on the lease of one million sq ft in One World Trade Center to Condé Nast. In another highlight, a 57-lawyer, cross-practice team assisted Blackstone affiliate BRE Retail Holdings in the $9.4bn acquisition of 585 shopping centres from Centro Properties. Fred Klein in Washington DC led the advice to Tishman Speyer in relation to an injection of $700m in new equity to recapitalize its office building portfolio. ‘Risen star’ Michael Hamilton in Los Angeles recently led a team assisting Macerich in a swap transaction involving the purchase of property interests previously held by General Growth Properties. The Bank of China and Normandy Real Estate Partners are other major clients. James Beard and Peter Ross, in Chicago, are notable individuals.

With offices in California, Texas, New York and Washington DC, Gibson Dunn is involved in work across the US, and has a notable presence in the Hawaiian market. A diverse practice, it represents an even mix of investors, lenders and operators. Jesse Sharf in Century City and Fred Pillon in San Francisco are the highly regarded co-chairs of the 27-partner practice, which has recently completed major recapitalization and restructuring work and has also seen a substantial increase in new investment and development deals. Sharf acted for Paulson & Co in its acquisition of an interest in Extended Stay Hotels, worth more than $3.9bn; and advised Westbrook on the debt and equity recapitalization of the Independence Plaza apartment complex in New York at a value of over $500m. Sharf also represented Rockpoint in numerous transactions, including the acquisition of interests in major office buildings at both 299 Park Avenue and Park Avenue Plaza. Andrew Lance in New York represented the Alexandria Real Estate Equities REIT in the lease of the Alexandria Life Science Center in Manhattan. Dune Capital, Wells Fargo and Woodridge Capital are among other prominent clients. New York’s Eric Feuerstein is experienced in acting for high-profile lenders, while Deborah Cussen in San Francisco has significant restructuring and joint venture expertise.

Greenberg Traurig LLP has expanded to 30 offices across the US, and its real estate practice operates on a truly national basis. Its areas of focus include joint ventures, real estate finance, capital investments, leasing, development and planning, and it has seen a recent increase in private equity and REIT work. More than 200 lawyers make up the real estate team, which is ‘ extremely efficient, with the highest level of industry knowledge’; its ‘above excellent’ service is delivered with ‘a level of trust and honesty that is refreshing’. The highly acclaimed Robert Ivanhoe co-chairs the global real estate practice from New York, along with Corey Light, who is based in Chicago. Ivanhoe represented Glenwood Management in the acquisition of a large plot of vacant land in Manhattan and the subsequent $260m construction financing to develop a mixed-use tower block of more than 400,000 sq ft. Gary Kleinman of the New York office acted for Invesco Realty Advisors and Square Mile Capital in the acquisition of an $880m loan portfolio backed by 32 properties in 15 states from Bank of America; and also advised Square Mile Capital on a joint venture with Blackstone Group in the bid to acquire a $385m loan portfolio secured by limited service hotels throughout the US. Stephen Rabinowitz was instructed by Denihan Hospitality Group in the recapitalization of its New York City assets, a deal valued at $910m. The ‘phenomenal’ Michael Sullivan and his team in the Orlando office are ‘absolutely unsurpassed’. Richard Giusto in Miami and Milos Markovic in Chicago are highly recommended.

In the summer of 2011, Kirkland & Ellis LLP hired ten seasoned real estate partners into its New York and Chicago offices, bringing the total number of partners to 19. The appointees include Daniel Perlman in Chicago, a former vice chair of the global real estate practice at Paul Hastings LLP, and Scott Berger in New York, a former practice head at White & Case LLP. The ‘very responsive and highly qualified’ team is heavily involved in restructuring assets, portfolio management and investments in a distressed market, and has recently experienced an increase in work for sovereign wealth funds. Veteran partners Stephen Tomlinson and the ‘very business-minded and practical’ Jennifer Morgan in the New York office have been representing Anglo Irish Bank Corporation in the sale of its 250-loan portfolio secured by various property types, with an approximate value of $10bn. Morgan and Tomlinson also represented Archstone on its $5.4bn debt-to-equity conversion, and continue to act for it on an $8.3bn debt modification. The firm has consolidated its longstanding relationship with Starwood since the arrival of Berger, Jonathan Schechter and Andrew Shiner, advising on acquisitions, joint ventures, distressed investments and fund offerings. Partners in the Chicago office are assisting General Growth Properties in its joint venture partnership with the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.

Steven Simkin chairs the five-partner real estate department at New York-based Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Its extensive experience in all areas of real estate attracts a diverse clientele, and the team is noted for its ability to navigate the multiple interests involved in complex multi-party deals. It recently assisted Oaktree Capital Management in the creation of International Market Centers, a transaction involving a consortium of investors and an investment of $1bn to unite showroom assets in High Point, North Carolina, and Las Vegas. Exemplifying the practice’s strength in the hospitality sector, Mitchell Berg was instructed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts on its $305m acquisition by Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels, the largest hotel group in China. The team also handles transactions abroad. It continued its work for Millicom International Cellular; having previously advised it on the sale of its portfolio of communication towers in Africa in 2010, it advised the client on its first tower deal in Latin America, with the company and its Colombian subsidiary Colombia Móvil selling approximately 2,100 telecommunication towers for $182m to a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation; Berg and Bruce Gutenplan led the advice. Simkin, Meredith Kane and Peter Fisch continued the firm’s representation of SL Green Realty in the recapitalization of its office building at 1775 Broadway. Harris Freidus handled the restructuring of over $1.3bn debt for Hard Rock Hotel. Other recent highlights for the firm include representing Time Warner, one of New York City’s largest commercial tenants, in the relocation of its four million sq ft office space; and Memorial Sloane Kettering and City University of New York in a multi-party transaction involving the construction of an 800,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility on East 73 street.

Chris Smith heads a ‘strong’ practice at Shearman & Sterling LLP, noted for its ‘excellent overall service level, response times and knowledge of industry standards’. A relatively small team, comprised of five partners and 23 assistants based in New York, London and Paris, it handles both equity and finance work of notable quality and complexity. Smith, a ‘very strong transactional lawyer’, teamed up with Lisa Brill to assist 601 West Associates on its $1bn sale of the 2.2 million sq ft Starrett-Lehigh building in New York City. The duo also represented China State Construction and Engineering Corp in its $150m investment and joint venture in connection with a $3.4bn development project in Bahamas. The ‘very knowledgeable and cost-effective’ Malcolm Montgomery, who ‘provides strong legal counsel together with a prudent business sense’, was instructed by Citibank on a £3.2bn bridge loan in connection with the acquisition of Capital Shopping Centres plc by Simon Property Group. ‘Practical’ deputy group head John Opar, who ‘facilitates making deals happen’, is assisting O’Connor and Wafra Retail Fund as co-sponsors in the formation of a private equity fund which will aim to invest in retail and mixed-use properties; and, with counsel Peter Strauss, is also advising Trinity Real Estate in connection with a 99-year ground lease of a development site at 330 Hudson Street in Manhattan. The team is also noted for its experience in shari’ah-compliant transactions. London-based counsel Paul Balaam, who is qualified in the US, Australia and the UK, is regarded as a ‘solid player’.

The New York-based real estate M&A group at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz focuses largely on REITs, restructurings, joint ventures and private equity, particularly in the hospitality and gaming sectors. It is distinct from the other ranked firms in that its practice is focused exclusively on real estate M&A and complex financing structures, although it demonstrates true depth and expertise in this narrower field. Robin Panovka assisted Chatham Lodging Trust in its successful bid, partly in joint venture, to acquire 69 hotels for $1.3bn in the Innkeepers USA Trust’s bankruptcy auction; and Panovka in the $3.1bn acquisition of Atria’s senior housing portfolio. Stephen Gellman acts as counsel to Silverstein Properties in the ongoing redevelopment of the World Trade Center. Other work for the team included assisting Morgans Hotel Group in the $1.3bn debt restructuring for the Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel; and Penn National Gaming in its purchase of the M Resorts in Las Vegas, accomplished through its acquisition of $900m of secured debt. Morgan Stanley recently instructed the group on the sale of the Revel Hotel and Casino project in Atlantic City, while other clients include Simon Property Group, Tishman Speyer and Centerbridge.

