The Legal 500

The ‘fabulous’ 11-partner team at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP predominantly operates in the New York market but also undertakes work across Illinois, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. It is considered ‘pre-eminent’ and a ‘deep’ real estate practice that is at the top of its game, mixing market-leading financing with sale-and-purchase transactions and development work. The widely acclaimed Jonathan Mechanic, who chairs the department, recently represented Condé Nast on its tentative 1 million sq ft lease at One World Trade Center. He also acted for Tishman Speyer and its affiliates on recapitalizing a segment of its Chicago property portfolio, in addition to restructuring $1.4bn of mortgage and mezzanine financing. Mechanic, Harry Silvera and Michael Barker represented a private equity investor consortium on its $3.92bn mortgage and mezzanine financing for the acquisition of the business and the assets of Extended Stay Hotels. Robert Sorin is accustomed to handling complex and high-value deals; he and Richard Leland represented Google on acquiring 111 Eighth Avenue, a 2.9 million sq ft building, as its New York headquarters. Leland, Stephen Lefkowitz and Melanie Meyers advised Forest City Ratner Companies on Brooklyn’s $4.9bn Atlantic Yards project. This 22-acre development comprises residential, commercial and community spaces and has involved participation from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Empire State Development Corporation and the City of New York. Meyers, Ross Silver and Carol Rosenthal have also been involved with numerous matters for the Hospital for Special Surgery. The real estate group is augmented by a specialist land use and zoning practice.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP’s ‘outstanding’ 30-partner team provides an ‘insightful, diligent and creative service’. This ‘very strong team’ has ‘deep industry knowledge’, is ‘very experienced and very thorough’, and is ‘second to none in real estate’. It has offices in many major metropolitan areas across the US including New York and Washington DC, as well as California, Georgia and Illinois. The ‘fantastic’ Philip Feder chairs the real estate group, and is supported by vice chairs Robert Wertheimer (‘judgment, creativity and ability to negotiate effectively’), Daniel Perlman (‘great’) and Rick Kirkbride. Feder led representation of Oaktree Capital on its acquisition – with co-investors Toll Brothers and Milestone Merchant Partners – of a $1.7bn portfolio of 200 loans and 80 properties, located across California and 17 other states, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Feder also led a seven-strong team that advised TPG Capital on purchasing from ProLogis the Catellus name and a property portfolio for $505m. Kirkbride is representing Deutsche Bank in negotiating and concluding a management agreement for a $4bn mixed-use project known as The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, and acting for SBE Entertainment on restructuring $250m of debt and equity secured on the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. Feder, Kirkbride and the highly regarded Martin Edelman are representing Dubai World on several deals, including financing and restructuring of the City Center development in Las Vegas. The team also represented Istithmar, a Dubai World entity, on the purchase and associated restructuring of the W Hotel in New York City. Atlanta-based Ted Smith prepared complex foreclosure agreements on 1,000 properties for Bank of America and 800 properties for Wells Fargo. Charles Sharbaugh has ‘great leadership skills’, ‘always put the client first’ and is a ‘good finance lawyer’; he recently represented Wells Fargo on the workout of a cross-border transaction. Perlman represented ST Residential on several matters relating to its ownership of a $4.5bn portfolio of distressed loans and real estate owned (REO) properties. Bradley Ritter and Gregory Spitzer both ‘truly understand the needs of the client and the importance of providing an insightful and responsive service in order to achieve clients’ business objectives’; they represented Google in renegotiating a lease for a data site facility. Other recommended lawyers include the ‘very strong, smart and quick’ Bruce DePaola; the ‘great technical lawyer’ Robert Keane; and the ‘excellent transactional lawyer’ Peter Olsen.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s ‘strong’ four-partner practice completed a wide array of real estate financing deals and portfolio acquisitions during 2010. Based in New York, this ‘great’ team continued to act for longstanding client Blackstone and a number of its affiliates on several significant deals. It represented Hilton Worldwide and affiliates of Blackstone on restructuring the majority of Hilton’s existing debt by converting $2.1bn debt into equity and by purchasing and retiring $1.8bn debt. It advised affiliates of Blackstone on a $2bn deal concerning its agreement to manage Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Asian real estate assets and to act as the new general partner for the Merrill Lynch Asian Real Estate Opportunity Fund. The firm also represented said affiliates on a joint venture with Emeritus and Columbia Pacific Advisors regarding a $1.3bn acquisition of a majority interest in a portfolio of 149 senior living properties located across 40 US states, as well as on a $500m equity investment in General Growth Properties. Finally, the firm advised on the acquisition of a $1bn mezzanine debt, which was secured against 14 US hotels owned by Columbia Sussex Corporation. The team also acted for The Carlyle Group to recapitalize the existing debt and equity secured against 650 Madison Avenue. Other clients include Morgan Stanley and Northwood Investors. Greg Ressa is highly regarded and is recommended along with Eric Quarfordt, who was promoted to partner in 2010.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is a ‘top-notch firm’ with real estate attorneys operating out of its offices in California, Chicago and New York. Deemed to be ‘superb in all areas’, this 16-partner department is particularly recognized as an ‘industry leader for real estate workouts’. Global practice leader Wallace Schwartz represented Société Générale Group in a complex three-party transaction concerning a 500,000 sq ft lease for its New York headquarters; and acted for BlackRock Realty Advisors on a high-value transaction involving internationally managed accounts and real estate funds. In support of the firm’s significant gaming practice, Schwartz also represented Penn National Gaming regarding gaming projects in New York, Ohio, Maryland, Kansas and Texas. The highly regarded Harvey Uris, global head of real estate finance, acted for JPMorgan Chase Bank and German American Capital on a $2bn mortgage loan origination to Paulson & Co and Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI for the acquisition of certain assets from Extended Stay. Uris also represented Toll Brothers on its acquisition of a 40% stake in AmTrust CADC Venture LLC from FDIC. The highly regarded Martha Feltenstein represented Fortress on its $1.7bn debt refinancing of Intrawest ULC and some of its affiliates. The ‘excellent’ and ‘technically strong’ Evan Levy represented Credit Suisse and its affiliate Column Financial on multiple bankruptcy and restructuring matters regarding credit facilities and loans secured on hotels, condominiums and casinos. Levy also represented Wynn Resorts on refinancing $1.7bn of mortgage notes, and on the modification and extension of a $782m syndicated bank credit facility secured against Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas Casinos and Hotels. Benjamin Needell’s judgment and technical skills are of the ‘highest order’; he recently represented Larry Silverstein on the $2.6bn Liberty bond financing of the new third and fourth towers at the World Trade Center site. The highly regarded Neil Rock represented RREEF America REIT III and RREEF Global Opportunities Fund II on the restructuring of certain debt facilities. Meryl Chae represented Nationwide Health Properties in a $1.75bn transaction with Pacific Medical Buildings, which included the acquisition of a portfolio of medical office buildings and a 50% interest in a property management company. Allan Mutchnik – who is outside counsel to Harbor Freight Tools and Activision Blizzard – is recommended, as is Vered Rabia.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s dynamic real estate group fields ten partners and is suitably equipped to move with changing market conditions. Operating from New York, Washington DC and California, the team has been busy advising on sovereign wealth fund transactions, forming real estate opportunity funds and acquiring real estate advisory companies. The practice’s expertise encompasses debt restructuring, acquisitions and dispositions, and distressed and strategic debt purchases as well as capital markets and funds work. The highly regarded Joseph Shenker and Anthony Colletta worked alongside Hydee Feldstein to advise Apollo Global Real Estate, one of the lead mezzanine debt holders, on the mortgage and mezzanine CMBS debt restructuring of Hilton Worldwide. Colletta and Arthur Adler represented Goldman Sachs, as the junior debt holder, on the workout of debt secured on the Planet Hollywood resort and casino in Las Vegas. On the borrower front, the firm represented the Mara and Tisch families on refinancing part of the debt on the $1.6bn joint venture development project for New Meadowlands Stadium. The team acted for Pershing Square and Fairholme Funds on their $3.8bn joint venture investment in General Growth Properties to facilitate its emergence from bankruptcy. Adler also led a team that represented Toys “R” Us on its two public issuances of an aggregate $2bn secured and unsecured high-yield bonds involving 488 properties. Other representations included acting for key client Vornado Realty Trust on its sale of $660m worth of ten-year mortgage notes in a single-issuer securitization, with 40 Midwest shopping centers as collateral. The firm also successfully defended Vornado in litigation against Donald Trump regarding the sale of Manhattan’s Riverside South properties.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz’s high-end real estate practice operates as an adjunct to the firm’s 25-member corporate group. The team, comprising partners Stephen Gellman and Robin Panovka plus eight other attorneys, routinely represents some of the most powerful clients on large and complex deals across the US and is renowned for its REITs M&A and transactional work. The team represented Simon Property Group on several major matters including its proposed $6.2bn acquisition of Capital Shopping Centers Group plc; its $31.6bn offer to acquire General Growth Properties; and its $2.3bn acquisition of Prime Outlets Inc. The practice acted for Ventas on its $2bn acquisition of Sunrise Senior Living REIT and on its pending $3.1bn acquisition of Atria’s senior housing portfolio. The firm continues to advise Sunrise Senior Living on ongoing restructuring matters. It acted for joint venture partners Tishman Speyer and Lehman Brothers on the $22.2bn acquisition of the leading apartment company Archstone-Smith. The team continues to represent Silverstein Properties, an important and longstanding client, on matters relating to the redevelopment at the World Trade Center. The team represented Morgan Stanley on multiple deals in 2010, but one deal of particular note was its involvement in the Revel project, a large casino and hotel development in Atlantic City. Other key deals included representing Kimco Realty Corporation on its $4bn acquisition of Pan Pacific Retail Properties; acting for Reckson Associates Realty Corporation on its $6.2bn sale to SL Green Realty Corporation; and representing Public Storage on its $5bn hostile acquisition of Shurgard Self Storage. The team also advised The Mills Corporation on its $7.9bn sale to Simon-Farallon and acted for Innkeepers USA on its $1.5bn sale to Apollo. Other clients include Starwood, Four Seasons Hotels, Penn National Gaming and Hometown America.

