Firms To Watch: Real estate

Boston based Choate, Hall & Stewart is recommended for leasing transactions, particularly in the life sciences/biotech, build-to-suit and headquarters leasing. Its team, led by Paul Laudano, advises on urban development, joint ventures, permitting and zoning. 
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. is highlighted for its capability in data center leasing, colocation, development and financing transactions. Working primarily in the Massachusetts and California markets, the practice is led by Daniel Gaquin  in Boston and Paul Churchill  in San Francisco and has a good offering in acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint ventures. 
Norton Rose Fulbright is well equipped to advise corporates and investors in acquisition, joint ventures, development and lease of manufacturing facilities, industrial, multifamily and mixed-use properties. John Jennings  chairs the practice from San Antonio.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP represents real estate developers, owners, investors and REITs in the New York market on the purchase and sale of office, hotel, retail, multifamily, industrial and mixed-use properties. Commercial leasing is another core area of activity. Its practice is co-headed by Brian Lichter and Michael Rishty in New York. 

Real estate in United States

DLA Piper LLP (US)

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.

Other key lawyers:

Cara Nelson; Bryan Connolly; Thanos Matthai; Frederick Klein; Amy Carbins; Lauren Rico

Testimonials

‘DLA has one of the deepest real estate benches in the industry. Not only is the local Boston team terrific, but the DLA offices we have worked with in other cities/states provide consistently high quality legal services. DLA also trends to be very efficient (and the invoices reflect that).’

‘The individual attorneys we work with at DLA are all very knowledgeable and efficient. They quickly spot the issues that are most important and provide thoughtful and straightforward guidance. ’

‘The leadership of John Sullivan and Barbara Trachtenberg is outstanding. They take the time to ensure every client and assignment are satisfied to the fullest…often by rolling up their own sleeves.’

‘Thanos Mattai is a strong negotiator and from very early in his career he was able to understand what was important to our firm and ultimately our firm’s clients. ‘

‘Barbara Trachtenberg always delivers and her steady skilled practice never lets us down.’

‘Cara Nelson is a very quick thinker and firm negotiator. She is readily available to discuss current issues with my team and shows a great enthusiasm for her work.’

‘John Sullivan – Simply the best in the industry. His understanding of commercial and real estate operation issues is extremely strong and reflects strongly in legal solutions he brings to the table. John’s extensive knowledge in real estate joint venture is phenomenal.’

Key clients

AEW Capital Management

Artemis Real Estate

ASB Capital Management

Blackstone Real Estate Advisors

Boston Properties

Brookfield

Cabot Industrial

CBRE Global Investors

Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, LLC

Hines

Oxford Properties Group

PGIM, Inc.

Related Companies

SL Green Realty

The Carlyle Group, LLC

Tishman Speyer

Ventas

Work highlights

  • Represented Oxford Properties Group in the acquisition, financing, development and sale of new a 1.3 million square foot building for Google in New York City at the site of the former St John’s Terminal.
  • Represented Harrison Street Real Estate in connection with (1) the acquisition of 16 senior housing communities from two different sellers, that included four loan assumptions, and (2) the sale of 14 medical office buildings to one of the sellers, both of which closed on the same day.
  • Represented a REIT in the sale of 8 separate retail assets in the Washington, DC metro area as part of the final piece of a divestiture strategy.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Industry powerhouse Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has a wealth of experience advising on acquisition and disposition of single assets and portfolios, mortgage, REITs, leasing on behalf of landlords and tenants, environmental issues and land use and development. Department chair Jonathan Mechanic is sought after by developers, owners, investors, REITs, and lenders in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. For commercial leasing and development mandates, Michael Werner, Laurinda Martins and ‘exceptional‘ Washington DC based Valerie Kelly, are all recommended partners. ‘Talented and multifaceted’ Fiona Kelly and associate Alexander Sutherland are likewise recommended for clients investing in overseas markets. All lawyers are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Mechanic

Other key lawyers:

Michael Werner; Laurinda Martins; Valerie Kelly; Fiona Kelly; Alexander Sutherland

Testimonials

‘Fried Frank is a powerhouse in the real estate space in the US and more so than ever in the UK. They have an extremely deep bench and they see all sides of real estate and know what is market. ‘

‘We work with Fiona Kelly, who is one of the most talented and multifaceted real estate lawyers. We are able to work on transactions and leverage her multi-jurisdictional talents (which is a rarity) with ease and seamlessly. She is clearly one of Fried Frank’s most talented lawyers, a rare combination of intelligence, both intellectual and emotional. She manages transactions with a steady hand and coolness, that facilitate deal-making.’

‘Valerie Kelly is exceptional to work with on leasing transactions. They are able to build a strong rapport with all parties involved and are able to negotiate strong positions for their clients. Their pragmatism and depth of transactional experience is not just noticed by their clients, but also by their counterparties.’

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Eric Feuerstein; Erin Rothfuss; Jesse Sharf

Key clients

Stockbridge Real Estate Funds

Hackman Capital Partners

Welltower

DivcoWest

Rockpoint

KKR Real Estate Finance Manager

EOS Investors

Kildare

Blackstone

Strategic Hotels & Resorts

Work highlights

  • Advised leading institutional investment firm, DivcoWest, in connection with a $1 billion joint venture with Denver-based company, Atlas Real Estate, for the acquisition, renovation and operation of single family rental properties across the Western United States.
  • Advised Stockbridge advised in connection with an approximately $2 billion acquisition and financing of a portfolio of 23 operating and under-development warehouse industrial properties comprising a 14.3 million square foot portfolio.
  • Advised Kildare Partners in the acquisition, joint venture and financing of a portfolio of shopping centers in Puerto Rico.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Richard Giusto; Stephen Rabinowitz; Corey Light; Robert Ivanhoe

Other key lawyers:

Michael Baum; Shawn Ronda; Andrew Hamm

Key clients

Alberton’s

Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC

Invesco Real Estate

The Ardent Companies

Kimco Realty Corp.

Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT)

SL Green Realty Corp

Square Mile Capital

KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.

The Related Group

Work highlights

  • Represented KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc in 24 separate transactions totalling over $2.7bn, including  $203.5m sale of the Denver’s Granite Tower, and the $146m acquisition of Sorrento Towers in San Diego, California by Singapore-based Prime US REIT.
  • Advised Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust on land use issues pertaining to the acquisition of the Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel and Spa within the Las Vegas CityCenter project for $3.89bn in a sale-leaseback transaction.
  • Advised SL Green Realty Corp in the sale of 410 Tenth Avenue, the 636,000-square-foot Manhattan office redevelopment anchored by Amazon and First Republic Bank, for gross consideration of $952.5m.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

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.

Other key lawyers:

Christopher Hartmann; Rachel Brown; Daniel Perlman

Key clients

Starwood Capital Group

GLP Capital Partners

KKR & Co. Inc.

Blackstone Real Estate

Cerberus Capital Management

TPG Real Estate Partners

Rockwood Capital, LLC

LaSalle Investment Management

Oaktree Capital Management

QuadReal Property Group Limited Partnership

GID Investment Advisers

Ares Management

Hudson Pacific Properties

Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC

Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC [PIMCO]

Elad Genesis Limited Partnership

Realterm

Stonehenge Partners

Washington Prime Group

Oak View Group

Core Spaces

Dune Real Estate Partners

Work highlights

  • Represented funds managed by Starwood Capital on its acquisition of Extended Stay America and its paired-share REIT, ESH Hospitality, Inc, in a 50/50 joint venture with funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $6bn and is the largest hotel acquisition since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Advised Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. on its joint venture with Highgate to purchase six hospitality portfolios from Colony Capital, Inc, a REIT, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $2.8bn, including the assumption of debt.
  • Advised KKR on its sale of a 14.5 million square foot infill and light industrial portfolio for approximately $2.2bn. The portfolio, which consists of 149 distribution buildings located in 12 major industrial markets across the U.S., was assembled by KKR through various acquisitions over the last three years, all of which Kirkland advised on as well.

Paul Hastings LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Eric Landau; Peter Olsen; John Cahill

Other key lawyers:

Rick Allendorf; David Hamsher; Gregory Spitzer

Testimonials

‘Paul Hastings’ real estate practice and leadership are true experts. I find both leadership and associates at all levels to be highly collaborative and often leverage other practice areas to give the best insight, guidance and execution in a practical, balanced and conclusion oriented manner.’

‘Paul Hastings has a top-notch team well-geared for handling sophisticated real estate work.’

‘Paul Hastings has an outstanding real estate team. They have excellent subject matter expertise, but more importantly they provide proactive and practical advice which enables to complete projects effectively and efficiently. They are best in class in what they do, and I highly recommend them.’

‘Greg Spitzer is one of the best real estate attorneys I have worked with globally. He has experience with all types of real estate transactions, and working with him is seamless.’

‘Uniquely talented and responsive team. John Cahill is fantastic as a partner/colleague in this space.’

