‘One of the deepest, most sophisticated real estate practices in the country’, DLA Piper LLP (US) is home to a full-service real estate offering. In the acquisition and disposition space, the department is routinely engaged in multibillion-dollar transactions, both of single assets and extensive portfolios, with the capacity to lend support on relevant cross-border investment, joint venture and finance components. Its construction, design and development service is supplemented by formidable environmental, land use, zoning and condominium easement expertise; while leasing activity is centered around sale-leaseback, lease enforcement, tenant bankruptcy and foreclosure matters. Department chair John Sullivan is a ‘pre-eminent practitioner’ for equity, debt, hybrid and joint venture transactions and is closely supported by co-vice chair Barbara Trachtenberg, a lawyer principally focused on development-related joint ventures; the pair operate from Boston alongside the ‘very talented‘ Cara Nelson, who is a junior partner, exemplary of the team’s ‘deep bench strength‘. Elsewhere, the firm is praised as fielding the ‘most knowledgeable and accomplished real estate practice in Washington DC’, where Frederick Klein represents domestic and off-shore investors in large-scale projects throughout the US. The firm has an extensive domestic and international footprint, with other key names based in New York and Chicago.
Real estate in United States
DLA Piper LLP (US)
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Amy Carbins; Cara Nelson; Frederick Klein; Jay Epstien; Shari Lennon; Chris Smith
Testimonials
‘I am impressed by the deep bench the firm has as well as how partners communicate internally to produce skill sets from various offices/practices to address a client’s needs.’
‘Great bench strength. Excellent combination of pure legal skills and business insight. Invaluable knowledge of what our organization needs and how it operates.’
‘They are very open minded and always happy to collaborate on any initiatives we put forward.’
‘John Sullivan is one of the top lawyers we work with. He is able to cut through the bluster and crap and get deals done and is particularly valuable when dealing with difficult opposing counsel. He nderstands the business rational and is able to give strategic advice.’
‘Cara Nelson is a very talented lawyer who understands our business well. She has an excellent ability to get from A to B and does not get unnecessarily caught up on pedantic points and sees the forest from the trees.’
‘DLA Piper has one of the deepest, most sophisticated real estate practices in the country. They are able to handle quick, complicated transactions adeptly. Unlike other large real estate practices, DLA Piper has a legitimate claim as understanding true real estate dirt issues, unlike many other firms that skew more towards corporate.’
‘Barbara Trachtenberg is highly sophisticated and strategic; she is able to hand anything you give her with ease. A great person to have in your court on competitive bid transactions.’
‘DLA’s real estate group has a great deal of depth and expertise in the most complex of real estate transactions. They bring a pragmatic approach to legal issues, finding the right balance between business needs and legal constraints.’
‘John Sullivan is the preeminent practitioner in this area. If i could use him across the globe, I would (and do to the extent possible). His advice is grounded in business reality. He has seen every conceivable type of issue you can face in sophisticated, complex real estate transactions and he brings that experience to the table in an exceptional way.’
‘The DLA team, led by John Sullivan, is terrific. They truly operate as an extension of our in house team and understand our business and client’s need and requirements. In addition to being excellent lawyers, they have excellent business judgment and are a pleasure to work with.’
‘DLA’s attorneys are very focused on creating value for their clients and are open to novel ways to adopt technology to improve their client’s experience and outcomes.’
‘They have the most knowledgeable and accomplished real estate practice in Washington, DC. They are expert negotiators and advisors.’
‘They are as tech-enabled as any other firm in town. Their billing, collaboration, etc are top notch.’
‘Jay Epstein is the dean of the real estate industry in Washington, DC. He has worked on the most complicated and high-profile assignments in town. Fred Klein is the most accomplished real estate sales and finance attorney in Washington, DC. He is the most experienced negotiator and best advisor you could ask for.’
‘Our real estate company has been represented by Jay Epstein of DLA Piper for many years. Jay and his team of attorneys are extraordinarily highly capable. They not only have experience with the widest range of transactions, but they have deep working relationships with opposing attorneys from all over the country and the globe, leading to efficient deal structuring and documentation.’
‘There are very few firms with the depth of knowledge or transactional experience of DLA, and as I have told people many times, there are no attorneys who have the relationships and respect like Jay Epstien has in the real estate community.
‘Jay Epstien is a lion in Commercial Real Estate Law. He is so knowledgeable, well-liked, and well-connected, that there are very few inquiries he cannot field. He consistently connects our company with top talent at DLA Piper, manages our relationship closely, and is thoughtful in understanding our internal politics and cost sensitivities.’
Key clients
AEW Capital Management
Blackstone Real Estate Advisors
Boston Properties
CBRE Global Investors
Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, LLC
Harvard University
Hines
Oxford Properties Group (the real estate affiliate of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System)
The Carlyle Group, LLC
PGIM, Inc.
Ventas, Inc.
Work highlights
- Lead counsel for Oxford Properties Group in the acquisition, joint venture, financing and development of a 1.3 million sq ft building for Google in New York City for a total development cost in excess of $2bn.
- Counsel to Transform Midco LLC in its $1bn sale to Costco Wholesale Corporation of Innovel Solutions, a leading provider of third-party, end-to-end logistics solutions with nationwide capability reaching nearly 90% of the US.
- Counsel to Ventas, Inc.’s life science fund in the $1.015bn acquisition of a life-science portfolio in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has ‘an exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge in all aspects of real estate transactions’. The group leverages a pre-eminent position within New York's real estate market where it is ‘frequently involved in the City’s most significant transactions’, namely the leasing, acquisition, financing and disposition of high-value hotel, retail and office assets, as well as large portfolios. Its lawyers also thrive in respect of development projects across all asset classes, including residential and mixed-use, with true strength in schemes demanding public-private, land use and environmental considerations. Department chair Jonathan Mechanic is ‘well connected with most, if not all, the major players in New York’ having previously served as managing director of HRO international, a real estate developer with a sizeable footprint in Manhattan’s office market. Elsewhere, the ‘technically skilled’ Valerie Kelly is a star name at the Washington DC office where she is recommended for her work on large commercial leasing, acting on behalf of both landlords and tenants. At the more junior end, associate Alexander Sutherland is carving out a solid reputation for complex development projects.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Mechanic
Other key lawyers:
Valerie Kelly; Alexander Sutherland; Robert Sorin; Tal Golomb; Ross Silver; Michael Werner; Laurinda Martins; Fiona Kelly; Steven Rudgayzer
Testimonials
‘Fried Frank has an exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge coverage all aspects of real estate transactions. They are involved in the most significant transactions in the New York City market and are well-positioned to provide practical legal advice.’
‘Jonathan Mechanic is among the most prominent real estate attorneys nationally and knows most, if not all, the major players in the New York market.’
‘Valerie Kelly is extremely intelligent and technically skilled. She has great people and client skills, which is a tremendous asset in negotiations.’
Work highlights
- Advising JP Morgan Chase in connection with various aspects of its planned 2.5m sq ft headquarter redevelopment at its 270 Park Avenue location. This building will be the first major project under the City’s Midtown East Rezoning Plan, which was passed in 2017 to help ensure that midtown remains one of the City’s premier business districts.
- Acted as counsel to Brookfield on a range of matter including a definitive agreement to sell Simply Self Storageto Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. for approximately $1.2bn.
- Acted as counsel to Amazon in its $1.15bn acquisition of the Lord & Taylor building from WeWork for its New York headquarters.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is primarily focused on the representation of real estate operators, investment firms and prominent lenders, supporting them on the full suite of matters in the real estate industry. On the West Coast, Erin Rothfuss in San Francisco and Century City-based Jesse Sharf both provide the team with expertise in sales and dispositions, development projects, fund formation and real estate-related M&A. A significant point of difference for the department is that it is able to leverage an equally robust presence on both sides of the US with debt purchase, restructuring and joint venture specialist Eric Feuerstein fronting the New York offering. Also in New York, Andrew Lance co-chairs the firm’s hotel and hospitality practice; he also has an impressive track record in school, sport and entertainment development projects, particularly those with a public-private partnership component. In an example of the team’s scope and calibre of work, it recently acted for Welltower in a $1bn sale of two portfolios to Kanye Anderson Real Estate Advisors, a transaction which consisted of 27 medical office buildings and seven senior housing facilities spread across 15 states.
Practice head(s):
Eric Feuerstein; Erin Rothfuss; Jesse Sharf
Other key lawyers:
Jesse Shapiro; Steven Klein; Stuart Graiwer; Farshad Morè Amy Forbes; Matthew Kidd; Noam Haberman
Key clients
Welltower Inc.
Hudson Pacific Properties
KKR Real Estate Finance Manager LLC
DivcoWest
Jamestown Properties
JPMorgan Investment Management
Related Companies
Deutsche Bank
Rockpoint Group, L.L.C.
Stockbridge Capital LLC
Work highlights
- Advised Stockbridge in connection with an approximately $2bn acquisition and financing of an industrial portfolio of 23 operating and under-development warehouse industrial properties.
- Advised Hudson Pacific on forming a joint venture with Blackstone to recapitalize Hudson’s first class studio/studio office portfolio, pursuant to which Blackstone was brought in as a 49% partner in the portfolio.
- Represented the seller in connection with the $1.15bn sale of the Lord & Taylor building, a trophy asset in midtown Manhattan, to Amazon.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP provides full support on each and every stage of national and international real estate projects. The practice is proficient in everything from zoning and land use matters through to acquisitions, construction and eventual leasing with the luxury of being able to call upon the firm’s tax, environmental and litigation departments to fill out the full-service offering. Corey Light is a go-to name for the sale and purchase of commercial property and is based in the firm's Chicago office alongside Michael Baum, a specialist in the formation of US and international real estate opportunity funds, particularly those pertaining to Mexico and Brazil. Elsewhere, in New York, Robert Ivanhoe is rated for his longstanding expertise in financing, workouts and restructurings, while Stephen Rabinowitz provides expertise on sophisticated equity and debt structures in addition to the disposition and leasing of a range of asset classes including office, hospitality, multi-family and condominiums. Another name to note is Richard Giusto, who is based in the Miami office and tailors his practice towards commercial real estate transactions and leasing. The team also has a presence in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Practice head(s):
Corey Light; Richard Giusto; Stephen Rabinowitz; Michael Baum
Other key lawyers:
Bruce Fischer; Milos Markovic; Greg Fishman
Testimonials
‘The GT team is a full-service operation. Our deals and projects are very complex and GT always has the right expertise in-house to solve our needs. From land-sue, transactions, financing, ground leases, development agreements, environmental, master covenants, Opportunity Zones, etc. They instrumental in providing solutions to our complex legal challenges.’
Key clients
Albertson’s
Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC
Invesco Real Estate
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Kimco Realty Corp.
Schottenstein Realty Company
SL Green
Square Mile Capital
Starwood Capital Group
The Related Group
Work highlights
- Representing the Related Group on approximately 50 major condo, hotel or apartment projects in the US, in addition to ten major international deals in Latin America collectively valued in excess of $10bn.
- Served as Nevada and gaming counsel to Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust in a joint venture with MGM Resorts International which will acquire the real estate assets of Bellagio for $4.25bn in a sale-leaseback transaction.
- Representation of the owner/developer in the simultaneous marketing and sale of three of the largest multi-family projects in NYC, a first-class hotel located in NYC and a Class A office building in New Jersey. The transaction value is $2.5bn.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
‘Superb in its knowledge and capabilities’, Kirkland & Ellis LLP targets high-end private equity sponsors, major pension organizations and sovereign wealth funds, among other institutional investors, supporting them on fund formation, debt restructuring, recapitalization, fundraising and structuring mandates. In New York, Jonathan Schechter is a specialist in joint venture formations, sales and dispositions, real estate-related mergers and major developments while Christopher Hartmann focuses on preferred equity investments and financing affairs. Over in Chicago, Rachel Brown is recommended for workouts, venture formation, sales and acquisition, and Robert Keane in Los Angeles is a name to note for reorganizations and equity investments. Kevin Ehrhart in Los Angeles has experience in handling capital investment towards real estate assets and operating companies. The group counts the industrial and logistics sectors among its chief areas of focus, recently acting for Oak Street Real Estate Capital on several major distribution center transactions. Additional sectors of activity include mainstream and specialized asset classes such as student housing, medical, data center, gaming, hospitality and leisure.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Schechter; Andrew Small; Rachel Brown; Kevin Ehrhart
Other key lawyers:
Christopher Hartmann; Robert Keane; Daniel Perlman; Scott Berger
Testimonials
‘They have integrated themselves into our team and have been one of the leading forces behind our company’s success over the past few years.’
‘The K&E real estate practice is superb in knowledge and capabilities. We have found the K&E real estate team to be practical and efficient.’
‘K&E has been instrumental in closing numerous highly technical qualified opportunity zone transactions for our firm. These JVs inevitably involve unique circumstances related to the development project, the underlying land or our operating partner. K&E is creative and solution oriented and has succeeded in all cases to find paths to get the deal done.’
‘Robert Keane is one of the top real estate attorneys on the West Coast. The availability, practicality and responsiveness of Robert is amazing.’
Key clients
Starwood Capital Group & Starwood Property Trust
GLP Capital Partners
KKR & Co. Inc.
Blackstone Real Estate
TPG Real Estate Partners
Apollo Global Management
Core Spaces
Dune Real Estate Partners
Elad Genesis Limited Partnership
GID Investment Advisers
Hines Interests Limited Partnership
Hudson Pacific Properties
Lubert-Adler Partners
Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC
Oak View Group
Oaktree Capital Management
Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC
QuadReal Property Group Limited Partnership
Stonehenge Partners
Toll Brothers
Work highlights
- Represented Oak View Group in the formation of a joint venture with affiliates of the Islanders and Sterling Equities to develop the Belmont Park Arena which will be the new home of the NY Islanders. The anticipated development costs for the Arena are approximately $850m.
- Represented GLP Capital Partners in every aspect of the development and expansion of its new real estate portfolio, including the acquisition, financing, development and joint venture formation for an aggregate transaction value in excess of $1.5bn.
- Represented Blackstone and its portfolio companies in dozens of complex transactions covering numerous asset classes with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $4bn.
Paul Hastings LLP
‘One of the very best global real estate practices’, Paul Hastings LLP is rated for its ‘capability in all areas of real estate’; a range of strengths demonstrated by its varied workload of major development projects, acquisitions, joint venture transactions, dispositions, major leases and high-value financings. Further breadth of practice is evident by the fact that the team is engaged on such matters from all corners of the market, receiving instructions from buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, lenders and borrowers alike, in addition to major real estate investment and development players. Eric Landau is the key contact for mixed-use development projects, while Peter Olsen is recommended for redevelopment, ground leasing, sale and acquisition matters. The pair jointly chair the practice from New York alongside John Cahill who is extremely active in cross-border transactions, supported by the firm’s ‘top-tier services in Asia and Europe in addition to the US’. Though active on the full array of asset types, the group places heavy emphasis on the office and data center segments, where it acts for names such as Facebook and Salesforce.com. It also has expertise in the hospitality sector where it caters to major Asian, European and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. The rest of the team is spread across Illinois and California where Los Angeles-based Philip Feder is note for his track record in handling multibillion-dollar asset transactions.
Practice head(s):
Eric Landau; Peter Olsen; John Cahill
Other key lawyers:
Philip Feder; Bruce DePaola; John Simonis; David Hamsher; Steve Berkman; Gerd Alexander
Testimonials
‘PH is our go-to law firm for all of our structured products. The team works really well together to deliver a good client experience. We have always found the process to be quick and efficient. All of the team members we have interacted with are knowledgeable about the industry and helpful. They are able to call on the experience of other partners around the organization when specialty cases arise to help resolve.’
‘I only work with certain individuals within real estate, but this team is outstanding. I know they lean on the breadth and depth of their bench strength to provide support for all aspects of tax implications, securities questions, etc. Although other firms also have these capabilities, I find the turnaround time for those other firms when working with their colleagues to come to a resolution seems to take longer. The PH team has an expedited process.’
‘The teams at Paul Hastings that I work with each take a very practical approach in advising clients. Before developing a game plan with respect to a task or in addressing an issue, they ask the right questions and focus on what our objectives and concerns are. They draw upon their expertise and creativity to provide detailed paths to execution of whatever task is at hand. Not only is this the case with each group individually, but I also get to see how the groups are able to work together across practices.’
‘I believe that Paul Hastings has been at the forefront of large law firms in focusing on diversity and inclusion and the benefits that both the firm and its clients gain as a result. Moreover, the various practice groups at Paul Hastings work very well among one another to provide full scope representation, frequently this is spearheaded by the real estate group that I work with.’
‘Peter Olsen has a wealth of knowledge and experience built over the years of his practice and he utilizes that expertise along with his creative approach to come up with novel solutions that work for all involved. Gerd Alexander shares a similar style to Peter, which is no surprise given that he has spent much of his legal career working with Peter, but Gerd has also emerged as a very talented partner in his own right, with his own style that has gotten our firm real results as he now leads most of the real estate transactions for which we engage Paul Hastings.’
‘This firm has the capabilities to cover all aspects of real estate and data center real estate, including leasing, buying, and dispositions. They have a team of very talented individuals that know how to get deals done and do, in a very efficient manner. They are way above other firms in the terms of their competency and methodology. I do not see many egos, just true support for the client with the best possible outcome, as quickly as possible.’
‘Steve Berkman is one of the best real estate attorneys in the world. He certainly understands the law, but more importantly, he understands how to get deals done with totally successful outcomes for the client. He works well with competing attorneys and finds the right places to compromise, with the right risk, that helps get the deal done. I really value his willingness to tackle tough issues/situations and work through the issues with poise, grace, and in a way that everyone is successful at the conclusion.’