William McInerney leads Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s commercial finance and capital markets driven real estate team, which includes eight partners located in Washington DC, Charlotte and New York. The team is particularly strong on the securitized lending front, although the economic downturn has reduced that line of work, and it remained active with restructuring and new deals. It represented JPMorgan Chase on a number of key transactions, including a post-bankruptcy $2bn financing of the Extended Stay Hotel chain and the restructuring of a $2bn bridge loan facility to an affiliate of Centro Properties Group. The practice also acted for a syndicate of lenders, comprising 26 banks, on the restructuring of $22bn of debt in connection with the acquisition of Hilton Worldwide; and for another syndicate of lenders on the restructuring of $1bn debt involving Harrah’s Casino. Also, the team represented Wells Fargo and Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the financing of Dividend Capital’s $1.6bn acquisition of the iStar credit-tenant office portfolio. In a novel transaction involving CMBS and tax-exempt Liberty bonds, the group advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan Chase Bank on a $1.3bn financing secured on One Bryant Park, a prominent office tower in New York. The team also completed various transactions for HSBC, Westbrook Partners and Royal Bank of Scotland. James Hassan is a ‘terrific’, ‘excellent’ transactional attorney, while John Zizzo demonstrates strong industry knowledge and an ‘ability to evaluate – and provide a strategic perspective – even in the most complex of situations’.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s New York-based, five-partner team provides a ‘fantastic level of service’ and has both a national and international footprint. Its recent work includes distressed real estate investment, innovative loan restructuring transactions and new lending and development projects. It also has a deep private equity practice. Michael Weinberger, who has an ‘exceptional knowledge base’, recently represented Maiden Lane and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in connection with Extended Stay Hotels’ Chapter 11 filing. He also represented Colony Capital and Och-Ziff as lenders on the mezzanine loan origination of Extended Stay Hotels’ bankruptcy exit financing. Steven Wilner and Kimberly Brown Blacklow acted for Istithmar – an affiliate of Dubai World – on the complex restructuring of $800m secured on the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Hotel. Steven Horowitz and Wilner also successfully advised Genting New York LLC on a competitive bid process with the New York State Division of Lottery for the development of an entertainment destination with 4,525 video lottery terminals at the Aqueduct Race Track in Jamaica, Queens. The team represents Goldman Sachs on a regular basis; one recent transaction involved the restructuring of $4.5bn senior and mezzanine financing secured on properties leased to Karstadt department store chain. Weinberger and Blacklow also advised Goldman Sachs on loans made to, and the bankruptcy of, General Growth Properties. The team has a sizeable book of business relating to Latin America. Other key clients include Whitehall Funds, TPG Capital and Citigroup.

Dechert LLP’s 80-attorney real estate team operates from offices in New York, Hartford, Charlotte, Boston, Philadelphia, Orange County and San Francisco. This ‘knowledgeable, creative and business-friendly’ team ‘does not unnecessarily overstaff transactions’, and is praised for its high level of professionalism. Laura Ciabarra recently represented junior investors on the restructuring of Blackstone’s acquisition of Hilton Worldwide, which resulted in the retirement of $1.8bn of debt and the conversion of $2.1bn of junior mezzanine debt to preferred equity. Ciabarra also advised the investment arm of a foreign government on its $1bn financing of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and represented the investment arm of a foreign government in litigation related to its $4.4bn financing of the Peter Cooper-Stuyvesant Town project in New York. David Forti acted for Fortress Investment Group and Flagler Development Group in a traditional real estate transaction involving the origination and standalone securitization of a $460m fixed-rate mortgage loan provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Forti represented H/2 Capital Partners on its acquisition of the B piece of JPMorgan Chase’s C-2 CMBS securitization, a transaction valued at $1bn and comprising 30 mortgage loans secured by 47 properties. Joseph Heil is a very active figure in the CMBS market and is representing several special servicers on various transactions valued between $500m and $1bn. He also acted for the owner-operator of around 260 nursing homes on the $1.3bn refinancing of its debt facilities. Recent arrival Laura Swihart, who joined from Winston & Strawn LLP, bolstered the group’s structured finance capabilities and experience in securitization, loan acquisition and disposition, leveraged financing and loan origination.

Gibson Dunn has a broad national presence with real estate attorneys working out of its offices in California, Texas, Colorado, New York and Washington DC, in addition to closing deals across the whole of the US. The ‘outstanding’ Jesse Sharf and Fred Pillon co-chair the 17-partner practice group. Sharf has a diverse practice encompassing operators and developers, lenders and investors. He and Andrew Lance completed several key property acquisitions for Rockpoint Group, including that of an office and retail project in Washington DC; a converted condominium project in Orange County; and a development project in Phoenix. Sharf also represented Paulson & Co as a participant in the acquisition out of bankruptcy of Extended Stay Hotels. Pillon represented Barclays Capital and HSBC on restructuring matters, and Pacific Coast Capital Partners on the restructuring of numerous projects, and on new equity investments and loan purchases totaling over $1bn. Lance represented German American Capital Corporation, a Deutsche Bank subsidiary, on its acquisition of an existing $250m mortgage on 3 Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Lance also represented Felcor, a large hotel REIT, on a management agreement relating to its recent acquisition of Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston. The highly regarded David Furman represented Investcorp on multiple restructuring transactions involving hotel, office and retail properties throughout the US, and acted for a $1bn fund sponsored by Investcorp Real Estate Group on the acquisition of senior loans, mezzanine loans, CMBS and B-pieces. Other clients include Wells Fargo, Oaktree Capital, Lehman Brothers and Fortress Investment Group. Los Angeles-based Drew Flowers is a ‘very strong attorney’ and a ‘strong advocate for his clients’.

Greenberg Traurig LLP’s 24 offices across the US lend its real estate practice excellent geographical coverage. The firm’s capabilities include real estate finance, fund formation, REITs, sale and purchase transactions, commercial leasing and various types of commercial property development. The firm also has FDIC-related experience and closed many loan pools in 2010. The ‘terrific’ Robert Ivanhoe chairs the 170-member team, which advises on all facets of real estate work and was bolstered by the recent addition to its Chicago and Orange County teams of several attorneys from Mayer Brown. Ivanhoe led a multi-office team advising Dividend Capital Total Realty Trust on the complex $1.4bn acquisition of a 32-property portfolio from iStar Financial. Thomas Galli, David Bolen and Kenneth Sklar represented Colony Capital in a PPP with FDIC to acquire a controlling interest in a $1.85bn portfolio containing 1,700 loans secured by commercial real estate property located throughout 25 countries. Galli and Bolen also represented Square Mile Capital on another FDIC structured transaction. James Caserio and Corey Light, who provides an ‘excellent service’, acted for Kimco Realty Corporation and its joint venture partner BIG Shopping Centers to acquire 15 shopping centers for $422m. The firm represented commercial office property investor SL Green Realty Corporation on several key deals concerning prime assets in New York. These deals included the $193m acquisition of 600 Lexington Avenue and the property’s subsequent $125m refinancing; the acquisition of 125 Park Avenue for $330m; and the purchase of the senior debt on 510 Madison Avenue. Michael Fishman is also highly regarded.

At Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, David Bryant chairs the 56-partner national real estate team that is located in the firm’s Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, New York and Charlotte offices. The team has represented many high-profile clients on high-value deals during 2010, including California National Bank on a $2bn transaction involving loan modifications, workouts and foreclosures on hospitality, condominium and land development projects. Gregory Pierce and Kenneth Jacobson represented iStar Financial on the $1.35bn sale of 32 properties to various subsidiaries of Dividend Capital Total Realty Trust, and also advised on $105.6m mezzanine loans as part of the financing. Daniel Huffenus represented JPMorgan Chase Bank with respect to $600m CMBS loans; and Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust on the recapitalization of its portfolio, which involved a significant equity raise and a $550m CMBS debt offering. Other key clients include Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corporation, Eurohypo AG and ST Residential. Recent arrivals to the team include Christina Hassan from Hogan Lovells US LLP and Alvin Katz from Mayer Brown.

James Hisiger chairs the ‘robust’ global real estate team at Latham & Watkins LLP, which clients describe as a ‘great team with great people’ who are ‘very responsive and thoughtful’. The department has experience in capital markets; leasing, acquisitions, dispositions and investments; joint ventures; financing, workouts and restructuring. Drawing upon CMBS loan and mezzanine debt expertise, Hisiger led a team advising REMIC trust, one of the largest special servicers, on the $7.4bn bankruptcy of Extended Stay Hotels. Hisiger also represented the healthcare company ManorCare on its $3.1bn recapitalization and refinancing of seven mezzanine loans and a mortgage loan, secured by 324 facilities in 34 states. Other key deals included representing NRG and Citigroup Global Markets on amended and restated mortgage-backed bank financing for multiple power-generating plants across nine states. Dara Denberg and Stephanie Kuhlen represented Caesars Entertainment Inc. on their $1bn joint venture arrangement with Rock Gaming to develop casinos in Cleveland and Ohio and both were also counsel to a joint venture for a potential gaming project in Massachusetts involving an investment by Caesars and engagement of Caesars as the gaming manager. The team has also acted for clients restructuring portfolios of senior living facilities across the US. On the lending front, Michelle Kelban represented Goldman Sachs on a fixed-rate securitized loan secured by 21 retail properties located in 14 states. The ‘respected’ Don Berger and Kim Boras also advised Goldman Sachs on various workouts and refinancing transactions for hotel sector clients; and continue to represent Deutsche Bank, as administrative agent, on the restructuring and workout of two mortgage loans totaling $900m to affiliates of General Growth Properties. Bruce Shepherd advised City Creek Reserve on the redevelopment of a mixed-use project in Utah, comprising six residential towers, 800,000 sq ft of retail stores and around 5,000 parking spaces. Dara Denberg and Stephanie Kuhlen were recently elected to the partnership.