Based in New York, Miami, Dallas and Washington DC, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s practice has a strong presence on the East Coast. Its 30 lawyers advise on a wide array of finance transactions, from complex restructurings to high-value portfolio sales and acquisitions. Co-head of the practice Philip Rosen handled the sale of the leasehold interest in Xanadu, an unfinished $2bn shopping and retail project in New Jersey for a group of lending institutions; and was also instructed by Centro Retail Trust on the largest leveraged buyout of the last few years, in the form of Centro Property Group’s capital restructuring, with Blackstone Group acquiring Centro’s portfolio of 588 US shopping centres and other business assets. In another matter, Beatriz Azcuy-Diaz advised various trustees on the restructuring of a $2.7bn loan, which Beacon Capital took out in 2007 to acquire a portfolio of office buildings; the loan to finance the purchase was so large – one of the largest commercial real estate loans ever securitized – that it had to be spread over seven CMBS portfolios. The team also acted for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the expansion and upgrade of the Port Newark Container Terminal and in its acquisition of the 100-acre Global Marine Terminal Facility owned by Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Other clients include Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners, Credit Suisse, General Electric and Citi. The highly regarded Michael Bond is the other head of the practice.

Arent Fox LLP impresses with its ‘amazing’ industry knowledge and ‘ability to quickly and efficiently handle an extremely complicated transaction’. Keith Styles and Kimberly Wachen co-chair the 40-partner practice, divided between Washington DC and New York. Mark Katz in Washington DC chairs the firm, and handles joint ventures, transactional work and finance matters for Goldman Sachs and Marathon Asset Management. The firm’s longstanding relationship with Marriott International is indicative of its leisure and hospitality expertise; Wachen and Joseph Fries advised on the recent development and financing of Marriott’s largest worldwide resort in Florida, as well as other resorts across the US and the West Indies. David Dubrow, in New York, continues to lead a team representing Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored Federal National Mortgage Association, in the Obama administration’s $25bn housing stabilization project. He also recently represented the client in the refinancing and restructuring of over $1bn of loans relating to senior living facilities. Jacqueline Weiss co-heads the leasing practice from the New York office; she is ‘smart and deal savvy, and understands her clients’.

The real estate practice at Bingham McCutchen LLP represents financial institutions, life companies and institutional real estate investors – including higher education institutions – as well as developers, energy companies and corporations. Its 24 partners are distributed across the firm’s offices in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Washington DC. New York-based co-chair Richard Fries led the advice to Lehmann Brothers (now known as Silverpeak) in the ongoing restructuring of more than $2bn of distressed development projects, mezzanine loans and joint venture interests, including the repositioning of the Riverhouse residential apartment complex in New York City. He also represented M&T Bank in the workout of a first mortgage loan on a vacant 800,000 sq ft property in lower Manhattan known as the Verizon Building, with assistance from Todd Marcus and Scott Stern. Boston-based Richard Toelke and Barry Rosenthal and Erica Weiss in Washington DC acted in commercial and multi-family acquisitions and joint ventures throughout the country for clients such as CB Richard Ellis, the Berkshire Group, JBG Companies and TA Associates Realty. Co-chair Kenneth Lore and Jeffrey Scharff, also in Washington, represented Gotham Organisation in the closing of a $520m bond financing for the construction of a 1,238-unit residential complex that will occupy almost an entire block in Manhattan.

The commercial real estate team at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, made up of eight attorneys across the New York, Charlotte and Washington DC Offices, places a heavy emphasis on corporate finance, syndicated loans, capital markets and bankruptcy, and ‘has been at the forefront of the development of innovative structures in this area’. Securitized lending is a mainstay of the ‘top-notch’ practice, with capital markets accounting for a smaller proportion of its workload than in previous years. Practice head William McInerney led the advice to JPMorgan Chase in the $800m refinancing of a portfolio of 13 hotels. The ‘extremely seasoned and knowledgeable’ Steven Herman represented HSBC in relation to the complex syndicated financing of the Empire State Building, and acted for Morgan Stanley in the $250m financing of the acquisition of One Park Avenue. Fredric Altschuler, who is widely respected by peers, acted for UBS in the origination of a mortgage loan secured by Providence Place Mall in Rhode Island and in two mezzanine loans totalling $380m. James Hassan advised Morgan Stanley on a $46.5m mortgage loan secured by two office buildings in Washington. Longstanding clients include Wells Fargo and Bank of America, which recently instructed the firm on the entire restructuring of a $4bn financing.

The New York-based real estate team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is five partners strong, covers the full range of real estate transactions, and spans the US and beyond. It has seen a surge in development financing instructions, and a steady flow of sale-and-purchase work, private equity transactions and workouts. Practice head Steven Wilner, together with Steven Horowitz, represented the Genting Group in numerous transactions, including the ongoing development of a 3.8 million sq ft convention center at the Acquedect Racetrack in Queens and the $236m acquisition of the Miami Herald Building. Wilner and Horrowitz also acted for YOTEL and IFA Hotels & Resorts on the financing, development and opening of a 700-room hotel in New York City, and were instructed by Brookfield in relation to a purchase bid for the 11,232-unit Stuyvesant Town apartment complex in Manhattan. Kimberly Blacklow was counsel to Alpha Natural Resources in the $8.5bn merger with Massey Energy Company, and worked with Horowitz advising TPG Capital in the acquisition of a $505m portfolio of retail and mixed-use assets from ProLogis. The widely respected Michael Weinberger represented Banco Inbursa in several lending transactions, including the construction financing of the Four Seasons Hotel in Walt Disney World, Florida. Other active finance clients include Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Colony Capital, and the practice enjoys continued activity in the Latin American market.

The three-partner New York based team at Debevoise & Plimpton provides a ‘top-notch legal service in a very cost-effective manner’. Practice chair Steven Alden led the advice to Beacon Capital Partners on its acquisition of a long-term ground lease at 330 Hudson Street and a 270,000 sq ft sublease to Pearson Education. The group represented the same client in its acquisition of an interest in the partnership that owns 1633 Broadway, a 2.4 million sq ft office building valued at $2bn. The highly regarded Peter Irwin represented a consortium of investors led by Oaktree Capital Management in the acquisition of Sea Island, Georgia, and also led the advice to JPMorgan in the joint venture acquisition of a $700m Fifth Avenue building. As well as advising clients such as TIAA-CREF and Tishman Speyer, Nicole Levin Mesard represented Westfield LLC in its retail space investment at the World Trade Center site; the joint venture has an estimated value of $1.25bn. Bolstered by corporate, tax and project finance partners, the resourceful team conducted a variety of complex real estate transactions in 2011; half of the deals were located outside of New York, spread across 20 states.

The finance and real estate group at Dechert LLP has 80 members, across Boston, Charlotte, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco. The practice ‘combines a high level of expertise with an internationally recognised brand that adds value’. Its capabilities include the origination, securitization, restructuring, acquisition and sale of loans, as well as real estate fund formation and management. The firm remains heavily involved in the CMBS industry, and the team has expanded accordingly. It recently completed several CMBS transactions for H/2 Capital Partners each involving securitization in excess of $1bn. San Francisco-based co-chair Joseph Heil acted for a CMBS special servicer in relation to the workout of a $550m mortgage loan secured by a residential development in California. His counterpart in the New York office, Richard Jones, is ‘highly experienced and well respected in the industry’. He and Boston-based Matthew Clark represented a consortium of four major banks in relation to the financing for a bid for the $10bn Anglo-Irish loan portfolio, and advised a large Australian bank on its bid to acquire a $1.4bn loan portfolio from the Bank of Ireland. Laura Ciabarra in New York has experience in complex, high-value loan originations, including in the gaming space. In the Philadelphia office, Jason Rozes is ‘knowledgeable and experienced’, and his ‘perseverance and dedication are commendable’. Other active clients include JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Barclays Capital.