One of the best, if not the best, real estate team Globally. They have a very deep bench and deliver top-tier legal services globally, in Asia, in the United States and in Europe. They are also able to deliver every complimentary service needed in all real estate transactions – tax, environmental, union issues, fund formation, employment and when needed, litigation.’
Key clients
Witkoff Group
L&L Holding Company LLC
The Lightstone Group
Millennium Partners
Oaktree Capital Management
Extell Development
Silverstein Properties
Ivanhoé Cambridge
QuadReal
Investcorp International
William Macklowe Company
China Communications Construction Company (CORE (USA))
The Related Companies
SoftLayer Technologies
TIAA/Nuveen
Brookfield Public Securities Group
Salesforce.com
Work highlights
- Continuing to advise Five Point Holdings in connection with its role as master developer of Candlestick Point and Phase 2 of the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco; one of the largest development projects in San Francisco history valued at $8bn.
- Represented Lennar Corporation as lead outside counsel in connection with its role as the manager and investor in Treasure Island in San Francisco. The project is planned to include up to 8,000 homes, including homes that will be offered at below-market rates, extensive open spaces, three hotels, restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues.
- Represented Colony Capital as lead sponsor of an acquisition of 80% of mature data center assets owned and managed by Vantage Data Centers with a value of $3.5bn.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP fields an ‘exceptional real estate team equipped to handle the industry’s most complex matters’. Its roster of clients includes several standout private equity firms and fund managers, opportunity funds and portfolio companies; most notably, The Blackstone Group, which frequently engages the group on a variety of multibillion-dollar portfolio transactions such as the recent $5.7bn acquisition of the industrial real estate assets of Colony Capital. Department chair Gregory Ressa holds a distinguished track record in the M&A of both public and private real estate companies and Krista Miniutti (‘exceptional and highly respected') is a star partner for joint venture, acquisition and disposition matters with a keen eye for public-to-private transactions. Scott Kobak is 'all over the details' when handling transactions on behalf of institutional investors, while at the more junior end of the partnership, Whitney Salinas has closed deals in aggregate of $15bn over the review period. Clients regularly note the real estate department’s ‘integrated and seamless solutions’ owing to its close co-operation with the firm’s capital markets, M&A, tax, financing and private funds practices. Named lawyers are based in New York.
Practice head(s):
Gregory Ressa
Other key lawyers:
Scott Kobak; Sasan Mehrara; Krista Miniutti; Erik Quarfordt; Whitney Salinas
Testimonials
‘Their real estate practice is unique given their ability and expertise to work on normal single asset acquisition/financing real estate work, all the way up to the largest corporate real estate company transactions prevalent in the U.S. Complexity is something they tackle extremely well, driven by the talented staff from the most tenured partners down to the well-trained associates.’
‘Simpson Thacher has really strengthened their cross functional collaboration over the years, seamlessly blending for the client the inter-disciplinary skill sets between pure real estate, finance, M&A, tax, HR/benefits, compliance, and fund-level legal work. They have also enhanced their training of younger/mid-level associates to take on more responsibilities.’
‘Gregory Ressa has a tremendous amount of experience in large scale, corporate real estate M&A with the most complexity. He can communicate well from a practical business sense. A great, thorough partner that differentiates himself from his peers.’
‘They have a team with deep experience dealing with complex situations. The team is very well connected and are always incredibly responsive and easy to work with.’
‘They have a number of individuals with deep subject matter expertise and a huge passion for unpacking problems and finding creative solutions.’
‘Scott Kobak and his team are always available when we need them and catch things that other attorneys frankly miss. Mr. Kobak and his team are transaction-oriented and look for innovative ways to get deals done instead of trying to kill deals.’
‘The team brings the unique combination of deep legal understanding and nuance and always-on responsiveness with a commercial efficiency to surface all key issues but then focus on what matters most in a solutions-oriented manner. They also dive deep into knowing the client’s organization and do a lot of the cross-disciplinary thinking for the client.’
‘STB is differentiated in its collaboration with other functional experts across the firm (tax, litigation, corporate, fund raising, etc.) to provide an integrated and seamless solution to the client that is particularly valuable on large, complex transactions.’
‘Scott Kobak deserves special attention and praise as a tremendous lawyer and thought partner. He has a 360-degree perspective on any deal he works on and the real estate business broadly. He optimizes the outcome for his client while creating a great working relationship with the counter-party. He is all over the details when he needs to be, but also has a high level strategy and focus on what matters most. He is a pleasure to work with.’
‘Simpson Thacher has an exceptional real estate team that handles the most complex matters in the industry. Simpson has a very deep team of industry experts on nearly all aspects that may arise on a transaction, making them a fabulous one-stop shop with a national reach. Partners at Simpson work extremely collaboratively and share a wealth of insights and information that provide clients with an informed view on how best to resolve any open items. Simpson Thacher is at the highest tier and is a leader in the industry.’
‘Simpson Thacher works extremely collaboratively and uses technology to track important information for the benefit of clients.’
‘Krista Miniutti is an exceptional lawyer; she is highly respected and very strategic, practical and thoughtful, taking a forward looking approach to risks and potential impediments. Krista is an excellent resource and provides terrific client service. Erik Quarfordt is an excellent lawyer as well. Erik is an excellent negotiator and a trusted advisor.’
‘By far the most experienced attorneys in the space. No group has more public market experience not just in the US but on a global basis. They are extremely deep – while their partners are exceptional, they have associates at all levels who can step up and run a deal. This is largely due to the amazing training they get. Some law firms specialize in working with the sponsors and others work with lenders. STB can do it all at the highest level.’
‘Very diverse. Half of their partners are of diverse backgrounds. They also collaborate better than any firm I have ever worked with. From the sponsor’s perspective it is seamless as they do all of this collaboration in the background but they never miss a beat.’
‘Unbelievable work ethic. Perfectly weigh the balance between being commercial while not conceding key deal points. An immaculate ability to cross-reference deals from decades ago as they think about precedent matters. Extremely coordinated internally which makes the process very seamless.’
‘I have worked with this real estate group for over 15 years. Not only do they have incredible expertise, they are extraordinarily practical and creative. Rather than simply issue spotting, they come up with solutions to ensure the transactions stay on track and close timely. I find them to be much more responsive than other firms with which I have worked over the years as I will often call or email and almost instantaneously receive a response.’
‘This firm is highly integrated. I use various sections including real estate, public company reporting, employment and tax. They are all coordinated and there is never any duplicative billing. It gives me a level of comfort knowing that each area understands the impact in other practice areas and all efforts are made to have a unified strategy. Moreover, they were willing to work out a different billing arrangement during the pandemic to address our particular industry’s devastation.’
‘Incredible attorneys who are practical but precise. They just get it. The depth and breadth of their capabilities is incredible. Coordination among members of the team is amazing. They are true partners to our business.’
‘The collaboration among team members at STB is amazing. They have at least weekly, and maybe event more often, meetings just to discuss how we can do things better in our jv agreements, purchase and sale agreements and loan documents.’
‘They are smart but practical, and are protective of our business as if it was their own, and work so hard to figure out the best results for our business. On top of that they are good people whose advice just matches perfectly with the kind of people and business we want to be.’
Key clients
The Blackstone Group L.P.
KKR
The Carlyle Group
Hilton Worldwide Holdings
Northwood Investors
Centerbridge
Crown Acquisitions
Invitation Homes
BioMed Realty
CorePoint Lodging
Lindsay Goldberg
Westbrook Partners
Pure Industrial Real Estate
Great Wolf Resorts
Motel 6
Work highlights
- Representation of Blackstone in connection with its $14.6bn recapitalization of BioMed Realty.
- Representation of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (“BREIT”) in connection with its acquisition of the real estate assets of Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand for approximately $4.6bn in a 50.1%/49.9% joint venture led by MGM Growth Properties and BREIT’s $4.25bn acquisition of the Bellagio real estate from MGM Resorts for approximately $4.25bn in a 95%/5% Blackstone-led joint venture.
- Representation of Blackstone in connection with the sale of a 100-property industrial logistics portfolio to Nuveen Real Estate for approximately $3bn and representation of Blackstone Real Estate in connection with the sale of a portfolio of 16 industrial properties to LBA Realty.
Holland & Knight LLP
At Holland & Knight LLP, a key point of differentiation is the team’s focus on a range of specialized asset classes. It is exceptionally active in the retail and condominium sectors where it handles development, conversion, sale and purchase matters at a wealth of different sites; these include regional malls, strip mall centers, mixed-use and gas stations. Elsewhere, in the field of hospitality, its lawyers serve as counsel to some of the globe’s largest hotel operators, timeshare resorts and multi-site vacation clubs, providing an all-encompassing asset management service. Operating from New York, Joe Guay co-chairs the offering alongside Miami-based Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz, a specialist in multi-family, residential, office and residential projects. Inbound investment from Latin America is particularly active for the firm, owing to its offices in Bogotá and Mexico City, as well as its deep bench of Spanish-speaking lawyers.
Practice head(s):
Joe Guay; Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz
Other key lawyers:
Loren Higgins; Richard Eckhard; Stuart Saft; Susan Booth
Testimonials
‘The Holland & Knight Real Estate practice has a subspecialty which concentrates on healthcare related real estate (seniors housing, medical office, skilled nursing). This group has significant experience within these subsectors which distinctly sets them apart from other firms and enables them to navigate complex healthcare transactions. Further, the team is able to proactively identify issues or concerns early in the transaction creating a smoother (and in many instances a more timely) close.’
‘The knowledge base and expertise of the partners translates into a succinct approach to structuring/documenting and provides the ability to provide direct responses to questions (as opposed to a nuanced response with caveats, disclaimers, or information that isnt relevant or probable).’
‘The collaboration between the partners and associates streamlines interactions with us.’
‘Loren Higgins’s expertise within the healthcare real estate sector and her commitment to client service is unparalleled. She performs under very tight timelines and provides practical legal advice with a very strong understanding of the business and credit risks of a transaction.’
‘The Holland & Knight Real Estate team is easy to work with, commercial, hard-working, extremely knowledgeable and very diligent.’
Key clients
Beringia Central LLC
King Street
Apollo Theater
Strategic Property Partners
Hines Interests LP
Lincoln Property Company
Miami Freedom Park, LLC
Fisher Island Holdings
Elion Partners
JD Carlisle
East Midtown Plaza
Verizon Communications
Work highlights
- Representing the developer of a 200 unit residential tower on Madison Avenue utilizing new technologies to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.
- Represented Beringia Central in connection with its sale of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles, the second tallest occupied building west of the Mississippi.
- Representing Strategic Property Partners in a $3bn redevelopment of 53 acres in downtown Tampa, Florida. The project is funded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ investment fund, Cascade Investment, and Jeffrey Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning professional hockey team.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a force to be reckoned with in the New York real estate market, having recently acted on major developments in all five of the City’s boroughs. The team acts for commercial and civic developers alike, at each stage of a project’s lifespan from initial site acquisition through to the pertinent development agreements and matters beyond. Transactional work is also key, with lawyers frequently acting in the purchase, financing and disposal of commercial, hospitality, industrial and multi-family assets through a range of joint venture and other investment vehicles. Meredith Kane is a household name in the leasehold condominium space, while Peter Fisch has a number of high-profile ground-up and multi-family projects under his belt; the pair jointly head the practice alongside Harris Freidus and Salvatore Gogliormella, both of whom specialize in matters involving healthcare and hospitality assets.
Practice head(s):
Meredith Kane; Peter Fisch; Harris Freidus; Salvatore Gogliormella
Testimonials
‘Very knowledgeable, efficient and productive. They have all areas covered with partners having expertise. They manage the matters to keep costs down without jeopardizing the work.’
‘Peter Fisch is fully committed and always available. His expertise is vast and his experience helps us reach our goals.’
‘Strengths lie in sharp draftsmanship and ability to see around the corners on issues. The firm also has been highly responsive in turning around edits.’
‘We predominantly worked with Salvatore Gogliormella. Sal is an excellent lawyer who is sharp, highly personable and very responsive.’
Key clients
CIM Group
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Rock Ventures
Rockefeller Group Development Corporation
Empire Resorts
Lendlease Americas Development
Loews Hotels
Northwell Health
Healthpeak Properties
Rose Associates
Work highlights
- Continuing to represent CIM Group in the development and dirt work for a variety of large developments in highdensity, high barrier-to-entry urban communities including in connection with the formation of its $5bn fund to expand its focus on investing in Opportunity Zone investments.
- Representing New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority in all of its significant real estate matters, including a new development by JPMorgan Chase Bank of a 2.5 million-square-foot new world-headquarters building at 270 Park Avenue.
- Representing North American residential real estate investment company Tricon Residential in its joint venture agreement with two leading institutional investors to create a portfolio of over 10,000 single-family rental homes.
Proskauer Rose LLP
Proskauer Rose LLP commands a dominant position within Manhattan’s leasing market where New York-based Ronald Sernau represents landlords and tenants in their retail and commercial leases. In addition to co-chairing the core real estate department, Sernau also serves as co-head of the firm’s dedicated private equity real estate team, which handles investment transactions on a global basis. The practice group also works in close collaboration with the firm’s construction and finance lawyers to provide a one-stop-shop offering for major projects including mixed-use, residential, hotel, retail center, sport stadium and office schemes. Though it is active across a wide variety of asset classes, its expertise in hospitality, gaming and leisure-related property is of particular note, bolstered by the firm’s dedicated teams for each of these sectors. Jeffrey Horwitz, Steven Lichtenfeld and David Weinberger also operate from New York, jointly heading the practice together with Sernau and Chicago-based Michael Choate. Beyond partner level, associate Eliska Krausova represents a number of real estate investors including private equity, hedge and sovereign wealth funds. Perry Cacace has left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Michael Choate; Jeffrey Horwitz; Steven Lichtenfeld; Ronald Sernau; David Weinberger
Other key lawyers:
Eliska Krausova
Testimonials
‘Very organized, helpful in bringing deep experience to the table and yet always willing to learn more and do what it takes to make both my as client satisfied and my client and their legal team satisfied.’
‘They work well with others and are consistently above and beyond helpful in getting our transactions to the goal line. They are excellent with support even after a transaction closes. Eliska Krausova had even agreed to come speak to one of my graduate school classes on a hot topic in real estate, and brought a very informed and savvy partner to speak to the class as well.’
‘David Weinberger is the partner that oversees the real estate practice for our bank in NYC and runs the practice well.’
‘The team we work with is as responsive, thoughtful and business-minded as lawyers can be. We rely on them with our most complicated matters, and they have worked hard to become our go-to team, specifically on the transactions that require out-of-the-box thinking.’
Work highlights
- Represented The Coca-Cola Company in its sale of 711 Fifth Avenue to Nightingale Properties and Wafra Group for $907m.
- Represented a leading private equity real estate sponsor and investor in the acquisition of a ground leasehold interest, development, financing, and lease-back of a regional logistics and distribution center operated by a major national retailer in a transaction valued in excess of $300m.
- Represented a major institutional developer, sponsor and investor in a joint venture transaction with a major international investor/bank in connection the $300m redevelopment of the Union Theological Seminary located at 3041 Broadway, New York, New York.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP represents an international client roster of developers, pension and private equity funds, investors, lenders and large corporations on a broad variety of real estate matters. Neil Rock, head of both the global and New York practice, is deeply experienced in fund representation, supporting on formation, capital raising and restructuring matters while also acting on a number of high-profile New York headquarter leasing and sale-leasebacks mandates. Also in New York, Audrey Sokoloff serves as the global leader of the firm’s transaction practice, a position which regularly sees her manage joint ventures, private equity fund formations and investments made into Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the Americas. In Chicago, Nancy Olson routinely represents investors in both single-asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, including those with a finance component; she is also an integral member of the firm’s REIT practice. Referenced lawyers are also among the key contacts for the firm's development service which spans office, hotel, casino, shopping center and resort projects.
Practice head(s):
Neil Rock; Audrey Sokoloff; Nancy Olson
Work highlights
- Representing a Sovereign Wealth Fund in a joint venture. The joint venture will initially own four in-progress university-based research & innovation (R&I) development projects with total project costs estimated at $930m, and may be expanded to include other preidentified future R&I development projects.
- Representing The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey in connection with its more than $13bn redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
- Representing Starwood Capital Group in its $100m pre-IPO investment in AmeriHome, Inc.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
At Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, a key distinguisher is the heavy emphasis on real estate-related restructuring, which also often sees the team involved in M&A and spin-offs. In addition, the group also counts its joint venture work as a defining trait, working on single asset and portfolio acquisitions of all asset classes via structures such as bridge and preferred equity, forward purchases and cutting-edge hybrid structures. The representation of REITs and real estate funds is also a strength for the group, which has recently advised on numerous fund formations for Opportunity Zone investments, calling upon the firm’s dedicated private funds departments in New York and London to complement its offering in this space. New York-based duo Michael Bond and Philip Rosen jointly chair the practice; the former provides the team with development and leasing expertise, while the latter is recommended for his hospitality and gaming practice which supplements the group’s core asset expertise in the office, co-working platform, retail, student, logistics and mixed-use segments.
Practice head(s):
Michael Bond; Philip Rosen
Other key lawyers:
Evan Levy; David Herman
Testimonials
‘I find their team to be very responsive and knowledgeable. What I particularly like is their ability to focus on what issues are must haves and what issues may perhaps not be standard, but can be conceded if the deal team does not believe they are worth fighting for.’
‘Weil is able to involve lawyers with whatever specialty we have required on a deal.’