‘John Cahill is one of the strongest attorneys I’ve ever worked with. He and his team are amazing partners in the commercial real estate and finance space.’

Key clients

QuadReal

Qatar Investment Authority

Ivanhoé Cambridge

Investment Corporation of Dubai

Facebook

LinkedIn

Salesforce.com

Five Point Holdings

Lennar Corporation

L&L Holding Company

Witkoff Group

Millennium Partners

Oaktree Capital Management

Extell Development

Investcorp International

TIAA/Nuveen

The Related Companies

Morgan Stanley

Barclays

Wells Fargo

Work highlights

  • Advising Five Point Holdings in connection with its role as master developer of the Candlestick Point and Phase 2 of the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco.
  • Representing a real estate firm in connection with the acquisition, financing and development of Lincoln Yards in the North Branch Corridor in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Representing L&L Holding Company and several major international financial entities as JV partners in connection with the $1.8bn redevelopment of the Terminal Warehouse in Chelsea, New York.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Gregory Ressa

Other key lawyers:

Scott Kobak; Sasan Mehrara; Krista Miniutti; Whitney Salinas

Testimonials

‘STB’s real estate practice cannot be topped. With incredibly smart partners and a collaborative team with talented junior associates, Simpson is the one law firm I would trust to figure out a large and complicated transaction. Not only are they incredibly good at what they do, they anticipate issues before they even come up and make the entire process more seamless and efficient.’

‘Sas Mehrara’s technical capability and knowledge base makes him one of the top real estate partner’s in the industry.’

Key clients

Blackstone

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

Kaufman Astoria Studios

Work highlights

  • Advised Blackstone in connection with its $14.6bn recapitalization of BioMed Realty.
  • Advised Blackstone in connection with the acquisition of QTS Realty Trust by Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. and other long-term perpetual capital vehicles managed by Blackstone in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $10bn.
  • Advised Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT) in its acquisition of Home Partners of America (HPA), valuing the company at $6bn. BREIT’s investment in HPA is supported by its perpetual capital, enabling a truly long-term approach to the management of the properties.

Holland & Knight LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Joe Guay; Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz

Other key lawyers:

Stuart Saft; Margot Mendelson Hammond

Testimonials

‘Stuart Saft and his team have been reliable and responsive on all of our issues and concerns.’

 

Key clients

Elion Partners

Midtown Development LLC

Roadside Development

Iowa Public Employees Retirement System; Clarion Partners

Art Place at Fort Totten LLC- Parent is the Cafritz Foundation

Alto Funds

SL Green Realty Corp.

L+M Development

Northland Investment Corporation

Focus Brands LLC

Tavistock Development Company, LLC

Fisher Island Holdings

Work highlights

  • Advising Tavistock on Lake Nona, one of the largest mixed use developments in the country, Lake Nona, Florida, including the development of Disney’s new corporate campus.  
  • Advising Elion Partners on its industrial property acquisition and disposition in Washington and California.
  • Advising Midtown Development LLC with respect to its bid to re-develop Tropicana Field (the current home of the Tampa Rays) in St. Petersburg, Florida. Holland & Knight serves as lead counsel for a development that will result in a total investment of $3.8bn, including 8,000 residential units, retail, hotels and offices.

Latham & Watkins LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Gary E. Axelrod; Michael Haas; Michelle Kelban; Julian Kleindorfer

Other key lawyers:

Meghan Cocci; Justin Elliott; Mark Semotiuk; Rachel Bates

Testimonials

‘Michelle Kelban is smart, thoughtful and does a great job.’

‘Latham has a client-first mentality. Always seeing around corners and anticipating what’s next. Also a focus on adding value to clients through new business vs. just executing the deal at hand.’

‘Michael Haas and Justin Elliott are all-stars on the real estate team. Client-first, ownership mentality and commercial business judgement all stand out.’

Key clients

ACORE Capital

AGC Equity Partners

Apollo Global Real Estate Management

Ares Management

Ascendent Capital Fund LP

The Blackstone Group

Bridge Development Partners

Brookfield Asset Management

Work highlights

  • Representing Realty Income Corp. in its pending acquisition of VEREIT Inc. to create a combined real estate investment trust (REIT) valued at about $50bn.
  • Advising Highgate and Aurora in the purchase of DigitalBridge Group, Inc.’s Wellness Infrastructure business in a transaction valued at $3.2bn. The Wellness Infrastructure business is composed of a portfolio of more than 300 facilities across senior housing, skilled nursing, medical office buildings and hospitals.
  • Advised Stonepeak Partners L.P., an alternative investment manager focused on infrastructure-adjacent real estate, as the majority partner in a 97% / 3% programmatic joint venture with Stonemont Financial Group to acquire 10 newly-developed, pre-leased, build-to-suit Amazon AMZL last mile distribution centers located across 6 states.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

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.  

Practice head(s):

Harris B. Freidus; Peter E. Fisch

Other key lawyers:

Salvatore Gogliormella

Testimonials

‘Harris Freidus is superbly smart and experienced. He is a well of knowledge, always acts in utmost professionalism, and is extremely sensitive to addressing client issues. Harris also treats other side counsel and his clients’ counterparts with respect and always thinks a few steps ahead, to diffuse issues before they come up.’

Key clients

Apollo Global Management

CIM Group

Collegiate Asset Management Corp.

Covenant House, Inc

East Gold Holdings

Healthpeak Properties

Holiday Retirement

Work highlights

  • Advising the CIM Group in the refinancing of the Rockville Town Center residential/retail/hotel/parking complex in Rockville, Maryland.
  • Represented Healthpeak Properties, a healthcare REIT, in the sale of a portfolio of five independent living, assisted living and/or memory care facilities in Florida to Fortress Investment Group, and the sale of a continuing care retirement community in Santa Rosa, California, and the provision of seller financing, to Life Care Services.

Proskauer Rose LLP

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.

Other key lawyers:

Paul Polking; Sean Boulger; Keith Barnett

Testimonials

‘This team is thorough, responsive, knowledgeable and gets the job done.’

‘Sean Boulger is, I believe, the best real estate attorney in Boston, and has developed a reputation as being the best attorney in the specialty area of senior housing, though he works in other areas of real estate too.’

 

Key clients

Vornado

SL Green

Lendlease Development Inc.

NFL/NFL Media

Paramount Leasehold, L.P.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Extell Development

Hines Investments

AEW Capital Management

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

Campanelli Companies

John Hancock Life Insurance Co.

Carpenter & Company Inc.

Work highlights

  • Represented Vornado Realty Trust in a major lease transaction, involving about 800,000 square feet of office space, with a global technology company for the entire office component of the newly-redeveloped James A. Farley Building in the Penn Plaza district of Manhattan.
  • Represented Lendlease Development, Inc. in connection with the formation of a joint venture to acquire and develop a waterfront site in Greenpoint, Brooklyn as a major residential project.
  • Represented Carpenter & Company in its acquisition, development, joint venturing and financing of projects in New Orleans and Dallas, consisting of a luxury Four Seasons Hotel and managed residential condominiums.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

With offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, and supported by a vast international network, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is a trusted counsel for cross-border investments, securitized lending transactions and acquisition of office buildings, hotels and shopping centers. New York based Neil Rock chairs the global group alongside distinguished real estate partner Marco Caffuzzi. Los Angeles’ Peter Mair is another integral figure, as is Nancy Olson in Chicago, advising on REIT formation, financings, portfolio and single-asset acquisitions. 

Practice head(s):

Neil Rock; Marco Caffuzzi; Peter Mair; Nancy Olsen

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

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.  

Practice head(s):

Peter Irwin

Other key lawyers:

Nicole Levin Mesard; Edward Rishty

Key clients

Angelo, Gordon & Co.

ARK, The We Company’s investment platform

Avanath Capital Management

Breakthrough Properties

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Carmel Partners

Cohen Private Ventures

Elliott Investment Management

Global Atlantic Financial Group

JPMorgan Asset Management

Oaktree Capital Management

Stone Point

Third Point LLC

Tishman Speyer Properties

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Work highlights

  • Advising JPMorgan Asset Management in the ongoing development and related construction financing of multiple projects such as Lincoln Yards, a large-scale mixed use development project in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Advised Global Atlantic Group in the real estate aspects, including the acquisition of commercial mortgage loans, an $8bn annuity reinsurance transaction between two of its insurance subsidiaries and Ameriprise Financial insurance subsidiaries.
  • Represented CPP Investments in the formation of a programmatic joint venture between CPP Investments and affiliates of Greystar Real Estate Partners to pursue life sciences real estate development opportunities.

Goodwin

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. 