‘Among the strongest firms, primarily because of their extensive transactional experience’, Morrison & Foerster LLP fields attorneys on both coasts who work together on deals across the US. The group includes 45 partners and is supported by a busy land use group in California. New York-based Mark Edelstein chairs the real estate finance and distressed real estate practice and co-chairs the firm’s global real estate group with Los Angeles-based Marc Young. Edelstein, Christopher Delson and John McCarthy represented co-agents Bank of America and Bank of New York Mellon on the highly complex, multi-tier structured refinancing of Bank of America’s new headquarters, which involved a $1.3bn Liberty bond commercial construction loan. Edelstein, Brett Miller and Larren Nashelsky are representing Eurohypo AG and a multi-lender steering committee on the restructuring of loans to, and bankruptcy of, General Growth Properties; and represented Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo on various matters related to the Extended Stay Hotels bankruptcy. The team widely advises JPMorgan Chase, including on the financing and restructuring of its $1.1bn revolving credit and letter of credit facility to Lennar Corporation. Edelstein and Young also represented the client on the restructuring and enforcement of a $635m land acquisition and development loan to a consortium of major public and private homebuilders for a master-planned community in Nevada. Peter Aitelli represented Brookfield Asset Management in the restructuring and foreclosure of a $240m mortgage loan secured by a 42-story “class A” office building in San Francisco. In litigation, Thomas Fileti, Henry Fields and Seth Hufstedler defended MGM Mirage in an action brought by its joint venture partner Dubai World concerning the $8bn CityCenter project in Las Vegas. Other clients include Credit Suisse, RIDA Development and Hines. Philip Levine is ‘smart, humble, quick and precise’ with an ‘unbelievable memory for details and an ability to get to the point quickly’.

At Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, the highly regarded Steven Simkin heads an ‘excellent’, five-partner team based in New York that advises clients on deals in various states, including New York, Ohio, Texas, California and Tennessee. The team exhibits ‘strong industry knowledge’. The ‘very analytically minded’ Peter Fisch represented Prime Outlets Acquisition Company, a portfolio company of The Lightstone Group, on the $2.3bn sale of its outlet shopping center business to Simon Property Group. Harris Freidus acted for joint venture owners of the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel on its out-of-court $840m restructuring settlement. Simkin and Fisch recently represented SL Green Realty Corporation on a $500m transaction involving a joint venture recapitalization of the office building at 1775 Broadway, a site also known as 3 Columbus Circle. Simkin and Fisch also represented Citigroup Global Markets in litigation against subsidiaries of The Pyramid Companies concerning mortgage and mezzanine loans secured by the Carousel Center Mall in Syracuse, New York. Meredith Kane acted for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on a $1bn deal involving the sale of airspace over its 26-acre West Side Railyards. The firm also represented Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center regarding its proposed development of a large and unique facility for New York State’s first proton center to treat cancer patients.

Sidley Austin LLP has a national practice focusing on capital markets and finance orientated elements of the real estate industry. During the economic downturn the firm utilized its strong bankruptcy practice to support the emergence of a complex workout practice. Overall, more than 80 attorneys provide an ‘outstanding service’ from seven offices across Illinois, New York, Texas, California and Washington DC. Marc Hayutin, Lee Smolen and Alan Weil co-chair the global real estate group. Mark Poole – ‘prompt, practical, efficient and reasonable’ – and Martin Gold represented Delta Air Lines in a PPP concerning the development of three terminals at John F Kennedy International Airport. The project is to be funded with $825m tax-exempt bonds issued by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey; federal Transportation Security Administration funds; passenger facility charges; and funds from the company. Weil acted for the City of New York on the transfer of control of Brooklyn Bridge Park from an entity controlled by the State of New York and on the negotiation of long-term ground leases for the park. He also represented Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on forming a joint venture with SL Green Realty Corporation and on the acquisition of 600 Lexington Avenue. Smolen, John Rafkin, James Seery, Paul Walker, Bruce Fraser and Philip Spahn all represented Wells Fargo Bank on transactions during 2010, including restructurings and foreclosures. These included a successful $1.4bn restructuring transaction involving collateral consisting of a portfolio of Chicago office buildings; and a successful $1.5bn restructuring transaction secured by 25 hotel properties across the US. Smolen and Michael Gordon represented Starwood Capital on the $509m acquisition from Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America of a portfolio of mortgage loans and B-notes secured on retail shopping centers and office buildings in ten states. Other clients include RREEF America LLC, Credit Suisse and NorthStar Realty Finance.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s real estate group is co-chaired by the New York pair of Philip Rosen and Michael Bond. Bond represented Lehman Brothers, as debtor-in-possession, in a multibillion-dollar restructuring involving commercial real estate assets. Rosen, Malcolm Landau and Frederick Green represented General Growth Properties on various matters during its bankruptcy including the $8.5bn recapitalization transaction involving Brookfield Asset Management, Fairholme Capital Management and Pershing Square Capital Management. The team also created a unique restructuring plan to handle the stack of mezzanine debt held by Extended Stay Hotels and its affiliates, which allowed the client to emerge from bankruptcy under the ownership of a group led by Centerbridge Partners, Paulson & Co, and affiliates of The Blackstone Group. Rosen also recently represented Trump Entertainment Resorts in a high-profile bankruptcy reorganization of a casino; the reorganization plan came into effect by way of a successful confirmation hearing, demonstrating the firm’s capabilities in litigation. New clients of the group include Centro Retail Trust, Tishman Speyer and NorthStar Investments.

Eugene Pinover and Steven Klein co-chair Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s real estate department. The five-partner team, which includes newly promoted David Drewes, represents a wide array of clients including developers, public and private companies, institutional investors, banks, private equity sponsors and hedge funds. The team is advising Brookfield Asset Management on its sponsorship of a standalone plan of reorganization of General Growth Properties, which involves the bankruptcy court permitting it to enter into investment agreements with Pershing Square Capital Management, Fairholme Capital Management and also a Brookfield affiliate. The team is also representing one of the leading bidders in the sale process for Centro Properties Group, a transaction that is expected to be one of the largest in 2011. It is also acting for Citigroup on two significant deals: advising the client on its position relating to its $6.5bn CMBS and mezzanine loan to Harrah’s, and on its $880m mortgage loan commitment to a consortium led by Starwood Capital concerning the Extended Stay Hotel portfolio auction. The team represented a consortium of private equity funds on the restructuring of its $1bn senior mortgage debt relating to the construction of Meadowlands Xanadu shopping and entertainment center. The team has completed several complex transactions for Sunrise Senior Living in 2010 including the restructuring of multiple exiting loan agreements and joint venture agreements – both for standalone assets and asset portfolios – all with the view of streamlining its operations and focusing its efforts on core assets. The team represented DiamondRock Hospitality on a number of debt and equity asset acquisitions and worked for a real estate investment firm on two recapitalizations totaling $600m involving the trophy buildings 650 Madison Avenue and 6 Times Square. The team is also representing a group of private equity funds regarding a proposed $1.1bn acquisition of timeshare loans. The firm also advised longstanding client Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Boston Properties and new client King Street Capital Management.

Arent Fox LLP’s 35-partner real estate group is based in Washington DC and New York. Clients regard the team as ‘superlative, highly professional and extremely good value for money’, as well as ‘responsive and very knowledgeable about the myriad of issues facing a real estate developer’. Keith Styles and Kimberly Wachen co-chair the Washington DC team, while David Dubrow and the ‘pragmatic, diligent and tenacious’ Jacqueline Weiss share the lead in New York. Mark Katz continues to represent Goldman Sachs in various real estate transactions including acquisitions, development and dispositions of commercial single assets and portfolios, and on the workout and restructuring of sub-performing and non-performing loans. One particular deal involved the recapitalization of a six-asset, multi-family portfolio located in four states and valued at $246m. The team has niche expertise regarding sports arenas, and David Osnos and Richard Brand continue to represent the Pollin family, owner of the Washington Wizards NBA franchise and a client of the firm for over 50 years, on all real estate matters. The firm recently represented the family on selling its majority interest in Washington Sports & Entertainment Limited Partnership to Lincoln Holdings. The firm’s strength in the leisure and hospitality field saw Wachen and Joseph Fries called on to represent Marriott International on several developments, financing and joint venture related deals around the US. Gerard Leval represented RLJ Development, a major hotel and real estate developer, on approximately 150 transactions totaling $3bn including multiple hotel acquisitions and financing. Drawing upon the team’s experience in the senior living and long-term care sector, the team represented Sunrise Senior Living – a longstanding client – on the $204m sale of 21 assisted living communities in 11 states to an affiliate of Brookdale Senior Living. The New York-based team recently advised Fannie Mae on its participation in the Obama administration’s $25bn plan to stabilize the US housing market.