Key clients
24 Hour Fitness
AIG
Amherst Holdings, LLC
Atalaya Capital Management LP
Belmond Ltd.
The Blackstone Group
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
C-III Asset Management
Cain International
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
Centerbridge Partners
Colony Capital
Dwight Capital
Fortress Credit Corporation
Front Yard Residential Corporation
HEI Hotels & Resorts
J. Crew
JZ Capital
King Street Capital
LendLease Group
Madison International Realty, LLC
MGM Resorts International
The Moinian Group
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
OPTrust
PropCap Advisors
Sears Holdings
SoftBank Group Corp.
Topgolf International, Inc.
TPG Global
Walnut Capital Management
Work highlights
- Advised Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Brookfield Property Partners L.P. in the latter’s $14.4bn acquisition of the approximately 66% of common stock that it did not already own of General Growth Properties Inc., a REIT that owns, develops, and operates regional shopping malls across the US.
- Advising Topgolf International, Inc., an operator of golf entertainment facilities in the US and the UK, in its $2bn merger of equals with Callaway Golf Company.
- Advised MGM Resorts International on its $4.25bn sale of the Bellagio, a resort, luxury hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, to a joint venture MGM Resorts formed with Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust and its leaseback of the Bellagio.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, the real estate team is well placed to act across the entire spectrum of matters including acquisitions, dispositions and leasing transactions, large-scale development projects, restructurings and, where applicable, financing and joint venture agreements. Key personnel operate from the New York office, including practice chair Peter Irwin, who specializes in representing private equity funds. Additional names to note include retail and commercial asset specialist Nicole Levin Mesard, and Edward Rishty, who caters to a broad client base of hedge funds, developers, sovereign wealth funds and family offices. Rishty is also recognized for his experience of capital market transactions relating to property.
Practice head(s):
Peter Irwin
Other key lawyers:
Nicole Levin Mesard; Edward Rishty
Key clients
ARK, The We Company’s investment platform
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Carmel Partners
Elliott Management Corporation
FC Encore
JPMorgan Asset Management
Oaktree Capital Management
New York Life Insurance Company
The Brickstone Companies
Third Point LLC
Tishman Speyer Properties
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Angelo, Gordon & Co.
Point72 Ventures
Work highlights
- Advised J.P. Morgan Asset Management on the $412.5m sale of 110 N. Carpenter, which serves as McDonald’s global headquarters.
- Advised New York Life on the real estate aspects of its acquisition of Cigna’s Group Life and Disability Insurance business, including the negotiation of several office lease assignments and subleases, the negotiation of agreements for co-working sites, the assignment of mortgage loans to New York Life and the negotiation of reinsurance trust agreements and a participation agreement.
- Advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its sale of a 463-unit multi-family housing development known as Mosso, located in San Francisco, CA, to Brookfield Properties.
Goodwin
The ‘deal-oriented’ lawyers at Goodwin impress with their capability to manage ‘the most complicated of transactions’. A high degree of their focus is targeted towards the representation of clients throughout the entire life span of their investments. Specifically, the team assists with the formation of fund investment vehicles, including open-ended, close-end, opt-out and commingled funds, thereafter supporting them on a range of transactions such as joint ventures, direct single asset and portfolio acquisitions, ground-up development projects, financing, construction contracting and leasing mandates. Chaired by Boston-based Minta Kay, the group also regularly represents development and hospitality companies, investment managers, REITs and pension plans on the full array of real estate matters. Elsewhere, Los Angeles-based Dean Pappas is noted for its real estate-related M&A and ground lease expertise, while Jim Broderick is a specialist in the structuring and implementation of equity joint venture and complex debt investments.
Practice head(s):
Minta Kay
Other key lawyers:
Dean Pappas; Jim Broderick
Testimonials
‘Goodwin’s team is incredibly responsive, hard-working and keyed into the market; they are also very deal-oriented and generally focused on practical solutions.’
‘The team and specifically senior partners are unmatched in their ability to represent our interests in the most complicated transactions.’
‘I am aware of the team’s focus on technology and the PropTech space, which I anticipate will lead to its being on the forefront of implementing innovative practices/technologies as they arise.’
‘The senior partners in particular with whom I have worked most are top notch in their sophistication, ability to dissect complex situations and execute on complex transactions, and willingness to find time for virtually any matter.’
‘In a fast-paced and time-constrained environment, they also are very good at boiling down issues quickly and directly to highlight the questions and solicit responses as necessary. Minta Kay and Dean Pappas fall into this category.’
Key clients
AEW Capital Management
AvalonBay Communities
Brookfield Financial Properties
DSF Advisors
Eastern Real Estate
Essex Property Trust
G&Z Holdings
Hobbs Brook Management
InfoTycoon
Work highlights
- Counsel to Boston Properties in the formation of a 50/50 joint venture with affiliates of Alexandria Real Estate Equities to own, develop and operate approximately 1.1-million sq ft of existing office and lab properties in South San Francisco, California.
- Counsel to Essex Property Trust in the buy-out of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s 45% joint venture interest in a $1bn portfolio of multi-family housing in California.
- Counsel to Tycoon, LLC as they completed the sale of its assets to SightPlan Holdings, Inc. The acquisition was structured as a business combination in which InfoTycoon contributed its assets to SightPlan and their existing stockholders contributed their shares in exchange for SightPlan’s shares.
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
The ‘personalized’ service at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP covers the gamut of urban investment, redevelopment, commercial leasing, sale-leaseback and public-private venture mandates, in addition to real estate-related planning and M&A. The group is particularly accomplished in commercial, retail, industrial, multi-family and mixed-use projects, including those involving multi-jurisdictional transaction structures. It has expanded its breadth of activity of late, significantly ramping up its activity in the life sciences, healthcare, and affordable housing sectors. In Dallas, Howard Schreiber jointly leads the department together with New York-based duo Brett Gross and Laurie Grasso, the last of whom has an impressive number of high-value transactions under her belt over the past 12 months. Most notably, Grasso acted for Savanna in its $435 purchase of a 27-story, 500,000 sq ft office building in Manhattan. The group benefits from an extensive national footprint with other key names spread across the Washington DC, Los Angeles, Miami, Richmond and Houston offices.
Practice head(s):
Howard Schreiber; Laurie Grasso; Brett Gross
Other key lawyers:
Jeff Giese; Matt Scoville; James England
Testimonials
‘Each attorney is knowledgeable, and they communicate very well amongst themselves. True professionals, with a sense of humor’.
‘The practice is unique in that the service is personalized. We felt like they were part of our internal team from day one. They not only took the time to understand our issues, but they also took the time to understand our point of view. In my experience that level of client commitment and client empathy is unique.’
Key clients
Cencor Acquisition Company, Inc.
Chatham Lodging Trust
Comcar Industries Inc.
Cove Property Group
Empire State Development
Landry’s
Savanna
Service Properties Trust
Six Peak Capital
Tishman Speyer
Work highlights
- Representing Empire State Development, the chief economic development agency of the State of New York, in a $1.3bn redevelopment of Belmont Park into a sports and entertainment destination in New York.
- Represented a real estate developer in its joint venture to purchase and redevelopment of an office building in Connecticut for technology and life science uses.
- Represented Service Properties Trust (formerly Hospitality Properties Trust) in connection with its $438m disposition of 126 properties located in 26 states across the country. The properties were recently acquired by Service Properties Trust as part of their acquisition of a 772-property portfolio from Spirit MTA REIT.
Jones Day
Lawyers at Jones Day cover the full spectrum of real estate matters; they are particularly well versed in build-to-lease and build-to-suit projects, though cover the full range of sale, purchase, development, finance, leasing, fund service and real estate tax matters. In Chicago, Robert Lee co-chairs the global real estate department alongside Brian Sedlak, who is an expert in public-private partnerships and higher education-related projects. Their team places a high degree of focus on cross-border transactions and global portfolio management, an offering bolstered by its close collaboration with the firm's lawyers in the UK, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A further key point of distinction is that, in addition to mainstream real estate players such as developers, investors and funds, the group also represents other of the firm's corporate clients in all their real estate activities.
Practice head(s):
Robert Lee; Brian Sedlak
Other key lawyers:
Michelle Brown; Richard Rosenblatt; Trisha Mowbray
Testimonials
‘They have broad capabilities covering borrower and lender side financings, fund formations, equity joint ventures, development and construction, leasing and single asset and portfolio acquisitions and sales across a number of offices in the US so we minimize need for local counsel. They are practical and have good knowledge of how others address similar issues. They focus on getting the deal done and are easy to work with. Partners are hands-on and closely supervise associates. They have good coordination across offices. Most of their associates have significant experience working with us.’
‘They are practical and focused on getting the deal done.’
Key clients
SITE Centers Corp.
The Blackstone Group
Capital One Bank, N.A.
StepStone
Greystar Real Estate Partners
University of Iowa
Transwestern Investment Group
Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC
Trammell Crow Residential
Wells Fargo, National Association
Navistar
University of Idaho
Henderson Park Capital Management
Meyer Bergman, Ltd
TriGate Capital, LLC
Townsend Holdings
Orion Capital Managers
LaSalle Investment Management
Work highlights
- Advised University of Iowa in connection with a concession for its energy and water systems, in a public-private partnership (P3) with a consortium of ENGIE and Meridiam, valued at approximately $1.17bn.
- Advised Meyer Bergman, Ltd. on the formation and launch of Crossbay Logistics Fund, a pan-European real estate platform targeting single tenant assets in gateway cities, valued at £2.2bn.
- Advised Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyper-scale data center campuses across six markets in North America and five markets in Europe, on forming a strategic partnership with Colony Capital, Inc., valued at $3.5bn.
Katten
Katten’s real estate department primarily targets lenders and investors, advising on portfolio transactions, developments, leasing, financings, operational matters and restructurings. New York-based Timothy Little chairs the practice, which benefits from an expansive domestic office network, with key names in the Chicago, Charlotte and Washington DC offices. The real estate expertise is further complemented by the firm's wider strengths in tax, disputes, corporate, bankruptcy and securities.
Practice head(s):
Timothy Little
Other key lawyers:
David Dlugie; Scott Vetri; Andrew Jagoda; Kenneth Lore; Frank Arado; Christine Noelle Fitzgerald
Key clients
L&M Development Partners / Toll Brothers, Inc.
Sidney Fetner Associates
Waterside Plaza LLC
iStar Inc.
MetLife Investment Management
The Blackstone Group
Ambrose Property Group
PIRHL Developers, LLC and the Chicago Housing Authority
Quadreal Finance Inc.
RCB Nominee (GID Development)
Wells Fargo
Work highlights
- Representing Fetner Properties in the acquisition of air rights under the 59th Street Bridge from the City of New York for the development of two new high-rise mixed-use affordable housing projects in Long Island City, New York, and the financing and development of these projects.
- Represented iStar Inc. in the sale of its portfolio of seven cold storage facilities to Lineage Logistics, the largest cold storage company in the country.
- Represented Waterside Plaza LLC in complex negotiations with New York City to preserve the development as an affordable housing resource and assure the project’s long-term financial viability.
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Based in New York, the team at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP has an extremely active condominium sub-practice, which is engaged in mixed-use developments across New York City, frequently acting on innovative and cutting-edge structures. Department head Jay Neveloff is rated for his extensive experience at every stage of commercial, retail and residential projects, in addition to investment-related single-asset and portfolio transactions. Other standout names include Jonathan Canter, a specialist in cooperative and shared-ownership projects, and James Godman, who is a key contact for leasing matters, representing landlords and tenants alike. The practice is also regularly engaged in matters beyond New York, having been notably active in San Francisco of late. It also brings together dedicated finance, land use, joint venture and REIT specialists to fill out its full-service offering.
Practice head(s):
Jay Neveloff
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Berman; Jonathan Canter; James Godman; Tzvi Rokeach; Andrew Charles
Testimonials
‘Kramer Levin does a fantastic job in all aspects of the deals we have worked on together. As a company, we primarily focus on joint venture developments. I find that they are an extra notch above other counsel in the amount of thought that goes into their work. I am constantly impressed by the way they can take very complex issues and help guide us in a calm and focused approach.’
‘Andrew Charles was able to efficiently work through what twice as many partners on the other side were going through. Their advice is very thoughtful and they have a natural ability to know when to hold the line on a particular issue.’
‘Knowledgeable, accessible, reliable, creative problem solvers and strategic.’
Key clients
VICI Properties
Mitsui Fudosan America
Vornado Realty Trust
The Related Companies
Nederlander Organization
Rockrose Development L.L.C.
Trinity Place Holdings Inc.
New Valley
Amherst Capital Management
Dajia US (formerly Anbang Insurance Group)
Monty Three East 86th Street Associates, LLC
DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners
Broadview Real Estate Partners
Zurich Alternative Asset Management
CIM Group
Columbia University
Elad Group
The Carlyle Group
Ponte Equities
Canoe Brook
NYU Langone
Fortress Investment Group
Manchester Real Estate
New York Life Insurance Company
Westbrook Partners
Korman Communities
Brause
RWN Management
BNP Paribas
Silverstein Properties
BlackRock
MSDC
Witkoff
Friedland
UBS O’Connor
Morgan Stanley
Clipper Equity
Mt. Sinai
LCOR Incorporated
GID Development Group
RXR Realty
Amalgamated Bank
JPMorgan Chase
Madison Realty Capital
Fortis
Jefferies
Brookfield Properties
Work highlights
- Represented VICI Properties in several large real estate transactions, including in connection with Eldorado Resorts, Inc.’s $17.3bn merger with Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
- Served as primary outside counsel for Mitsui Fudosan America Inc. in connection with advising, structuring and negotiating real estate development transactions across the US aggregating a total investment in excess of $2.5bn.
- Providing condominium counsel to Vornado Realty Trust in the $1.6bn redevelopment of the landmarked 1912 James A. Farley Post Office Building into the new Moynihan Train Hall at New York’s Penn Station.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP has expertise in a wide range of real estate-related transactions, including M&A, finance matters and investment deals, catering to a client roster of private equity and sovereign wealth funds, REITs, public investment trusts and developers. In Chicago, Robert Buday jointly chairs the global real estate practice alongside New York-based duo Michael Haas and Michelle Kelban; their team was recently bolstered by the arrival of Los Angeles-based Meghan Cocci from Dentons; she serves as global co-chair of the dedicated hospitality, gaming and leisure industry group alongside Gary Axelrod. The overall department is simultaneously well versed in multi-family, office, retail, healthcare, industrial and mixed-use assets and projects and further increased its partner count through the promotion of acquisition, development and finance specialist Pablo Clarke. With lawyers on both coasts and in Chicago, the team is equipped to handle nationwide single asset and portfolio deals, also frequently calling upon its colleagues across Europe for international mandates.
Practice head(s):
Robert Buday; Michael Haas; Michelle Kelban
Other key lawyers:
Pablo Clarke; Meghan Cocci; Gary Axelrod; David Meckler
Key clients
Colony Capital
Brookfield Asset Management
StepStone Real Estate Partners
Ares Capital Management
GEM Realty Capital, Inc.
Highgate Hospitality Management, LP
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
Partners Group
AGC Equity Partners
Cain International
Simon Property Group, Inc.
Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors
Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (Formerly HCP)
ACORE Capital, L.P.
El Dorado Resorts, Inc.
Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P.
Hersha Hospitality Trust
Lineage Logistics
Geolo Capital
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
Invitation Homes
Work highlights
- Advising Highgate Hospitality on the $2.8bn acquisition of hospitality portfolios from Colony Capital.
- Represented Ares Management in the $2.5bn take-private transaction with Front Yard Residential.
- Advised Invitation Homes on an announced agreement to form a $375m joint venture with Rockpoint Group that aims to purchase single family rental homes.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
‘An excellent real estate transaction team’, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s real estate department is chaired by the ‘exceptional and detail-oriented’ Gerard Walsh, who is experienced in the full array of matters, including finance, with asset class expertise that spans master planned communities, mixed-use, hotel, resort, retail, corporate campus and commercial projects. Based alongside him in Los Angeles is Randolph Perry, a lawyer who is ‘effective in negotiations’ and specializes in distressed assets and hospitality-related transactions. The team also includes San Francisco-based Michael Liever and Marshall Brozost in New York; both of whom are investment specialists, and act for the team’s roster of institutional, private equity and overseas investors, funds and lenders in portfolio transactions, joint ventures, leasing and development projects.
Practice head(s):
Gerard Walsh
Other key lawyers:
Randolph Perry; Michael Liever; Marshall Brozost; Nicole Walsh
Testimonials
‘Orrick has an excellent real estate transactions team. They provide exceptional service and support. Gerard Walsh and Randolph Perry are extremely intergrated practically operate as extensions of our in-house legal team.’
‘Orrick’s team works very collaboratively.’
‘Gerard Walsh is an exceptional lawyer with many years of experience. Jerry is very detail-oriented and takes a practical approach to solving complex problems. Randolph Perry is an excellent lawyer; he has a smooth, easy going personality that is very effective in negotiations.’
‘The team is second to none in terms of my 15 years plus in real estate. They have a deep bench in terms of coverage and their client interaction was thoughtful, comprehensive, and most importantly, immediate.’
‘Their collaboration and deep bench created a seamless transaction from my fund’s perspective.’
‘I worked primarily with Nicole Walsh who I have nothing but positive things to say regarding my experience. My interactions with Marshall Brozost were similarly positive. His humility in tandem with his calming yet commanding style enabled every interaction with a sometimes combative seller counsel to have a positive result.’