Practice head(s):

Minta Kay; Dean Pappas

Other key lawyers:

Jennifer Sung; Andy Sucoff

Key clients

Barings

BentallGreenOak

Brookfield

IQHQ

KHP Capital Partners

LBA Realty

Majestic Resorts

RPAI

Slate Asset Management

Work highlights

  • Advised a property investor as they formed a co-investment program with CPP Investments and GIC to acquire office assets across select U.S. markets.
  • Representing Slate Asset Management, a Canadian real estate fund, in buying the commercial real estate business of Annaly Capital management, Inc., a publicly traded REIT.
  • Represented LBA Realty in the recapitalization of a $1.6bn portfolio comprised of over 70 industrial properties with BCORE Albacore as new joint venture partner. The deal involved the recapitalization of two sub-portfolios, one of which was owned by LBA and the other was involved an existing joint venture with a sovereign entity.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Howard Schreiber; Laurie Grasso; Brett Gross

Other key lawyers:

Jeff Giese; Matt Scoville; Paul Greco

Testimonials

‘The greater Hunton Andrews Kurth team do an outstanding job of working as a team to leverage the internal expertise across practice groups.’

Key clients

Cove Property Group

Fairstead

L+M Development Partners

Office Properties Income Trust

Patrinely Group, LLC and USAA Real Estate Company, LLC

Pretium

RMR Group

Savanna

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation

Tishman Speyer

Work highlights

  • Represented Pretium in connection with the $440m sale of a multi-state single-family residential property portfolio, which will facilitate the wind down of their first credit fund. Also represented Pretium with a $300m acquisition of a single family residential property portfolios located in Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Represented Office Properties Income Trust with the acquisition of two office buildings located in Illinois and Georgia.
  • Represented Sonesta International Hotels Corporation in its acquisition of Red Lion Hotels Corporation. This acquisition will make Sonesta one of the largest hotel companies in the country.

Jones Day

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.

Practice head(s):

Robert Lee; Brian Sedlak

Testimonials

‘Strong ability to juggle multiple complex transactions at once. Excellent resources for specialized real estate topics.’

‘Expert knowledge technically and commercially. The team we have worked with have handled complex issues and have given us excellent counsel. They answer our call immediately when we need them, and they work exceptionally hard to accomplish our goals.’

Key clients

MARK Capital Management Limited

Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Henderson Park Capital Partners

Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated

LSC Communications, Inc.

Trammell Crow Residential

Navistar International Corporation

Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC

Georgetown University

Work highlights

  • Represented Henderson Park Capital Partners in its joint venture with South Street Partners and the joint venture’s acquisition and financing of Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre single family residential and resort community in South Carolina.
  • Represented Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in connection with an approximately $300m loan to affiliates of MetLife, Granite Properties and StreetLights Residential for the construction of a mixed use project in Atlanta, Georgia known as “Midtown Union.” The initial phase of the project includes a 615,000 square foot office tower, a 355 unit multifamily tower and 35,000 square feet of retail space.
  • Advised MCRT in deals comprised of 19 construction and term loans and a corporate credit facility; the formation of 10 joint ventures; and the acquisition and disposition of over 14 mixed-used communities throughout numerous states, including communities with affordable housing components.

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Based in New York, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is distinguished for its work in condominium financing and development. It is also noted for its representation of lenders, and institutional and foreign investors in acquisitions, investments and developments. Department chair Jay Neveloff, Daniel Ross Berman, and Nathalia Bernardo are among its key partners.

Practice head(s):

Jay Neveloff

Other key lawyers:

Daniel Ross Berman; Nathalia Bernardo

Testimonials

‘Their knowledge of joint venture agreements is extremely deep.’ 

Key clients

Amalgamated Bank

Amherst Capital Management

Broadview Real Estate Partners Fund, LP

CIM Group

DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners

Elysium Real Estate Partners

The Lombardy Hotel

Mitsui Fudosan America

The Nederlander Organization

New Valley

Related/Oxford’s Hudson Yards

Rockrose Development L.L.C.

Trinity Place Holdings Inc.

VICI Properties Inc.

Vornado Realty Trust

Zurich

Work highlights

  • Represented VIC Properties in origination of a $400m loan to a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. secured by a mortgage on the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.
  • Advised theater-industry client The Nederlander Organization in the sale and repositioning of its Times Square building at 1568 Broadway.
  • Represented Related/Oxford’s Hudson Yards as condominium counsel in connection with a 1.5 million square foot office lease to Facebook as part of our multi-year representation of Hudson Yards.

Mayer Brown

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. 

Practice head(s):

Brian Aronson

Other key lawyers:

Paul Meyer; Heather Adkerson; Jonathan Baker

Testimonials

‘Jonathan Baker, very profound and a great expert in real estate law. works 24/7 and always available for his clients.’

‘Mayer continues to offer an elite real estate practice with substantial breadth across relevant practice areas. The Chicago office is the heartbeat of the practice with Paul Meyer anchoring an experienced group of lawyers. Paul and Heather Adkerson have significant experience in the private equity real estate field and an ability to blend the needs of a private equity real estate practice with a real estate transactional practice.’

‘Paul Meyer has unmatched depth in the real estate transactional world. Paul represents a range of real estate actors and brings that perspective to each transaction. Paul remains a hands on practitioner and his attention to detail brings significant value to every transaction.

‘Heather Adkerson brings tremendous experience to every transaction. Heather has significant experience with representing private equity sponsors and understands the unique needs of these clients in executing real estate transactions.’

‘Jonathan Baker is a rising star in the practice. He brings a practical approach and calm demeanor to the most challenging transactions.’

‘MB is a tremendous firm – timely, cost-effective, smart, pragmatic.’

‘They have worked with our firm for decades and knows our business and processes. Tremendous group of lawyers.’

Key clients

3i Group plc

Bridge Health Inc.

Brookfield Infrastructure

Caesars Entertainment Corporation

CBIC, Inc.

The Dow Chemical Company

Envestnet, Inc

Equitrust Life Insurance Company

Goldman Sachs

Great Ajax Corp.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Industrial Outdoor Ventures

InterPark

Nestle S.A

Ready Capital Corporation

Sojitz Corporation

Wells Fargo Bank

Windsor Capital

Yum! Brands

Work highlights

  • Represented Nestlé SA in the $4.3bn sale of its North American bottled water business to private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners, LLC in partnership with Metropoulos & Co.
  • Represented a major investment bank in connection with the successful completion of a three-part plan of finance to support completion of construction by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group of the Brightline Florida passenger rail system from Miami to Disney World.
  • Represented a REIT client, as landlord, with approximately 500-600 new leases and/or amendments annually as well as all types of property management agreements and issues for its portfolio of 125 office buildings across 30 municipal markets.

Morrison Foerster

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.

Practice head(s):

Mark Edelstein; Thomas Fileti; Jeffrey Temple

Other key lawyers:

Christopher Delson; Lawrence Ceriello; Alex Walker; Phil Levine

Testimonials

‘Very deep experience in commercial real estate legal issues in this region.’

‘Phil Levine does a great job of providing context for his advice and helping to triage issues in terms of priority and risk/exposure.

Alex Walker has been extremely responsive and efficient.’

‘We look to the MoFo real estate practice to handle our complex land transactions because of the experience of its members and the firm’s breadth of practices. We have consistently felt our MoFo counsel have superior understanding of the transaction details and pivot points compared with the seller’s lawyers. In the MoFo real estate practice there is a high degree of sophistication on how deal terms will play out in practicality.

‘What makes the MoFo Real Estate Group shine is the quality of the personnel. Tom Fileti, as a senior partner, brings his years of experience to bear in negotiating complex real estate transactions. He has a feel for the industry norms and when variance from them is warranted and realistic. Tom is a key partner in getting the deal to the finish line, always with the knowledge to back up his positions and a low-key yet confident demeanor that the other parties respond positively to.

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 a foundation in the sale of 66 residential apartment complexes in San Diego for more than $1.1bn to Blackstone Group. This was one of the largest real estate transactions in San Diego County history and the proceeds from the deal will be used for charitable grants primarily in San Diego.
  • Represented a subsidiary of a real estate trust in connection with the $535m sale of HQ@First, a three-building office park in San Jose, California, wholly leased to Micron Technologies, to a subsidiary of the KKR Real Estate Select Trust fund.
  • Advised a REIT in connection with the definitive merger agreement under which the client will merge with and into Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (“IRT”), with IRT surviving as the continuing public company.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Gerard Walsh

Other key lawyers:

Dustin Calkins; Michael Liever; Marshall Brozost; Jacobus Machalow; Randolph Perry

Testimonials

‘Gerry Walsh and his team are smart, responsive and extraordinarily helpful and collaborative, which is no always the casein these situations.’

‘In my experience, a great law firm provides expertise in many aspects of the law. The vast majority of my experience may be with one lawyer or a small team, but the benefit of working with Orrick is that I can rely upon other partners for support across many legal aspects and specialties.’

‘Jacobus (Jack) Machalow has a rare background for many lawyers. He is able to synthesize complex issues and define them in business terms. He enables me to weight the risk and rewards of each major decision instead of encouraging my team to argue over theoretical legal issues. I consider Jack an extension of my team.’