The broad real estate practice at Goodwin Procter LLP has 40 partners complemented by over 60 associates, paralegals and counsel; ‘there are few firms with as much depth and breadth of understanding’, or as much ‘legal and business acumen’. The department participates in all aspects of the real estate and capital markets industry both in the US and internationally, including fund formation, restructuring and infrastructure finance. Co-chaired by Andrew Sucoff and Gilbert Menna in Boston, the practice has found the hotel industry and multi-family apartment space to be particularly strong asset classes in recent years. Among its highlights, it advised Brookfield Asset Management on the acquisition of an equity stake in General Growth Properties, the refinancing of several Class A office projects and a variety of tax and structuring matters. The group also closed the $473m sale for Equity One of a 3.9 million sq ft shopping center portfolio, including 36 properties, to Blackstone. ‘Superbly competent and talented attorneys’ Lewis Feldman and Douglas Praw represented AEG in the real estate and public financing aspects of the development of the LA Convention Center, a deal valued at $1.5bn. Michael Glazer in Boston and Teresa Goebel in San Francisco acted for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in a host of development matters in California, Florida and London. Mark Schonberger joined the New York office from Paul Hastings LLP, and Craig Todaro was promoted to partner in Boston.

At Holland & Knight LLP, the ‘legal advice, overall guidance and knowledge of the industry, issues and key players are all exemplary’; both the level of service and the value provided by the 200-lawyer team are ‘outstanding’. New York-based Joseph Guay heads up the practice, which spans 18 offices across the US and is ‘very knowledgeable’, about the hotel industry in particular. Janis Schiff and Tara Scanlon, in the Washington DC office, represented Roadside Development in relation to a $260m redevelopment of the historic O Street Market in Washington DC. Also from that office, La Fonte Nesbitt advised InterContinental Housing Group on the privatisation of 8,200 hotel rooms located in 20 army installations across mainland US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, in a deal worth $700m. The ‘exceptional’ Scott Cooper and John O’Neill in Boston represented Anglo Irish Bank in connection with the restructure of a $525m loan facility to Bulfinch Companies involving 18 properties. Martin Miner and James Spitzer stand out in New York, and Stuart Mendelsohn and Michelle Rosati in Northern Virginia are considered ‘excellent’. In May 2012, Stuart Saft joined from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is ‘as good as it gets in the real estate world at providing practical advice in an efficient matter’. David Bryant’s 55-partner team – across offices in California, Illinois, New York, North Carolina and Washington DC – has particular strength in real estate finance, and has significant private equity investment experience. Seth Madorsky represented Frank Mon in its sale of the Hyatt Centre, a 1.5 million sq ft Class A+ office building in Chicago. The ‘excellent’ David Dlugie is ‘concerned, responsive and conscientious’; he led the advice to General Electric Business Property on its sale of REO properties, mortgage loans and $400m of its real estate portfolio. Leading CMBS partner Daniel Huffenus, based in Charlotte, represented JPMorgan Chase Bank in the refinancing of 181 bank branches across nine different states. Christina Hassan in Washington DC advised Morgans Hotel Group in a joint management agreement for Baha Mar’s planned 300-room hotel in Nassau, a transaction valued at $3.4bn. The CIM Group and the US Bank have also recently instructed the firm. Alvin Katz in the Chicago office has ‘tremendous expertise’ in fund formation and joint ventures.

Noted for its ‘practical approach’, Kaye Scholer LLP’s 39-lawyer national practice is co-chaired by the highly regarded Stephen Gliatta and Warren Bernstein, who ‘brings a truly unique level of intelligence, legal expertise, and practicality’. Gliatta, Jeannie Bionda and Michael Damast represented Wells Fargo and Windsor Hotel Portfolio Financing in connection with the $68m mortgage financing of a portfolio of four hotels and the acquisition of a $75m mortgage loan ‘A’ Note from Starwood secured by five hotels located in different US states. Jeffrey Kapner acted for Greenfield Partners in obtaining $400m financing from JPMorgan secured by three New York hotels, and represented the joint venture between Greenfield and Magna Hospitality Fund in connection with various sales and construction financings. Louis Hait deals with many of the most complex workouts and restructurings, and was involved in the representation of multiple parties in the debt and equity restructuring of the multibillion-dollar Heritage Fields development in Irvine, California.

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP has a full-service, seven-partner real estate practice in New York, with transactional expertise as well as extensive workout and restructuring experience. Co-chair Jay Neveloff ‘instils confidence’ and is a ‘super attorney: creative, thoughtful, and to the point’. He acted in the sale of the upper portion of the Times Square Building, and is handling numerous matters for longstanding client Donald Trump. Neveloff and Neil Tucker represented Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centres in the sale of its main campus, a prominent development site in Greenwich Village, and acted for DLJ Real Estate in the acquisition of an 800 residential unit development site in Hollywood. Michael Korotkin, who also co-chairs the practice, assisted Muss Development and Onex Realty in the sale of a $1bn condominium complex including 1,100 apartments and 800,000 sq ft of retail space in Queens, New York. He also represented longstanding client Rockrose Development in the loan refinancing of 200 Water Street. Highly recommended partner James Godman, who has recently represented a large investment manager and a luxury hotel developer, is ‘very thorough, capable and resourceful’; ‘his strength is in always catering to the client’s needs’. Jonathan Canter is ‘very experienced’ and ‘responsive’.

The ‘extremely proficient and knowledgeable’ team at Latham & Watkins LLP provides an ‘exceptional’ level of service. The global real estate group is chaired by the ‘very cool and controlled’ James Hisiger, and the US component is located across the firm’s New York, Chicago and Southern California offices. The group’s lawyers have extensive real estate finance expertise, with workout and restructuring transactions dominating recent years. Hisiger advised on the joint venture of Leonard Green Partners and CVC Capital for the financing and acquisition of BJ’s Wholesale, valued at $2.8bn; and also acted for Barclays in a number of New York-based transactions involving the sale and disposition of high-value loans and REO properties. Don Berger of the Los Angeles office notably represented Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in the $275m financing of the LA Live Project, a 3.6 million sq ft mixed-use development in downtown Los Angeles. In Orange County, David Meckler acted for Host Hotels & Resorts on the $570m acquisition of the entity that owned the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Robert Buday, Nathaniel Marrs and Gary Axelrod joined the Chicago team from Kirkland & Ellis LLP at the beginning of 2011. Axelrod has completed high-value transactions for Kimpton in Philadelphia and Starwood Hotels in Chicago. Michelle Kelban and Dara Denberg are also names to note in New York.

The 43 partners at Morrison & Foerster LLP are ‘particularly effective for large and complex transactions’ across the US real estate market. Operating from both coasts, it is an ‘outstanding’ team of ‘very knowledgeable’ lawyers, with ‘deep experience’. Mark Edelstein in New York and Marc Young in Los Angeles co-chair the global real estate group, which deals with both ‘healthy’ real estate transactions and distressed assets. Edelstein has been leading the advice to Eurohypo AG in relation to the bankruptcy of General Growth Properties, and continues to act for Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo in connection with matters arising from the 2009 bankruptcy of Extended Stay Hotels. He and Christopher Delson represented a major Irish bank in the sale of its US commercial mortgage loan portfolio to Wells Fargo Banks for approximately $1.4bn. Revitalized construction financing provided an opportunity for the group to represent Bank of America in a $700m syndicated construction loan to develop a 100-story building on West 57th Street in Manhattan, set to be the tallest residential building in North America. Young has been representing Amalgamated Bank in connection with almost $300m of construction loans secured on hotels at LAX and Chicago O’Hare airports. Goldman Sachs and Gramercy Capital are among his other major clients. Thomas Fileti, who also advises Eurohypo, is valued for his ‘insightful legal analysis, attention to detail, and ability to synthesise complex matters’.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is ‘excellent and responsive’. Its teams are competitive in the fiercest local markets across numerous states, and are instructed on a wide variety of matters. A ‘very experienced, very skilled lawyer’, John Engel is the national practice head. Leveraging the firm’s experience in other practice areas, Los Angeles office head James Rishwain is leading a team of 35 attorneys on a $12.6bn dollar facilities improvement project to build and modernise 132 schools for Los Angeles Unified School District. ‘Creative, ethical and personable’ Houston-based team head Laura Hannusch is consistently praised for her ‘strong grasp of issues’, and is ‘a pleasure to work with’. She is currently advising San Francisco BART on the negotiation of a purchase and lease option agreement in relation to a $13m development in Oakland with a private developer. Robert Herr, who leads the San Francisco practice, represented Shorenstein Properties in several transactions, notably the acquisition and renovation of a 1.3 million sq ft office complex, which has recently been rented by Twitter. Another client is Murray Hill Properties, which instructed Marc Shapiro and Jill Block – both based in New York – on the $400m recapitalization of One Park Avenue. The pair also teamed up with Alan Pomerantz to represent Stanford University in its bid to establish a high-tech campus in New York City, a project estimated at over $1bn. The ‘knowledgeable, experienced, responsive’ David Houston is recommended in the Northern Virginia office, which has particularly strong experience in government contracting. Diane Richer, Peter Freeman and Christian Buerger are all ‘superb lawyers’ and ‘extraordinarily smart’, and Wendelin White ‘stands out as a superstar’.

