DLA Piper LLP (US) is known for its expansive geographic coverage and its wide ranging real estate capabilities, ranging from high-value capital markets and fund formation, significant developments to zoning and construction work. The firm makes extensive use of its AI platform, Kira, to perform due diligence on leases, contracts and other agreements that need to be reviewed as part of a transaction. Boston-based John Sullivan and Barbara Trachtenberg co-vice chair the practice; both recognized for their expertise in equity, debt, hybrid and joint venture transactions. Cara Nelson spends a significant portion of her practice advising foreign pension funds in complex joint ventures, while Bryan Connolly and Thanos Matthai are sought after by leading developers and investors. All three at in the Boston office. In Washington DC, Frederick Klein, Amy Carbins and associate Lauren Rico represent a diverse client base in complex acquisitions, developments and financings.

Leveraging an array of international resources, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s full-service department is involved in all facets of real estate transactions and developments, acting for a high-end roster features leading lenders, operators,  investment firms and blue-chip corporates. The practice is lead by three noted partners. In New York, Eric Feuerstein concentrates on financings, debt purchases, acquisitions, joint ventures and development. San Francisco’s Erin Rothfuss is another transactional expert; she is noted for acquisitions and development of office buildings, hotels, malls and multi-family projects. For financing, Los Angeles’ Jesse Sharf is a highly reputable counsel for lenders and funds. 

Real estate is a cornerstone practice for Greenberg Traurig, LLP, with work spanning commercial, recreational and residential assets, including structured equity, debt and hybrids. The sizeable nationwide team particularly excels in acquisitions, investment, development, financing and leasing. New York’s Robert Ivanhoe and Stephen Rabinowitz co-chair the practice alongside Chicago’s Corey Light and Richard Giusto in Miami. Based in Chicago, Michael Baum is noted for his expertise in the sponsorship, formation and implementation of U.S. and international, particularly, Mexican and Brazilian real estate opportunity funds. The same office recruited Shawn Ronda and Andrew Hamm to its team from DLA Piper LLP (US) and Katten, respectively in August and May 2021. Former chair of Winston & Strawn LLP‘s real estate practice, New York-based Corey Tessler, joined in May 2022. 

Noted for its work for publicly-traded REITs, sovereign wealth funds, major pension organizations and institutional investors, Kirkland & Ellis LLP is the go-to counsel for private equity groups on all real estate-related activities. Practice heads Jonathan Schechter, Andrew Small and Kevin Ehrhart, based in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, respectively, are recognised for their expertise in joint venture formation, capital raisings and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions. Christopher Hartmann is another noted figure in New York; recommended for preferred equity investments and financings. Chicago’s Rachel Brown and Daniel Perlman are focused on workouts, loan sales and investments in distressed capital stacks.

Paul Hastings LLP‘ nationwide real estate practice maintains a consistent involvement in large scale mixed-use development projects, hotels, borrowings, mezzanine and preferred equity lending, alongside acquisition/disposition transactions. New York senior partners Eric Landau , Rick Allendorf, Peter Olsen and John Cahill  all have a wealth of expertise acting for financial institutions and private equity funds across all asset types. Elsewhere, San Francisco’s David Hamsher is an authority on complex development and joint venture transactions, while Philip Feder in Los Angeles specializes in hospital and hotel real estate transactions. Gregory Spitzer is the key figure in Chicago.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP integrates its multidisciplinary real estate practice with its bank financing, capital markets, M&A and private funds expertise. From New York, Gregory Ressa chairs the practice, where he specializes in representing estate opportunity funds in M&A and financings. Other key in the same office include Scott Kobak, Sasan Mehrara, Krista Miniutti and Whitney Salinas; all highly experienced counsel for private equity firms and portfolio companies in commercial acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and financings. 

August 2021 saw the significant expansion of the Holland & Knight LLP offering, following its combination with Thompson & Knight and bolstering its collective capabilities with the addition of its Texas and New York based real estate team. Retail, timeshare and hospitality, mixed-use development and leasing continue to be prominent areas of work. Miami based Vivian De Las Cuevas-Diaz chairs the multilocational practice alongside New York’s Joe Guay. Also in New York, Stuart Saft is particularly noted for his condominium development work, and in acquisition and sale of residential, commercial and hospitality assets. Margot Mendelson Hammond in Atlanta has built up a noted credit tenant lease financing practice.