Key clients
Westbrook Partners
Hackman Capital Partners
Walton Street Capital
Calmwater Capital
BlueMountain
Colony Capital
BentallGreenOak
Fortress Investment Group
Swift Realty Partners
Stockbridge Capital Group
Bristol Group
DWS / RREEF Management LLC
GLL Real Estate/Macquarie
Gerding Edlen/Green Cities Partners
MacFarlane Partners
State Street Global Advisors
Arel Capital
Ramsbury
Hines
Monte Rosa Land Company
Gerson Bakar & Associates
Zynga
Napier Park Global Capital
Lift Partners
Work highlights
- Advising Westbrook Partners on the highly anticipated $1bn+ mixed-use redevelopment project at 706 Mission in San Francisco. The project will feature a 146-unit luxury condominium tower that will be branded Four Seasons Private Residences and a home to the Mexican Museum.
- Advised popular gaming app developer Zynga on the complex $600m sale leaseback of its corporate headquarters in San Francisco, one of the largest single building office sales in recent years.
- Advised Rosemawr Management on the $454m acquisition and related financing of a portfolio of 47 charter schools across the US.
Ropes & Gray LLP
On the transaction front, Ropes & Gray LLP operates across a variety of deal types including direct, fund and co-investments, joint ventures, tradable credits and loan acquisitions. It also enjoys continued involvement in significant nationwide projects, distinctly acting on numerous life science and laboratory-based schemes, in addition to those made up of more mainstream, mixed-use and data center assets. In New York, Daniel Stanco is highly regarded by his notably broad client roster of equity and hedge funds, developers and public and private REITs and frequently acts for overseas investors on inbound investment into the US as well as matters across the UK, Europe, Canada and elsewhere. Boston-based Jack Creedon has a very strong reputation in debt restructurings, sale-leasebacks and ground-up development projects and is vastly experienced in the representation of university endowments and pension plans.
Practice head(s):
Jack Creedon; Daniel Stanco
Other key lawyers:
Rich Gordt; Walter McCabe; Alison Rundlett
Testimonials
‘Very talented negotiators, a trusted advisor on big ticket matters, producing top quality work.’
‘Daniel Stanco is a standout performer, a really superb all around lawyer with great judgment.’
Key clients
Blackstone
Brookfield Asset Management
Novavax
Investment Management Corporation of Ontario
Colony Capital
Oaktree Capital Management
ACORE
PIMCO
Siguler Guff
HIG Capital
TPG
Angelo Gordon
Melody Capital
PGGM
Apollo Management
CIM
Related Fund Management
First Atlantic Capital
MSD Partners
Annaly Capital
Nan Fung Group
Walton Street Capital
Amherst Capital
Work highlights
- Advising China-based Nan Fung Group in connection with its buyout of Westbrook Partners’ circa 90% interest in a seven-story, 830,000 sq ft office and industrial property located at 24-02 49th Avenue in Long Island City, New York.
- Represented TRTX, the public mortgage REIT and part of TPG, in its strategic partnership with Starwood Capital Group through which Starwood is providing $325m of equity capital to TRTX.
- Advised Blackstone Mortgage Trust, as borrower, on closing over $15bn in repurchase and secured credit facilities to finance BXMT’s global commercial mortgage loan portfolio and originations.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
An ‘incredibly knowledgable, responsive’ and ‘business-oriented’ team, Seyfarth Shaw LLP has notable strengths in all facets of real estate, from acquisitions through to projects and disputes. Among its unique selling points are its dedicated data center services, real estate healthcare and distressed situations sub-practices, as well as its significant presence in the field of public-private partnerships where it represents players on both sides of the equation, acting for state and local government agencies in addition to contractors, project sponsors and facility operators. Atlanta-based practice head Paul Mattingly is a veteran of numerous prominent leasing, development and financing matters; he oversees an expansive team with lawyers in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington DC and the recently opened Seattle office, among other locations. In New York, Cynthia Mitchell is a prominent name for transactions involving nursing homes, assisted living facilities and long-term acute care hospitals.
Practice head(s):
Paul Mattingly
Other key lawyers:
Cynthia Mitchell; Richard Mendelson; Joel Rubin; Gregg Bernhard; Miles Borden
Testimonials
‘Depth of experience has been valuable in handling problems that are unique to our concerns. Also, the ability to readily and easily tap into other disciplines in the firm has been invaluable.’
‘Ability to source legal counsel assistance in most every country we did business.’
‘Very good knowledge and problem solving abilities.’
‘This year I worked with two new junior attorneys. I was impressed with their ability and customer service. They respond quickly and with accurate information. Strong attention to details.’
Seyfarth’s attorneys have excellent people and business skills and offer a unique ability to identify legal issues and problem solving around them. Many attorneys can get mired in obscure legal nuances that are extremely unlikely to ever cause a problem and extend negotiations and ring up fees to address them – often times killing a deal. Our attorneys at Seyfarth are practical and business-minded. The firm also has expertise in complementary competencies which we have needed to use for capital raises, litigation, bankruptcy, etc.’
Key clients
Battery Global Advisors
L3 Capital
LBA Realty
Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA)
RREEF America REIT II, Inc.
Sound West Group
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA)
UC Regents
Work highlights
- Represented LBA in a $290m acquisition of an office complex in Cupertino, California. This was ranked among the top 15 largest single-property office building transactions of Q3 2019 as ranked by Real Estate Alert.
- Represented L3 Capital in the $148m acquisition of a 17 building retail portfolio in Brooklyn, New York.
- Represented RREEF America REIT II, Inc. in the disposition of a mixed-use high-rise property in downtown Chicago which sold for $154.25m.
Vinson & Elkins LLP
The ‘very commercial lawyers’ at Vinson & Elkins LLP operate on a national, and sometimes international scope, though are primarily focused on two key markets: New York and Texas. Practice co-head Wallace Schwartz has extensive experience across all facets of real estate with a distinguished level of expertise in hospitality and gaming assets. He is based in the New York office, which also houses commercial leasing specialist Adam Endick. In Dallas, Paul Martin co-leads the national department and has developed a noteworthy reputation among private equity funds, which seek out his advice on acquisition, finance, workout and development mandates. Another key name in Texas is Randy Jurgensmeyer (‘thoughtful and diligent'), who tailors his practice towards the representation of investment funds and institutional investors.
Practice head(s):
Paul Martin; Wallace Schwartz
Other key lawyers:
Adam Endick; Randy Jurgensmeyer
Testimonials
‘Strong knowledge base around equity work and leasing. Very commercial lawyers. Strong understanding of deal structure and client concerns. Well trained senior associate group.’
‘I have worked with Randy Jurgensmeyer and his team for approximately 20 years. Randy and his team never lose sight of the business goal of the legal work and work diligently to negotiate and paper agreements that minimize risks while achieving the business goals. In addition, having worked with Randy for quite some time he understands my organization’s risk sensitivities and he thoughtfully and proactively addresses these issues. Randy does a good job thinking through, raising and helping to mitigate risk. He is thoughtful, diligent and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Alex. Brown Realty
Clarion Partners
CBRE Global Investors
CommonWealth Partners
Crow Holdings Capital Partners
Trammell Crow Company
Transwestern Investment Management
Tyr Energy, Inc.
Western Refining, Inc.
Woods Capital Management
7-Eleven, Inc.
The Related Companies
Diamond Head Partners
WPT Real Estate Investment Trust
iStar Inc.
Deerfield Management Company
Extell Development Company
Rockpoint Group
The Georgetown Company
Work highlights
- Represented 7-Eleven in numerous large portfolio sale and leasebacks, including domestic and international transactions.
- Represented Hillwood Properties in connection with its leasing of a to-be-constructed 783,000 sq ft national distribution center to Callaway Golf Company in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Represented a joint venture of Goldman Sachs and Lincoln Harris in connection with the development and leasing of three new office towers in the Legacy Union development in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s ‘responsive’ real estate team handles a broad caseload, both in terms of matter types and geographical reach. Work over the review period has been spread across California, Washington DC, New York and Florida, among other states, and covers the gamut of transformative development projects, asset and share transactions, major leases and convertible equity investments in addition to a variety of financing matters. David Drewes (‘quick to grasp complex deal structures and nuanced terms’) operates from New York alongside co-chair Thomas Henry, who has particular experience in restructuring and joint venture mandates. Clients also benefit from the firm's capabilities in real estate capital markets and M&A deals, fund formation and extensive asset management services.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Henry; David Drewes
Other key lawyers:
Carly Glover Saviano; Daniel Backer
Testimonials
‘Very responsive, we always feel like a priority. At the same time, they feel they manage their time efficiently and leverage associates appropriately to ensure bills remain reasonable.’
‘David Drewes well-versed in the intricacies of the documents that we work with, and also are able to grasp relatively complex deal structures and nuanced terms without much back and forth. I find that he also possesses good business sense, in that he understand the give and take between ensuring an ironclad legal position, versus achieving that same potential position through practical workarounds, even if the technical legal details are not quite as clear cut as you would like. He is also good at proposing solutions, rather than just identifying problems and risks.’
Key clients
Hudson’s Bay Company
Paramount Group, Inc.
Colony Capital
Choice Hotels International
Washington Prime Group, Inc.
Harbor Group International (HGI)
DiamondRock Hospitality, Inc.
Meadow Partners
Tribeca Associates
Slate Property Group
Vereit
Jiaming Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.
Centerbridge Partners
Bloomberg L.P.
St. John’s University
Access Industries Inc.
IO Data Centers LLC
Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd.
Pace Gallery
Work highlights
- Acting for Colony Capital in a definitive agreement to sell six of its hospitality portfolios to Highgate, a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company, in a transaction valued at $2.8bn.
- Acting for Harbor Group International as it closed its $1.85bn purchase and related mortgage financing of a 36 multi-family property portfolio from Aragon Holdings.
- Rrepresented The Generation Companies, LLC and joint venture partner StepStone Real Estate in the disposition of a portfolio of 18 extended-stay hotel properties under the Hilton, Choice and IHG brands, together with the related operating business, located across the US for a sale price of approximately $213m.
Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a major player in the projects space, acting on urban development and redevelopment schemes nationwide in addition to substantial multi-family, self-storage, industrial center, office building and shopping centre developments. In addition, the team also has an emphasis on portfolio transactions. Its offering is complemented by significant land use, environmental, construction and alternative finance expertise. In Fort Lauderdale, Eric Rapkin is active in high-stake real estate disputes throughout the US and also Latin America; he serves as department co-chair alongside Denver-based healthcare asset expert Allison Nelson, and Lawrence Eiben who runs the office, industrial and retail leasing practice from Chicago.
Practice head(s):
Eric Rapkin; Lawrence Eiben; Allison Nelson
Other key lawyers:
Sue Zabloudil; Steven Polivy; Richard Bezold
Testimonials
‘They are very efficient and if one attorney is busy, they all work together.’
‘They have mastered the work from home and actually can close deals remotely.’
Key clients
Lock-Up Self Storage
Windmass Capital
Codina Partners
One Real Estate Investments
Swire Properties
Bank of America
University of Miami
Sterling Project Development
Baychester Retail III LLC
Cresco Labs
Work highlights
- Represented One Real Estate Investments in the acquisitions of ten multi-family apartment complexes located throughout the US, with a purchase price totaling over $212m.
- Representing several national homebuilders and developers in over 100 land use and transactional matters related to the development of land for sale, as well as sales and acquisitions of sites for development.
- Represented WindMass Capital, LLC in closing a $145m, 1,656-unit apartment portfolio acquisition in Dallas, Texas.
ArentFox Schiff
Arent Fox LLP fields a team of lawyers with a wide range of expertise. For example, it counts inward investment from Europe and Latin America among its key strengths, and also stands out in transactions at the intersection of the private and public sectors. It frequently supports tax-exempt entities, such as public charter schools, on the full array of real estate matters. Moreover, thanks in part to the experience of Washington DC-based Kenneth Jacob, it is a major player in deals involving senior living and shopping center assets. In San Francisco, Richard Brand is a lawyer thoroughly experienced in hotel, office and industrial acquisitions and dispositions and of late, has carved out a niche in real estate transactions where sports-related naming rights are applicable. Department chair Thomas Castiello enjoys a noteworthy reputation in acting for institutional equity clients and is a major player in Washington DC’s development space where his team ‘knows the local market better than anyone’.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Castiello
Other key lawyers:
Kenneth Jacob; Richard Brand; Lewis Goss
Testimonials
‘Arent Fox’s Real Estate team knows the DC real estate market better than anyone. They are diligent, timely, and easy to work with. I highly recommend them!’
‘We have been consistently pleased with how proactive Arent Fox is with ensuring we want them to spend time on work before they bill us for it.’
‘Thomas Castiello is responsive, smart, and a creative problem solver. He is a delight to work with.’
Key clients
Blackstone and Longview Senior Housing Advisors
Fannie Mae
South Bay Partners, LLC
DSC Partners LLC
Trinitas Partners
Opportunity Finance Network
Cherner Development
Federal Capital Partners
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
State Farm Insurance
Work highlights
- Representing Blackstone and Longview Senior Housing Advisors in the asset management of two large senior housing portfolios aggregating 85 properties in 23 states, which constitute approximately $2bn in asset value.
- Recently completed the acquisition of two office condominiums to be used by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute as its DC headquarters, complete with a classroom and a museum, two blocks from the White House.
- Advised DSC Partners, a District of Columbia-based investment group, in the acquisition and financing of 28 office and flex buildings for $149m.
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Baker & Hostetler LLP’s real estate team is co-chaired by Robert Gebaide in Orlando and Cleveland-based Amy Kellogg, a contact for property matters in the retail, technology, manufacturing and automotive sectors. The practice places a notable degree of emphasis on industry specific expertise, with other members of the team representing prominent entities in the hospitality, sports, entertainment and healthcare fields. Also among the client roster are developers, REITs, private equity and pension funds, which call upon the team for advice on leasing, sale and acquisition matters in addition to office, mixed-use, industrial, multi-family and mater-planned community projects. The practice group benefits from a broad geographical footprint, with other key names based in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver and New York, and is supported by the firm's finance, regulatory compliance and environmental planning experts.
Practice head(s):
Amy Kellogg; Robert Gebaide
Other key lawyers:
Jessica Parker Malchow; Michael Pappert; Wendy Markham; Gregory Lee; Joann Gallagher Jones
Key clients
Northside Hospital, Inc.
Enterprise Leasing Company of Georgia, LLC
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN)
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE)
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM)
Hyatt Corporation
Hard Rock Café International (USA), Inc.
Diamond Resorts
Wendy’s International, Inc.
Starwood/Starwood Capital Group
TPCO America Corporation
The Milestone Companies
Accesso Partners, LLC
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Harman International Industries
Oatey Co.
The Millennia Companies
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
TransDigm Group, Inc.
Big River Steel LLC
Work highlights
- Assisting Big River Steel with real estate management and refinancing, and the acquisition of new property adjacent to its facility in Osceola, Arkansas.
- Advising on the ownership restructuring of 40 office buildings and projects owned by Accesso Partners nationwide, the ownership of which was rolled-up into a US-based master fund for the purposes of investment diversification.
- Advising on all aspects of the sale of Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf hotel, an internationally recognized hotel, to RIU California, a relatively new entrant to the US market.
Ballard Spahr LLP
The real estate department at Ballard Spahr LLP is rather unique from a structural perspective in the sense that it is divided into several dedicated sub-practices. Particularly crucial is the development and complex transactions team, fronted by Tina Makoulian, which specializes in mixed-use, condominium and condemnation projects, leveraging its supplementary land use, construction, leasing and tax structuring knowhow to provide a fully comprehensive service. Elsewhere, Denver-based Christopher Payne chairs the hospitality and timeshare group which is geared to handle timeshare and fractional deals, as well as developments at resort hotels. In Washington DC, Mary Jo George leads the housing practice, regularly acting on substantial affording housing, GSE, tax credit and HUD financing transactions. Finally, Dominic De Simone leads the real estate finance and capital markets work with Bart Mellits, who chairs the wider real estate practice. Named lawyers are based in the Philadelphia office unless otherwise stated.
Practice head(s):
Bart Mellits; Dominic Simone; Mary Jo George; Tina Makoulian; Christopher Payne
Other key lawyers:
Kelly Wrenn; Roger Winston; Thomas Hauser; Nicole Evans
Key clients
Wexford Science + Technology
Amtrak
Equus Capital Partners, Ltd
New York City Housing Authority
Denver Housing Authority
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
McCormick & Company, Inc.
Weller Development Company
CGA Capital, LLC
Pantzer
Equus Capital Partners, Ltd.
LCOR Incorporated
East West Partners
Wasatch Peaks Ranch Development, LLC
Work highlights
- Represented Wexford in the development of a 340,000 sq ft academic building for Drexel University in West Philadelphia.
- Represented DHA in the acquisition of two hotel properties and conversion to housing for the homeless.
- Acted for McCormick & Company, Inc on several major real estate undertakings, including new corporate headquarters and master distribution center, which is being structured as a synthetic lease.
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance is a powerhouse in the real estate investment space, leveraging its extensive international network to act on a range of cross-border transactions. The team frequently represents overseas entities in their inbound investments, formulating complex structures and tax planning in the process, on transactions which often involve trophy properties and sizeable portfolios. A number of US-based clients, particularly private investment funds, institutional investors and REITs, also depend on the group for their real estate transactions and are able to tap into expertise offered by the firm’s complementary financing, capital markets, corporate and tax departments. The 'technically excellent, commercial and solution-driven’ Ness Cohen serves as chairman of the national real estate practice and is based in New York alongside the recently promoted Jeanne Roig-Irwin, praised for her 'tremendous advice'.