Seyfarth Shaw’s addition of three partners, ten associates and a senior counsel to its team is indicative of the weight it attaches to the practice area. Located in nine of the most attractive cities for real estate deals in the US, the practice is bustling with pre-downturn levels of activity. Based in Atlanta, Paul Mattingly heads a 53-partner department, which is praised as being ‘extremely responsive, very reliable and exceedingly knowledgeable’. New hires Lester Bliwise and Eric Sidman added commercial real estate capability to the New York office; the two are lead counsel to Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association on a $1bn real estate joint venture with a publicly traded REIT to invest in four shopping malls located in Missouri, Texas and Tennessee. Co-team heads Andrew Pearlstein and Andrew Shure continue to represent 7-Eleven in connection with retail leasing, sale-and-leaseback transactions, acquisitions and dispositions, and workouts in several states. Joel Rubin, who has ‘the highest of ethical standards’, and the ‘outstanding, thoughtful, thorough and precise’ Tom Masenga both advise Equity One, while the ‘very talented and experienced’ Alvin Kruse assists Bank of America as outside real estate counsel. Also recommended are ‘extremely knowledgeable problem solver’ Peter Korda; ‘excellent communicator’ Mark Block; Andrew Pearlstein, for ‘his experience and negotiation skills’; the ‘very intelligent’ Sean O’Brien, who has a ‘tireless work ethic’; the ‘responsive’ Adam Walsh, noted for his ‘good business sense’; Dean Heller, who is ‘a real gentleman’; and Robert Bodansky, a ‘rare mix of tough and practical’.

Sidley Austin LLP’s real estate department is spread across the firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Washington DC, handling ‘the most complex, innovative and challenging transactions’ nationwide. Co-chaired by Marc Hayutin, Lee Smolen and Alan Weil, the department includes 90 lawyers worldwide, with 84 in the US. With a particular specialism in multi-state, multi-side deals, the team represented Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund in the sale-and-leaseback acquisition of 49 restaurant sites in 15 states, a transaction with an aggregate value of $71.5m. Another recent highlight saw real estate finance and workout specialist Bruce Fraser instructed by Canyon-Johnson on its preferred equity investment in a joint venture for the development and construction of a $160m mixed-use project with the City of Los Angeles. The practice has also been working alongside the firm’s strong bankruptcy practice in assisting clients with distressed assets and other real estate issues resulting from a challenging economic environment. Smolen and John Rafkin assisted Wells Fargo Bank on the restructuring of a $1.4bn structured debt stack, which included the consolidation and recapitalization of subordinated debt. On the opportunity funds front, Mitchell Poole acted for Fortress Credit in a joint venture with Atlas Capital Group in respect of an acquisition of a $167m preferred equity interest in a member of a company in possession of a Class A office building in Manhattan. Robert Boyd and Scott Cooper represented three life insurance companies as co-lenders in connection with the origination of a $725m mortgage financing for the office building at 601 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, formerly known as Citicorp Center. Paul Walker is also recommended.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP’s real estate practice draws on talent across the country. Based in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, with a team of 14 partners and 30 attorneys, the firm provides an ‘excellent’ and ‘exemplary’ service. It can pride itself on the impressive list of industry leaders seeking its ‘first-rate’ advice and creative solutions on a wide variety of real estate issues, from major national banks to private equity funds. In one flagship matter, the ‘creative, diligent’ Brian Diamond, together with the widely admired Steven Horowitz, represented a private real estate fund on the disposition of a $500m nationwide portfolio of first mortgage loans. William Campbell handled the origination and syndication of a $650m term loan for a large national bank; the loan was secured by first mortgages on eight office properties located in Texas, California and Virginia, and syndicated to ten lenders based in the US, Canada and Europe. Elsewhere, Diana Brummer assisted Trump Entertainment Resorts in its $37.3m sale of the Trump Marina Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City to Golden Nugget. Los Angeles based Chauncey Swalwell and Stuart Graiwer together handled notable transactions for prominent client JPMorgan Investment Management, advising on both the acquisition of the Fox Interactive Media office building in Playa Vista (California) for $300m and the sale of JW Marriott Hotel in Colorado. The practice is co-chaired by Diamond and the ‘legendary’ Leonard Boxer. The ‘bright, savvy’ Steven Moskowitz is also recommended, along with Eva Talel, Ross Moskowitz and special counsel Dale Degenshein, who are all ‘responsive’ and ‘top in their fields’.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has a ‘highly sophisticated’ practice, with esteemed expertise on the financial side of real estate deals. The ‘top-notch’ team is ‘immediately responsive’ and has ‘a very good sense of the business consequences of proposed legal strategies’ while staying ‘focused on the issues at hand’. Steven Klein and Eugene Pinover co-chair the department, which handles complex joint ventures, financings, acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings for an impressive number of clients across the country. Klein, who is lauded for his ‘excellent judgement’ as well as his negotiating skills, assisted Goldman Sachs with the acquisition and restructuring of a $180m senior loan secured by the YOTEL New York hotel. He is also acting as lead counsel to Lehman Brothers Holdings and its debtor and non-debtor affiliates on various recapitalizations and restructurings involving properties located in Manhattan and various south-eastern states. Pinover represented Sunrise Senior Living in connection with an array of matters, including handling the restructuring of its equity and debt position in a portfolio of six senior living facilities, along with the purchase of a portfolio of properties valued at $630m in a new joint venture with CNL Lifestyle Properties. The ‘incredibly responsive, creative and business-oriented’ David Drewes advised Ventas in connection with M&A and securities matters, including a $400m offering of senior notes and a $300m offering of common stock. Other clients include Colony Financial, Diamondrock Hospitality Company and The Paramount Group.

Richard Bezold chairs the 78-member real estate team at Akerman Senterfitt. It has a strong presence in Florida, and in recent years has attracted an increasing flow of foreign investor development in the Miami and New York markets. Bezold represented an affiliate of Genting Malaysia Berhad in the $230m acquisition of the 14-acre Miami Herald property in Florida for an intended mixed-use development with an estimated cost of $3.7bn. He also acted for Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) in the restructuring of a $245m loan secured by a luxury hotel with 346 units and an additional 171 condominium units located in Fort Lauderdale. Other work for the team included acting for The GEO Group in respect of a $750m corporate credit facility, secured by 18 privately owned and operated correctional facilities located in nine states as well as other facilities acquired through a recent merger. Steven Polivy and Michael Bailkin in the New York office are very active in urban redevelopment work, and recently represented national REIT Albee Retail Development, and the world’s leading fashion industry facility developer. The group also acted for Street Works on financing and infrastructure matters relating to the redevelopment of a 300-year-old suburb of Boston; the total private sector investment in the multi-phased, mixed-use project could exceed $1.3bn. Manuel Fernandez and Mark Tobin joined the Miami team; and John Wood joined the New York office from Thompson & Knight LLP, bringing experience of large-scale commercial lease design and negotiation.

The team at Baker Botts L.L.P. is ‘articulate and forward thinking’ as well as ‘sincere and honorable’. Patricia Stanton, who heads the practice from the Dallas office, has been active in representing Hines in a number of significant acquisition and development financings for projects around the US. Jonathan Dunlay, also in Dallas, led the advice to Shell Oil Company in relation to the lease renewal of 1.27 million sq ft at One Shell Plaza and Two Shell Plaza in Houston. He also acted for Hines and CalPERS in the acquisition of a $100m mezzanine loan, part of an overall $1.5bn financing secured by a portfolio of office buildings in Southern California. In Houston, Paul Landen is involved in the ongoing representation of Hines in the redevelopment of CityCenterDC, a 2.5 million sq ft mixed-use development at the site of the old District of Columbia Convention Center in Washington DC; and Robert Wright advised a subsidiary of EDF in its acquisition of real property interests and regulatory permits required for the development of three new nuclear power projects in New York and Maryland. Consuella Simmons Taylor, also in Houston, is a popular choice with clients.