‘Business minded attorneys that truly understand the ramifications of legal item’s impact on the continued execution of loans, acquisitions, and dispositions. Compared with other firms, a stronger grasp on the items, truly worthy of the fight.’

‘Personal connections beyond an intense and complicated workload. Dustin Calkins firmly sticks out in this category.’

‘Randolph Perry is a partner and our primary contact for acquisitions, dispositions and refinancing efforts and has the ability to clearly represent our interest and quickly get to an agreement without spending hours on points that are insignificant.’

Key clients

Blackstone

Lawrence Investments

Ideal Capital

Prometheus Real Estate Group

Urban Pacific Development Group

Lionel Partners

Zephyr Partners

Cirrus Real Estate Partners

Sage Hall Partners

Skylight Real Estate Partners

DWS/RREEF

Macquarie (formerly GLL Real Estate Partners)

Swift Real Estate Partners

University of California

PNC Bank

Stockbridge Capital Group

Bristol Group

Broadreach Capital Partners

Fortress Investment Group

BentallGreenOak

Green Cities Partners (formerly Gerding Edlen)

MacFarlane Partners

Clutter

Westbrook Partners

State Street Global Advisors

Gulf Islamic Investments

Nuveen

Work highlights

  • Representing Westbrook Partners on the $1+bn mixed-use development project at 706 Mission in the Yerba Buena arts and cultural district of San Francisco.
  • Advised Lawrence Investments, an investment firm owned by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, on the $345m acquisition of the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Nevada.
  • Advised a syndicate of Korean lenders on a $184m loan for the acquisition of the tenant’s interest in a ground lease with the City of Mountain View for an office building leased entirely to Google and a parking garage that is shared between the office building and the hotel located on the adjacent property.

Ropes & Gray LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

John Creedon; Dan Stanco

Other key lawyers:

David Djaha; David Kaye; Richard Gordet; Effie George Floyd

Testimonials

‘Ropes & Gray makes a tremendous effort to understand the unique ways our firm conducts business via joint ventures with third party operating partners and has been instrumental in crafting and advancing our robust legal documents for our joint ventures over many years.’

‘Richard Gordet and David Kaye, specifically, are essential partners to our real estate platform. Each has spent years advising our firm’s decision makers and have a unique familiarity with our robust documents, which they were instrumental in crafting.’

‘Expertise is something that everyone claims to have, but it isn’t a commodity. Ropes & Gray’s real estate practice has vast experience across every product and structure that gives us the comfort we need to manage our risk as we move across sectors, geographies, and structures in complex transactions.’

Key clients

Abrams Capital

ACORE

Allianz Real Estate

Angelo Gordon

Annaly Capital

Apollo Management

Bain Capital Real Estate

Baupost Group

BentallGreenOak

BidFair LTD.

BioMed

Blackstone

Brookfield Asset Management

Cohen & Steers

Colony Capital

Eaton Vance

First Atlantic Capital

Harbor Group

HIG Capital

JVP

Kayne Anderson

KKR

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

MSD Partners

Nan Fung

Oak Hill Advisors

Oaktree Capital Management

Partners Group

PIMCO

Related Fund Management

Siguler Guff

Tilden Park

TPG

Work highlights

  • Represented Blackstone in closing US$15bn in repurchase and secured credit facilities to finance Blackstone’s global commercial mortgage loan portfolio and originations.
  • Advised TRTX in a $1.25bn commercial real estate (CRE) collateralized loan obligation (CLO) offering, the fourth CRE CLO by TRTX and the largest of Q1 2021.
  • Advised Oaktree Capital Management as seller in closing approximately $1bn in repurchase facilities and note-on-note financings to finance Oaktree’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio and originations.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Paul Mattingly

Other key lawyers:

Robin Freeman; Daniel Evans; Catherine Burns; Cynthia Mitchell

Testimonials

‘The real estate team is excellent at project management and they consistently deliver on a high volume of complex transactions. They have broad expertise across a variety of asset classes in multiple geographies so we are able to engage them on deals across our US portfolio.’

‘Seyfarth Shaw has been an integral part of our team for many years. Their ability to work on locations across the US makes them a convenient “one stop shop” for our legal review of real estate documents.’

‘I’m always impressed with the Seyfarth team. They are thoughtful, punctual, responsive, and always keep protecting our best interests in mind as their client. ’

‘Seyfarth is a very well-equipped team. They are well resourced with a great, and well earned reputation, while also being very reasonable with their billings. They collaborate better than any other law firm I have worked with.’

Key clients

7-Eleven

Capri Urban Fund

Energy North Incorporated

Hammes Partners

LBA Realty

New York Life Insurance Company

Oliver St. Capital LLC

Slate Property Group

UC Regents

Work highlights

  • Represented LBA Realty in a $1.6bn recapitalization and financing of two industrial portfolios of 50+ total assets in eight states.
  • Represented Hammes Partners in a $605m sale of 29 medical office buildings in 12 states, including multiple loan assumptions.
  • Represented UC Regents in a $362m sale transaction of a trophy office building located in the prime Seaport District of Boston, Massachusetts.

Vinson & Elkins LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Paul Martin; Wallace Schwartz

Other key lawyers:

Randy Jurgensmeyer

Testimonials

‘Great firm and outstanding people. They are deal makers not deal breakers. Very sharp minds that think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complex situations/transactions.’

‘All the attorneys I have dealt with at this firm are through, yet efficient. They meet or exceed deadlines and actually have fun and promote levity in rather tenuous and/or boring situations.’

Key clients

Clarion Partners

CBRE Global Investors

CommonWealth Partners

CORE5 Industrial Partners

Crow Holdings Capital Partners

Daseke, Inc.

Enviva Development Holdings, LLC

Goldman Sachs

Hall Emery Real Estate, LLC/ JP Morgan Asset Management

Hillwood Properties

Innovo Property Group

JPMorgan Asset Management

SemGroup Corporation

Spear Street Capital

Stream Realty Partners

Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc.

Sunoco LP

Taconic Capital

Trammell Crow Company

Transwestern Investment Management

Tyr Energy, Inc.

Western Refining, Inc.

Woods Capital Management

7-Eleven, Inc.

The Georgetown Company

Prime Finance

Brand Atlantic

166 2nd LLC

Convene

iStar Inc.

The Related Companies

WPT Real Estate Investment Trust

Boston Properties

Rockpoint Group

Extell Development Company

Westbrook Partners

Fetner Properties

Axonic Capital LLC

Oxford Properties

Bridgemarket Associates, L.P.

Taconic Investment Partners

Joy Construction

East End Capital

Steel Equities

WeWork Companies LLC

Deerfield Management Company

Diamond Head Partners

Rubenstein Partners

Work highlights

  • Represented a joint venture of Goldman Sachs and Lincoln Harris in connection with the development and leasing of 3 new office towers in the Legacy Union development in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Represented Steel Equities in connection with a fifteen year, full building lease to Netflix Studios.
  • Representing The Related Companies and its partner China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. In the initial lease-up of the under-construction shopping center, forming a part of The Grand project which is transforming an entire square city block on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Michael Bond; Philip Rosen

Key clients

24 Hour Fitness Worldwide

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.

American Securities

Amherst Holdings, LLC

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.

Blackstone

Brookfield

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

CEC Entertainment, LLC

Churchill Capital Corp IV

Cold Creek Solutions, Inc.

Front Yard Residential Corporation

Genstar Capital

Goldman Sachs

HEI Hotels & Resorts

Island Capital Group

JZ Capital Partners

Lendlease Americas, Inc.

Lexington Hotel JV LLC

MGM Resorts International

Miami Waterfront Ventures Parent LLC

Monarch Alternative Capital

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Topgolf International, Inc.

TPG Global/TPG Real Estate

WeWork

Work highlights

  • Advising MGM Resorts International in the pending acquisition of MGM Growth Properties LLC, a leading publicly traded real estate investment trust, by VICI Properties Inc.
  • Advised Amherst Holdings, LLC in the formation of The Amherst Group, a data, analytic and research focused financial services holding company with expertise in the real estate, mortgage and related structured finance markets.
  • Advising JZ Capital Partners, together with Redsky Capital, LLC, a fully integrated acquiror, developer, owner and operator of urban real estate, in the approximately $1bn liquidation of a series of investment partnerships that owned, through private REITs, properties in Brooklyn and Miami.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Displaying ‘tremendous subject matter expertiseWillkie 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.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Henry; David Drewes; Krystyna Blakeslee

Testimonials

‘Tremendous subject matter expertise for complex transactions; always available; relentless work ethic – “24/7” mentality; individuals within the firm are always very pleasant and easy to work with from a client perspective – no outsized egos.’

 

Key clients

Access Industries Inc.

Aspen Skiing Company

Brookfield

Capital Senior Living Corporation

Centerbridge Partners

Choice Hotels International

CIM Real Estate Credit

Colony Capital

Column Financial, Inc. (Credit Suisse)

The Davis Companies

DiamondRock Hospitality, Inc.