Practice head(s):
Ness Cohen
Other key lawyers:
Eddie Frastai; Jeanne Roig-Irwin
Testimonials
‘The team is incredibly responsive, constructive, fast and helpful. The advice is at all time forward looking, taking into account both the big picture, as well as even minute details, which aides the decision making and the overall progress of any given transaction. We continue to be impressed by the extremely high quality of the service, as well as crucially, how commercially literate the advice is. All this across borders and at any time of the day and night.’
‘Jeanne Roig-Irvin comes highly recommended. We are very impressed by the support, flexibility, constructive solutions and ability to work across complex topics and countries, often with counter parties with varying English skills and often completely different business cultures. All this regularly under enormous time pressure, combined with high complexity and multiple additional requirements and stakeholders. The team is always looking out for us, is at all times committed and often a crucial component to get the deal over the line.’
‘Clifford Chance took on our non-profit as a pro bono client when we were invited to submit a proposal for a highly-subsidized building as part of a joint venture with a local theatre company. The understanding was that the firm would only begin charging us for its services if our consortium was awarded the building–which was, in fact, the case. We tribute Clifford Chance’s strong work for helping to make our proposal legally sound–and for making sure that our organization was fairly represented throughout the proposal, even though we were the minority partner in the joint venture.’
Our primary contact throughout the project was the Real Estate Associate Jeanne Roig-Irwin, who was promoted to Partner after our work together was complete. She reported to Real Estate Partner Ness Cohen. Jeanne was delightful to work with, incredibly responsive, and available to work on nights and weekends when the demands of the project required. She lobbied for the firm to take on the first phase of our project pro bono–and both she and Ness Cohen made it possible to us to delay payments for the second phase when the pandemic impacted our financial state. When the bill for services came, it was much lower than expected because of the efficiency of Jeanne and her team.’
‘The team is smart, commercial and solution-driven. They are accessible and on top of things. They follow up and see things through without prompting. In my experience, teams are good at one or the other but rarely both.’
‘My main contact is Ness Cohen. One of the best attorneys. He is technically excellent, commercial and solution-driven. He is tough when he needs to be but never lets things get personal and is focused on the bigger picture and the overall transaction. He is supported by a great team of associates and paralegals that do an excellent job of moving the transaction forward and making sure things do not slip through the cracks.’
‘Clifford Chance is uniquely structured to provide real estate legal services for our U.S. and European businesses. There is a tremendous transaction team based in the U.S. and a strong structuring team to help with our needs in Europe.’
‘From a technology standpoint, Clifford Chance is able to quickly share large files. In addition, they provide clear redlines from various versions for quick review.’
‘The individuals I work with at Clifford Chance stand out versus competitive firms in a few key areas. First off, they are extremely responsive and are able to process large amounts of work in a timely manner. Second, they are extremely knowledgeable and are able to leverage various in-house experts internationally to assist with unique and complex business issues. Jeanne Roig-Irwin has been a standout as the main point of contact and is able to provide tremendous advice and pull together necessary resources as required.’
Key clients
Almanac Realty Investors
Amherst Residential
Deutsche Finance Group
J. Safra Real Estate (JSRE Acquisitions)
Madison International Realty, LLC
National Storage Affiliates Trust
ReNew REIT LLC
Stockbridge Capital Partners, LLC
W. P. Carey Inc.
YES Communities, LLC
Work highlights
- Advised Carey Watermark Investors 2 Incorporated on its all-stock merger and management internalization transaction with Carey Watermark Investors 1 Incorporated to create a $4.6bn self-managed, non-traded real estate investment trust, Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc.
- Advised YES! (a private REIT) on its acquisition of 49 manufactured housing communities (and associated manufactured homes).
- Advised Deutsche Finance Group on a joint venture relating to the acquisition, along with Germany’s largest pension scheme Bayerische Versorgungskammer and New York City-based property developer Michael Shvo, of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid office tower in San Francisco as well as two neighboring properties from Transamerica and its parent company, Aegon.
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Cox, Castle & Nicholson fields a team of real estate specialists with a depth of expertise across a range of real estate matters. Key contacts in Los Angeles include project expert Margo Bradish, who has a track record in transit-oriented, urban infill, corporate campus, office, mixed-use, military base and senior housing schemes; and Amy Wells, who is vastly experienced in institutional investment matters. Also found on the West Coast is San Francisco-based Kevin Crabtree; he handles retail, hospitality, office, multi-family, industrial and office sales and acquisitions and joint venture structuring. The core real estate department is complemented by Andrew Fogg’s land use and natural resources group and a dedicated capital markets practice chaired by Adam Weissburg.
Practice head(s):
Adam Weissburg; Caroline Dreyfus; David Rosenberg; Erica Bose; Amy Wells; John Trott; Anne Mudge; Andrew Fogg; Ed Quigley; Alicia Vaz; Scott Grossfeld; Daniel Villalpando; Preston Brooks; Robert Doty; Paul Titcher; David Lari; Julian Freeman; Greg Caligari; Paul Dubrasich
Key clients
Soma Capital Partners
Harbert Management Corporation
Angelo Gordon Real Estate, Inc
Strada Investment Group
Fortinet
Hudson Pacific Properties
FedEx Ground Packaging, Inc.
Caruso
Trammell Crow Residential
Harrod Homes
Resmark Equity Partners
Work highlights
- Represented Caruso in the development and leasing of a 150,000 sq ft ultra-high-end lifestyle and entertainment center, one of the premier new retail projects to come online in the West Side of Los Angeles in the last decade.
- Represented Soma Capital Partners in its acquisition of Murphy Crossing, a five-building, 368,500 sq ft office and research and development campus in Milpitas, California.
- Representation of KB Bakewell Seaside Venture II, LLC in securing unanimous approval of Campus Town, a mixed-use community on a portion of the former Fort Ord base in the City of Seaside, adjacent to CSU Monterey Bay.
Dentons
The real estate practice at Dentons leverages the firm’s expansive international footprint to regularly advise on both inbound and overseas transactions. It handles both single and large portfolio sales and dispositions, most notably those where joint venture, share acquisition, finance, land use and zoning elements are at play. In Kansas City, practice chair John Snyder focuses on real estate debt and equity transactions and is supported by Linda White in Chicago, who is an expert in leasing and asset management matters pertaining to office and retail assets. A competitive advantage for the team is its dedicated real estate tax credits practice, geared to assist with tax-advantaged investments.
Practice head(s):
John Snyder
Other key lawyers:
Gary Goodman; Linda White; Julia Taylor; Jonathan Jacobs
Key clients
The Blackstone Group
Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale (Helaba)
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance
KeyBank
Greenland US Holding, Inc.
PNC Bank
Clarion Partners
United Overseas Bank
VanTrust Real Estate
LNR Partners
Riverside Investment and Development
Landmark Properties, Inc.
Work highlights
- Advising on the $650m renovation of Willis Tower.
- Represented Clarion in connection with a variety of lease transactions in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, and various other industrial and warehouse leases in the Midwest.
- Advising on a 1.5m sq ft build-to-suit industrial project with Diageo Americas in Plainfield, Illinois.
Eversheds Sutherland
The real estate offering at Eversheds Sutherland includes an extensive timberlands practice which is routinely party to major timber transactions, such as large-acreage purchases and management agreements, throughout the US, Asia and Latin America. Victor Haley heads the practice which has experience of all mainstream property types in addition to data centre, hospitality, energy and infrastructure assets with institutional investment, capital markets and securitization matters particularly prevalent among its recent workload. Haley operates from Atlanta alongside joint venture and fund investment expert David Reid whose 'level of corporate expertise sets him apart from other real estate lawyers'. Clients also note the group’s ‘depth of expertise in all aspects of real estate development’ and benefit from the firm’s enormous network of offices throughout Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. The department has significantly expanded of late and recently strengthened again as Chicago-based Ruth Schoenmeyer, an acquisition and disposition, retail leasing and redevelopment lawyer, joined the team from White & Case LLP.
Practice head(s):
Victor Haley
Other key lawyers:
Ruth Schoenmeyer; John Benson; Clay Howell; Lisa Rosen; John Busillo; David Reid; Kristina Kopf Thomas; Jim Jordan
Testimonials
‘The Eversheds team delivers high quality work product in a timely manner. They frequently exceed delivery dates. The team’s bench strength (partners, associates and paralegals) allows us to complete multiple complex transactions including large portfolio deals without a decrease in the timeliness and quality of work.’
‘The Eversheds Sutherland team is comprised of intelligent, motivated and dedicated people, which I believe sets them apart from other firms.’
‘David Reid is one of the top commercial real estate attorneys I have worked with during my career. David provides exceptional legal advice and detailed/high level work product. He understands how to balance protecting his client from potential issues and the need to move transactions forward. His level of corporate expertise sets him apart from other attorneys in the real estate field as David has guided us through many complex negotiations with institutional limited partners and large funds.’
‘Eversheds provides excellent support for our US and international real estate needs.’
‘Eversheds has been flexible to work with our unique billing system.’
‘Ruth Schoenmeyer is amazing. She is an attorney I trust to run deals with little oversight. She pays attention to detail, but still moves quickly and always stays focused on getting deals to the finish line. Ruth is incredibly responsive as well. Ruth is a pleasure to work with.’
‘David Reid and colleagues in the real estate practice are extremely knowledgeable in both transaction and market dynamics. But what separates them from other firms is that they are pragmatic problem solvers. They typically provide multiple solutions that lead to successful outcomes.’
‘I have spent a fair amount of time with David Reid. He has a savvy business mind that equally matches his legal side.’
The Eversheds real estate practice has a wide range of real estate-related expertise. They are a practical group. They are also all very nice people and enjoyable to be around. The team takes a collaborative approach, which I believe sets it apart from other firms.’
‘The ES real estate practice makes their people and diversity a high priority. The ongoing training of their team is evident, and they are clearly a diverse group. All team members are willing to assist each other and help for the betterment of the practice.’
‘Eversheds offers very skilled attorneys and paralegals who are very responsive and very rarely make mistakes. We always have them work on our most complicated matters because we know that we will get the highest quality of service. If there are problems, Eversheds will know how to solve them. Eversheds also offers sound business advice as well as legal advice. This is invaluable when we are trying to make the best business deal we can make within existing legal parameters.’
‘David Reid is very smart; calm and reassuring manner and very reliable.’
‘Eversheds has lawyers with specific knowledge of all facets of real estate transactions.’
‘Jim Jordan is one of the best real estate lawyers I have used, and we use counsel all over the country from a variety of law firms. Jim is the go to guy for any transaction which haws levels of complexity or uniqueness not found in ordinary transactions.’
‘Kristina Thomas is well-rounded, responsive, knowledgeable, and a true partner to our business. Together this year we did a $40m acquisition, worked through COVID lease issues, and strategized on high-level financing matters. And, despite the diversity of issues, she gave exceptional and timely advice across the board. The challenges of 2020 only further highlighted her real estate expertise and strong business sense. I have not found another partner at another firm with such well-rounded experience and practical business sense.’
‘Clay Howell understands our company and is a smart, but practical attorney. He helps us get deals done without over lawyering them to the point of causing friction with the counterparty. He can be firm, but does so in a manner that facilitates getting to resolution, versus causing conflict.’
‘The key differentiator for the Eversheds Real Estate practice is the their depth of expertise in all aspects of real estate development, which allows for relationship consistency and strong execution.’
‘The ability to provide legal support throughout the entire lifecycle of a real estate development along with corporate matters is extremely valuable and a key differentiator.’
‘The response time at Eversheds is fantastic. Whether it is last minute, nights, or weekends I receive what I need when I need it. Their multifaceted team allows them to be a great resource whatever the topic.’
‘These guys get it. They are technically excellent and can craft creative solutions to tough problems. They understand the business and bring a practical approach to the role. And they are just really good people.’
‘Clay Howell is one of the smartest and most thoughtful transactional real estate attorneys that I have ever worked with. Clay can navigate the thorniest transactions through a combination of skill, creative thinking and diplomacy. He’s a great choice for the most complex transactions that need an intellectual and creative powerhouse.’
Key clients
Hines
T5 Data Centers
Work highlights
- Advised Hines on various significant transactions across the country, including negotiating a joint venture for Phase II of the American Tobacco Historic District development in Durham, North Carolina, which is the ongoing revitalization of the city’s most prominent downtown industrial complex.
- Advised T5 Data Centers on several matters, including structuring advice for a joint venture for an Ireland development, assisting with a purchase agreement in Chicago, and assisting with an acquisition in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Husch Blackwell LLP
Praised by clients for its ‘wealth of knowledge’, Husch Blackwell LLP is well-regarded for corporate real estate transactions, social infrastructure developments and property litigation with distinguished expertise in public-private partnership projects and deals involving stadiums and sporting arenas. Caroline Hermeling leads the department from St. Louis.
Practice head(s):
Caroline Hermeling
Testimonials
‘Husch real estate team provides a wealth of knowledge regarding the exact legal issues that we face as a shopping center developer. The rates for Husch attorneys and paralegals are very competitive in the Chattanooga market and even more competitive on a national scale.’
‘Husch has responded to every major project involving CBL transactions with streamlined billing and, when necessary, data production and assistance with discovery requirements in litigation matters.’
Key clients
City of Anaheim
MGE Capital
Sarpy County and Cities Wastewater Agency
Hillyard Industries
Diode Ventures
Western Union
The StarWood Group (d/b/a 900 N Tucker LLC)
Raven Development
U.S. Capital Development
Kiel Center
Northpoint Development
Conagra
Circuit of the Americas
CH Coakley
NRP Group
Tires Made Easy, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing the City of Anaheim, as owner of Angel Stadium of Anaheim, in the nation’s first-ever fully negotiated sale of an existing publicly-owned ballpark to the home team ownership affiliate for a new, 100+ acre mixed-use development anchored by Angel Stadium.
- Representing MGE Capital LLC, a real estate developer, in the ongoing redevelopment of former MGE Plaza, a Kansas City landmark, into a residential and mixed-use complex of buildings.
- Representing Hillyard Industries in its redevelopment and expansion of a corporate headquarters, including a manufacturing and distribution complex, in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
At Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, leasing specialist Michael Polentz has been active in build-to-suit development projects and is particularly well regarded by technology and energy clients though his practice covers the full spectrum of ground, office, industrial and retail assets. Polentz is supported in San Francisco by Clayton Gantz, who is well versed in land use and entitlements, sale and acquisition, finance, ground lease, and public-private partnership mandates. Elsewhere in California, Los Angeles-based Anita Sabine serves as co-chair and centers her practice around supporting REITs, public utilities, national retail grocers and other commercial developers at every stage of their multi-year projects. The other senior partner of note is Grace Winters, who works from Orange County and focuses on restructuring, distressed asset, development agreement and construction contract affairs.
Practice head(s):
Michael Polentz; Anita Sabine
Other key lawyers:
Grace Winters; Clayton Gantz
Key clients
Avanath Capital Management
Bently Enterprises, LLC
Bohannon Development Co.
Jay Paul Company
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Lowe Enterprises
PBF Energy
Trammell Crow Residential
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (fka Westfield)
Work highlights
- Acting for PBF Energy, one of the largest independent petroleum refiners and suppliers of transportation fuels, heating oil and other petroleum products, in its $1.2bn acquisition of the Martinez refinery and its logistics assets from Shell Oil Products US.
- Acting for Los Angeles County Museum of Art in its $650m plans to design and construct its new main museum campus, largely designed by renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.
- Represented Jay Paul in its $85m land acquisition to facilitate the development of a new office campus—Mathilda Commons. When complete, this new office campus will be composed of two four-story buildings with wrap-around terrace decks.
Mayer Brown
At Mayer Brown, the real estate department routinely handles the full gamut of real estate transactions. Its lawyers are active in acquisitions, dispositions and development projects, including those funded by joint ventures, in addition to general asset management matters, financing and high-value leases. Los Angeles-based Brian Aronson chairs the department which demonstrates further breadth of expertise through its frequent handling of private equity transactions, restructurings and real estate-related M&A. Washington DC-based Frank Henneburg is the key contact for matters in the hospitality and leisure sectors, while in Chicago, Paul Meyer co-chairs the real estate department’s cross border practice which is instrumental in handling inbound investment transactions from Europe and Asia.
Practice head(s):
Brian Aronson
Other key lawyers:
Frank Henneburg; Paul Meyer; Heather Adkerson; Nathan McMichael
Key clients
Allianz Real Estate of America LLC
Capstone Asset Management
CBIC, Inc.
CBRE Global Investors
Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors
Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH
Grosvenor
Hangang Asset Management
Prologis
Wells Fargo Capital Financial
Work highlights
- Represented Prologis in the $3.99bn acquisition of Industrial Property Trust Inc., REIT which acquires industrial distribution centers that are leased to corporate customers.
- Represented an opportunity fund in various joint venture transactions in excess of $1bn involving the development and financing of multi-family apartment, industrial, single family residential, and independent living projects across the US, including in Florida, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Texas, among other states.
- Represented Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC in the formation of two separate joint ventures with affiliates of Republic Land Development to acquire, develop and build two components of a four-component, major transit-oriented development in Millbrae, California.
Morrison Foerster
Morrison Foerster's clients highlight the group’s ‘years of experience in successfully completing transactions’, namely the acquisition, disposition and financing of real estate projects and entire property portfolios. A further field of activity is the joint venture and co-investment space where its lawyers act on a range of structures such as LLCs, LPs and participating development and management agreements. Development projects are also an integral component of the practice which is involved at every stage of substantial schemes including master-planned communities, urban entertainment projects, industrial facilities and large-scale redevelopments. Based in New York, Mark Edelstein fronts the global real estate practice and also serves as co-chair of the distressed real estate department, frequently representing creditors’ committees and secured and unsecured lenders in a variety of workouts and restructurings.