Ballard Spahr LLP delivers ‘consistently excellent service by highly sophisticated real estate lawyers on complex, high-value transactions’. The 55-partner, full-service team has ‘excellent knowledge of commercial real estate issues’ and ‘stands out’ for its efficiency. Philadelphia-based Michael Sklaroff chairs the practice group, and recently acted in relation to the preservation of redevelopment rights in Philadelphia’s Science Center; his team put together a successful litigation strategy preventing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority from taking title to several key parcels of land, and reset schedules for ultimate development. Dominic De Simone is noted for his ‘business acumen’ and ‘attention to detail’. Wendi Kotzen in Philadelphia recently represented a national special servicer in restructuring a $135m senior mortgage CMBS loan. Baltimore-based Mark Pollak is ‘extremely responsive’ and ‘provides practical advice’; he and Christopher Fritz assisted Under Armor, a performance apparel manufacturer, in a $325m refinancing primary credit facility. Kelly Wrenn in Washington DC is popular with clients, and Beverly Quail in the Denver office is ‘very client focused and committed to providing consistently high-quality work at a reasonable cost’.

Bryan Cave LLP has a team of 44 real estate partners across nine US offices, and now undertakes sophisticated private equity investment work as well as the pure ‘dirt’ real estate for which it is has historically been known. Team head Ronald Emanuel in New York continues to represent Och-Ziff Real Estate in various high-value investment matters including joint venture arrangements, asset and debt acquisitions, sales and restructurings. He also assisted Dune Real Estate Partners in transactions including the acquisition of 51 Red Roof Inns, located across 21 states. Sandor Green acted for AIMCO, one of the country’s largest multi-family REITs, in the sale of 35 separate residential properties in 15 states. Atlanta-based Christine Schneider acted for Duke Realty Corporation in the acquisition of 4.9 million sq ft over 53 offices and industrial properties in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The team, which also undertakes significant leasing and capital markets work, is bolstered by specialist members undertaking land use, zoning and construction litigation.

Dentons has a vibrant real estate department comprising more than 200 lawyers worldwide, and shows ‘outstanding dedication to clients’ needs’. Chaired by Robert Fernandez in Chicago, the practice handles both equity and finance deals for a broad spectrum of clients. St Louis-based partner John Haug is advising an energy infrastructure company in a project for the construction and operation of pipelines across several US states to serve market hubs in the Midwest. Gary Goodman and Elizabeth Gable assisted DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale with a $125m first mortgage loan in connection with properties in Boston; and Andrew Weiner – ‘a total pro in every respect’ – is assisting Prima Capital Advisors with the restructuring of the secured indebtedness of a large apartment complex in the western US. Linda White has been handling work for Lehman Brothers, and Jennifer Marler for Chase Park Plaza Hotel. John Kim is a ‘true expert in the field of securitization’, Patrick Moran is also recommended.

Foley & Lardner LLP has a 30-partner real estate practice; Elizabeth Corey in Chicago chairs the full-service team, which spans 14 US offices. On the West Coast it has been particularly busy in energy-related work, while areas of activity on the East Coast include private equity, fund work, financial transactions and distressed assets. Corey led the advice to Rangers Baseball Express in its acquisition of the Texas Rangers from Hicks Sports Group, including the leasehold interest for the stadium and a mixed-use commercial building. Wayne Osoba (‘focused, professional, smart’) and Donna Pugh acted for Resurrection Health Care in the financial structuring of the project to renovate St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago. The team advised The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company on a $50m mortgage bond private placement; and it regularly acts for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase in high-value real estate financing matters. In February 2011 Nir Margalit joined the Washington office, with 25 years of hotel industry experience. Andrew Stern in Boston is ‘knowledgeable, efficient and a pleasure to work with’.

Douglas Danzig chairs the team at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. With 14 partners operating primarily out of offices in Texas, and additional bases in New York, Washington DC, Dubai and Munich, the practice represents clients in commercial real estate transactions from financings to dispositions, both in the US and in other jurisdictions. William Sing assisted Horizon LFG, a subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation, in the sale of landfill gas pipeline systems in several mid-western states. James Summers is representing Toyota in relation to the construction and development of Phase II of a vehicle manufacturing plant in Texas, as well as advising JPMorgan Chase on significant governmental incentive agreements. Dallas-based Winston Walp handled sale-and-leaseback transactions for Capital Senior Living Corporation, valued at more than $300m. In Austin, of counsel Robert Converse and Darrell Windham advised Austin Museum of Art on the disposition of downtown property. Jane Snoddy Smith is counsel to BlackRock Realty Advisors and Target Corporation.

The team at Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. is made up of 43 attorneys focusing on real estate finance, leasing and construction. Walter Schleimer and Matthew Schindel co-chair the department, which has 16 partners spread across offices in New York, Dallas and Houston. Areas of specialism include the hotel, gaming, healthcare, office and retail sectors, and clients are mainly institutional investors, banks and REITs. Dallas-based Richard Martin led a team advising Wood Partners in the acquisition of 2,800 units in nine apartment properties in the Texas area. He also assisted Hillwood Alliance Services in relation to a joint venture with Prudential for the sale of an industrial portfolio made up of 47 buildings totalling 13.4 million sq ft, including advising on management and leasing agreements. Stuart Mass and of counsel Noah Shapiro in New York advised Lazard Group in the long-term lease of 440,000 sq ft at the Rockefeller Center, and assisted SL Green Realty in the purchase of a building on Broadway. Headington Oil is a notable construction client, and recently instructed the firm in relation to the expansion of the Joule Hotel in Dallas, with special government financing.

The real estate lawyers at Jones Day are ‘excellent in their work in terms of response time and industry knowledge’. The firm has a strong geographic footprint, with 24 partners spread across offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, New York and San Francisco. Practice head David Lowery in Dallas and Michael Ording in Columbus represented Mill Creek Residential Trust in relation to a joint venture with Rockwood Capital, raising over $200m in capital to develop, construct and acquire multi-family residential projects through the US. The team also acted for Trammell Crow Residential in a series of joint ventures involving newly constructed apartment communities with a total value of $570m. In the New York office, Susanna Fodor is ‘well respected in the field and extremely knowledgeable’, and Steven Koppel is a ‘fantastic transaction lawyer; intelligent, knowledgeable and efficient’. In 2011 he acted for Wachovia Bank in relation to a $100m senior revolving credit facility for two entities holding various real estate interests in New York City. Kent Richey, also in the New York office, recently acted for Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the sale of interests in 1633 Broadway, a 2.6 million sq ft, 48-story Class A trophy office tower. In the Atlanta office, Scott Specht is ‘very creative, and provides great advice’.

Sixty lawyers are actively involved in the real estate department at King & Spalding LLP, which operates out of Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Charlotte and Houston. Sarah Borders chairs the practice, which is closely integrated with the firm’s corporate, private equity and tax departments and is involved in capital transactions as well as a complete range of commercial real estate deals. It assists a number of German investors targeting US multi-family and commercial properties, including recently representing RECAP Investments in various joint venture development projects with partners in New York, Texas, Florida and Maryland. The team has also advised Morgan Stanley’s flagship real estate investment fund, Prime Property Fund, a private REIT with more than $9bn in assets; Brookdale, which has an investment capacity of nearly $1bn primarily destined for investment in southeastern US commercial properties; and Paladin Realty Partners in relation to investments in residential and other properties in Latin American countries including Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil. In Atlanta, Timothy Goodwin is notable for his structuring and investment fund expertise, and Clay Gibson is a highly regarded veteran of the practice.