Faropoint

Goldman Sachs

Harbor Group International (HGI)

Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd.

HIG Realty Partners

Hudson’s Bay Company

IO Data Centers LLC

Jiaming Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.

JP Morgan

Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies

Meadow Partners

Mesa West

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

MSD Capital

Natixis

Paramount Group, Inc.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Group (SMBC)

Washington Prime Group, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advised Brookfield Asset Management in its strategic partnership with King Street Properties, including an investment of approximately $1.5bn in equity capital towards King Street’s life science real estate pipeline.
  • Represented Harbor Group International, in connection with the $1.85bn billion purchase and related mortgage financing of a 36 multifamily property portfolio from Aragon Holdings.
  • Advised a Brookfield-sponsored private real estate fund in the closing of the acquisition of 34 senior living communities from HealthPeak Properties for $750m.

Akerman LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Eric Rapkin; Steven Polivy

Other key lawyers:

Richard Bezold; James McNeil

Testimonials

‘Good client rapport; deep team of talented attorneys’

‘Richard Bezold has orchestrated the firms talent in the most productive and cost effective manner to produce great results.’

‘They go above and beyond. They are very thorough and available whenever needed.’

Key clients

BMO Harris Bank

U.S. Bank

CIBC Bank

3650 REIT

Bank of America

Codina Partners

TruAmerica Multifamily

Swire Properties

Lock Up Self Storage

One Real Estate Investment

Work highlights

  • Represented financiers in closing a joint $94m financing, as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation to reopen the iconic Breakers Hotel & Spa in Long Beach, California.
  • Represented a U.S Bank in connection with $300m in loan originations for their entity loan program for private bank customers.
  • Advised the project sponsor in the development of one of the largest commercial leases in Downtown Miami, spanning 10 floors and 120,000 square feet.

ArentFox Schiff

ArentFox Schiff‘s sizeable bi-coastal team is spearheaded by Thomas Castiello and operates primarily from its Washington DC office, as well as from New York, Boston and San Francisco, supporting blue-chip clients in their investments and transactions across the U.S and internationally, including an increasing amount of US-bound investments from Europe and Latin America. Kenneth Jacob has a niche practice in master lease and management agreements, senior living properties and malls. Richard Brand divides his practice between Washington DC and San Francisco, and is recommended for sport and leisure related real estate work. Bryson Filbert and Lewis Goss comprise the other key partners in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Castiello

Other key lawyers:

Kenneth Jacob; Richard Brand; Bryson Filbert; Lewis Goss

Key clients

Fannie Mae

Washington Housing Conservancy

DSC Partners LLC

KeyBanc Capital Markets

Federal Capital Partners

Blackstone and Longview Senior Housing Advisors

Los Angeles Lakers

DLC Management Corporation

Buccini/Pollin Group and PM Hotel Group

Work highlights

  • Representing the Los Angeles Lakers, in a high-profile long-term lease extension with AEG, the owner of the Staples Center, ensuring that the historic team will remain in their downtown Los Angeles home arena through the 2041 season.
  • Represented Washington Housing Conservancy in its first acquisition, a transaction that will lead to the preservation and creation of 1,300 affordable homes in Arlington, Virginia.
  • Represented Federal Capital Partners in an acquisition of a 520-unit apartment community in Duluth, GA; a three-property multifamily portfolio in South Atlanta; and a two-property portfolio in South Atlanta.

BakerHostetler

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.

Practice head(s):

Robert Gebaide; Wendy Markham

Other key lawyers:

Michael Pappert

Key clients

Aaron’s, Inc.

American Homes 4 Rent

Beazer Homes Inc.

Birkenstock USA

CHEP USA

Chevron Products Company

Diamond Resorts

Five Below, Inc.

Greif, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Represented the national real estate developers and owners of a NFL franchise, in the acquisition of the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, along with soccer training facilities and the related business and land.
  • Advising a real estate investor on the ownership restructuring of 40 office buildings and projects across the U.S., owned by various investment funds controlled by the client.
  • Representing a bank in connection with the drafting, negotiation and implementation of a construction loan facility to finance the horizontal and infrastructure improvements and certain vertical improvements of a $1bn multi-phase master planned community project in Westchester, New York, comprised of an approximately 68-acre parcel of land.

Ballard Spahr LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Amy McClain

Other key lawyers:

Thomas Hauser; Tina Makoulian; Roger Winston; Bart Mellits

Testimonials

‘The Ballard Spahr attorneys we use have both outstanding legal expertise and deep industry knowledge of the business side of transactions.’

‘Tina Makoulian seamlessly blends commercial savvy and knowledge of the law.’

‘Ballard Spahr provides a first-tier practice with second-tier rates. Their team is highly responsive and practical, particularly, Roger Winston.’

‘Roger Winston is the quintessential trusted advisor to his clients. He cares deeply about the client’s success, demonstrated by follow-up, sharing of relevant legal developments and the like. He’s also a great person- highly trustworthy and reliable.’

Key clients

Wexford Science + Technology

Amtrak

The Philadelphia Navy Yard

Midwood Investment & Development

Exeter Property Group

Brevet Capital Management

The Morris Companies

Weller Development Company

New York City Housing Authority

CGA Capital, LLC

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Wasatch Peaks Ranch Development, LLC

Work highlights

  • Working with Wexford Science & Technology for the development of One uCity Square in Philadelphia. One uCity Square will be a 15-story building with office and research and development laboratory space, as well as ground floor retail and an approximately 32,000 square foot public plaza that will serve as the central square for the larger uCity development.
  • Advising the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation in connection with its procurement of a master developer for the redevelopment of two large tracts of property on land acquired by the client from the United States Navy.
  • Advised a client in the acquisition and financing of a five building industrial portfolio in Houston, Texas.

Clifford Chance

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.

Practice head(s):

Ness Cohen

Other key lawyers:

Eddie Frastai; Jeanne Roig-Irwin

Testimonials

‘Consistently excellent advice and service. Dealmakers and solution driven attorneys that do not get hung up on minutiae. While I am sure they are handling many matters at once, you never feel like your work is not a priority.’

‘Ness Cohen is wickedly smart and sharp. He has a unique ability to focus on the real issues at hand and boil them down which helps greatly to solving what may seem at first an impossible problem or one that seems zero sum. Ness does a great job leading matters and bringing in needed talent.’

‘Clifford Chance is best in class across the board. In addition to their expert core teams, they also bring tax, regulatory and industry specialists to each deal to provide comprehensive support and advice. They are very collaborative and thoroughly understand our firm’s strategy and culture which leverage to tailor their work to our needs preemptively.’

‘All of the legal professionals at Clifford Chance are super responsive and proactive at driving communications. The team has never missed a request and does a great job of providing timely status updates. I also appreciate that Clifford Chance professionals bring an informed opinion to the table and do their best to provide immediate advice or indicators while letting you know their plan to fully vet the issue.’

Key clients

Almanac Realty Investors

Amherst Residential

Deutsche Finance Group

Safra Group

Madison International Realty, LLC

National Storage Affiliates Trust

ReNew REIT LLC

Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC

New York Life Insurance Company

YES Communities, LLC

Rescore Property Corp.

Work highlights

  • Advised Almanac Realty Investors, the private real estate investment arm of Neuberger Berman, in connection with three transactions totalling up to $1bn, including the structuring and formation of a joint venture real estate platform with Davlyn Investments focused on multifamily assets.
  • Advised Yes! Communities, LLC, a private REIT and the largest private owner and operator of manufactured housing communities on the acquisition of 49 manufactured housing communities, and the acquisition through various subsidiaries, of 28 properties, including 27 manufactured home communities and one multifamily apartment, in six states.
  • Represented Deutsche Finance Group on a joint venture and structuring relating to the acquisition and financing of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid office tower in San Francisco as well as two neighboring properties from Transamerica and its parent company, Aegon.

Cooley LLP

Cooley LLP is a prominent name in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC real estate market, demonstrated with its involvement on The Wharf mixed-use development. John Lavoie represents both institutional and individual landlords and tenants involved in major lease transactions, data center leasing and development and corporate headquarters projects, particularly around the Mid-Atlantic region. Michelle Garcia Schulman is another key partner for acquisitions, leasing and financing. Both individuals are based in Reston.

Practice head(s):

John Lavoie

Other key lawyers:

Michelle Schulman

Testimonials

‘My experience has solidly positive. Each counsel I’ve had the pleasure of working with has been a keen trusted business advocate for our company. They communicate well – often and concisely and are friendly and are of good character. They seem to be a higher tiered shop and certainly are able to leverage the newest technologies available today.’