Practice head(s):
Mark Edelstein
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Fileti; Christopher Delson; Lawrence Ceriello; Jeffrey Temple
Testimonials
‘Morrison & Foerster has a deep and extensive knowledge of real estate.’
‘Thomas Fileti is outstanding.’
‘Our experience with Morrison & Foerster’s real estate practice has been exemplary. We have turned to them in three complex real estate acquisitions and at every turn we found that Morrison & Foerster had the depth to address whatever issues arose. The seemingly simple transactions involved everything from oil and gas leases to water rights law to trust and estate matters to tax-exempt gifts to liens and forced property auction. There is no substitute for experience developed through years of practice in successfully completing transactions. That is one overarching theme of the practice, working steadily to arrive at the desired result, closing on the property.’
‘Our primary attorney, partner Thomas Fileti, has a tremendous breadth of experience, a calm yet confident manner, and insightful perspective on the issues that arise in the course of our acquisition transactions. It is not just that he is familiar with the law, he also is familiar with customary practices as a benchmark for negotiations. He is excellent at forecasting issues that might arise in the course of the transaction as well as issues that we might face in the future during property ownership, addressing the latter through transaction documents to protect our interests. We find his advice invaluable in guiding our board in its decisions. We have adopted his mantra of friendly but firm as our own. Tom and Morrison & Foerster stand out for the quality of work and for productivity.’
Key clients
GLP Pte. Ltd.
Goldman Sachs
Lendlease
SoftBank
Tishman Speyer
Brookfield
Capital One
CIBC World Markets
Citigroup
HSBC Bank
ING
JPMorgan
Wells Fargo
Work highlights
- Represented Unizo in over $1bn of office building acquisitions and sales in New York City and Washington DC.
- Represented Mori Trust in the acquisition of the Micron Technology headquarters in San Jose.
- Represented Gemdale, a Chinese developer, in connection with entering into a joint venture for (and recent restructuring of) the construction and development of a high-rise residential condominium project with retail space located in the heart of the financial district across from the New York Stock Exchange at 45 Broad Street.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
The real estate team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP is spread across a broad geographical footprint with each office boasting its own unique fields of expertise. On the West Coast, the ‘outstanding’ James Rishwain leads the Los Angeles group, and Noa Clark fronts the San Francisco offering. The California team is a major player in the regional acquisition, disposition and development project market with a documented track record in Southern California’s affordable housing space. Meanwhile in New York, Caroline Harcourt leads the local practice which focuses on the office, health, hospitality, mixed-use and commercial sectors, acting on everything from ground leasing through to complex financings. Finally, in North Virginia, the team is frequently engaged by major developers, international investors and government entities.
Practice head(s):
Rachel Horsch; Caroline Harcourt; Christian Buerger; James Rishwain; Noa Clark
Testimonials
‘Jim Rishwain and the Pillsbury team has been incredibly strong in coming up with innovative solutions to our situation. Los Angeles will be host to many sports and entertainment events over the next eight years and the Pillsbury team has helped us develop solutions to hosting these events in an efficient and cost-effective manner by creating a structure. The team at Pillsbury has a strong sense of community and supporting the communities in which they do business. They have jumped in and helped without hesitation since they understand the importance of this effort to Los Angeles.’
‘Jim Rishwain is outstanding. He is unbelievable responsive despite the demands on his time. He is also very collaborative and innovative. The team at Pillsbury take the time to gain a comprehensive understanding of our business, which has enabled them to provide excellent legal counsel in the context of our specific industry. They do not take the cookie-cutter approach; it is all about personal relationships and meeting the client’s needs.’
Key clients
New York University, NYU Langone Health, New York University School of Law Foundation
Great Eagle Holdings Limited
Klövern AB
Prima Capital Advisors LLC
Los Angeles Unified School District
Nimes Capital LLC
California Public Employees’ Retirement System
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB)
Cathay Bank
Barrett Block Partners L.P.
Pacific Gas & Electric
Shorenstein
Spear Street Capital
San Francisco Giants
Bank of the West
Daimler Capital Services
Work highlights
- Helped PG&E, which was relocating its headquarters, negotiate a lease with purchase option for the Oakland property with leading Bay Area developer TMG Partners, which the parties have committed to enter into, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
- Supporting Shorenstein on its sale of Denver City Center, located in the heart of downtown Denver to an institutional investor.
- Representing Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission with major agreements, including the stadium and concession agreements, for the newly opened SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
Polsinelli PC
Polsinelli PC fields a cross-disciplinary corporate real estate team which supports a variety of corporate clients and other institutions on property-related components of their M&A activity. It is well versed across the entire spectrum of structuring and finance matters including general and limited partnerships, preferred equity investments and joint ventures. Elsewhere, acquisitions, financings and distressed asset transactions pertaining to healthcare assets are particularly prevalent among the workload, owing to the firm’s dedicated practice in that sector. The group is also a major player when it comes to tax credits and economic incentives arising from real estate-related public finance. On the development front, Chicago-based Eric Greenfield is a specialist in multi-family, student housing, self-storage, education and entertainment projects, among others.
Practice head(s):
Kraig Kohring; Eric Greenfield; Amy Kiefer Hansen; John Duncan III
Other key lawyers:
Kelly Greco; Korb Maxwell
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP is particularly renowned for its leasing work which sees it represent both landlords and tenants in large-scale headquarter, office and ground leases along with sale-leasebacks. Its client base also consists of all forms of investors such as corporate, public and private pension plans, foreign sovereign and quasi-governmental agencies, all of which rely on the group for secondary transactions, fund investment structuring and co-investments. In New York, practice leader Malcolm Montgomery advises on finance components of his team's transactions and also brings to the table a distinguished level of expertise in the Mexican real estate market. The wider group is geared to handle joint venture initiatives, owing to its track record in the formation of partnerships, LLCs and a huge variety of other ownership arrangements.
Practice head(s):
Malcolm Montgomery
Other key lawyers:
Lisa Brill; Kris Ferranti
Testimonials
‘Really a marriage of 100% client commitment, technical expertise and market awareness, responsiveness and commitment to deliver cost effective outcomes. Lisa Brill is just the best.’
‘Lisa Brill could not be more committed or more available. Truly one of a kind, we all love her.’
Key clients
Citibank, N.A.
Deutsche Bank
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
Shorenstein Properties
GTIS Partners
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
SL Green Realty Corp.
Credit Suisse
Strategic Capital
Wafra Partners LLC
RBC Capital Markets
U.S. Bank National Association
Work highlights
- Represented Orion Mine Finance, in its acquisition of Occidental Petroleum Corporation’s (Oxy) Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah Land Grant assets in exchange for a purchase price of approximately $1.33bn.
- Represented Shearman & Sterling in a 338,000 square foot lease renewal at its existing New York City headquarters, 599 Lexington Avenue.
- Advised Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent and left lead arranger on a $3bn senior unsecured revolving facility for Alexandria Real Estate Equities.
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is rated for its ‘deep knowledge of both the legal and business issues of real estate development’, an area of strength which routinely sees it involved in large-scale mixed-use, build-to-suit, master-planned community, condominium and public-private partnership projects throughout California. In San Francisco, Keith Garner jointly heads the department alongside Nancy Scull, a San Diego lawyer who in addition to a range of finance matters, is also an expert when it comes to the reshaping and restructuring of development projects. Other core strengths of the department include nationwide sale, purchase, joint venture and equity transactions on behalf of REITs, private equity and pension funds. It also has experience of a range of leasing matters at commercial, data center, broadcasting, telecoms and studio sites, areas where Los Angeles-based Pamela Westhoff is a name to note.
Practice head(s):
Nancy Scull; Keith Garner
Other key lawyers:
Larry Eppley; Michael Roth; Scott Morehouse; Peter Koffler; Brian Gurtman
Testimonials
‘The team I work with has a deep industry knowledge of not only relevant legal issues, but also of the business of real-estate development. The firm is willing to bill on a fixed fee basis, which makes budgeting easier.’
‘Larry Eppley is incredibly knowledgeable about the industry. A deal maker and leader. Michael Roth is deeply knowledgeable about both legal and business issues. Does a great job simplifying difficult concepts.’
Key clients
The California State University system and San Diego State University
DM Development Partners LLC
Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT, Inc.
Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.
Keppel-Pacific Oak US REIT
Merlone Geier
Gateway Belvedere, LLC
Bizzi Partners
Summit Medical Group
Arbor Realty Trust
Urban American Holdings
EmblemHealth, Inc.
Nakash Holdings
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership
CIBC Bank USA
Dynamite Real Property Investments
Heitman Capital Management
Kraft Heinz Food Company
Narco Enterprises
PHRM Holdings
PNK Group I Investments LLC
Oxford Capital Group, LLC
Quadrum Global
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company
Allstate Life Insurance Company
MRR Development LLC
Chicago Athletic Association (CAA) Hotel Owner
233 E Ontario Hotel PropCo LLC
Ranger 203 ML, LLC
Aligned Equity Partners, LLC
SF Hotel Portfolio Holdings, LLC
Rebel Hospitality, LLC
Now Naud, LLC
Bond Capital
Rudra Investments
Work highlights
- Represented the California State University system and San Diego State University in the acquisition of the 135-acre stadium site in Mission Valley from the City of San Diego.
- Represented Gateway Belvedere, LLC, owned/controlled by a large domestic pension fund (confidential), in completing the sale of Instrata NoMad apartment tower in NYC to Global Holdings Management Group, which is expected to be the largest single-asset residential rental building transaction in New York for 2020.
- Represented Kraft Heinz in its purchase of a warehouse facility in Mason City, IA for a purchase price of $10.25m and in the execution of a contract for the sale of a warehouse facility in Fullerton, CA for a sale price of $13.4m.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is well placed to handle large-scale, transformative development schemes, leveraging its track record in joint venture projects, including those initiated by private REITs and highly structured private funds. The department also stand out in acquisition and disposition transactions. Further, owing to the dedicated expertise of practice co-chair Jeffrey Keitelman and Trevor Adler, the team is routinely engaged for flagship leasing affairs. Keitelman operates from Washington DC alongside Kim Pagotto and Seamus Curley, all of whom are part of the firm’s government practice which acts for owners and investors of private real estate, including pension and sovereign wealth funds, throughout their interactions with public bodies. Away from the Capital, the firm is a long-established player in New York market, where Adler and Brian Diamond are names to note.
Practice head(s):
Jeff Keitelman; Brian Diamond
Other key lawyers:
Seamus Curley; Kim Pagotto; Trevor Adler; Steve Moskowitz; Karen Scanna
Key clients
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
JPMorgan
Pfizer
Goldman Sachs
Carr Properties
Skyline Developers
Taconic Investment Partners
L+M Development Partners
BFC Partners
The Related Cos.
Work highlights
- Represented 451 Tenth Avenue LLC, a subsidiary of The Related Companies, L.P., a joint venture partner in a $425m development of a mixed-use building, consisting of residential units, high-end senior living and retail space, in New York.
- Advised on the formation of a $625m private real estate fund drawing capital from domestic and foreign investors to capitalize a programmatic joint venture with American Homes 4 Rent to build and rent homes in the US.
- Representing the owner of 7 World Trade Center, one of the world’s premium office buildings, in all of its leasing matters
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has a reputation for handling acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, asset restructurings, private equity fund formation and joint ventures, among many others matter types. Joseph Shenker and Anthony Colletta are contacts in the team.
Thompson Hine LLP
Thompson Hine LLP represents developers nationwide in the full suite of project matters from planning and financing through to leasing and disputes. The team directs particular attention towards headquarter, shopping centre, leisure, corporate expansion and plant development schemes; it also runs a specialized real estate tax finance service, which focuses on public incentives such as new market tax credits, tax increment financing and low-income housing tax credits. Practice head Thomas Coyne provides his team with considerable experience in office leasing, mixed-use projects, public-private partnerships and brownfield redevelopments. Based alongside him in Cleveland is James Aronoff, whose client base includes REITs, real estate equity funds and operating companies which rely on his advice on joint venture, finance and partnership structuring matters.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Coyne
Other key lawyers:
James Aronoff; Robyn Minter Smyers; Stephen King; Cathryn Greenwald
Testimonials
‘The firm has a wealth of knowledge about both real estate law in general and the local real estate market.’
‘The firm has always been willing to negotiate fee structures that work with the transaction.’
‘The knowledge or real estate law and transactions is superior to the other firms in the area. I also value the practical approach to problem solving.’
Key clients
Raytheon Technologies Corporation
Bank of China
SITE Centers
Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Properties (formerly Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.)
Pratt & Whitney
AkzoNobel
KeyBank
Peppertree / K2 / Blue Sky
Parker Hannifin
Work highlights
- Representation of Raytheon Technologies Corp., through its Pratt & Whitney Division in a billion-dollar development project in Asheville, North Carolina, including negotiation of Master Development Agreement with Biltmore Farms LLC, and acquisition and development of 100 acres of land for advanced manufacturing facility, as well as related rights.
- Representing the Ackermann Group in connection with a four-phase $100m development for multi- family, office and retail use in Cincinnati involving new market tax credits, tax increment financing, and a development agreement with the city of Cincinnati (with additional tax abatements and other City incentives).
- Representation of Parker Hannifin Corp. in sale of Irvine California property to Amazon, for $112m.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is active across all asset classes, though places particular emphasis on the hospitality space where it represents sovereign wealth and private equity funds, in addition to the family offices, in the development, financing, selling and purchase of hotel assets. A further field of expertise is the data center space where its lawyers regularly act for REITs at each stage of the development process, from design and construction through to leasing. Contacts in the team include Dallas-based John Bain, who is noted for his energy and retail sector expertise; David Phelps in Los Angeles, who is most active in the healthcare market; and Marc Epstein who works from Fort Worth.
Practice head(s):
John Bain; Marc Epstein; David Phelps
Key clients
ARA Asset Management
BlackRock Reality Advisors Inc.
Colony Capital, Inc. (f/k/a Colony NorthStar)
CorePoint Lodging
Entertainment Properties Group
Equality California
IPI Data Centers Partners Management, LLC
Iron Point Partners
KIPP Public Charter Schools
Majestic Resorts, Inc.
NewcrestImage, LLC
Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO)
Rockwood Capital
The Brazen Hotel Group
VWI Partners LLC
Waramaug Asset Management, LLC and Waramaug Hospitality, LLC
Woodbury Corporation
Work highlights
- Representing Majestic Resorts, an owner/developer of luxury hotels, in its $1.2bn development of an uber luxury resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Advised Civitas Capital Group on the sale of KPMG Plaza at Hall Arts, an 18-story 450,000 sq ft luxury office tower in Dallas, Texas, to Masaveu Real Estate, a Spain-based investor.
- Advised the client on the acquisition of two large tracts of land in Santa Clara for approximately $100m and the negotiation of a (i) build-to-suit lease for a large data center; (ii) option agreement for the second tract of land; and (iii) a joint venture agreement with the current owner.
Arnold & Porter
The real estate department at Arnold & Porter is co-chaired by Jeffrey Kapner and Steve Gliatta in New York and Amy Rifkind in Washington DC. Its lawyers possess expertise in all property types, including multi-family and mixed-use, though have been particularly active in the hospitality field of late, overseeing the sale and purchase of numerous distressed hotel assets. The team is also extremely knowledgeable of transactions which consist of finance and joint venture elements and is well resourced to support on ground lease negotiations and substantial development projects. The team also has a presence in San Francisco.
Practice head(s):
Jeffrey Kapner; Amy Rifkind; Steve Gliatta
Key clients
Blackstone Real Estate
Moinian Group
Greenfield Partners
AWH Partners
Marron Capital
Snell Construction Corporation
National Endowment for Democracy
Donohoe Development Company
JBG Companies
Timberline Real Estate Partners
American Real Estate Partners
Marx Realty
Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
Fivesquares Development LLC
Sanofi
Quadrangle Development Corporation
The Mills Building Associates
Stonebridge Associates, Inc.
Crystal Springs Resort
Work highlights
- Advised a joint venture of a consortium of opportunity funds on the approximately $170m acquisition of the Spring Hill Suites located on 28th Street in New York, New York.
- Advised Greenfield Partners and Brennan Investment Group on the acquisition of vacant land on which they planned to construct an industrial park in Lakeland, Florida.
- Advised Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners (Lynch) on the acquisition by a joint venture between Lynch and Nuveen of Potomac Vistas Apartments, 408-unit Potomac Vista Apartments located in Woodbridge, VA from FCP and an acquisition and improvements loan from JLL Real Estate Capital, LLC.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P. fields a team of ‘seasoned real estate partners with experience in virtually every type of real estate transaction’. Of late, the team has noted an uptick in build-to-suit projects, handled on behalf of equity investors and tenants, and is also increasingly engaged in build-to-core office tower, mixed-use and multi-family development projects by domestic and overseas institutional investors. The group also enjoys a reputable standing in the funds space where it provides comprehensive support, from establishment through to investment portfolio dispositions and asset liquidations. In Houston, Joe Colagiovanni jointly leads the department alongside Connie Simmons Taylor, who is recommended for major office and retail leasing.
Practice head(s):
Connie Simmons Taylor; Joe Colagiovanni
Other key lawyers:
Jon Dunlay; Paul Landen
Testimonials
‘I think the primary strength that Baker Botts possesses is a deep institutional knowledge regarding organizational structure and precedent which allows them to avoid risks and potential negative outcomes for my business.’
‘I think the firm does value diversity relative to other groups as evidenced by the firm’s teams.’