Jeffrey Usow in Chicago and Keith Willner in Washington DC co-chair the 25-partner practice at Mayer Brown, which operates from seven offices throughout the US. In the past year, Robert Koen and Victor Salerno joined the New York office from DLA Piper LLP, and Daniel Favero joined in Chicago from Chapman & Cutler LLP. The team has a depth of experience in the hospitality, leisure and medical industries, along with notable leasing expertise in Houston and real estate tax experience in Chicago. Usow and Robert Gordon acted for a large infrastructure fund in the complex financing and acquisition of a leading national parking garage operator, including the restructuring of a $480m mortgage loan secured by 31 properties, from a syndicate of life insurance companies. Chicago-based Paul Meyer is well known for assisting large private investment fund clients in the Chicago region, and recently led the advice to Starwood Capital on joint venture acquisitions of multi-family apartment complexes in Virginia and Maryland and an office building complex in California with a combined value of $422.5m. Willner is Starwood’s contact in Washington DC. Koen and Salerno continued their relationship with HFZ Capital Group LLC, and advised on various transactions concerning the Setai Condominium building in Manhattan, including the acquisition of $160m in mortgage debt from Anglo-Irish Bank and a $50m acquisition loan with Macquarie. The Carlyle Group, UBS and Phoenix Life Insurance are other notable clients. In May 2012, Stephen MacDonald joined from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s practice operates nationally out of the firm’s offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. William Murray heads a growing team, which has 21 partners and represents clients on a wide spectrum of deals, from complex restructures and acquisitions to major portfolio work and joint ventures. It also handles work for sophisticated clients in the thriving Californian technology sphere. Michael Liever, MJ Pritchett and Andrew Johnson represented an institutional investor and its advisor, RREEF, in relation to the acquisition and financing of a 57-acre, nine-building campus in California, which was afterwards leased by Facebook for its headquarters relocation. Gerard Walsh advised a major opportunity fund in its multi-step acquisition of a portion of the mortgage and mezzanine debt secured by a Seattle office portfolio. He and Pritchett also teamed up to advise a real estate investment company on a multimillion-dollar senior mortgage encumbering San Francisco Westin Hotel. The practice’s hospitality practice continues to grow, with the team handling numerous high-level transactions for retail banking and lending institutions; recent successes include Walsh and Michael McAndrews acting on the acquisition of the Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel and the financing of the Sunset Marquis Hotel.

At Proskauer Rose LLP, Ronald Sernau and David Weinberger stand out as experts in equity and finance transactions respectively, and together head a ‘strong team’ with a ‘deep bench’ of junior associates. The practice, which is ‘ahead in knowing market trends’, has a pool of 15 partners and 35 associates. The ‘organised’ Weinberger, who is also a ‘good communicator’, advised CBRE on the financing of 1540 Broadway, a $350m Class A office building in Manhattan. Sernau teamed up with Wendy Schriber to assist Hines Interests on several multimillion-dollar transactions, including the $485m sale of 750 Avenue in New York City. In addition to its work in New York, the firm has a burgeoning practice in Florida and California. Los Angeles-based partner Eric Remensperger represented Grifols Biologicals in a sale-and-leaseback transaction for a new processing facility in Pasadena, California. Remensperger, Douglas Frank and Louis Eatman also handled various transactions for CB Richard Ellis Global Investors in Nevada, Georgia, California, Colorado and Boston, including workouts, restructurings, joint ventures and development transactions. Other clients include Hermes of Paris and SJP Properties.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP remains one of the largest real estate teams in California, with 75 attorneys, although its work extends well beyond the borders of its core base; it has an expanding national practice, recently adding Michelle Williams and Gregory Grigorian and six other attorneys in New York and Washington DC. Williams and her team advised on several sale-and-leaseback deals and related financings for major client AG Net Lease Acquisition Corp, including a $171m build-to-suit and sale-and-leaseback transaction for Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s North American headquarters. In San Francisco, the team handles large leases and development work. Robert Thompson represented Salesforce.com, the cloud computing company, on its land acquisition and international headquarters development project in San Francisco, while Doug Van Gessel assisted with a nine-year lease valued at $272m entered into by Google. In California, Joan Story closed a sale-and-leaseback transaction for Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, and also assisted a US bank in closing the sale of three of the Watergate office towers in Emeryville. The highly rated Domenic Drago leads the practice.

Texas is the base for Thompson & Knight LLP’s growing national practice, with 22 partners in the firm’s offices in Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth. The team assists development and lending clients, and can turn to the capital markets expertise of Mark Weibel, who is well known for representing CMBS special servicers. Leasing specialist Susan Coleman assisted private equity investment firm Cabot Properties with the leasing of more than one million sq ft of property in Texas. Mark Sloan and Andrew Ingrum, who heads the team, advised Dunhill Partners on its $70m acquisition of Lincoln Square Shopping Center in Arlington, Texas, a transaction involving a securitized mortgage loan provided by Goldman Sachs. Clients also praise Laura McClellan, who is the lead partner advising Bank of America in connection with the financing of the Spanish Fort Tower Center in Alabama, a mixed-use project financed by a $23m construction loan and an $89m bond issuance. The team is also advising Granite Properties on the disposition of its $165m industrial property portfolio, and also on a two-tower development project valued at $200m. The ‘smart, good-humoured and unflappable’ Martha Harris is also recommended.

With 120 attorneys active in real estate, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP offers very broad transactional and financing expertise. The California-based practice group is chaired by Anton Natsis, who specialises in complex leasing, development, sales and purchases, and portfolio investment, and is often instructed by the largest and most prominent US landowners, including JPMorgan Asset Management, Blackstone Real Estate and Brookfield Properties. Founding partner Richard Mallory acts for landlords and tenants on a broad range of office, industrial and retail leasing matters, while eminent partner Michael Matkins is highly rated for portfolio acquisitions and dispositions as well as real estate investment restructuring. Nancy Lundeen was lead counsel to MetLife and New York Life in relation to a $475m loan on Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego, and also acted on a $38m loan by New York Life on Fruitdale Station Apartments in San Jose. Sonia Ransom, in the San Francisco office, is a renowned attorney for land use and redevelopment work.

Andrews Kurth LLP is prominent in the Texas real estate market, with offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston. Two of the 29 partners are based in New York, and as a whole the ‘incredibly attentive’ team undertakes national and international projects, with particular strength in retail and office leasing. The highly recommended Mark Arnold acted for Harris County-Houston Sports Authority in the lease and development agreement for the construction of a 22,000-seat outdoor soccer stadium. Daniel McCormick is involved in the ongoing representation of Red Roof Inn in the restructuring of $1.3bn financing, and also acted for Westbridge Hospitality Investors in the sale of $65m of equity interests. Andrew Campbell advised Invesco Advisers in the $213m acquisition of a 500,000 sq ft office building in Denver. Michael Boyd has all-round experience, and is ‘talented and knowledgeable’.

Baker & McKenzie’s real estate practice includes three partners based in Chicago and one in New York. Michael Smith heads the team, and recently represented Wirst Beverage Corporation in its acquisition and development of a 700,000 sq ft distribution facility in Cicero, Illinois. Leading hospitality lawyer Richard Cremieux acted for Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts in various hotel-related transactions in the US and Mexico. He is also representing Pannatoni Development Group in various ongoing transactions, including sales and restructurings with a current combined value of $850m. Matthew Alshouse, who specialises in fund formation work, advised Invesco on the $20m expansion of a shopping center in suburban Philadelphia, and assisted a large Korean fund in the acquisition of a 57-story Class A office building in Chicago.

Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP has 40 real estate attorneys based in its Miami office. James Shindell leads the team, which represents foreign and domestic developers, investors, funds, ventures, lenders and servicers in new transactions and in relation to distressed assets. It is assisting Bridgeport Landing in the large-scale mixed-use marina redevelopment on the 52-acre Steel Point peninsula in Connecticut; Suzanne Amaducci-Adams is leading the advice on this long-term project, which encompasses more than 2.85 million sq ft of apartment, hotel, office and retail space, and is predicted to attract $750m in private investment. Albert Dotson and Vicky Garcia-Toledo acted for Wexford Miami in the land use, zoning and financing for the first-phase development of the University of Miami Life Science and Technology Park, including 170,000 sq ft of offices and laboratories and an 80,000 sq ft tissue bank. Michael Kreitzer assisted the developer of the 1800 Club, a $83m 42-story high-rise condominium located in downtown Miami, in various contentious matters and in obtaining a $97m construction loan.