Key clients

goPuff

Sherwood Tysons LLC – Koons Tysons

Falls Church, VA – West Falls / PN Hoffman

Tenable

Neustar

The Wharf / PN Hoffman

Leidos

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

Oncorus

AppHarvest

Work highlights

  • Advised goPuff on the acquisition of BevMo’s real estate assets, which included 161 neighborhood stores located throughout California, Arizona and Washington.
  • Representing Neustar in the 100,000 sf lease and headquarters relocation in Reston, VA, as well as multiple other sites in San Francisco, CA and Englewood, CO.
  • Represented Leidos in its new lease of 100,000 RSF in Reston Town Center, an expansion of the current space, with Boston Properties, which is directly adjacent to their headquarters, alongside other ongoing matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson

California-based Cox, Castle & Nicholson provides the full gamut of real estate support to developers, lenders, investors, landlords and tenants. Its Los Angeles team includes senior partner Ira Waldman, an expert in property acquisition and development; land use and planning partner, Andrew Fogg, and Amy Wells, a recommended counsel for institutional investors. The team in San Francisco features land use and environmental law specialists Michael Zischke and Margo Bradish among its team.

Practice head(s):

Ira Waldman; Andrew Fogg; Amy Wells; Michael Zischke; Margo Bradish

Key clients

Taylor Morrison Home Corporation

Beechwood Owners Group

Aspect Health, formerly Maplewood Healthcare

Cohen Goldstein Investment Strategies

County of Ventura

Ameresco

MI San Luis Ranch LLC

Work highlights

  • Assisted Taylor Morrison in the closing of multiple projects in Texas, Georgia, Arizona and California as part of its land bank facility, and will continue to advise and represent Taylor Morrison in future land bank and joint venture transactions with Varde Partners.
  • Advised The Beechwood Owners Group, on all matters in connection with the contemplated development of the Beechwood project in the City of Paso Robles, California. The Beechwood Project will include the construction of 911 residential units, including at least 150 multi-family residential units; commercial/mixed-use development, and over 20 acres of open space.
  • Advised Cohen Golstein Investment Strategies on redeveloping nearly a full city block immediately adjacent to a new subway station being constructed at La Brea/Wilshire in the City of Los Angeles.

Dentons

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.

Practice head(s):

Linda White

Other key lawyers:

Todd Stennes; Amber Morris

Key clients

The Blackstone Group

Equity Resources, LLC

LIV Development, LLC

Sterling Bay Company

Heitman Capital Management

VanTrust Real Estate

Landmark Properties, Inc.

Riverside Investment and Development

Clarion Partners

Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advising in the $650m renovation of Willis Tower.
  • Advising LIV Developments in the acquisition and development of multiple parcels of land in the Southeast US for the development of $832m in Class-A, multifamily and senior housing projects in with an aggregate of 3,000 units.
  • Advising an energy company on real estate matters for the development of more than $4bn in renewable energy projects, most recently in connection with the 200 MW Plymouth Wind Project and 100 MW Contrail Wind Project, both of which are located in Iowa.

Eversheds Sutherland

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. 

Practice head(s):

Victor Haley

Other key lawyers:

John Busillo; Clayton Howell; James Jordan; Mark Benjamin; David Reid

Testimonials

‘Willingness to adopt and utilize its client technology. Close collaboration with clients. Diversity of team- many women in senior roles.’

‘Jim Jordan is extremely competent, thinks through issues and develops solutions. He always meets our timelines and schedule, often dictated by other parties. He also has a pleasant personality and is nice to work with.’

‘We work with the Timberland team. Timberland is a unique asset class and requires specialized knowledge. ES is the best in this space.’

‘Victor Haley leads the team and is quick to connect us with the right person on the team for the project. His long term industry knowledge is first in class.”

‘Eversheds’ team is uniquely qualified in (i) the talent of their team, from top to to bottom, and (ii) their practical and pragmatic approach and understanding of our industry.

‘The Eversheds team is responsive and engaged and provides a good balance of understanding legal issues and business issues in their transactional practice.’

Key clients

Hines

T5 Data Centers

Work highlights

  • Advising Hines the development of the Fenton project, a $300m mixed-use project in the Research Triangle of North Carolina; the Finery project, a transformative mixed-use project in an Opportunity Zone in Nashville, Tennessee; and FAT Village, the development of a $300m mixed-use project in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and a joint venture for industrial development project in Tampa.
  • Advising a major software company on various acquisitions and development transactions, including data center projects, throughout the southeast United States such as the notable assemblage of over 90 acres of land on the Westside of Atlanta, for the development of a new corporate campus.

Herrick, Feinstein LLP

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.  

Practice head(s):

Belinda G. Schwartz

Other key lawyers:

Karol Robinson; Brett Gottlieb; Mitchell Korbey; Patrick O’Sullivan Jr; Jonathan Adelsberg, Michael Smith

Testimonials

‘Depth of services provided within and outside of the Real Estate practice is impressive.’

‘Attention to detail and responsiveness by all level team members is unmatched.’

Key clients

Crescent Sky Capital

DH Property Holdings

Empire State Realty Trust

Extell Development

J.P. Morgan Chase

L&M Development Partners Inc.

Macklowe Company and Senlac Ridge Partners

Madison International Realty

Migdal Insurance Company Ltd. & Menora Mivtachim Insurance Ltd.

Wells Fargo

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 U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles, California for a purchase price of $430m.
  • Represented co-counsel in the successful zoning litigation involving their development of the luxury high rise 200 Amsterdam when a neighborhood coalition of Upper West Side residents and politicians challenged the Department of Building’s approval of the project and two approvals by the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals.
  • Advised William Macklowe Company on the acquisition by WMC and Senlac Ridge Partners of a development property at 120 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Husch Blackwell LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Caroline Hermeling

Testimonials

‘The firm provides a high touch at a relatively low cost. Husch Blackwell provides an extremely high level of service on par with the best firms in the country.’

‘The individual attorneys I work with at Husch Blackwell are the most business oriented lawyers I work with. I trust them completely with my work.’

‘The extent of the Real Estate team’s knowledge and experience is a strength that I consider to be unparalleled.’

‘This firm is a true business partner. They not only deliver tremendous legal service, but also are eager to work with us on alternative billing, diversity and technology.’

Key clients

National Storage Affiliates

City of Anaheim, California/Angel Stadium

City of Fresno, California/Fresno Grizzlies

Union Pacific

Diode Ventures

GaleHart Communities

EPC Real Estate Group

Mac Properties

Hillyard Industries

MGE Capital LLC

Rockhurst University

Northwestern University

Clayco, Inc.

Raven Development

Western Union

Great Rivers Greenway District

Pearl Capital Management

TE Connectivity

Fiserv

Work highlights

  • Represented Diode Ventures in the development of a technology campus called Golden Plains, which will be a high-end, multifacility data center.
  • Represented Raven Development in the acquisition of an approximately $3.5bn, 5,000-acre mixed-use development consisting of residential, commercial, a golf course, a ski resort and lodge, and other amenities in Granby, Colorado.
  • Represented Western Union in the transfer of more than 25 properties associated with a M&A transaction.

Katten

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.

Practice head(s):

Timothy Little

Other key lawyers:

Alvin Katz; David Dlugie; Mark Simon

Key clients

Artimus Construction

Blue Vista Capital Management LLC

Brookfield Properties Retail

Brooklyn Gold SPE LLC

BRP Development Corp.

Citigroup

Douglaston Development

L&M Development Partners and Toll Brothers, Inc.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Morgan Stanley

Work highlights

  • Represented an investment company with respect to the acquisition and development of multiple luxury multifamily and student housing projects located in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio and Arizona.
  • Advised Douglaston Development in ground leasing more than one acre of land off of Webster Avenue in the Bronx, New York, from the New York Botanical Garden.
  • Represented a major investment bank in connection with a senior secured loan in the amount of $147.6m to Asana Partners secured by multiple properties in five states.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Anita Famili Sabine; Michael Polentz

Other key lawyers:

Ted Hunter

Testimonials

‘Their strength is that at least one partner has a broad range of knowledge about the real estate space, including transactional and regulatory aspects of it.’ 

Key clients

Avanath Capital Management

HG Vora Capital Management LLC

Jay Paul Company

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Lowe

Meta (fka Facebook)

Pacific Equity Properties, Inc.

PBF Energy

The Macerich Company

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (fka Westfield)

Urban Catalyst

Work highlights

  • Advised the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in its plans to design and construct its new main museum campus, largely designed by renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.
  • Advised Jay Paul Company in its $62 million purchase of 1011 and 1017 Springdale Road, two parcels of undeveloped land (30 acres in the aggregate) in Austin, Texas.
  • Advised PBF Energy, one of the largest independent petroleum refiners and suppliers of transportation fuels, heating oil and other petroleum products, on its ground leasing of approximately 60 acres in Torrance, California.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

James Rishwain

Other key lawyers:

Paul Shapses; Andrew Weiner; Emily Bias

Testimonials

‘Great old school team with fabulous understanding of the NY RE market.’