Collectively lead by Gary E. Axelrod  in Chicago, Michelle Kelban , Michael Haas, both in New York, and Julian Kleindorfer in Los Angeles, Latham & Watkins LLP‘ US-wide real estate practice leverages its multi-faceted capabilities in M&A, finance, REITs, and representation of developers and high-end owners. In a landmark transaction, Chicago’s Rachel Bates advised a major hotel chain in the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group, a leading luxury resort-management services, travel and hospitality group, from affiliates of each of KKR and KSL Capital Partners, LLC for $2.7bn. Axelrod and Meghan Cocci in Los Angeles are noted for their expertise within the hospitality sector, while New York based Justin Elliott, who joined in early 2021 from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, is sought after by funds and REITs on their largest transactions. Associate Mark Semotiuk is another integral figure in the New York practice.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is noted for its development work in hospitality, healthcare and multifamily projects on behalf of private equity firms, gaming and hospitality resorts companies, and government institutions. Peter E. Fisch  and Harris B. Freidus  are the top partners for sales and acquisitions, construction and leasing, with Freidus highlighted for his expertise in gaming and hospitality. Salvatore Gogliormella is active in the healthcare real estate sector. Meredith J. Kane  retired from active practice. All partners are based in New York.  

Proskauer Rose LLP is a prominent name in the New York and Los Angeles real estate transactional, leasing and financing market. Its integration with the global private equity and hospitality and gaming groups adds further expertise in casino and hotel development and construction. With deep experience in the space, Ronald Sernau is a key name in the New York office. Finance experts David Weinberger and Steven Lichtenfeld and Paul Polking, a specialist in commercial and retail leases and subleases, comprise the main New York-based group. In Boston, Sean Boulger and Keith Barnett are the key contacts.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s practice is chaired by Peter Irwin , an expert in private equity, real estate acquisitions and restructurings. Nicole Levin Mesard is a key senior counsel for leading corporates in sophisticated financings, joint ventures and infrastructure transactions. Edward Rishty is sought after by private equity funds, developers, prominent family offices and sovereign wealth funds for his transactional expertise in joint venture and capital market transactions involving real estate assets.  

Goodwin's real estate department has a strong focus on representation of institutional investors, REITs and private equity funds in acquisitions, leasing and developments, as well as in complex financings and joint venture formation. Based in Los Angeles, practice chair Dean Pappas is highly regarded in the local market for his acquisition and disposition work. Jennifer Sung, acting in the same office, is invested in the firms’ emerging PropTech Initiative, a practice at the intersection of real estate and technology, led by co-head Minta Kay in Boston. Also on the east coast, Andy Sucoff in Boston focuses on UPREIT and downREIT contribution transactions, distressed and recapitalization on retail, office, multifamily and life sciences real estate. 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP‘s real estate practice is split between the Dallas and New York offices, with Howard Schreiber, in Dallas, and Laurie Grasso and Brett Gross in New York co-heading the nationwide offering. In addition to its core focus on acquisition, financing, development and leasing, the team has been increasingly active supporting various blue-chip clients with acquisitions in affordable housing, and life sciences and health care sectors. Dallas and New York based, respectively, Jeff Giese, Matthew Scoville and associate Paul Greco routinely counsel private equity and investor clients, with Greco a regular advisor on top-end private equity mandates. 

Jones Day‘s team of lawyers has ‘excellent resources for specialized real estate topics’ such as build-to-suit and lease projects, hospitality developments and fund formation, in addition to its core transactional acquisition, disposition and leasing offering. Leading from the Chicago office, Robert Lee and Brian Sedlak are highlighted for their respective specialism in REIT’s, joint ventures and transactions involving infrastructure assets.