Patricia Stanton succeeded senior counsel Marley Lott as head of Baker Botts L.L.P.’s real estate department. Meanwhile, Fred Dunlop now practices under the title of senior counsel and Jeremy Gott was promoted to partner. Clients commend the team for its ‘excellent work’, ‘responsiveness’ and ability to act as ‘business advisers when needed’. Paul Landen represented Master Development LLC in a PPP involving the development of CityCenterDC, a 2.5 million sq ft mixed-use project in Washington DC. Stanton represented regular client Hines on construction financing and development for 300 North LaSalle, a 60-story “class A” office tower in Chicago. The financing was provided in the form of a traditional first lien loan from a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase and a mezzanine loan from another source. After development, the firm’s remit expanded to the subsequent sale of the property, which was purchased by a REIT sponsored by KBS Realty Advisors. Jonathan Dunlay represented BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate on its development and leasing at its new 470,000 sq ft cancer center in Dallas. Clients also recommend Robert Wright.

Michael Sklaroff chairs Ballard Spahr LLP’s 56-partner real estate group, which shows ‘commitment to excellence’ when advising clients on acquisition, financing, leasing, disposition and restructuring transactions. Clients say the group’s ‘business acumen and industry knowledge is at the highest level’, and that its ‘overall level of service is unparalleled’. This ‘first-rate’ team is located throughout the firm’s offices in Utah, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Nevada, California, New Jersey, Washington DC, Maryland and Arizona, providing excellent geographical coverage. Nicole Evans in Salt Lake City was recently promoted to partner, while Joanne Phillips rejoined the Philadelphia office as a partner after spending four years as Director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Real Estate. A team led by Fred Wolf represented CGA Capital Corporation on a PPP relating to lease-backed financing for the new $4.76bn, 1.5 million sq ft National Nuclear Security Administration in Missouri. Also on the PPP front, Paul Casey led a team which represented the New York City Housing Authority on a transaction involving financing for the modernization of around 20,000 public housing units and annual federal subsidies for 11,743 units located across New York. The team has experience on Chapter 11 bankruptcies and as court-appointed receivers. Kelly Wrenn is a rising star.

The ‘very creative and results-orientated’ real estate team at Bingham McCutchen LLP demonstrates ‘excellent technical expertise’ and is ‘very responsive’. The 60-attorney group is spread across the firm’s California, Connecticut, Washington DC, Massachusetts and New York offices, and handles the full spectrum of real estate work including land use and construction matters. Carol Dillon led a California-based team which represented two hospital organizations on the construction of the new 600-bed Stanford Hospital and the $600m expansion of the Lucile Packard Children’s hospital. Frank Appicelli represented The Hartford on a number of dispositions involving $1bn of structured loans secured by office, retail, resort and hospitality properties located throughout the US. Jeffrey Smith led on the representation of TIAA, one of the largest real estate lenders in the US, on two transactions involving multiple affiliates of General Growth Properties. The first concerned the refinancing of a portfolio of mortgage and mezzanine loans and the second the restructuring of junior mortgage “B” loans and mezzanine loans in line with the confirmed reorganization plan arising out of the clients’ Chapter 11 filing. The team also represented UBS Realty Investors on a number of equity and mortgage loan investments, and Wells Fargo on its secured financing of the Valencia Water Company based in California. The Washington DC team represented a private REIT on a $585m revolving loan secured by 81 properties, and acted for a major financial institution on a $270m workout of nine loans secured by various asset classes. The Massachusetts team advised CB Richard Ellis Investors on several multi-family apartment acquisitions throughout the US. The ‘exceptional’ and ‘extremely effective’ Richard Fries led a New York team that represented Citibank on several high-value workout and restructuring transactions across the country.

Bryan Cave LLP’s impressive geographic footprint reaches across Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, California, Arizona, Missouri, New York and Washington DC. The 44-partner team provides services regarding all aspects of real estate ownership, transactions, capital markets and financing. Practice head Ronald Emanuel is an ‘excellent deal maker’, who has ‘very good business sense’ and ‘well honed legal skills’. This ‘very responsive’ team is able to ‘handle the most complicated transactions’ and represented Och-Ziff Real Estate and its affiliates on dozens of transactions including high-value asset and debt acquisitions, joint venture arrangements and restructurings. Lawrence Gottesman is representing LNR Partners and Berkadia Commercial Mortgages as the special servicers of $4bn of securitized commercial mortgages pursuing subsidiaries of General Growth Properties. It is also representing LNR Partners as special servicer of $160m of securitized commercial mortgages relating to the Innkeepers USA bankruptcy. Emanuel and Lars Lagerman acted for an institutional lender on the $550m sale of its resort portfolio, comprising defaulted timeshare loans made to project sponsors. Sandor Green is representing AIMCo, a longstanding client and one of the largest REITs in the US, on its sale of 35 multi-family residential properties across 16 states. Stephen Sparks is advising the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Kansas City and the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority of Kansas City on a PPP involving the $700m financing of the National Nuclear Security Agency campus under development in the city.

DLA Piper LLP has real estate lawyers in 13 offices across the US, with the largest teams located in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and New York. ‘Terrific lawyer’ Jay Epstein chairs the 89-partner practice group. The team produces an overall excellent level of service and its members go ‘above and beyond the call of duty’. A significant deal for the firm is its continued involvement in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a matter on which Jeff Keitelman is leading a team of nearly 60 attorneys. This team recently advised the client on the restructuring of its transaction with Silverstein Properties for the phasing and financing of three office towers on the eastern half of the site. Keitelman possesses ‘excellent business sense’ and ‘has a keen sense for developing and negotiating strategies’. Andrew Levy represented International Commercial Bank of China on its $355m financing of 650 Madison Avenue, the first loan closing under its new mortgage loan platform, for an entity owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition and The Carlyle Group. Epstein and a number of attorneys in Boston represented joint venture partners Elbit Imaging, Plaza Centers NV and Eastgate Capital Group on the $116m acquisition of Macquarie DDR Trust, which owns a portfolio of 78 retail properties across the US. Edward Goldman represented Hines Interests on the £655m sale of 300 North LaSalle in Chicago to KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II. Other clients include Archstone, New York Life Insurance Company and Tishman Speyer Properties. In addition to lawyers mentioned above, Richard Mendelson is recommended for his dedication to his clients and his ‘excellent business acumen, industry trend knowledge and the appropriateness of his advice’. Ross Green is ‘extremely intelligent’, ‘sharp’ and a ‘great problem-solver’. Kim Pagotto was promoted to partner in January 2011.

At Debevoise & Plimpton, the ‘top-notch’ Steven Alden chairs the real estate group, which is regarded as a ‘go-to option for the toughest of transactions’. This three-partner team provides service which is ‘excellent in every way’ and handles complex dispositions and acquisitions, restructurings and workouts, fund formation and financing transactions for institutional and fund-based investors, lenders and borrowers. It represented Tishman Speyer on the $525m sale of the New York Times building, and TIAA on its $480m sale of two New York City trophy buildings. The group completed several transactions for Westfield America including advising on its joint venture with Prudential Assurance on the $520m refinancing of Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping mall. The team also closed multiple deals for Beacon Capital Partners including its acquisition and subsequent refinancing of the John Hancock Tower in Boston and its $990m joint venture acquisition of a portfolio of 12 properties in Virginia. The team also regularly represents UBS Wealth Management and JPMorgan Investment Management on acquisitions. Other clients include Bear Stearns, the Rockefeller Group, Deutsche Bank Real Estate and Broadway Partners. Nicole Mesard ‘provides great commercial advice’ and is ‘especially excellent on financing transactions’. Peter Irwin is ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ and ‘a skilled negotiator’; clients say ‘his judgment, attention to detail, and attentiveness are unparalleled’.

Stuart Saft is the new real estate global practice head at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, where the 12-partner team provides ‘best-in-class legal services’ and ‘a much higher level of personal attention’ than most competitors. The group operates from New York and Washington DC, and is conversant with acquisition, disposition, development, conversion, land use, financing, leasing, and workout transactions. The practice has formed two specialty teams to assist clients when an economic downturn or disaster occurs. Recent highlights include Saft’s handling of the due diligence for MetLife’s $18bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Corporation, and representing the owners of The Apthorp on the $1.06bn renovation and conversion to condominium status of a landmark, mixed-use property in Manhattan. Stephen MacDonald represented TIAA on a $151m loan secured by mortgages on the Graybar Building in New York. Other clients include O’Connor Capital, The Moinian Group and Square Mile Capital.

Douglas Danzig chairs Fulbright & Jaworski LLP’s 16-partner real estate group, which is predominantly located in several offices in Texas, as well as offices in New York, California, Missouri and Colorado. James Summers, among others, represented Alamo Cement Company, a US subsidiary of Buzzi Unicem SpA, on its $20m acquisition of raw materials and on a $20m joint venture involving the construction of an above-ground, seven-mile mining and conveyor system and processing facility. William Sing, Shelley Poore and Bryce Seki acted for Amegy Bank National Association on several transactions, including the sale and partial leaseback of a $1.7bn office building, and the $500m-plus sale of a commercial tract of land. Summers and John Jennings are representing Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing NA on the construction and phase two development of a vehicle manufacturing plant and an associated on-site supplier park in San Antonio. Summers and Katherine Tapley represented Mays Investment on its $300m acquisition of a large commercial real estate portfolio in San Antonio. A large team advised The Lynd Corporate on forming a $300m joint venture with The Baupost Group to purchase non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate assets, and thereafter on subsequent activities.