‘Jon Dunlay and Paul Landen are exemplary in terms of client and external communication across a spectrum of matters. The key thing that stands out among all Baker Botts attorneys is their ability to advise on and offer up practical business solutions to complex legal matters while avoiding unjustifiable risk.’
‘Paul Landen is the best real estate attorney I have ever worked with. Solid communicator, great collaborator and has an understanding of the nuances as they touch various points of highly complicated transactions.’
Brown Rudnick LLP
A long-established player in the New England real estate market, Brown Rudnick LLP is a full-service real estate outfit with distinguished levels of expertise in portfolio transactions, major developments, distressed assets and environmental affairs. A key point of distinction for the practice is that it is the go-to real estate counsel of several high-profile retailers and restaurants, including Primark, Superdry and Staples. The team also supports numerous resorts on everything from major construction projects to general operational matters. The practice group is led by Boston-based Thomas Phillips, who is also well versed in mixed-use and entertainment-related projects.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Phillips
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Regan; Kevin Joyce
Testimonials
‘The real estate practice gets to know everything about the matter.’
‘Kevin Joyce is an exceptional real estate attorney. I have been working with him for 20 years.’
Key clients
GCP Applied Technologies Inc.
Investcorp / Condyne Capital Partners
Plymouth Industrial
Wynn Resorts, d/b/a Encore Boston Harbor
Westbrook Partners
SunRaise Investments
Plymouth Industrial REIT, Inc.
Hemisphere Development Group, LLC
Ulta Beauty
Westport Capital Partners / Condyne Capital Partners
Wagamama
Primark
Puma North America, Inc.
Apple Boston Investors LLC
Calare Properties, Inc.
AT&T
Staples
St. John Knits
Work highlights
- Represented NYSE-listed GCP in the $125m sale and short-term leaseback of its 300,000 sq ft, 27-acre corporate office, laboratory, and R&D campus in the Alewife corridor of Cambridge, MA.
- Represented a joint venture between Investcorp and Condyne Capital Partners in the $100m sale of a six-building portfolio to Westbrook Partners.
- Represented Plymouth Industrial OP, LP as borrower and its affiliate Plymouth Industrial REIT as guarantor in the recast of an up to $300m credit facility from KeyBank as administrative agent for the lenders.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is a major player in the real estate finance sphere, but also has experience of a variety of dirt and asset management affairs including acquisitions, disposition, sale-leaseback, joint venture investment formation, property foreclosure, development and restructuring matters. Michael Weinberger and Kimberly Blacklow jointly lead the practice and operate from New York alongside Steven Wilner, who has developed a noteworthy standing in the market owing to his representation of large sovereign wealth funds.
Practice head(s):
Kimberly Blacklow; Michael Weinberger
Other key lawyers:
Steven Wilner; Aron Zuckerman; Joseph Lanzkron
Testimonials
‘They are very efficient and they know exactly what can and cannot be achieved.’
‘Michael Weinberger and Aron Zuckerman are particularly recommended.’
Key clients
Brookfield Asset Management
Goldman Sachs
J.P. Morgan
Genting
ESL Investments
AllianceBernstein
KSL Capital Partners
The Carlyle Group
Citibank
Terra Capital
Meraas Capital
Banco Inbursa
Work highlights
- Represented Transamerica in its sale of the 48-story Transamerica Pyramid building complex in San Francisco for $650m to a joint venture between real estate developer Michael Shvo and private equity firm Deutsche Finance America.
- Represented Wafra in connection with its formation of a joint venture with Welltower Inc. in the pending purchase of 25 medical office buildings.
- Represented Warburg Pincus and its portfolio company, CityMD, in the real estate aspects of CityMD’s acquisition of Summit Medical Group, a leading multi-specialty medical group with more than 80 locations in New Jersey, Oregon and Arizona.
Cooley LLP
The real estate lawyers at Cooley LLP are experts in the proptech field and provide a full-service offering in relation to data center assets, acting at every stage of relevant projects from acquisition, planning and construction through to development financing and subsequent leasing. Department chair John Lavoie, a Reston-based lawyer with a focus on the Washington DC and Mid-Atlantic markets, also handles matters in the office, retail and industrial sectors where he is engaged in purchase, sale, leasing and development mandates, including those relating to corporate headquarters. Lawyers at the firm’s San Diego office are particularly active in the finance and investment fields and represent numerous private equity and opportunity funds.
Practice head(s):
John Lavoie
Other key lawyers:
Samantha LaPine; Michael Levinson; Michelle Schulman
Testimonials
‘Recommended for their understanding of our business, entirely collaborative approach, attention to detail and willingness to work with the client.’
Key clients
Aligned Energy Holdings, LP
Manchester Financial Group
Sazerac
Global Energy
Retrophin Inc.
Neurocrine Biosciences
Verb Surgical
Pivot Bio
Medallia
Juno Residential
goPuff
The Cherner Family
Falls Church, VA – West Falls / PN Hoffman
CoreSite
Neustar
The Wharf / PN Hoffman
Leidos
Remine
CloudHQ
Milestone Communications
Work highlights
- Represented Global Energy, LLC in structuring and negotiating the cross-border acquisition of an $85m of a cutting-edge biofuel plant in Rockwood, Tennessee, from sellers located in Singapore.
- Represented The Wharf in leasing space to BAE Systems and Media Matters, as well as the continued development, build out and existing matters for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the second-largest mixed-use development in the country which spans 24 acres of land and 50 acres of water on the District of Columbia waterfront.
- Advised goPuff, the go-to platform for consumers’ everyday needs, on its agreement to acquire alcoholic beverage specialty retailer BevMo for $350m.
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Fielding a ‘deep and talented bench of real estate lawyers’, Dickinson Wright PLLC is active across an array of projects and transactions in the mixed-use, residential, hospitality, industrial, retail and office spaces. The team’s core real expertise is supplemented by specialist knowledge of land use and zoning, permitting, government incentives, brownfield development and construction affairs; it also in conjunction with the firm’s corporate and M&A department to handle real estate-related M&A, recapitalizations, private equity investment and venture capital financings. Based in Michigan, Katheryne Zelenock chairs the finance practice with Michael Lusardi, who leads the dirt offering.
Practice head(s):
Michael Lusardi; Katheryne Zelenock
Other key lawyers:
James Patterson; Jeffrey Braun; Leslee Lewis; Harlan Robins; Monica Labe; Erin Johnson
Testimonials
‘Their team is highly personalized to the client. The real estate chair, Michael Lusardi is extremely knowledgeable, very kind, very personal, and provides great service. Monica Labe, our team manager for the client I am working for, is fantastically and naturally motivated to provide the best service possible to us. Both she and Michael, as well as all of other real estate attorneys on the team, continue to make us feel that we are their only client.’
‘They have become the arm of our business team; the people they have provided to our group to work with are exceptional attorneys. Other firms I have worked with have not always done this. Sometimes other firms might provide us with junior attorneys expecting us to lead the new attorneys, but in each and every case we have been surprised by the efficiency and expertise we are working with at Dickinson Wright.’
‘Michael Lusardi is highly personal, and has become a member of the family to many of us. He expertly drafts documents with efficiency and deals with multiple parties in each transaction with ease. We love his ability to look beyond the box’s rough edges and provides to us excellent observations. He has much empathy and sympathy for all sides, and yet continues to further his client’s objections at all times.’
‘Erin Johnson is highly personal, extremely detailed. Her running of a closing is beyond most I have known and I have worked with dozens of real estate attorneys. Erin holds a highly tuned expertise in legal language and expressing that language to others.’
‘Monica Labe is passionate about her work and passionate about furthering her client’s objectives. She has a way with understanding big picture items and getting to the heart of what really counts. We couldn’t do without her!’
‘The firm has a deep and talented bench of real estate lawyers, who provide prompt attention to all real estate matters. The lawyers go above and beyond to provide excellent client service.’
‘The billing procedures are seamless, the rates are reasonable, and the collaboration between attorney and client is unparalleled.’
‘Monica Labe and Michael Lusardi do an excellent job managing the real estate legal team. They assign lawyers with the appropriate level of experience to handle each matter to ensure efficiency and manage legal costs. The entire team is excellent, but I am particularly impressed with the legal skills of Monica Labe, Mike Lusardi and Erin Johnson.’
Key clients
City of Mesa, Arizona
Desert Rock Enterprises
Greystone Servicing Company
Orix Real Estate Mortgage Capital
Pinnacle Bank
Arbor Agency Lending
Kaufman Development
Northlight Real Estate Opportunity Fund I L.P.
Town of Queen Creek, Arizona
FCA US LLC (Fiat Chrysler)
Work highlights
- Aassisted the City of Mesa, Arizona’s Attorney’s office and the downtown redevelopment office in a pair of separate transactions to promote downtown redevelopment in the City.
- Represented real estate developer Kaufman Development in the acquisition, development and financing of a multi-use project in the Franklinton area of Columbus, Ohio, which involved four lenders, PACE financing, and City incentives.
Herrick, Feinstein LLP
Originally founded as a real estate boutique, Herrick, Feinstein LLP, is a long-established and well-connected participant in New York’s real estate market. The practice is adept in projects and transactions relating to retail, sporting, condominium, entertainment, hospitality, residential and office assets, providing a one-stop-shop service, with additional expertise in land use and zoning, finance, tax, public-private partnership and environmental matters. Belinda Schwartz (‘an outstanding team leader’) chairs the department and is a veteran of several of New York’s largest development projects in addition to various portfolio transactions, restructuring, fund formation and joint venture mandates. The team is also an active participant in the field of Opportunity Zones and is currently involved in over a dozen ongoing projects in that space.
Practice head(s):
Belinda Schwartz
Other key lawyers:
Michael Smith; Brendan Schmitt
Testimonials
‘I strongly believe that this firm has my back and makes sure that my interests are well protected. Their honesty and integrity are forthright. They spend the time to educate their clients and are not condescending in their commentary. I never have the feeling that my issues are not important but rather a feeling that I am a valued client.’
‘Their networking, resources and connections to others, especially during this COVID time highlights why they are such an important asset to our company. Those firms that could not provide ongoing services clearly are at a deficit.’
‘Belinda Schwartz is an incredible person that always provides wise counsel and challenges you to think differently about a situation.’
‘Firm attentiveness and client focus all while providing the most professional legal service.’
‘Belinda Schwartz is an outstanding team leader, client advisor, advocate and confidant. Personal service with all the technical expertise.’
Key clients
Arch Real Estate
Cammeby’s International Group
Centennial Bank
DH Property Holdings
FBE Limited
G4 Capital Partners
Greystar
Harbor Group International
HK Organization
L+M Development Partners
MAXX Properties
Migdal Insurance Company Ltd.
MRP Realty
Muss Development
National Football League Hall of Fame Village
NY Islanders
NYLO Boutique Hotels
Rabina Properties
Roseland Residential
RXR Realty
Sky Harbour Group
William Macklowe Company
Work highlights
- Represented both Migdal Insurance Company Ltd. and Menora Mivtachim Insurance Ltd., two of the largest Israeli insurance companies, in the negotiation of a joint venture with Silverstein Properties to acquire the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles, California for a purchase price of $430m.
- Represent DH Property Holdings the $255m joint venture acquisition of an industrial site in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
- Represent the William Macklowe Company in its joint acquisition with Senlac Ridge Partners of a development property at 120 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Jones Walker LLP
Jones Walker LLP is recognized in this space for its experience of federal, state and local tax-increment financing and other development-related opportunities. Its project work is far reaching, encompassing major development, constructing contract, planning, permitting, zoning, licensing and management matters across numerous asset classes, namely energy, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, mixed-use and affordable housing. The team, which is headed by Alabama-based Henry O’Connor III, also handles numerous high-value acquisitions and dispositions, including those involving distressed assets. It also has an active leasing practice.
Practice head(s):
Henry O’Connor III
Other key lawyers:
Susan Tyler; Seth Levine; Jeffrey Good; Ann Corso Taylor
Key clients
Carpenter & Co., Inc., Woodward Interests, LLC and Two Canal Owner, LLC
Bank of China
Renaissance at Colony Park, LLC
Lamar Life Master Tenant
Renaissance Phase II, LLC
CenturyLink, Inc.
Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, Inc.
Mattiace Buford Development Company, LLC
Landbridge Development, LLC
Topgolf International, Inc.
Kupperman Companies
Bank OZK
Aldi, Inc.
Walmart Stores
Work highlights
- Served as co-counsel of a $500m re-development of the 33-story iconic World Trade Center Building, located at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a Four Seasons Hotel (340 rooms) and Residences (90 condominiums).
- Continue representation of Renaissance at Colony Park for phases I, II, and III of the shopping center to include further retail developments, restaurants, and more.
- Represented client in the acquisition of almost 2,500 acres near Sinton, Texas, in San Patricio County, Texas as a site for the development and construction of a $1.9bn rolled steel mill.
K&L Gates
K&L Gates' real estate team lends support on the acquisition, development, leasing and finance of real estate assets and is co-chaired by Shannon Skinner in Seattle and Charleston-based Matthew Norton. The firm also has a presence in New York and Washington DC, and leverages its international platform in the representation of international investment funds on their inbound real estate acquisitions. The practice group also works in collaboration with the firm's global resort, hospitality and leisure projects group. It has also expanded its work for private equity and hedge funds of late.
Practice head(s):
Shannon Skinner; Matthew Norton
Other key lawyers:
Marisa Bocci; Charles Royce; Mike King
Testimonials
‘Whenever I drop the ball, K&L Gates is there for me and delivers a superior turn-around.’
Key clients
Sculptor Real Estate Group (f/k/a Och-Ziff Real Estate)
Christophe Harbour Development Company
Developer and operator of assisted living facilities
Technology, recycling and waste management company
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
Crane Co.
Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Ashton Raleigh Residential, L.L.C.
Rexmark Holdings LLC
Shinhan Alternative Investment Management, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing a publicly traded healthcare REIT in transactions and national litigation/lease default work including acquisition of multiple medical office building properties across the US.
- Represented Tiger Alternative Investors in connection with its joint venture partnership with Landmark Properties for purposes of acquiring Sol at West Village, a multi-building, 2,300-bed student housing development serving the University of California at Davis.
- Represented buyer in the acquisition of approximately 1,600 acres of farmland, equipment, and certain fruit storage buildings in Yakima County, Washington.
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP
An active name in the dirt transactional field, Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP serves as counsel on single-asset and portfolio deals, financings, workouts and restructurings and major leases at office and retail sites. The team is also acclaimed for its ‘impressive breadth of knowledge in development-related matters’, with extensive experience in office, residential, mixed-use and shopping center projects, including those initiated by joint venture agreements. Another area of strength for the team is the ‘strong real estate litigation’ capability, a particular forte of ‘exceptional’ practice head David Skezer. The team is primarily focused on the New York market, though it is also engaged in matters across the US, most recently in Miami, Pennsylvania and California.
Practice head(s):
David Szeker
Other key lawyers:
Darwin Huang
Testimonials
‘The entire Kasowitz team I have worked with is reflective of Darwin and David’s leadership. Everyone in the group is extremely knowledgeable and responsive, setting them apart from some other firms and attorneys who primarily represent lenders or primarily represent borrowers. Darwin and David have a balanced understanding having represented clients on both sides of the financing. This gives them a unique understanding of the issues that allows us to present well-reasoned arguments whether we are the borrower or lender in the transaction.’
‘Darwin Huang and David Szeker were our primary contacts. They are very thoughtful and terrific lawyers, they understand the transaction and know when to push hard for the material issues. Their experience, knowledge, demeanor and capabilities rival that of any partners at other firms we use and have been across, including many of the major big law firms. You will not find smarter and more diligent attorneys who work as hard as the two of them.’
‘The Kasowitz team led by Darwin Huang and David Szeker are really smart and skilled real estate practitioners who strike the perfect balance of knowledge of legal issues and being practical and commercial. The breadth of their knowledge of development-related matters is quite impressive and a true value-add. They really understand the issues from an operational standpoint of a wide range of real estate asset classes.’
‘Kasowitz has a strong real estate litigation group that works closely with the transactional team which I find to be a very unique advantage when we think about issues, especially this past year as the real estate properties faced many challenges with equity partners and lenders alike. I find that each attorney on the Kasowitz team has great experience in all types of transactions from financing to acquisitions/dispositions to joint ventures, which allows them to think through all of the issues in the overall transaction even if they are only handling the legal work for one particular portion of the deal.’
‘Compared to the firms that have represented us and also our counterparties, the team at Kasowitz have stood apart by bringing a more thoughtful and practical approach to problems that work for all parties involved in the transaction. They are our preferred firm when it comes to our largest and most complex acquisitions and financing transactions.’
‘Darwin Huang and David Szeker are exceptional attorneys with knowledge that belies their age. They are pragmatic in their approach while being fully aware of the legal issues and transaction as a whole.’
Key clients
Starwood Property Trust
JDS Development
iStar
Turnbridge Equities
The Klein Group
GFI Capital
Arbor Realty Trust
MRR Development
Work highlights
- Represented landowner Land and Sea Development in a ground lease to developers Phoenix Realty and Artimus Construction, as ground tenant, for the construction of a new 25-story mixed-use building.
- Advised SL Green on a real estate workout involving its preferred equity investment in the Lipstick Building located at 885 Third Avenue in Manhattan.
- Represented Whittle School & Studios, a leading for-profit educational organization with campuses in Brooklyn, New York; Washington, DC; and Shenzhen, China, in four bridge loans and modifications of existing construction financing, leases and contracts.
King & Spalding LLP
King & Spalding LLP is active in sales, purchases, joint ventures, development projects and real estate-related M&A, and also offers complementary support on finance and tax structuring. Among the key contacts are New York duo Erik Andersen and Jennifer Morgan, Atlanta-based Joshua Kamin and Mark Thigpen in the Charlotte office.