Mayer Brown‘s ‘tremendous group of lawyers‘ undertakes a broad range of acquisitions, disposals and financing transactions, real estate developments and restructuring mandates. Former practice head, Paul Meyer ‘has unmatched depth in the real estate transactional world.’ Heather Adkerson ‘brings tremendous experience to every transaction‘ involving private equity sponsors, developers and institutional investors. Jonathan Baker is ‘a rising star in the practice.’ Brian Aronson chairs the department from Los Angeles, where he assists with commercial and residential projects, commercial leasing, and real estate financing. All lawyers are based in Chicago unless otherwise stated. 

Morrison Foerster is noted for the ‘experience of its members and the firm’s breadth of practices’  in acquisitions and sales of real estate projects, equity investments, hospitality developments, REIT and real estate tech. Global chair Mark Edelstein  is supported by U.S co-chairs Jeffrey Temple  and Los Angeles-based Thomas Fileti. The firm also benefits from Lawrence Ceriello‘s knowledge of distressed real estate, and Christopher Delson‘s experience acting for investment fund sponsors and private equity investors. All lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP‘s ‘business minded‘ team is praised for its ‘grasp on the items truly worthy of the fight’. The practice has a history representing private equity funds in hospitality and mixed-use transactions, developments, leasing and operations. It also has a strong distressed real estate and restructuring practice. San Francisco’s Jacobus Machalow ‘synthesizes complex issues and define them in business terms’. In the same office, senior counsel Michael Liever and Dustin Calkins advised DWS/RREEF on the $490m sale of West 8th. New York’s team is headed by Marshall Brozost, while Gerard Walsh chairs the global department from Los Angeles, where Randolph Perry, an acquisitions specialist, is highly active on behalf of key clients. 

Maintaining ‘vast experience across every product and structure’, Ropes & Gray LLP continues to hold a strong reputation in the New York and Boston real estate equity and finance transactional market. During 2021, Daniel Stanco acted for Annaly Capital in the $2.33bn sale of its entire commercial real estate portfolio and management team to Slate Asset Management. David Djaha and David Kaye, also in New York, routinely advise investment banks, private equity funds and developers. Co-heading the global practice alongside Stanco, John (Jack) Creedon is a recognized figure in Boston’s real estate market; he is joined by Richard Gordet and associate Effie George Floyd.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP‘s client roster ranges from Fortune 100 companies through to commercial and investment banks, developers and REITS. Leading Boston’s real estate practice, Catherine Burns is at the forefront of new developments in the marketplace, owing to her experience handling transactions in the cannabis and opportunity zone investment space. In New York, Daniel Evans represents lenders and borrowers in all aspects of commercial real estate finance, while Cynthia Mitchell focuses on investments in the healthcare space. San Francisco’s Robin Freeman is another finance expert, concentrating on transactions in California and the West coast. Paul Mattingly chairs the national practice from Atlanta. 

Focusing on the New York and Texas real estate markets, Vinson & Elkins LLP‘ ‘outstanding lawyers’ work with core clients including private equity firms, REITS and developers. Paul Martin and Randy Jurgensmeyer are the key figures in Dallas for acquisitions, financing, leadings and developing of malls, office buildings, hotels, industrial parks, and apartment complexes. Wallace Schwartz is a preeminent New York real estate attorney with deep experience in the space. 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP utilizes its real estate, finance and tax experience to represent REITs, and institutional and private investors on IPOs, secondary and follow-on offerings, private placements of debt and equity, and public issuances of debt. It is also well known for its strengths handling restructuring mandates, in which practice head Michael Bond has deep experience as counsel in complex restructurings, joint ventures and REITs.  Philip Rosen is heavily involved in restructuring work, and is continuing to advise WeWork on restructuring of its lease portfolio. All lawyers are based in New York.

Displaying ‘tremendous subject matter expertise‘ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s New York-based real estate team excel in complex financings and acquisitions across multiple state, with California, New York, Florida and Washington DC, as its core markets. David Drewes and Thomas Henry in New York are the practice co-heads, both representing a broad variety of private developers, private equity and hedge funds and lenders. Also in New York, Krystyna Blakeslee is noted for origination, acquisition and disposition of mortgage loans.