Goodwin Procter LLP’s real estate group has ‘excellent industry knowledge and acumen’, and is ‘instrumental in getting deals done’. The 23-partner team services the full spectrum of real estate clients including public and private owners, lenders and developers on a wide range of real estate transactions including fund formation, restructurings and workouts, finance, PPPs and leasing. Christopher Barker represented three Rockwood funds and their joint venture partners on the $725m auction sale to a public REIT of five large data centers in California, Arizona and Virginia. Andrew Sucoff represented Kimco Realty Corporation on the formation of two new joint ventures with international institutional capital partners in an $800m transaction that effectively took a public REIT private. Alexander Randall is representing Normandy Real Estate Partners on the leasing of the 1.4 million sq ft John Hancock Tower, Boston’s tallest building. John Ferguson acted for Brookfield Global Real Estate in structuring and implementing an investor consortium and on the consortium’s acquisition of defaulted debt secured by a portfolio of 20 Tishman Speyer office buildings in Washington DC. Lewis Feldman exhibits ‘true leadership’ skills and is recommended along with Dean Pappas, who is ‘very experienced in joint venture and acquisitions work’ and ‘very responsive’.

In addition to its three Texas offices, Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. now has an East Coast presence following the opening of its New York office, which is staffed with 17 real estate attorneys predominantly hired from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. San Antonio-based Steven Waters heads the real estate practice, and he represented USAA Real Estate Company on its $100m joint venture with a real estate opportunity fund. Stuart Mass and Noah Shapiro represented SL Green Realty Corporation on a 280,000 sq ft office lease in Manhattan. Lawrence Mittman, Carolyn Sullivan and Kenneth Friedman represented Five Mile Capital Partners on selling the John Hancock Tower in Boston to Boston Properties for $930m, of which $604.5m is debt. Richard Martin and Justin Switzer represented Heitman Capital Management on several transactions in Texas, including the leasing of office and retail properties; the acquisition of a $20m office building; the restructuring of an office project; and the disposition of two office projects. The firm’s client roster includes CB Richard Ellis, Silverstone Capital Group and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds.

Holland & Knight LLP offers a ‘top-quality service’ and has an extensive geographic reach across the US through its 18 offices, which span both coasts. Janis Boyarsky Schiff heads the 140-partner department, which is one of the largest teams in the US, providing real estate clients with a full service and particularly notable expertise in the hotel and timeshare sectors; the team also advises on land use and zoning. This ‘very strong’ practice is ‘one that works well for small businesses’, as well as for larger ones. A team led by Susan Booth represented Digital Realty Trust on its $375m acquisition of three data centers in Massachusetts and Connecticut, among many other transactions for this client. Schiff and Tara Scanlon led a team that represented Roadside Development on a $260m mixed-use redevelopment involving the historic O Street Market in Washington DC. Martin Miner acted for JetBlue Airways on its 220,000 sq ft sublease from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The highly regarded Bruce Loring is praised for his ‘hands-on, personal and superior service’, and his ‘proactive’ approach. Ken Kecskes is ‘wonderful to work with’ and ‘very responsive’.

The ‘sharp’ and ‘adept’ Robert Lee and David Lowery co-chair the 28-partner practice at Jones Day, which ‘inspires confidence in clients’, consistently ‘delivers a superior service’, and provides ‘prompt, useful and on-target advice’. The team represents lenders, borrowers, owners, funds and developers and operates across the firm’s Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC offices. Recent arrival Richard White is an expert on CMBS and special servicer work. Robert Gibney, David Paulson, Steve Koppel (‘true depth of industry knowledge’), Aviva Yakren (‘superb’) and the highly regarded Brian Sedlak are representing Wells Fargo on over 40 restructuring and workout transactions totaling over $1bn. The ‘experienced, calm and insightful’ Kent Richey provides ‘very clear and concise advice’, and recently advised the management team of GreenOak Real Estate on forming a new real estate fund. Another significant deal for the team was its representation of Citibank on a transaction where it credit-enhanced two bond proceed-financed loans made by the New York City Housing Association to two LLCs for 21 public housing developments, consisting of 20,000 apartments. Other key transactions included representing Trammell Crow Residential on over $900m of development financing for various projects; Madison Square Garden on its $1bn redevelopment; and Meadowlands Development on leasing of its $3bn New Jersey retail and entertainment complex. Lee and Michael Haas also advised Clairvue Capital Partners on forming a $250m fund. Other clients include JPMorgan Chase, Simon Property Group and Wachovia. James Francque is also recommended.

Kaye Scholer LLP’s nine-partner team is conversant with a wide range of real estate finance matters, and is co-led by the ‘experienced, hardworking, and practical’ Warren Bernstein and the highly regarded Stephen Gliatta. The group ‘stands out for its level of expertise and delivery of services’, and is ‘very responsive, up to date on latest trends, very creative and user-friendly’. Gliatta, together with the ‘uniquely talented’ Jeannie Bionda and the ‘excellent’ Louis Hait, advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch on its $2bn mortgage and mezzanine loan in relation to the Extended Stay Hotels bankruptcy. The team also represented The Bank of Nova Scotia as agent of a lender syndicate on the successful restructuring of a $580m credit facility and creation of a $30m working capital facility relating to a portfolio comprising 21 office properties in Washington DC. Bernstein and Aaron Lehrfield represented a group of banks on the restructuring of a $325m senior housing portfolio loan provided to a joint venture between a public senior housing company and a private investor. The team also advised Capmark Finance Group in a bankruptcy case involving Georgetown Mall in Washington DC; a syndicate of lenders on providing new financing for 300 Park Avenue; and Deutsche Bank on the $200m financing of a regional mall in Arizona. Michael Damast and colleagues represented Loan Core Capital on its acquisition of more than $500m of senior and mezzanine debt, and UBS on the sale of $800m of whole loans, participation interests and mezzanine loans.

Sarah Borders heads King & Spalding LLP’s real estate team, which is based across the Atlanta, New York, Charlotte, Houston and San Francisco offices. The 19-partner practice generally represents developers and owners, funds and institutions regarding capital markets, financing, refinancing and fund formation matters. Borders represented a resort and golf course developer on all elements of its Chapter 11 case, including a $1bn restructuring transaction and the sale of the business under a reorganization plan; and AIG Baker and its affiliates on the restructuring and sale of its multi-state portfolio involving $1bn of indebtedness. Timothy Sullivan and Timothy Goodwin represented Morgan Stanley and its $7bn Prime Property Fund, via its AMLI Residential platform, on several types of transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings and financings totaling $1bn. Clay Gibson represented KanAm Grund on multiple sale transactions involving two regional malls in California and Tennessee and nine office buildings in Washington DC, Minneapolis, Texas and Nevada. GE Capital Real Estate and Post Apartment Homes are also clients of the firm.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s real estate team includes 12 partners based in Chicago and New York. The team ‘always provides a top-rate product on a tight timetable’ and ‘possesses deep knowledge of the real estate industry’. The highly regarded team is representing Anglo Irish Bank on a $637m A/B loan secured by a portfolio of 20 hotels, and on the recapitalization of the portfolio by the original equity sponsor; he also acted for Archstone on its $5bn debt-for-equity conversion. Robert Buday, who is ‘masterful in joint venture analysis and negotiations’, represented CenterPoint Properties Trust on the negotiation and formation of a joint venture for the acquisition and development of a $750m industrial complex involving multiple office and research buildings for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Buday also advised Charter Hall Group on the acquisition of Macquarie Group’s listed real estate fund management business involving A$7bn of real estate located in seven countries. Gary Axelrod represented various affiliates of General Growth Properties on restructuring the entity’s entire $15bn project-level indebtedness. Nathaniel Marrs and the ‘intelligent and business-savvy’ Jennifer Morgan have been working on fund formation. Other clients include LaSalle Investment Management.

Jay Neveloff and Michael Korotkin co-chair Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP’s five-partner team, which handles a wide range of real estate and land use and zoning matters. It is ‘one of the most efficient and effective teams’ and ‘extremely well versed in the intricacies of real estate law from the technical to the practical’. Among recent highlights for the team was its representation of Forest City Ratner Companies in all the litigation arising from the project at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn. Neveloff, a ‘very seasoned real estate lawyer who is able to resolve issues innovatively’, represented the owner of The New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on its $1bn sale; and Starwood Hotels on its $117m sale of the retail portion of St Regis Hotel in New York. Korotkin, who exhibits ‘legal knowledge, business acumen, intelligence and strategic skills’, represented Muss Development and Onex Realty on developing the $1bn SkyView complex in Flushing, New York, which includes 800,000 sq ft of retail space and 1,100 apartments. Korotkin also represented the Alexico Group on financing, refinancing, acquisition and development transactions for various sites in Manhattan. On the workout and restructuring front, the ‘thoughtful, creative and detail-oriented’ James Godman represented Hypo Real Estate Capital on several transactions including a $435m restructuring involving a mixed-use project in Brooklyn; a $405m mortgage loan; and a $50m mezzanine loan involving a mixed-use project in Manhattan. Neil Tucker and Jonathan Canter are also recommended.

At Mayer Brown, the highly regarded Jeffrey Usow and Keith Willner chair the firm’s Americas real estate group. This ‘excellent’ 60-attorney team is based in offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York, Charlotte and Houston. Frank Arado, who is ‘very helpful with big-picture issues and advice’, advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a longstanding client, as administrative agent on the syndicated financing of a large public retail outlet valued at $500m. Strong negotiator Neil Wasserstrom and Brian Aronson represented Digital Realty Trust on its $750m acquisition of five data centers in California, Virginia and Arizona, and represented one of CB Richard Ellis Investors’ funds on its $128m acquisition of four office buildings. Paul Meyer and Patrick McNerney represented the senior management on the transfer, via reverse merger, of the shares of Lillibridge Healthcare Real Estate Trust and LHP B Trust to Ventas and its affiliates. The team advised Wachovia on restructuring a $155m mezzanine loan, and represented Cabot Properties in its $115m acquisition of nine industrial properties located in four states. Another significant deal for the team was its recent representation of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company on a $160m loan origination, secured by the signature waterfront property Washington Harbour, to an affiliate of Rockpoint and MRP. Despite several partner departures, the firm remains an important player in the real estate market. Jason Sito, Lawrence Knowles, Frank Henneburg and Timothy Choppin are recommended.