Douglas Wisner leads the Americas real estate group at Clifford Chance, which focuses on gaming, hotel, office and residential development projects, and regularly represents investment and commercial banks in the arrangement of credit facilities. He acted for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in the provision of financing to an international gaming company, as well as financing secured by an office park in Virginia and financing secured by a mixed-use office and retail shopping mall in Minnesota. Private equity and joint venture specialist Ness Cohen, along with tax partner Richard Catalano, represented JSRE Realty in the $285m acquisition of a Madison Avenue office tower; they went on to advise Madison International Realty on the creation of a joint venture with Forest City for the ownership of 15 retail properties, valued at $852m. Wisner and of counsel Stephen Reynolds advised Commerzbank AG on the construction financing of a video lottery gaming facility at the Aqueduct Race Track in New York. The team also advised Rothschild Realty in relation to a $200m private equity investment in Westcore Properties, and Citigroup and Invesco Real Estate Management are other clients.

Thomas O’Connor heads the 11-partner practice at Cooley LLP, which is spread across offices in New York, Virginia and California. The team members are considered ‘highly skilled, capable professionals’, with a ‘whatever-it-takes approach’. The group recently represented Manchester Financial Group in the $570m disposition of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego to Host, the lodging REIT. Samantha LaPine – praised for her ‘responsiveness, intellectual abilities, and interpersonal skills’ – advised new client Southwest Value Partners in its $38.8m acquisition of the Monterey Beach Resort and assumption of a $30m securitized loan. The San Francisco team advised the Booth family on the sale of the Schwab Building for more than $100m. Antonio Calabrese and Colleen Gillis Snow, in the Reston office, are ‘positive and creative’, and come highly recommended. The Caribbean Property Group and the Safra National Bank are other significant clients.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson has a 72-partner practice. The California-based group is complemented by an active land use and zoning practice notable for its involvement in alternative energy and affordable housing projects. Adam Weissburg led the advice to Del Rey Shores in the redevelopment of a 200-unit apartment complex in Marina del Rey, involving challenging negotiations for ground leasing and financing. Gary Glick assisted Donahue Schriber Realty Group in its $33.5m sale of a 15-acre Neighbourhood Center in Roseville, California. Richard Rosenthal in the San Francisco office advised Legacy Partners in the $239m recapitalization and restructuring of a realty fund, and the firm advised the same client on numerous other refinancings of real estate projects involving debt and equity capital. David Wensley joined the Orange County office from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP.

Faegre Baker Daniels is the product of the merger between Faegre & Benson LLP and Baker & Daniels LLP, at the end of 2011. Scott Anderegg heads the enlarged real estate group, which has more than 25 partners across offices in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Boulder, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Des Moines. The team covers all aspects of real estate investment, finance, litigation, tax and retail work. Anderegg is the principal contact for clients including Life Time Fitness, CarVal Investors and UPS. Charles Ferrell advised on the development of the Wells Fargo Centre and the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis. Andrew Anderson represented the treasurer of the State of Iowa in the $130m financing of the Iowa State Penitentiary, and also acted in the development of various ethanol plants throughout the country. Jon Bomberger leads the practice in Fort Wayne, and is recommended for all aspects of development, acquisition and finance.

Jay Kramer chairs Fennemore Craig’s real estate team, which spans Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. Clients note an ‘exceptional’ level of service and a ‘tremendous’ knowledge base, commenting that ‘the firm always has a specialist or expert in a needed field’. The team assisted a Maryland-based real estate investment trust in connection with the $135m acquisition and zoning entitlements of the Arizona Center, a significant office and retail complex in the metropolitan Phoenix area. It also assisted a longstanding client with the $30m acquisition of a 7,000-acre master-planned community development in Buckeye, Arizona. John Pearce and David Vieweg have advised 7-Eleven in a large number of new lease and purchase transactions throughout the western states, the Great Lakes region and Florida. Mark Nesvig is highly recommended by clients, as is John Kofron, who chairs the construction practice from Tucson.

Dennis Russo and Scott Mollen co-chair the New York based real estate team at Herrick, Feinstein LLP, where the lawyers are ‘highly responsive, and bring a great level of expertise and experience to what they do’. With 55 attorneys, the practice is able to provide the full array of services including sale and purchase, development, finance, leasing and contentious matters, and it has particular strength in land use and zoning. ‘Seasoned veteran’ Carl Schwartz acted for investors Ronny Bruckner and Nathan Berman in their $205m joint venture acquisition of a trophy office building at 70 Pine Street. Schwartz and the ‘outstanding’ Laurie Grasso represented private equity firm Savanna in the acquisition of 100 Wall Street’s mezzanine debt as well as the later acquisition of the property from Lehman Brothers through a foreclosure auction. The team recently assisted the Empire State Building’s fee owner and ground lessee in relation to significant mortgage financing for a major infrastructure upgrade. Its transactional work stretches to Boston, Miami, Mexico and the Caribbean, while in Las Vegas and Texas it has been active in foreclosure work.

Holland & Hart LLP is the largest firm in the Mountain West region, and has 60 dedicated lawyers in its real estate practice, across 15 offices. Marcus Painter heads the team, which is praised for its ‘great overall knowledge and expertise in several different areas of practice’. David Broadbent represented Southern California Public Power Authority on real estate matters relating to a wind energy project in Utah valued at more than $250m. Matthew Hicks is the lead counsel to WinCo Foods, advising on various real estate matters including acquisitions, leasing and development projects located throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, California and Arizona. Dennett Hutchinson is advising Winter Park Recreational Association in its capacity as landlord and seller of development land in relation to the Winter Park Village Core ski resort. The ‘top-notch’ Rebecca Dow has ‘outstanding attention to detail and depth of knowledge’, and is ‘one of the best real estate attorneys in Colorado’. The ‘very talented and efficient’ Bradley Boodt has extensive experience in commercial loan transactions, workouts and real estate dispositions.

The practice at K&L Gates spans investment, development and finance, distressed assets, hospitality, land use and zoning. Walter Fisher chairs the 54-partner team, which has added to its US footprint with an office in Charleston specialising in resort and hospitality work in the US and the Caribbean. Jonetta Brooks recently joined the Dallas office, bringing leasing expertise and experience representing special servicers and fund advisors. The team has acted for mortgage REIT Crexus Investment Corporation in relation to various hotel and retail center projects in the US and the Cayman Islands. It also assists lenders with loan restructurings, forbearances, bankruptcy proceedings and judicial and non-judicial foreclosures, and recently advised a large US bank in relation to its distressed assets. In the Carolinas, and particularly in Charlotte, the practice has represented landlords of large office buildings in the development of significant corporate headquarters. Shannon Skinner in Seattle and Eugene Segrest in Dallas are both recommended for real estate finance.

New York firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP’s recently formed but the real estate practice, led by Wallace Schwartz, who joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2011, is ‘outstanding’. The firm is valued for, among other strengths, its ability to combine its real estate, bankruptcy and litigation expertise; as an example, ‘smart, practical, available, hardworking, personable dealmakers’ Schwartz and Adam Endick recently represented Borders Group in the disposition of its real estate assets in the context of the company’s bankruptcy and liquidation. A ‘great leasing lawyer’, Endick also handled the leasing of office and retail space at 641 Avenue of the Americas for longstanding client Atlas Capital. Schwartz assisted GFI Capital with the restructuring of real estate assets in New York City and Palm Springs, California; and ‘talented and excellent’ attorney Douglas Heitner led on the $165m sale of the Clock Tower Building for Africa Israel. The team also advised new client Starwood Capital on the acquisition and participation of mezzanine debt in connection with the Standard Hotel in New York City.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP has 45 partners in its integrated real estate and land use practice, located mainly in offices across Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County. Susan Hori and Keith Allen-Niesen co-chair the practice, which is experienced in traditional transactions and matters involving distressed assets. Timi Hallem led the advice to Lowe Enterprises in the restructuring of $330m of debt secured by a 580-room condominium hotel in Southern California, and also the development of the San Diego County Operations Center, a build-to-suit project worth $450m. Steve Edwards in Costa Mesa advised TIAA-CREF in the acquisition of various large-scale apartment complexes; and assisted Avanth in connection with a fund established to purchase and manage $50m of partnership interests in affordable housing projects. In other notable work, the team continues to represent the 32nd District Agricultural Association in challenging the State of California, disputing the attempted sale of the 150-acre Orange County Fairgrounds to a private developer.