Akerman LLP‘s real estate practice is recommended for urban redevelopment, financing, large land deals, distressed real estate and loan origination. Hospitality, retail and condominiums are its key areas of instruction. Eric Rapkin chairs the practice from Fort Lauderdale. New York’s Steven Polivy acts for developers, investors and Fortune 500 companies in securing crucial government incentives and tax benefits for major urban redevelopments. Richard Bezold in Miami and Orlando-based James McNeil, an expert in residential developments, are its other key senior partners.

BakerHostetler‘s practice is co-chaired by Robert H. Gebaide in Orlando and Wendy Markham in Atlanta, with support from a sizeable team of real estate specialists in the Michael Pappert-led Houston office, alongside its Cleveland and Washington DC teams. Areas of expertise include acquisition, sales, financing, and development of offices, healthcare, hospitality and master-planned communities, as well as in regulatory compliance and environmental permitting.

A nationwide team with ‘outstanding legal expertise and deep industry knowledge’, Ballard Spahr LLP is regarded for its development and financing work in condominiums, hospitality and mixed-use projects. From Baltimore, practice chair Amy McClain is well known for her expertise in development and securing funding for affordable housing projects. Thomas Hauser is another real estate finance specialist in the same office. Other recommended lawyers include Tina Makoulian and Bart Mellits in Philadelphia and Roger Winston in Washington DC, head of the mixed-use department.

Clifford Chance is highly regarded for its representation of REITs and real estate funds. Ness Cohen leads the New York based team, comprised of ‘dealmakers and solution driven attorneys’ such as Eddie Frastai and Jeanne Roig-Irwin, both experienced in transactions involving retail, office, hotel, commercial and mixed-use properties. ‘Wickedly smart and sharp‘, Cohen is a trusted counsel for many of the country’s leading investors, lenders, insurance companies and private equity funds.

Dentons is recommended for its real estate finance representation. It also handles an large volume of tax-driven transaction structuring, due diligence, leasing and REIT work, particularly in the Midwest. 2021 saw the firm introduce new innovative initiatives such as Global Advisors, the Allyship Initiative and its Golden Spike partnership with Utah, Iowa and Alabama-based regional practices. Practice chair Linda White, Todd Stennes and counsel Amber Morris are the key contacts in Chicago.

Fielding a deep bench of attorneys across Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas and Washington DC, Eversheds Sutherland‘s nationwide practice is a top counsel across a range of real estate matters. The firm stands outs for its capabilities handling intuitional investment, financing and mandates in the hospitality, single-family residential, data centers and forestry sectors, in which Victor Haley in Atlanta, in particular, is a recognized authority. Also in Atlanta, Clayton Howell has developed a specialty advising institutional investors, as has James Jordan for REITS, and David Reid for joint venture formation. John Busillo in New York and Marc Benjamin in Chicago are the other key contacts. 

From its New York City and Newark offices, Herrick, Feinstein LLP acts for owners, developers, lenders and investors in developments, acquisitions and sales, and commercial and ground leasing. The firm offers an experienced team all specializing in cooperatives and condominiums, along with Karol Robinson and special counsel Brett Gottlieb, both focusing on affordable housing. Mitchell Korbey leads its land use and zoning group, while Patrick O’Sullivan Jr is the go-to for Qualified Opportunity Zones. Other significant transactional attorneys include Jonathan Adelsberg, Michael Smith and department chair, Belinda G. Schwartz . All lawyers mentioned are based primarily in New York.  

Husch Blackwell LLP focuses on the Midwest real estate market. Its primary St Louis office is led by Caroline Hermeling, a seasoned partner in regional and nationwide real estate sales and acquisitions, development and leases. She also represents lenders in the enforcement of loan and security agreements, notes, guaranties, deeds of trust and related documents. 

Katten has a national reputation for handling acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and restructuring on behalf of lenders, developers, fund sponsors and investors. Chicago based senior partners Alvin Katz , David Dlugie and Mark Simon are all noted names in the Midwest real estate market. Timothy Little chairs the practice from New York.