Other key lawyers:
Erik Andersen; Jennifer Morgan; Joshua Kamin; Mark Thigpen
Loeb & Loeb LLP
At Loeb & Loeb LLP, commercial leasing is a major field of activity for the team which handles leasing matters at sporting venues, technology campuses, museums and medical facilities in addition to more mainstream office, retail, leisure and industrial sites. It also supports its investor clients on single-asset and portfolio deals across a broad array of transaction types such as co-venture arrangements, preferred equity transactions and sale-leasebacks. The final keystone of the practice is its disputes offering, which spans contentious landlord and tenant, land use and zoning, title claims, mortgage lien, environmental and bankruptcy matters. New York-based Raymond Sanseverino serves as department chair.
Practice head(s):
Raymond Sanseverino
Other key lawyers:
Steven Kornblau; Paul Rohrer; Nichole Cortese; Christopher Barbaruolo
Key clients
Uber Technologies, Inc.
The Bank of New York Mellon
SL Green Realty Corp.
Refinitiv US LLC
Brookfield Properties
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
Global Net Lease
Trinity Real Estate
RFR Realty
American Finance Trust
The Carlyle Group
TIAA
Angels Baseball, LP and SRB Management Company, LLC
Granity Studios, LLC
AEG Presents, LLC
Regal Cinemas, Inc.
TJB Geary’s, LLC
Steven Jemal
Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation
Williamsburgh Garage, LLC
Jordache Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Apthorp Garage
D.K. Property, Inc.
Murray Hill Mgmt Realty
Work highlights
- Represented Pershing, LLC, an affiliate of The Bank of New York Mellon, as tenant, in connection with a lease of more than 400,000 rentable sq ft of office space at 95 Christopher Columbus Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey.
- Representing Angels Baseball, LP and SRB Management Company, LLC in the acquisition from the City of Anaheim of Angel Stadium and its surrounding 152 acres, as well as the master planning of the purchased property for development.
- Representing Steven Jemal in several related lawsuits against partners, including family members, filed in Manhattan state court. Steven Jemal is a partner in and owner of JEM Realty, an entity owning and managing over 80 mixed-use properties in Manhattan worth over $1bn dollars.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP supports a client roster of REITs, pension and private equity funds, developers, corporates, institutional lenders and higher education bodies on the full array of real estate matters. Highlights have included workouts, overseas and domestic investments, leasing, development, land assemblage and real estate-related tax. Eric Stern and Jeannine Bishop are the key lawyers in Philadelphia, while Richard Toelke is a name to note in Boston and Marc Liverant is the main point of contact in Los Angeles.
Other key lawyers:
Eric Stern; Jeannine Bishop; Richard Toelke; Marc Liverant
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP splits its practice into two distinct groups. The first is a commercial development and finance practice, which is active at each stage of major projects from acquisition, finance, construction, zoning and land use through to leasing, asset management and disposition. The second is a full-service residential real estate department, which acts for single-family owners, builders, lenders, landlords and tenants and has been particularly busy of late in supporting portfolio transactions consisting of single-family residential properties. Atlanta-based Duncan Miller chairs the overall real estate department which is also tightly integrated with the firm’s hospitality department, frequently supporting on related development projects and large-scale sales and purchases.
Practice head(s):
Duncan Miller
Other key lawyers:
Elizabeth Karmin; Carol Weld King; Thomas Gryboski
Key clients
Wood Partners
VEREIT, Inc
Westport Capital Partners, LLC
Carter Validus Mission Critical REIT II, Inc.
Carter USA
WashREIT
Virginia Tech Foundation
Cortland Partners
Emory University
Thayer Hotel Investors VI
Argosy Capital
Hardie Real Estate Group
Pacific Life Insurance Company
VEREIT, Inc
Chattahoochee Works, LLC
Work highlights
- Represented long-time client, Wood Partners, in a total of 36 transactions over the last year, including acquisition, development, disposition, property management and leasing. The team closed a total of 12 acquisition and development deals totaling approximately $650m.
- Ongoing multi-year representation in connection with the massive redevelopment of Turner Field (former Olympic Stadium/former Atlanta Braves Ballpark) and surrounding parking lots as well as a number of other properties within the area.
- Represented the client in the sale of a 265,000 sq ft office and retail building located at 1776 G Street in Washington DC to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, part of the World Bank Group, for $129.5m.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has been particularly busy on the acquisition and disposition front over the review period and has also handled a number of large-scale development and commercial leasing matters. It operates across a number of property types including office, hotel, retail and warehousing in addition to its niche strengths in transportation, solar and timber assets. It is, however, the residential space which has been an especially fruitful field of activity of late, with the team having been engaged in numerous student accommodation, affordable housing and multi-family projects. Atlanta-based Andrew Litvak heads up the practice, counting a variety of investors, namely sponsorship groups and private equity funds, among his key clients.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Litvak
Other key lawyers:
Eric Wilensky; Christopher Staller; Cathy Rudisill; Laurence Papel
Key clients
Stonemont Financial Group
Bluerock Real Estate
12th Avenue Realty Holdings
Silicon Ranch Corporation
City of Fort Myers, Florida
The Bainbridge Companies
Catalyst Development Partners
Palm Beach Park Centre 4 LLC
ESJ Capital Partners, LLC
North County Pines, LLC
General Motors
Circle K Stores
Dantes Partners, LLC
Retirement Living Associates
210 South Development LLC and Twin Creeks Development Associates, LLC
Work highlights
- Representing Stonemont Financial Group in the acquisition of property for the development of a 1,150-acre Class A industrial park in Savannah, Georgia, which will be known as the Georgia International Trade Center.
- Acted for national REIT Bluerock Real Estate in its sale of six multi-family properties located in Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, comprising approximately 1,800 total units.
- Counsel to the client, which is the owner and developer of the W Hotel in Nashville, the city’s first W-branded property. It will be a 16-story, 346-room tower in the city’s Gulch neighborhood.
Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith LLP's full-service real estate department is chaired by Joseph Sarcinella, an M&A, finance and joint venture specialist who is based in New York alongside Joseph Marger whose core strengths lie in single-asset and portfolio transactions, build-to-suit finance and sale-leasebacks. In Century City, James Eskilson has niche expertise in biotech and pharmaceutical campus transactions, in addition to a variety of other mainstream assets. Stephane Nguyen and Virginia-based James Brennan are recommended for development matters, primarily in respect of hotel, mixed-use, energy, commercial, retail and residential projects. Also recommended is Philadelphia lawyer James Mogan III, who fronts the dedicated healthcare and student housing practice.
Practice head(s):
Joseph Sarcinella; Jimmy Theodorou
Other key lawyers:
Joseph Marger; James Eskilson; Stephane Nguyen; James Brennan; James Mogan III
Testimonials
‘The key strengths of the firm are the individual attorneys business acumen and base of knowledge that compliments their legal expertise. Most have worked hard at understanding the clients business platform and the current issues affecting the day to day operations.’
‘The firm has always been ahead of the technology curve in the areas of discovery, regulations and testimony. The supportive staff such as operations and doc prep seem to impact cost thru collaboration and the use of in house technology. Usually ahead or at least at the same level of other firms in these areas.’
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
The team at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP is based in New York, but is active in property matters nationwide, representing real estate and private equity funds, institutional and non-institutional investors in transactions related to a range of property assets, namely hotel, residential, industrial, retail and commercial. Its strength in the investment space is supplemented by a dual lender and borrow real estate finance practice, as well as leasing expertise which is centered around negotiations and renewals at investment management, financial services and law firm offices. Julian Wise chairs the department and is adept in both dirt and finance matters.
Practice head(s):
Julian Wise
Other key lawyers:
Seth Henslovitz
Testimonials
‘Great partner engagement, strong market knowledge and relationships, knowhow to cut through the minor points to focus on the most important issues’
‘Julian Wise and Seth Henslovitz are super-responsive, always bring their A-Game, are strong negotiators and very commercial.’
Key clients
Albertsons Companies
Blackstone Real Estate
Festival Companies
Fortress Investment Group
Mack Real Estate
Menlo Equities
Meritz Securities
Monday Properties
Work highlights
- Advised Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, on the sale of a 17.5% stake in the company to private equity firm Apollo Global Management.
- Advised on the refinancing and development of the Turnberry Ocean Club in Sunny Isles, Florida. Located just to the north of Miami, this is a luxury residential condominium tower standing 649 feet tall with 54 stories and featuring 154 three-to-six bedroom residences.
- Represented Festival Companies in entering into a joint venture with HIG Capital with respect to the ownership of Simi Valley Town Center, a retail shopping center totaling approximately 347,973 sq ft in Simi Valley, California.
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Sullivan & Worcester LLP has been making significant strides in the development space over recent years, frequently acting for Greater Boston-based developers in affordable housing, life science, student housing and mixed-use projects. The team is chaired from Boston by Ashley Brooks whose practice spans the full range of commercial transactions including sale-leasebacks, workouts, fund formation and portfolio deals. A notable feature of the practice is its dedicated practice group for Opportunity Zones; in this regard, its lawyers have participated in several national thought leadership initiatives.
Practice head(s):
Ashley Brooks
Other key lawyers:
Karen Kepler
Work highlights
- Retained by the City of Boston’s corporation counsel to conduct an analysis of the Board of Appeal’s practices and procedures and to provide a report with recommendations for improving Board efficiency, improving public access, and enhancing transparency.
- Represented OPI in connection with its previously announced disposition program. Since July 2019, the team has supported the sale of 26 properties across 14 states for an aggregate sales price of over $600m across multiple transactions.
- Represented Diversified Healthcare Trust in connection with its previously announced disposition program. Since July 2019, the team has assisted DHC in connection with the sale of 16 medical office/life science properties across six states and 31 senior living properties across ten states for an aggregate sales price of approximately $300m across multiple transactions.
Holland & Knight LLP
Rated for its ‘wealth of knowledge in real estate law and the local Texas market’, Thompson & Knight LLP is extremely busy in the leasing space where it supports on restructures, assignments and subleases at office, retail, industrial, leisure, medical and big box properties. The team also handles single-asset and multiple property acquisitions, as well as a broad variety of development projects at casinos, condominiums and multi-family sites in addition to those including mainstream assets. In Dallas, Andrew Ingrum fronts the department, which is complemented by dedicated, on-site real estate lending and capital markets expertise.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Ingrum
Other key lawyers:
Gregg Davis; Travis McNellie
Key clients
North American Properties
Cabot Properties
Spirit Realty Capital
Gaedeke Group
Map Royalty
Clarion Partners
Work highlights
- Represented Gaedeke Group, a Dallas-based real estate firm, in the $200m purchase of 44 Wall Street in New York City.
- Represented Spirit Realty Capital in the $486m acquisition of 126 properties in 30 US states.
Troutman Pepper
At Troutman Pepper, the team covers all product types though is particularly well versed in retail, energy and hospitality assets, spreading its practice across acquisition, sale, investment, financing and commercial leasing. The team provides a one-stop-shop service through its close collaboration with the firm’s environmental, land use, corporate, partnership and tax attorneys and places a high degree of emphasis on protecting and maximizing property ownership and use rights. In Atlanta, Anthony Greene serves as department head and represents a client roster of domestic and international investment trusts, lenders, owners and developers.
Practice head(s):
Anthony Greene
Other key lawyers:
Randal Lejuwaan; Patrick Ridinger
Key clients
The Rockefeller Group
Trinity Capital Partners, LLS
Cousins Properties, Inc.
Greenstone Properties
Crescent Communities, LLC
Portman Holdings, LLC
Interwest Capital Group LLC
A.L. Group LLC
Work highlights
- Represented Cousins Properties in the $455.5m sale of Hearst Tower, a prominent 47-story office tower in Charlotte to Truist Financial Corp.
- Represented Crescent Communities in the disposition of Novel Stonewall Station apartments, a 459-unit high-rise luxury multifamily residential project locatedin Charlotte valued at $171m.
- Represented Trinity Capital Partners in the acquisition and development of an approximately 75-acre office/industrial park in the town of Knightdale, NC, a suburb of Raleigh.
White & Case LLP
White & Case LLP’s real estate department is chaired by Eugene Leone who focuses on the representation of private equity, entrepreneurial and public companies, among other investors, in their joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and workout transactions. Leone divides his time between Chicago and New York though the group operates a nationwide practice, with other key names based in the Florida office. The wider team excels in respect of construction, development, leasing, asset management and finance matters with primary expertise in office, industrial, hospitality, mixed-use and residential assets.
Practice head(s):
Eugene Leone
Other key lawyers:
Aaron Potter; Michael McKeever; David Pezza; Steven Lutt
Key clients
Pernod Ricard SA
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar
Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II
Work highlights
- Advised Pernod Ricard SA on real estate matters related to its acquisition of Firestone & Robertson Distilling.
- Advised Antin Infrastructure Partners on real estate matters related to its $1.25bn acquisition of Veolia Group’s US district energy assets, including related financing matters with respect to the real estate assets.
- Advised Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, a subsidiary affiliate of a sovereign fund of the Government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, on real estate matters related to its acquisition of a 50% cash equity stake in a clean-energy portfolio.
WilmerHale
Highlighted by clients for its ‘great knowledge and breadth of experience’, Boston-based WilmerHale runs a full-service development practice that extends to prominent locations in Cambridge, Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington DC. The team is also highly regarded for its headquarter leasing practice, which represents both landlords and tenants and is often engaged in matters at newly constructed sites. Paul Jakubowski heads the department which is also relied upon for joint venture, acquisition and investment affairs and is particularly knowledgeable of the life sciences space where it represents developers, owners, landlords and users of lab space.
Practice head(s):
Paul Jakubowski
Other key lawyers:
Douglas Burton
Testimonials
‘Great knowledge, breadth of experience, expertise in all areas of the law, quite responsive, pleasant personable people.’
‘The firm’s level of service has not declined even during the pandemic. Its lawyers are highly intelligent, knowledgeable, efficient, a pleasure to work with and have created value for us.’
Key clients
Atlantic Management Corporation
Carpenter & Company
Analog Devices, Inc.
Translate Bio
Aileron Therapeutics
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Hasbro, Inc.
SkyCool Systems, Inc.
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kronos Incorporated
Work highlights
- Advised Boston-based real estate investment and development company Atlantic Management Corporation on the acquisition, financing and leasing of corporate campuses and other large assets in Massachusetts, including the former HP campus in Marlborough, redeveloped as hotel, residential and lab space for GE Medical and Quest Diagnostics.
- Represented developer Carpenter & Company in the site acquisition, debt and equity financing, branding and subsequent development and management of the first five-star hotel on Iceland’s waterfront, including the restructuring of multiple private and governmental ownership and development restrictions.
Winston & Strawn LLP
The ‘exemplary’ real estate department hosted by Winston & Strawn LLP is principally focused on the industrial, retail, hospitality, affordable housing and multi-family sectors though is proficient across all asset types. The client roster consists of funds, asset managers and REITs, which the team represents in acquisitions, sales, financings and sale-leasebacks, drawing upon the firm’s wider capabilities in fund formation and fundraising when required. New York-based Corey Tessler, a finance specialist, chairs the department and has extensive experience in the structuring of preferred equity transactions.
Practice head(s):
Corey Tessler
Other key lawyers:
Andy White; Jeffrey Smith; Christine Graff; Billie Ellis; Douglas Yeager; Masae Ellis
Testimonials
‘The team is extremely responsive, knowledgeable in what is commercial and reasonable in the local markets, has a wide array of experiences and is respectful of client time and costs.’
‘Expertise, responsiveness, dedication, take the time to know and understand client needs and specific circumstances.’
‘Strong technical; great work ethic; excellent and continual client communication ability to work with numerous other legal firms to obtain good results.’
‘Billie Ellis-lead provides timeless energy, provides good insight and advice; makes himself available even if traveling out of town. His years of experience is very helpful.’
‘Doug Yeager is excellent technically; excellent in negotiating complex documents and provision; good working with lenders and their legal counsel.’
‘Masae Ellis provides excellent technical skills; strong communication with clients.’
‘Incredibly responsive and attentive throughout a project. Able to handle engagements on very short notice and produce exceptional work product.’
‘Andy White is incredibly knowledgeable both from a legal and business perspective and goes above and beyond for our firm. The team is exceptional all round.’
‘Business sense; understanding of the commercial real estate markets; availability and work product.’
Key clients
Berkeley Partners
Bernhard, LLC
Caldwell Watson Real Estate Group, Inc.
CCC Information Services Inc.
Cobblestone Real Estate LLC
Crosspoint Properties
Cypress Acquisition Partners Retail Fund, L.P.
Freehold Capital Acquisitions, LLC
Long Cove Development, Inc.
Magnolia Capital Group, LLC
NGL Energy Partners
NetSTREIT Corp.
Nicola-Crosby Real Estate
Orchard Homes (Noho Solutions, Inc.)
Priderock Capital Partners, LLC
Schottenstein Realty, LP
Signode Corporation
Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.
Stonelake Capital Partners, LLC
TPG Global and related entities
Triple-S Steel Holdings, Inc.
Work highlights
- Represented the buyer, Berkeley Partners, in connection with its acquisition and subsequent financing of a 411,485 sq ft multi-tenant industrial building located at 333-335 Centennial Parkway in Louisville.
- Ongoing representation of TPG Global, a leading global private investment firm, and its affiliates in leasing matters throughout the US and abroad.
- Represented the buyer, Magnolia Capital Group, in connection with its acquisition and subsequent financing of a 368-unit garden apartment community located in Raleigh, North Carolina.