‘Andrew Weiner. A must for anyone new in the Manhattan RE jungle’

Key clients

Shorenstein

Klövern AB

Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB)

Pacific Gas & Electric

Shorenstein

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Prima Capital Advisors LLC

Daishin

Three Wall Capital

Weller Development Company

BC One Congress Tower Owner LLC

Work highlights

  • Represented Daishin, one of Korea’s largest investment banks in three significant New York investments; a majority joint venture interest in the redevelopment of the last undeveloped property on the 42nd Street corridor in Manhattan’s Times Square; acquisition of a majority joint venture interest in the development of a luxury condominium on 77th Street and West End Avenue and the acquisition of an office building located on Madison Avenue.
  • Assisted Three Wall Capital in closing of joint venture acquisition of The Lexington Hotel at 511 Lexington Avenue.
  • Representing PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the relocation of its headquarters from San Francisco to Oakland.

Polsinelli PC

Polsinelli PC has a strong presence in the Midwestern real estate market, coupled with a strong track record handling sophisticated transactions and developments across the country. In Chicago, Eric Greenfield has a specialty in development and financing for student housing, public-private partnerships, senior housing, office, entertainment and education complexes. Benefiting from her Denver location, national practice chair Amy Kiefer Hansen specializes in resort and hospitality assets, in addition to her diverse transactional and private equity practice. Korb Maxwell in Kansas City is another key partner. 

Practice head(s):

Amy Kiefer Hansen

Other key lawyers:

Korb Maxwell; Eric Greenfield

Testimonials

‘Amy Hansen is without a doubt the best attorney we have ever worked with. She acts as our liaison to Polsinelli. She understands our needs and then assembles the right team within the firm to address the specific need. Everything from real estate, M&A, environmental, construction law, etc.’

‘Excellent team. Always available when time is of the essence. They put the appropriate team member forth for each task.’

 

Shearman & Sterling LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Malcolm Montgomery

Other key lawyers:

Lisa Brill

Testimonials

‘Deep bench of hard-working, smart talent. Great commercial attorneys.’

‘Very commercial, practical, outcomes-oriented partner. Hard-working, smart and pragmatic.’

‘Shearman and Sterling acts as a dream and I find a pretty seamless approach from real estate to tax to ERISA etc. It always feels like a firm rather than a collection of independent contractors. This is very much a service oriented form where the client comes first. The attorneys I rely on are always available and responsive.’

‘Lisa Brill is a terrific real estate lawyer and advisor. Lisa is completely dedicated to her clients and provides exemplary service.’

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

Protective Life Insurance Company

Medici Land Governance

Work highlights

  • Represented Citibank, as administrative agent, in connection with $2bn in credit facilities for Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, with an accordion feature allowing the facilities to be increased by $1 billion and the option to treat the additional funds as an incremental term loan.
  • Represented Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as administrative agent in connection with the restructuring of $1.015bn in syndicated senior revolving credit and term loan facilities for Summit Hotel Properties.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Nancy Scull; Keith Garner

Other key lawyers:

Pamela Westhoff

Key clients

Landsea Homes Corporation

HomeFed

Surgalign

Save Mart

Mesa Canyon Community Partners, Lennar Homes, Shea Homes

Lincoln Property Company and Bridge Investment Group

Technicolor USA

Public Data Center REIT

The Related Companies

Castle & Cooke NJ, LLC

Montefiore Medical Center

Oxford Capital Group, LLC

MPF Oxford Thompson Property LLC

Godfrey Detroit PropCo LLC

Continental DTLA LLC

Oxford Portland Leaseco LLC

Dana Hotel LLC

Allstate Insurance Company and American Heritage Life Insurance Company

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company

West 87 LP

Integrated Development Group II

Artisan Partners

Kraft Heinz Foods Company

CIBC Bank USA

PHRM Holdings

Heartland Bank

Work highlights

  • Represented Landsea Homes Corporation, in a number of acquisitions including 306 homesites to create the new community Ellis Town and Country in Tracy, CA, 128 homesites to create the new community, Lavender, in Sunnyvale, CA, and the Alameda Marina master-planned community.
  • Represented a joint venture of Lincoln Property Company and Bridge Investment Group in negotiating a large ground lease with the Port of Vancouver in an Opportunity Zone to serve as the basis for a commercial mixed-use development which will exceed 750,000 square feet.
  • Advising Save Mart Supermarkets in connection with a $1bn + sale-lease back transaction involving a portfolio of over 65 properties throughout California and Nevada.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP‘s real estate department includes a focused government real estate group which advised Easterly Government Properties on the $635m acquisition of a 10-property multi-state portfolio. Preeminent attorneys Jeffrey Keitelman and Brian Diamond are well known in the New York and Washington DC market. Kim Pagotto in Washington DC is distinguished for government real estate matters. The firm routinely acts for major US and international developers, funds and asset managers on acquisitions, developments and leasing mandates.

Practice head(s):

Brian Diamond; Jeff Keitelman

Other key lawyers:

Kim Pagotto

Key clients

UBS Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners

Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)

Bank of America, N.A.

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

CBRE Global Real Estate Investors

Alony Hetz Properties & Investments Ltd.

The Meridian Group

Carr Properties

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Columbia Property Trust

Easterly Government Properties

USAA Real Estate

Morgan Stanley

Beacon Capital Partners

Boyd Watterson Asset Management

LaSalle Investment Management

Tishman Speyer Properties

Starwood Capital Group

Silverstein Properties

Pfizer, Inc.

Skanska CDUS

Verizon Communications

Piedmont Office Realty Trust

Work highlights

  • Represented a real estate investment company in its $3.4bn acquisition by Equity Commonwealth.

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

2021 saw Sullivan & Worcester LLP continue to expand its bench strength and capabilities in mixed-used development with the addition of Jennifer Schultz from Goodwin to the Boston-based team in February. Schultz advises on purchases and sales, permitting, abutter and reciprocal easement agreements. The firm outlined the greater Boston area as its target market and focuses on developments involving life science/lab, office, mixed-use, market rate housing, student and affordable housing. Karen Kepler acts for for-profit and non-profit organizations, financial institutions and quasi-public agencies in HUD and Fannie Mae-financed developments. Ashley Brooks is another key partner. 

Practice head(s):

Ashley Brooks

Other key lawyers:

Karen Kepler; Jennifer Schulz

Key clients

Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC)

WinnCompanies

Eastern Bank

Boston Private Bank & Trust n/k/a Silicon Valley Bank

Skanska Commercial Development USA

Beacon Capital Partners

IQHQ

Columbia Property Trust

FoxRock Properties

Wentworth Institute of Technology

CenterCourt Partners

The Flatley Company

Work highlights

  • Representing Beacon Capital in the permitting and development of the first phase of their life science campus in the South Boston Marine Park. Phase 1 is a 380,000 square foot lab/office building.
  • Representing the Flatley Company in the redevelopment of a 25+ acre site in Charlestown, MA that was home to the historic Domino Sugar factory and includes nearly an acre of waterfront along the Mystic River; full development will be nearly two million square feet.
  • Representing Skanska in the redevelopment of the six-acre Simmons Residential Campus in the Fenway/LMA neighborhood of Boston; full redevelopment will be approximately 1.8 million square feet.

Thompson Hine LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Coyne

Other key lawyers:

Darrel Davison; Robert Curry

Testimonials

‘Highly experienced real estate team. Their experience and knowledge have helped us “short cut” getting up to speed as a start up real estate fund sponsor. They have really worked with us as partners and have been generous with their time.’

Key clients

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Bank of China

SITE Centers

Brookfield Asset Management/Brookfield Properties (formerly Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.)

Pratt & Whitney

RPT Realty

KeyBank

Peppertree / K2 / Blue Sky

Ackermann Group

Eaton Corporation

Work highlights

  • Representing a financial institution in a $40m mixed use multi-family project with historic tax credits and new market tax credits.
  • Advising Raytheon Technologies Corp., through its Pratt & Whitney Division on billion-dollar development project in Asheville, North Carolina, including negotiation of Master Development Agreement with Biltmore Farms LLC.
  • 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.

Winston & Strawn LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Paul Walker; Andrew White; Billie Ellis

Other key lawyers:

Elizabeth Walker

Testimonials

‘All members of the team work very well together and are able to complement each others skills. highly effective team.’

‘The WS real estate lawyers with whom I’ve worked, consistently demonstrate an outstanding understanding both of the law and the business exigencies that drive deals. They are pragmatic, results-oriented professionals.’

‘Billie Ellis is a nationally recognized expert in the field of real estate law. His extensive experience, coupled with an extraordinarily bright mind, makes his assistance un-equalled. ’

‘Very responsive, able to bring in colleagues from other areas of the firm to address questions in an efficient manner.’

Key clients

Atlas Capital LLC

REfocus Real Estate, LLC

Arbor Investments/DPI Specialty Foods, Inc.

NexPoint Advisors, L.P.

Goldman Sachs & Co.