Largely focused on the Californian real estate market with the Los Angeles team, headed by Anita Famili Sabine and the Silicon Valley practice, led by Michael Polentz, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP‘ bi-coastal practice is also supported by its New York office, where Ted Hunter focuses on the Manhattan and New Jersey market. The nationwide practice handles all manner of acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financings, developments and leasing matters.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP is praised as a ‘great old school team with fabulous understanding of the NY RE market’, experienced in all aspects of real estate law. New York’s Paul Shapses is instrumental in the firm’s hotel leisure real estate practice, with decade of experience in the financing, acquisition and workouts across the U.S, Canada and the Caribbean. Andrew Weiner is another key partner in the same office with significant concentration in the hospitality and REIT sectors. Based in Los Angeles, Emily Bias‘ practice concentrates on tax-advantaged affordable housing deals. James Rishwain chairs the real estate and construction industry team, also from Los Angeles.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is highlighted for its experience representing landlords and tenants in leasing transactions, including headquarters office leases and ground leases, sale-leasebacks and other structured transactions. It also has strong capabilities in acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures. Practice head Malcolm Montgomery is primarily known for his real estate finance work. Lisa Brill is a key contact for institutional investors, lenders and other market players in the investment, ownership and development of real estate. Both lawyers are based in New York.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP‘s practice is angled towards the Californian real estate market, with offices across San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Aside from its core transactional work, the multi-disciplinary team regularly assists REITs, industrial, retail and residential developers in their equity transactions, and development of master-planned communities and build-to-suit offices. Nancy Scull and Keith Garner co-head the group from San Diego and San Francisco, respectively. For mandates involving radio and television broadcasting studios, tech offices and data centres, Los Angeles’ Pamela Westhoff is recommended.

Thompson Hine LLP has developed a specialty advising clients on corporate expansion, new construction, development and acquisition, particularly as it relates to headquarters and commercial properties in Ohio. Tax-driven real estate financing, leasing, planning and development work are also its core areas of instruction. Based in Cleveland, Thomas Coyne is the longtime head of national practice. He is assisted by Darrel Davison in Columbus and Robert Curry in Dayton.

Winston & Strawn LLP is active across the New York, California, Illinois, and Texas real estate markets. In Los Angeles, Paul Walker is an expert in real property and loan portfolio purchase and sale transactions, and equity investments. Walker joined from Sidley Austin LLP, along with Bruce Fraser and Elizabeth Walker, in February 2021. The Chicago team is led by Andrew White, while Billie Ellis in Dallas is also a key member.

Based in Texas, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP represents prominent investment funds REITs and private equity houses, in connection with development and leasing of data centers, hotels, office and industrial properties. Firmwide, it is also experienced in handling retail, education, senior living and multifamily properties. Fort Worth’s Marc Epstein  and Dallas’ John Bain are they key contacts.

Arnold & Porter‘s real estate practice is divided between its New York and Washington DC locations. The former is led by Jeffrey Kapner , who is an expert at negotiating innovative terms and deals involving the acquisition, financing and dispositions of all property types for owners and institutional investors, and Steve Gliatta, who works on the acquisition and financing of real estate projects. Heading the Washington DC practice, Amy Rifkind has extensive commercial real estate experience in development, public-private partnerships, ground leases and financings.

At Baker Botts L.L.P., John Dunlay‘s ‘responsiveness is unmatched’; he specializes in large-scale commercial real estate projects, ventures and financings, including first-class office buildings, hotels and mixed-use properties, and practices out of the firm's Dallas office. Practice head Connie Simmons Taylor in Houston is the other key attorney for acquisitions, dispositions, and financings. She particularly recommended for representation of developers in major tenant office leases and retail leases.

Brown Rudnick LLP‘s team of ‘very strong business partners’ is a good choice for portfolio transactions, development of large-scale projects, distressed assets, retail and complex mixed-used projects. Boston based practice head Thomas Phillips ‘is an outstanding transactional attorney with tremendous business sense’. The Boston office also benefits from Kevin Joyce 's expertise in financing, zoning, permitting and development projects. Thomas Regan in Hartford acts for developers, institutions, and not-for-profits in the development and financing of commercial real estate projects, energy and telecoms facilities. 