John Engel heads Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s practice, which grew following the arrival of five new attorneys – including Marc Shapiro and Jill Block – from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. The department works closely with other practice groups to ensure a full service. Marjorie Fisher recently led a multidisciplinary team on a client’s acquisition of 150 gas stations in Washington DC. Robert Herr and Rachel Horsch represented Shorenstein Properties on a number of significant transactions totaling $1bn, including the sale of its CityCenter portfolio to CB Richard Ellis Investors. Herr and Horsch also represented the same client on its acquisition from Tishman Speyer of the 210,000 sq ft Santa Clara Towers in Silicon Valley. James Rishwain and William Waller are advising Fifth Street, a partnership between CalPERS and CommonWealth Partners, on its plans to invest $1bn in urban office real estate projects globally. Wendelin White and Diane Shapiro Richer recently advised a client on its $61m sale of a 244-unit apartment block in Washington DC. Lee Carter has a niche practice in the field of military housing. The team also has joint venture, leasing, foreclosure and PPP experience.

The ‘excellent’ Proskauer Rose LLP has a multi-dimensional real estate team, which provides a full service including traditional real estate, finance and leasing. The 11-partner team is located in New York, California and Florida. Co-chair David Weinberger and senior counsel Craig Masheb represented Harbor Group International on its $100m purchase of 4 New York Plaza and subsequent leasing; and on its $150m purchase of 1412 Broadway. Co-chair Ronald Sernau and Masheb represented Hines Interests on its $190m sale of 600 Lexington Avenue to SL Green Realty Corporation. The team completed several deals for CB Richard Ellis, including the construction and development of several multi-family projects in California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia; and on a $1.5bn transaction involving asset management, restructuring and workout assistance in multiple states including Nevada and Florida.

Paul Mattingly chairs Seyfarth Shaw’s ‘excellent’ real estate practice, which provides a ‘very professional service with a good balance between seasoned veteran partners and highly able associates’; the team gives ‘clear and concise advice’. In addition to core groups in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and New York, the team also fields attorneys in California and Washington DC. The team displays ‘depth of knowledge’, responsiveness and ‘reasonable pricing’. It handles high-value workouts and real estate loan origination for a number of longstanding institutional clients. During 2010, the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Andrew Pearlstein and Andrew Shure represented 7-Eleven regarding a strategic transaction aimed at expediting its leasing program. The ‘astute’ Alvin Kruse and Gus Paloian are acting for the Special Assets Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the workout and enforcement of commercial real estate loans secured on various asset classes. The ‘excellent’ Dean Heller represented Washington Holdings Structured Finance on converting a subordinated secured debt interest in the St Regis Monarch Bay Resort and Spa in California into fee title, as well as on subsequent restructuring of the senior secured debt and acquisition of additional property rights. Ronald Gart adopts a ‘balanced and rational approach’, and displays ‘very good legal and business acumen’; the ‘outstanding’ Mitchell Kaplan’s ‘technical expertise is unparalleled’; and Robert Bodansky is ‘able to quickly ascertain the peculiarities of a business’. Sean O’Brien, Mark Block, Steven Kennedy, Peter Korda and Adam Walsh are also recommended, while Morgan Jones recently joined the team.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s New York office houses its four-partner real estate practice, which is headed by Chris Smith. The team represents all investor classes in financing and transactions – including those of a cross-border nature – and also has a particularly strong leasing practice. John Opar represented debt and equity investors Aabar Investments PJSC and Tasameem Real Estate Company on a major construction project as part of Carnegie 57, a mixed-use development in Manhattan. Malcolm Montgomery and of counsel Peter Strauss represented Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent, on restructuring the $640m construction loan secured by The Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. Smith acted for HSBC on a $200m follow-on investment in, and expansion of, a joint venture with The Bank of New York Mellon; and 787 Holdings on the complex lease renewal of 355,000 sq ft at 787 Seventh Avenue. Other key clients include AIG Global Real Estate, Royal Bank of Canada and Shorenstein Properties.

At Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, Brian Diamond and the respected Leonard Boxer co-chair the real estate group, which is located in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The team provides an ‘excellent quality of service’ through its 55 real estate attorneys and a further ten attorneys who provide tax, litigation and fund expertise. The group welcomed Ronald Kriss and Paul Shelowitz from Akerman Senterfitt in the final quarter of 2010. Diamond, an ‘excellent attorney’ who clients value as ‘a technician, counselor and negotiator’, and Diana Brummer represented a private real estate fund in a joint venture with a public REIT relating to the $180m refinancing of a newly renovated mall in Maryland. Chauncey Swalwell represented Citibank as a participant in the restructuring of a credit facility to a major developer involving $300m of debt. Steven Moskowitz acted for a pension fund investor on its $600m acquisition of over 50 industrial, office and retail properties in Texas. The team is also representing Silverstein Properties in connection with the development plan for the new Towers 2, 3 and 4 on the World Trade Center site. Other important clients include JPMorgan Asset Management, Vornado Realty Trust and Cedar Shopping Centers.

White & Case LLP has a ‘very strong’ real estate presence in New York, Miami, Washington DC and California. Scott Berger heads the ‘very efficient’ team, comprising 18 partners and 30 associates, which brings to the table cross-border portfolio acquisition, complex fund formation and foreign investment expertise. The group’s capabilities include advising REITs and clients on capital markets matters, license agreements and in litigation, and it is ‘especially strong on the tax and joint venture structuring and negotiation side’. Starwood Capital is a longstanding client, which the team recently represented on two separate fund formations involving $1.8bn and $970m, respectively. A team in the New York office represented a consortium – which included Antarctica Capital and Hines – on its successful $2.3bn bid for a portfolio of 11 state office properties offered by the State of California in a sale-and-leaseback transaction. A team in Miami represented SNS Property Finance on restructuring its loans and investments in Florida, including foreclosures and REO sales exceeding $800m, as part of its plan to reduce its exposure in the US real estate market. On the acquisition front, the team represented HIG Capital, a $7.5bn private equity investment fund, on its acquisition of all of the assets of Excel Homes – the largest custom modular home manufacturer – via a private foreclosure sale conducted by Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The practice also acted for Savitar Realty Advisors on structuring a $250m US tax advantaged offshore private placement to raise capital for investments in distressed commercial real estate assets. It also represented a group of Centaur companies – operators and developers of racetracks and casinos – as Chapter 11 debtors in the restructuring of $610m of first and second lien debt. William Walker is ‘very strong’ and ‘practical’, while Jonathan Schechter provides ‘very good advice’.

Akerman Senterfitt has a strong presence in Florida and offices throughout Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin, Virginia, Nevada, New York and California. Richard Bezold, the real estate department chair, and Janice Russell represented The GEO Group, one of the largest providers of private correctional and detention management services, on its $750m corporate credit facility secured by multiple privately owned and operated correctional facilities located in nine states. Carol Faber advised Steiner Leisure, a publicly traded company, on its corporate acquisition of $100m worth of spa and office leases throughout the US and the UK. Robert Poppell recently acted for Kolter Land Partners on its acquisition of Victoria Park, a tract of land comprising part-built and built homes from The St Joe Company. Michael Bailkin represented International Gemstone Project on the tentative financing of a 600,000 sq ft gemstone center in New York City’s Diamond District. The team has also been active with workout and restructuring matters for developers and borrowers, and counts Wachovia, Parc Management and Albee Retail Development as clients. George Powell, who recently joined the firm from Duane Morris LLP, is an eminent domain specialist; and William Sklar, who recently joined from Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, is an expert on the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (ILSA).

Anton Natsis leads the ‘very superior’ real estate group at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP. This California-based firm has a land use and natural resources practice in addition to its 95 real estate attorneys serving a diverse array of clients on all types of real estate matters. Natsis represented Joint Treasure on its $148.3m acquisition of 9900 Wilshire in Beverly Hills; and also acted on Kilroy Realty’s acquisitions of 2211 Michelson Drive in Irvine for $103m and 303 Second Street in San Francisco for $237m. The ‘extremely knowledgeable, very creative and solution-based’ Thomas Henning and Frederick Allen represented Terranea Hotel and Resort on acquiring, financing, development and complex recapitalization of its $500m oceanfront resort project in Palos Verdes. Natsis and Eric Shelby advised McCarthy Cook & Co on a complex transaction concerning its $600m lease transaction with the University of California in San Francisco, involving the development of a $198m state-of-the-art neuroscience center financed by non-profit bonds offered by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. Michael Matkins has ‘broad knowledge of the market and its participants’, and is recommended along with the strategic and tactical Brian Leck, as well as Thomas Foster, who has particular strength regarding trusts and insurance.

Andrews Kurth LLP has a broad-based commercial real estate practice with 56 attorneys in Houston, Dallas, Austin and New York. The firm is particularly strong in Texas but acts on matters across the US. Darren Inoff represented PinPoint Commercial in a $13m transaction relating to a 30,000 sq ft build-to-suit surgical hospital in Humble; and acted for Plan B-MOB on a $38m transaction involving the sale of partnership interests in a large, “class A” medical office building in Texas. Daniel McCormick is representing a number of clients in the hospitality sector, including Braveheart on transactions totaling $264m, and a private REIT on a $78m matter relating to its ownership and financing of full-service hotels in Texas and California. Michael Boyd represented Anadarko Petroleum on the $214m acquisition of its 1 million sq ft headquarters in Texas, and Crimson Real Estate Advisors on the $51m sale of a “class A” building in New Jersey. Mark Arnold has experience in sports stadium transactions and Andrew Campbell has pension fund expertise.