The 23-partner team at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is ‘well regarded throughout the real estate community and in local government’. William Timmons’ real estate group works from offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Washington DC, and is praised for its ‘level of service, acumen, industry knowledge and depth of experience, as well as value for money’. Timmons, who is a ‘problem solver’ and does an ‘excellent job of setting a solid tone in negotiations’, acted for KeyBank National Association as the agent of a syndicate of nine lenders in the restatement of a $217m senior secured revolving credit facility. Patrick McGeehan represented TriMont Real Estate Advisors as special servicer and trust advisor in four CMBS deals ranging from to $410m to $1.46bn. Tony Canzoneri advised LNR Property Corporation in the lease transactions relating to a public-private partnership and joint venture project proposing two million sq ft of commercial space and 1,550 residential units. C-III Asset Management, Rialto Capital and Starwood are among the firm’s other clients. Dennis Roy in Los Angeles is ‘very strong in matters involving public-private partnerships with municipal governments and redevelopment agencies’.

The real estate practice at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP has 53 attorneys operating out of Atlanta, representing clients across the US as well as in Canada, South America and the Caribbean. Thomas Gryboski chairs the practice group, which regularly advises in relation to high-end resorts, commercial and industrial developments, power and data centers, and residential condominium and apartment developments. The firm continues to represent Wood Partners in various transactions in housing markets across the US, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco; Frank Bazzell, real estate tax partner Timothy Pollock and newly promoted partner Christina Graham have recently advised the client. Homer Lee Walker represented Regent Partners in the $165m sale of an 800,000 sq ft office space in Atlanta. The team has longstanding relationships with Cole Capital and Timberland Investment Resources.

Justine Wilcox heads Nixon Peabody LLP’s real estate group, which has 21 partners and 23 attorneys operating out of several US and European locations. The practice places an emphasis on leveraging the expertise of the firm’s other departments, providing ‘on-target, concise and insightful’ advice across a spectrum of specialised industries including special servicing, hospitality, offices, senior housing, and medical and higher education facilities. It represents clients ‘in an efficient and professional way’, on a range of transactions involving assets located across the country. Lawrence Ceriello is an ‘incredible lawyer’, and associate James Kerouac is ‘excellent’.

Spanning California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC, Reed Smith LLP’s integrated cross-office team is acclaimed as a ‘great treasure of professional excellence’, and is noted for the level of its commitment to its clients. Dusty Elias Kirk heads the team, which includes over 160 attorneys and assistants and is ‘knowledgeable, accessible, honest and passionately collaborative’. It has particular strength in sale and leasebacks, new developments, purchases and acquisitions. In one recent highlight, the ‘smart, practical, business-savvy and incredibly responsive’ Daniel Slattery and ‘highly skilled and experienced’ Edward Walsh represented Amcor Packaging Distribution in the sale and leaseback of two large manufacturing facilities in California. The firm also assisted Waterfront Associates in the development of a two million sq ft mixed-use project in Washington DC, and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in the purchase of a $55.7m office building in Virginia.

The ‘very knowledgeable’ Joyce Wright chairs the department at Snell & Wilmer LLP, which fields 100 attorneys in seven offices across Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. The practice is valued for its ‘excellent service, in terms of quality and responsiveness’, and is able to call on its firm-wide platform to address clients’ needs across state borders. Wright is currently assisting First Solar on the development of a large solar panel manufacturing and technology campus in Arizona, with a predicted eventual cost of $1.6bn. Lawrence Brown, praised for his ‘highest ethical standard’, handled property acquisitions and multimillion-dollar developments in Arizona for USAA Real Estate Company and Phoenix LTL; and also advised Swift Transportation on the collateralization of a $1.5bn credit facility and $500m debt in connection with properties in 20 US states and Mexico. The team has a strong hospitality practice, and is advising Sunstone US Opportunity on three separate purchases of hotels located in Texas and Arizona. John Lincoln Hospital, Arizona State University and Bank of America are other active clients of the team.

The ‘excellent’ real estate team at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has a diversity of expertise that has helped it to adapt successfully to a growing demand for institutional and financial work resulting from a challenging housing environment. The firm represents a national investment fund in multi-family and hotel acquisitions, and a timberland investment management organisation on multi-million dollar loan financing, and handles numerous transactions for large special servicers. One recent highlight was advising a major public pension fund in relation to its $300m real estate debt and preferred equity investment fund, including the origination of mezzanine loans. The team is also assisting Cap Cana in connection with the development of a 30,000-acre resort in the Dominican Republic, drawing on Victor Haley’s expertise in acquisitions and joint ventures in Central and South America. James Jordan leads the group, and Edward Hales is applauded for his ‘business acumen, industry knowledge and impeccable service’. The team lost two partners in 2011 to Seyfarth Shaw, and one senior counsel to client SunTrust Bank.

Thompson Hine LLP’s practice, with 30 lawyers, mainly operates out of Ohio but also has a footprint in New York, Atlanta and Washington DC, and handles work throughout the country. It ‘works closely with its clients to achieve great results’, and is praised for its ability to ‘leverage lawyers with tremendous experience in relevant subject areas’. Team head Thomas Coyne assisted in the acquisition and development of Cleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and advised Musical Arts Association on the sale of 600 acres surrounding the Blossom Music Center. The team is also representing the developer of the $500m mixed-use Flats East Bank project in Ohio. The ‘highly skilled, highly experienced’ Linda Striefsky and ‘excellent’ Mario Suarez are recommended, as are Dianne Coscarelli and Robert Curry.

Venable LLP’s national practice comprises 21 partners and 16 attorneys. The team is ‘available and readily approachable’, and is valued for its ‘rapid responses and thoughtful experience’. It covers all aspects of real estate transactions for a wide range of clients, from lenders to private equity players. The ‘excellent’ Lawrence Gesner and highly regarded Stephanie DeLong have been representing Fannie Mae in various transactions involving properties located throughout the country, including assisting the association in the restructuring of an $8bn loan secured by over 100 multi-family properties. Philip Horowitz is praised for his business acumen and ability to ‘think through alternatives’, and Sarah Smith for her excellent drafting skills; they recently led the advice to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the acquisition of an office building in Washington DC. The team, which operates primarily out of Washington DC and Baltimore, is co-headed by ‘top real estate lawyer’ Kevin Shepherd and Robert Gottlieb, who is noted for his hands-on approach.

White & Case LLP’s practice now has 13 partners across its offices in New York and Miami, and is less active in the Washington DC and California markets than in previous years. It has longstanding relationships with certain leading real estate developers, and remains involved in the distressed debt space. It is experienced in commercial and investment bank financings in the hospitality and leisure sectors, and continues to advise foreign clients on hospitality and gaming market investments in Florida. The highly recommended Steven Vainder heads the Florida practice. He represented CC Devco in the acquisition of a substantial mixed-use community development in South Florida, and, with William Walker, acted for Starwood Capital in the acquisition of $348m of REO and commercial loan portfolios. Rudolf Aragon, also in Miami, has undertaken high-end foreclosure work for a variety of banks including Ocean Bank, Great Florida Bank and First Citizens Bank, for which he has prosecuted over 50 foreclosure actions with a total asset value of $500m. From the New York office, of counsel Steven Lutt advised GID Investment Advisers in connection with two large-scale development joint ventures in Brazil.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s ten-partner real estate team has good national coverage, with an office presence in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Corey Tessler chairs the practice, and is leading ongoing advice to Deutsche Bank and its affiliates in a $94m mortgage and mezzanine financing secured by the 800-acre Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Texas. He is also acting for Royal Bank of Scotland in relation to a $80m mortgage loan secured by a mixed-use building in New York City. Christopher Murtaugh in Chicago is an ‘outstanding, well-rounded and ethical attorney’, and represented Alere Property Group in the financing, acquisition and leasing of a one million sq ft industrial distribution project in California worth $250m. Also in Chicago, Christine Graff represented Invenergy, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase in a number of significant financings and sales in the renewable energy field. Mark Henning has extensive experience in transactions, credit facilities and complex term financings.