Michigan based Dickinson Wright PLLC has a wide-ranging transactional and development-based real estate practice, advising from land and property acquisitions and sales to multi-use development projects. Monica Labe and Michael Lusardi are the key contacts in its Troy office for leasing, financing, construction and disposition of industrial, office, mixed-use and entertainment properties. In Grand Rapids, John Cameron is the lead partner.

Co-leader of the K&L Gates‘ global real estate practice, Matthew Norton in Charleston is an authority on the sale, acquisition, financing, and development of hotels, resorts, and golf courses. In Seattle, Shannon Skinner is primarily known for her real estate financing and redevelopment expertise. She also routinely represents corporate real estate owners in the acquisition and disposition of their real estate holdings, portfolio transactions, build-to-suit leases, and data center developments.

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is noted for office, residential, shopping center and mixed-use real estate development projects throughout the United States. Practice head David Szeker and Darwin Huang are its key New York-based attorneys, representing a wide range of corporates, borrowers, landlords and tenants in acquisition and disposition of single properties and property portfolios and in the leasing of office and retail spaces. 

King & Spalding LLP represents domestic and offshore investors in sales and acquisition of large-scale commercial real estate assets, including major industrial portfolios. The firm also has a substantial real estate funds practice. Key partners include Timothy Goodwin and Joshua Kamin in Atlanta, and co-head Mark Thigpen  in Charlotte, alongside Erik Andersen in New York.

Loeb & Loeb LLP is nationally regarded for its capabilities in commercial leasing, and its counsel in property acquisitions, dispositions and joint venture transactions. The New York office is the home of practice chair, Raymond Sanseverino, a prominent figure in leasing, brokerage and conveyancing transactions in the New York market. Kenneth Sold, co-chair Nichole Cortese , and Peter Strauss, all in the same office, are also regular counsel to landlords and tenants in office and retail leasing and subleasing.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP‘s Washington DC-based team maintains strong of activity in real estate development and finance, REITs, hospitality, and notably gaming, which is Carol Weld King‘s key focus sectors. Christina Hassan is another attorney with expertise in dealing with complex multi-use projects that contain hospitality components. Elizabeth Karmin acts for landlords and tenants in office and retail leasing, as well as lenders and borrowers for financing mandates. Other areas of instruction include sales and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP‘s sizeable nationwide real estate practice is best known for its representation in land acquisition and entitlement, development and leasing, particularly in build-to-rent, hospitality, resort and timber sectors. Key figures include Andrew Litvak and Eric Klinger-Wilensky in Atlanta, for sponsors, developers, and investors in retail and multifamily properties; Laurence Papel in Nashville for hotel development and in Boca Raton, Christopher Staller and David Itskovich . 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP is a prominent name in the New York market for sales and purchases of commercial property. Its leasing practice works with major New York landlords as well as numerous office and retail tenants on lease negotiations, particularly in the investment management, financial services and law firm space. Net lease deals, and sale and leasebacks are its niche specialty areas. Practice head Julian Wise and Seth Henslovitz are the main partners.

Troutman Pepper is highlighted for its depth of expertise in retail, energy and hospitality real estate. Its team is also well versed in matters at the intersection of technology and commercial real estate, such as building life safety, wireless internet and cable wiring systems, and technology-enhanced building infrastructure, in addition to the representation of telecoms and software companies across the US. Anthony Greene heads the department from the Atlanta office. 

White & Case LLP‘s real estate practice is led by Eugene Leone out of its Chicago and New York locations, working within the wider multidisciplinary national group to advise on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions of varying asset types. Leone has a strong track record acting on behalf of investors, private equity houses, entrepreneurs and public companies in leasing and developments.

WilmerHale‘s real estate group primarily operates out of Boston and with the support of its Denver and Palo Alto-based lawyers. Life sciences is a key area of expertise; the firm acts on behalf of REITs, developers and pharmaceutical companies in the greater Boston area. It is also involved in large-scale development projects in Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington DC. Based out of Boston, Paul Jakubowski and Douglas Burton are the key attorneys.