Baker & McKenzie’s five-partner practice is headed by Michael Smith, who has ‘excellent real estate industry knowledge and experience’. Smith advised Nokia on the development of its new 158,000 sq ft headquarters in California, and represented a mining company on its high-value domestic and international acquisition projects. The hospitality sector is a key area of strength, and Richard Cremieux represented several private equity funds on significant hotel acquisitions. He also advised Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts on several transactions including the extension of two existing loans, secured by hotels and golf courses, and on the $14.5m sale of a development property in California. The team also has experience in infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

The one-office Miami firm of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP represents clients locally and nationally. James Shindell chairs the 34-attorney real estate department, which represents foreign and domestic developers, lenders, investors, funds and special servicers across the US. Suzanne Amaducci-Adams and land use partner Carter McDowell are involved in the ongoing redevelopment of Bridgeport Landing in Connecticut, a massive mixed-use marina project that is hoped to create more jobs and commerce for the whole community. John Sumberg, Adam Lustig and McDowell also continue to represent Robert Wennett on the redevelopment of 1111 Lincoln Road in Miami, a mixed-use project including office space, retail space, a rooftop restaurant and a large parking garage. The team also represents clients on FDIC-related transactions; fractured condominium acquisitions; leasing transactions; and restructuring and workouts.

Douglas Wisner joined Clifford Chance from Mayer Brown as the new head of the firm’s ‘excellent’ real estate group. The 21-partner team comprises attorneys with expertise in “dirt law”, structured capital markets and tax. The highly regarded Ness Cohen, Steve Kolyer, Lee Askenazi and Keridy Crook represented Citigroup on disposing of three tranches of a mortgage and mezzanine loan encumbering 26 industrial properties and totaling $340m. Cohen advised a real estate opportunity fund on a transaction relating to 54 grocery-anchored shopping centers across the US, and also represented Morgan Stanley regarding Anthracite Capital’s Chapter 7 liquidation filing. Larry Medvinsky and Richard Catalano advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Securities and BB&T Capital Markets on Tanger Properties LP’s $300m notes offering. The team represented NorthStar Realty Finance on its $1.1bn acquisition of CapitalSource Real Estate Trust. Jay Bernstein is highly regarded and is an ‘excellent communicator’.

The California-based team at Cox, Castle & Nicholson practices across all facets of real estate law for a wide range of clients. Erica Bose and Alicia Vaz recently made partner, taking the department up to 71 partners. Stephen Ryan advised joint venture partners Roem Development Corporation and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles on the complex Dana Strand senior housing project, which was financed by a number of sources including low income housing tax credits and tax-exempt low income housing bonds. Adam Weissburg, who is particularly strong on the finance side, represented a client on a $50m loan to two borrowers secured by properties in California and Hawaii; and another client on a $22.5m CMBS loan secured by retail property in Las Vegas. He also advised a client on converting a $14m mezzanine loan into preferred equity to facilitate housing and urban development financing. The team also represented a number of clients on retail center dispositions, and land transactions for the development of retail centers and mixed-use projects in California.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s real estate group is part of the firm’s wider corporate department, and focuses on transactional and investment fund support. Key partners Roger Turner and Kevin Grehan represented Westbrook Partners on its acquisition of the Boston Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Miami Four Seasons Hotel and San Francisco Ritz-Carlton with joint venture partners Millennium Partners. Grehan advised Westbrook Partners on a high-value debt and equity recapitalization of 444 Madison Avenue, an office building in New York; Unilever on it $3.7bn acquisition of US-based Alberto-Culver Company; and Stanley, a premier business and information technology consulting firm, on its $1.07bn sale to CGI Group. The team has also worked on transactions involving debt acquisition, restructurings, property dispositions or acquisitions and development projects. Other key clients include Colonnade Properties, O’Connor Capital Partners and Tishman Speyer Properties.

Scott Anderegg chairs the real estate practice at Faegre & Benson LLP. The team includes 12 partners who are located in Minneapolis, Denver, Boulder and Des Moines. John Wheaton and Paul Moe represented Cargill in the formation of a joint venture for the purpose of financing and developing a $190m cane sugar refinery in Louisiana. Peter Berrie and John Herman advised a not-for-profit developer on its renovation of a historic theater in Minneapolis; the $40m project was financed with new markets tax credits, community development block grant (CDBG) funds and bond financing using a sale-and-leaseback structure. Anderegg represented US Bancorp on its $328m acquisition of 353 owned and leased retail bank branches in Arizona, California, Illinois and Texas from FDIC, and advised the same client on leasing two eight-story office buildings in Minnesota. Other clients include Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Piper Jaffray and Life Time Fitness.

At Fennemore Craig, Jay Kramer chairs the real estate practice group, which includes transactional, finance, land use and zoning, and construction attorneys located in offices throughout Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. Clients state that the group is ‘great’, ‘always responsive’, ‘reasonable in its billing’ and ‘easy to work with’. Kramer advised various affiliates of the Phoenix Suns basketball franchise regarding the sale of $72m secured promissory notes, which in turn were used to redeem outstanding bonds to finance the acquisition, construction and development of US Airways Center and the Sun Mercantile Building in Arizona. The team represented one of the world’s largest copper mining companies on acquiring a mine in the Southwest. The team has also developed a niche practice in Mexico-based projects and recently represented a client on a cross-border transaction relating to a 50,000-acre parcel of land located along the coastline in Sonora, Mexico. Mark Nesvig represented a private real estate investment firm and venture partner on its $28m acquisition of 4,508 acres at Merrill Ranch Community in Arizona. Joseph Chandler, Stephen Good and Nicolas Hoskins are highly regarded by clients.

Elizabeth Corey chairs Foley & Lardner LLP’s national real estate practice, which is active across the healthcare, sports and entertainment, and energy sectors. The 27-partner group has ‘excellent lawyers in a wide variety of areas’, and provides an ‘extraordinary level of service’. Its attorneys are located across 14 offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Michigan and New York. Building on the firm’s timeshare and hospitality experience, Daniel Bachrach created a unique and novel exit strategy for Floridays, a developer of condominium hotel projects. The ‘excellent’ Michael Hatch represented US Bancorp on redeveloping a four-office-block campus in Wisconsin. Emerson Lotzia represented Amelia Island Company, the owner of a $67m four-star resort, on its sale as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. Wayne Osoba represented Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as syndicate leader on a $200m revolving credit facility provided to residential property developers. Duke Woodson acted for CSX Transportation on its proposed intermodal terminal facility development comprising 932 acres encompassing 7.9 million sq ft of office and industrial space.

Freeborn & Peters’s 14-partner real estate team is situated in two offices in Illinois, and is co-chaired by Richard Traub and Anne Garr. The team recently represented the co-owners of a master leased hotel property regarding a $54m loan workout. The team also represented Bielinski Homes on restructuring five loans, totaling $120m, secured on five different types of asset classes. In Chicago, the team acted for a major landholder and developer on the development of a 70-acre site in Bronzeville, and also represented Prism Development Company on a mixed-use development project involving a historic building. Internationally, the team handled a fund formation transaction valued at $500m for Urban Retail Properties.

Kevin Kelley chairs Gardere Wynne Sewell’s real estate group, which is based across several offices in Texas but serves clients across the US. The team provides development, acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing and operation and management advice; it has a strong hospitality practice. The team is representing Western Hospitality on all phases of activity for a number of new or existing Marriott and Hilton branded hotels throughout the Southwest and Midwest. It is also advising The Gencom Group on its acquisition of construction debt from an affiliate of Danske Bank relating to the partly completed Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage hotel and residential project in Rancho Mirage, California. Randall Jones is advising Arts Center Enterprises on its renovation and restoration of the King’s Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, which is funded by a grant from New York City as well as state and federal tax credits.

At Holland & Hart LLP, Marcus Painter leads a 30-partner team located in 11 offices across Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. This ‘outstanding’ group recently acted as local counsel on several major transactions, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s $1.8bn loan modification relating to the mixed-use CityCenter project, and on a client’s $8bn acquisition of a 40-acre parcel of land and its proposed $5bn development project involving 150 residential lots. The ‘exceptional’ Carl Barton led a team that represented Careage and its affiliates on a $40m transaction involving financing, workout, foreclosure and bankruptcy matters, and advised the subsequent owner of this Utah chain of skilled nursing facilities on licensing issues. Rebecca Dow is regarded as ‘one of the best overall real estate attorneys in Colorado’, and is praised for her deep and ‘unparalleled industry knowledge’; she has ‘guided clients through some tough negotiations and battles’. Clients also recommend Beat Steiner, Mona Burton and Elizabeth Sharrer.

Tom Berggren chairs the ‘excellent’ real estate group at Jones Waldo, which has offices in Utah and Illinois. Berggren recently assisted Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City on the $100m site acquisitions for a theater and film center. Paul Harman and James Peters, ‘deal makers that are extremely knowledgeable and creative in tackling negotiations’, are representing Lowe’s Home Improvements on the $300m acquisition and leasing of 20 sites across the Midwest and West. Keven Rowe and Susan Peterson advised Wells Fargo on restructuring $125m of credit facilities and $175m of real estate loans, while Rowe also represented US Bank on the acquisition of loans totaling $870m. The team has also represented clients on developments, foreclosures and workouts during 2010. Clients say the team is ‘well versed in commercial transactions and is very thorough and prompt’; its ‘advice is on point’ and the ‘timeliness and quality of its work is always top notch’.

K&L Gates’ 175-attorney real estate team has extensive geographical coverage, spread as it is throughout the firm’s offices in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, Washington, New Jersey and Washington DC. Walter Fisher leads the department, which focuses on real estate investment, development and finance matters, as well as land use, planning and zoning. Recent work includes representing a private equity firm as borrower of a $43m mortgage loan secured by four industrial properties; and a lender in a $125m syndicated revolving credit facility secured with personal and real property including 100 restaurants and offices located in 15 states. The team also advised a client on the funding of two sale-leaseback arrangements, valued at $55m, involving seven hotels in the UK and Spain. During 2010, the team also worked on federal low income housing tax credits for developers, and on several restructuring, workout, foreclosure and deed-in-lieu transactions.

William Timmons chairs the 26-partner real estate group at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, which is based in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Washington DC. This ‘especially strong team’ is ‘very timely and thorough’, and is ‘professional, reasonable and very committed to serving its clients’. The group is ‘excellent on the commercial real estate loan workout’ front, and represents special servicers and lenders all over the US. Timmons led a team that represented syndicate leader KeyBank National Association in the amendment and restatement of a large senior-secured revolving credit facility to Ramco-Gershenson Properties. Jess Pinkerton acted for Retreat Holdings, a developer of student housing projects, on multiple acquisition, development and construction transactions ranging from $16m to $42m. The team is also handling the roll out of Fresh & Easy, a subsidiary of British retailer Tesco, involving the opening of over 160 stores in central and southern California, Arizona and Nevada. Tony Canzoneri and Steven Abram led a team that represented LNR Property Corporation in a PPP and joint venture project involving a long-term lease on an undeveloped site in California.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP has a 54-attorney real estate team that is predominantly located in Atlanta. Thomas Gryboski chairs the group that provides acquisition, disposition, financing, workout, restructuring, development, construction and leasing advice to its clients relating to high-end resort, residential, power center, condominium, hotel and mixed-use properties. The team expanded during 2010 with Homer Lee Walker joining as a partner from Alston & Bird LLP; Duncan Miller was promoted to partner. A key transaction for the firm was John Ginley’s representation of Cole Credit Property Trust II on its $310m acquisition of Microsoft’s regional headquarters in Washington DC. Highlighting the firm’s niche timberland and forestry expertise, Steven Schrock and Glenn Dunaway represented Fazenda Turmalina Holdings, a timberland investment management organization, on its acquisition of over 76,000 acres of land in Brazil. The firm’s client roster also includes Federal Realty Investment Trust, IKEA and Timberland Investment Resources.

William Murray heads Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s real estate group, which has a lender-heavy and capital-markets focused practice advising on fund formation, restructuring, recapitalization, Section 363 bankruptcy sales and distressed disposition services. Gerard Walsh successfully represented Global Opportunity Fund on its joint venture, recapitalization, restructuring and loan assumption of the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. Murray is also acting for Prime Finance Partners on numerous transactions including the formation of a $400m fund and the repurchase of a line facility with Wells Fargo on behalf of the fund; he also recently represented MacFarlane Partners on restructuring its $650m debt obligation to Eurohypo AG. The firm lost a five-attorney team to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP represents investors, developers, builders, major landowners, lenders and local agencies on every aspect of commercial and residential real estate. Domenic Drago is the chair of the 36-partner real estate, land use and environmental practice group. Joan Story led a team that represented longstanding client Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company on its $269m sale of a portfolio of 18 vineyard and winery properties to Realty Income Corporation. The team also acted for DHL in the donation of Wilmington Air Park – its former central hub facility – to the Port Authority of Clinton County in Ohio. Robert Thompson led a team that advised UCSF and Campus Facilities Improvement Association on a PPP to develop a $200m neuroscience research and clinical facility.

Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. operates out of its office in New Orleans, Louisiana, but advises clients and communities from Houston to Atlanta, and all along the Gulf Coast, which suffered immensely at the hands of Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. Accordingly, the team is actively engaged in financial workouts, debt enforcement, loan restructurings and foreclosures on all kinds of commercial real estate properties. Throughout 2010 the team represented REITs on the re-tenanting of office buildings; investors on buying real estate secured notes at discounted prices; and lenders on the origination of new loans. A niche practice for the team is representing title insurance companies on claims made against them on the title insurance policies they issue.

Snell & Wilmer LLP is able to advise clients through its offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. The team represents buyers, sellers and banks in workouts, foreclosures and sale transactions. Key work highlights included representing a client on the disposition of large master-planned communities in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, and advising another client on a $150m sale-leaseback transaction relating to multiple office buildings. On the energy front, the team represented several clients in the financing of solar power projects in Arizona involving federal loan guarantees, and represented a bank on the sale of power plants and related assets acquired from a defaulting borrower through receivership and bankruptcy proceedings. The team also advised a buyer on its purchase of a $34m bank-owned hotel in Arizona. Other clients include Sunstone Advisors and Foresight Group.

Warren Heilbronner and Hugh Finnegan co-chair the 30-attorney real estate department at Sullivan & Worcester LLP, which operates from the New York and Boston offices. The group represented CommonWealth REIT in acquisitions involving 13 office buildings in seven states totaling $600m, and advised Senior Housing Properties Trust on acquisitions of 19 medical office buildings in five states for $330m and of 11 senior living facilities for $120m. The team also acted for Government Properties Income Trust on its $250m acquisition of 17 government buildings across 13 states. Other work included representing a client on short sales and negotiating a deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure transaction. John Balboni is ‘very helpful, both as a legal mind and as a sounding board for deals’.

James Jordan heads Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP’s ‘excellent’ team of 25 attorneys. This ‘seasoned and wise’ group has a diverse practice with development projects being a particular strength. Jordan and Michael Kerman, who has a ‘tremendous amount of experience’ and displays ‘excellent judgment’, represented The Sembler Company on a large mixed-use development project in Atlanta involving 400,000 sq ft of traditional big-box tenants and 600 residential units. Alfred Adams and Jennifer Van Ness represented Ben Carter Properties, a longstanding client, on land assemblage, development, financing, leasing and its sales activities relating to the $1.2bn Streets of Buckhead project. The team also has experience in the industrial property development field, where Kerman recently acted for The Patillo Group on the development of a 250,000 sq ft facility in South Carolina for the production of Boeing 787 components. On the finance front, the team is representing UBS Realty Investors LLC on joint venture arrangements and debt financing of affordable condominium housing in Virginia, and on its acquisition of a resort hotel and multi-family projects in Florida.

Thompson & Knight LLP’s ‘outstanding’ 38-partner practice is based in offices across Texas and New York. The ‘talented’ Alfred Meyerson chairs the practice and is representing Granite Properties on the $165m sale of its portfolio of 17 industrial properties. Martha Harris and Christopher White acted for General Electric Capital Corporation on a complex transaction involving the assumption of a loan secured by 18 medical office buildings in Phoenix. Mark Weibel advised Brewer Development on land acquisitions, pre-leasing and various other matters relating to its proposed development of a 120,000 sq ft retail space in California. Susan Coleman advised KanAm 1000 Main on its over 200,000 sq ft lease to Shell Oil in Houston. Mark Sloan led a team of attorneys on Dunhill Partners’ acquisition of Las Palmas Market Place, a 638,000 sq ft retail center in Texas.

The ‘responsive, smart and efficient’ Thomas Coyne chairs Thompson Hine LLP’s 55-member real estate practice. David Salisbury represented Eaton Corporation on its new $170m corporate headquarters project, while Mario Suarez acted for Recurrent Energy on solar ground leases for utility-class facilities in several US states and Canada. Bruce Hopkins has been very active handling leasing transactions for major retail shopping centers, signature art galleries and studios. The ‘bright’ and ‘incredibly talented’ Darrel Davison is representing Principal Financial Group in over $800m worth of transactions, including the disposition of a £110m multi-family property in Washington state and another in California valued at almost $99m. The team completed a wide array of transactions during 2010 including property acquisitions, build-to-suit and joint venture developments, restructuring, workout, foreclosure and loan modification deals. Linda Striefsky is ‘highly knowledgeable, a persuasive negotiator and quick on her feet’. Clients highlight the ‘diligent and resourceful’ associate Jared Oakes who is ‘someone to watch in the leasing industry as he will be a top name in the very near future’. Of counsel Susan Tarnower recently joined the team from McGuireWoods LLP, and is an expert on special servicers.

Corey Tessler chairs Winston & Strawn LLP’s 13-partner real estate group, which draws on the firm’s wider expertise. Christopher Murtaugh represented Alere Property Group on its acquisition, financing and leasing of several industrial and distribution facilities in California. The team acted for Deutsche Bank on several transactions, including a $122m loan secured by a property in Niagara Falls; a $50m loan secured by an office building in Boston; and a $94m loan secured by Barton Creek Hotel and Golf Course in Texas. Natixis Real Estate Capital is another key client, which the team represented on various deals in New York, including a $77m loan origination for the acquisition of 4 New York Plaza; a $325m loan origination for the acquisition of 650 Madison Avenue; and a $82m loan secured on 1412 Broadway. Mark Henning led a team that represented JPMorgan Chase on the restructuring of two separate $150m revolving credit agreements for real estate portfolio companies; and acted for Macquarie DDR Fund and its Australian Exchange-listed parent company on the restructuring of five separate credit facilities involving $1bn debt. High-profile new clients include Starwood Capital, RBS and Goldman Sachs.