Priderock Capital Partners, LLC

Work highlights

  • Represented REfocus Real Estate, LLC in connection with a joint venture that acquired eight (8) student housing properties totalling 5,416 beds across the U.S.
  • Acted for NexPoint Advisors, L.P. and certain affiliates in connection with loans totalling approximately $512m from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for NexPoint’s acquisition of Jernigan Capital, Inc. and future growth of NexPoint Storage Partners.
  • Advised Atlas Capital LLC in connection with the acquisition and financing of retail and mixed-use projects located in Baldwin Hills, Carson, Eagle Rock and Pasadena, California.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

John Bain; Marc Epstein

Key clients

CorePoint Lodging

Entertainment Properties Group

IPI Data Center Partners Management, LLC

Iron Point Partners

Work highlights

  • Representing CorePoint Lodging Inc. in the execution of a national disposition program which is focused on strengthening CorePoint’s hospitality portfolio.
  • Advised a private equity fund in (i) the acquisition and leasing of six for-profit schools located in California, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for approximately $140m; (ii) the financing of the properties for around $71m; and (iii) the negotiation of multiple joint venture agreements relating to the transaction.
  • Advising a private equity fund on a $150m raw land acquisition in Loudoun County, Virginia on which the fund plans to construct, finance and lease out a minimum of 6 additional data center facilities.

Arnold & Porter

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.

Practice head(s):

Jeffrey Kapner; Amy Rifkind; Steve Gliatta

Key clients

Greenfield Partners

AWH Partners

Timberline Real Estate Partners

Blackstone Real Estate

Grandview Partners

Moinian Group

Snell Properties

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Greystar Real Estate Partners

Sanofi

Walker & Dunlop

Marx Realty

American Real Estate Partners

Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

Fivesquares Development

Stonebridge Associates, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Represented Greenfield in connection with the sale of two office buildings located in Sparks, Maryland as part of a larger office building portfolio.
  • Represented Greenfield in the multi-phased sale of a new industrial park (referred to as the Elk Grove technology park) to their joint venture partner Brennan Investment Group with whom the client bought, developed and sold various parcels.
  • Represented Host Hotels and Resorts in connection with the $610m acquisition of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

Baker Botts L.L.P.

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.

Practice head(s):

Connie Simmons Taylor

Other key lawyers:

Jon Dunlay

Testimonials

‘The team at Baker Botts that I’ve worked with has a fundamental understanding of the legal and business risk points of our organization. They act as an additional safeguard and protector of our firm. The team helps to seek out practical business solutions around complex risk issues.’

‘The team that I have worked with is readily available, understands our broad organizational structure, goals, and break points. I have valued their candid feedback and pragmatic approach to challenges.’

‘Baker Botts’ Real state Department is unique due to the ultra client responsiveness and pragmatic veteran real estate deal lawyers who are pragmatic and even-keeled.’

‘Jon Dunlay is the most senior lawyer in the department and a true gentlemen lawyer who prides himself on getting deals done in an efficient and reasonable manner. His responsiveness is unmatched by any other attorney I have worked with in the past. ‘

‘Connie Taylor is another fantastic attorney with deep expertise in the retail asset class as well as general real estate deal work.’

Key clients

Hines

Hunt Realty Investments, Inc.

Boardwalk Investments Group, LLC

Hines

Hunt Realty Investments, Inc.

Boardwalk Investments Group, LLC

Brown Rudnick LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

Thomas Phillips

Other key lawyers:

Kevin Joyce; Thomas Regan

Testimonials

‘Very strong business partners. Understand that they are supporting a business transaction as well as providing outstanding technical legal support.’

‘Thomas Phillips is an outstanding transactional attorney with tremendous business sense. Very responsive. His reputation within the broader legal and business community is very strong and you will get nods of appreciation from counsel for other parties when they learn Tom is supporting your deal.’

‘We use Brown Rudnick for retail leasing work, including new leases, disputes and lease amendments. They are very smart, thorough and pragmatic. They embrace our goals on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. They are true experts in retail leasing and that is what drew us to them in the first place. We have found them excellent at many other real estate topics as well.’

‘Tom Phillips – He is very smart, very thorough and works very hard to meet our business objectives – in terms of result and of timing. He knows the market so well, that works to our advantage over and over.’

Key clients

AT&T

Clay Ventures, LLC

GCP Applied Technologies Inc.

L3 Harris Technologies

McGovern Automotive Group

Plymouth Industrial REIT

Primark

Puma North America, Inc.

Saracen Properties

St. John Knits

Staples

Ulta Beauty

Wagamama

Westbrook Partners

Westport Capital Partners / Condyne Capital Partners

iStar Financial / Safehold Inc.

DivcoWest

Black Creek Capital

UrbanMeritage

BAU Advisors

Generator Freehand Hotels, a subsidiary of Queensgate Investment

Work highlights

  • Representing Irish retailer Primark in its growth and expansion in the U.S.
  • Represented Westbrook Partners in a complicated bifurcation and purchase of a 263,000 sq. ft. food manufacturing and abutting office condominium facility in Chelsea, MA from Signature Breads.
  • Represented a subsidiary of Queensgate, a private equity real estate fund manager, on refinancing of $54m debt of the US Assets of Generator Group, a hostels platform that owns, operates, and develops accommodation across Europe and North America.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s real estate practice focuses on real estate acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financings, and restructurings. Steven Wilner regularly acts on behalf of financial institutions, corporations and sovereign wealth funds on investment and financing matters. Joseph Lanzkron is another key contact. Both individuals are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Steven Wilner

Other key lawyers:

Joseph Lanzkron

Testimonials

‘Joseph Lanzkron is top notch’

‘Deep bench of capable lawyers who seamlessly hand off to one another.’

 

Key clients

Argent Ventures

Axar Capital

Brookfield Asset Management

Brookfield Residential

Transamerica

Wafra

Madison Capital

Island Capital

Monarch Alternative Capital

Work highlights

  • Represented Brookfield Residential in connection with the strategic acquisition of Newland, and its 5% General Partner’s equity interest in 15 active master-planned communities.
  • Advised Monarch Alternative Capital in a joint venture with Madison Capital in connection with the acquisition of bonds issued by All Year Holdings, secured by the William Vale hotel in Brooklyn, New York.
  • Represented Brookfield Asset Management in the Chapter 11 restructuring of a major publicly traded hospitality REIT and its operating partnership.

Dickinson Wright PLLC

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.

Practice head(s):

Michael Lusardi

Other key lawyers:

Monica Labe; John Cameron

Testimonials

‘Collaboration within the entire real estate team to assist our firm is outstanding. The real estate team is a group of very talented attorneys who can handle anything from a simple sale of a property to the most complicated acquisitions, leases, subleases, site developments, and property conditions that I have ever dealt with. Dickinson Wright has an expert for every field.’ 

‘Monica Labe – great team leader, great attorney, and very caring and responsive to our firm’s needs.’

‘Michael Lusardi – like family, great attorney, personable, dedicated, meticulous with regard to problem properties and resolving the issues at hand. ‘

‘Dickinson Wright has an excellent and deep bench of lawyers who provide prompt and efficient service at reasonable rates. The firm is integral to the success of our real estate transactions.’

‘Monica Labe and Michael Lusardi, provide excellent legal service, great attention to detail, and quick turnaround of work product. I trust their work product, and enjoy working with everyone on the team.’

Key clients

Stellantis (f/k/a FCA US LLC – Fiat Chrysler)

City of Mesa, Arizona

Invenergy LLC

Greystone Servicing Company/Arbor Agency Lending/Pinnacle Bank

Kaufman Development

RockBridge Capital

Lument, Inc.

D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, Ranger Power

Work highlights

  • Advised Stellantis on the negotiation of an agreement between Stellantis and the City of Toledo for the City to sell Stellantis a large piece of property adjacent to Stellantis’ existing Stickney Avenue plant. The $23m project will involve the construction of a new 250,000 square foot facility to support Jeep production in the area with hundreds of new jobs.
  • Advising the City of Mesa, Arizona in a pair of separate transactions to promote downtown redevelopment in the City; negotiating and assisting with documentation that included the purchase contract, a development agreement, a perpetual parking easement in favor of the City, and an economic incentive lease that grants a statutory real property tax abatement for eight years.

K&L Gates

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.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Norton; Shannon Skinner

Testimonials

‘They provide direct and very easy access to the partner in charge of the engagement.’

‘There is a consistent attention to detail and more often than not, foresight that has helped guide my practice but also the business teams I have worked with. I also love that there is always at least one female on the team– diversity is a staple, not an afterthought. The caliber of work provided has always been exceptional, and I trust their direction deeply. They make it easier on their clients because it’s clear that they really care.’

‘K&L Gates Seattle are experts all matters involving commercial real estate transactions and redevelopment.’

‘Shannon Skinner’s land use, real estate transaction expertise, and skills in writing agreements that protect and benefit the interest of the community are invaluable.’

Key clients

South Street Partners, LLC

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Refuel Operating Company, LLC

KB Asset Management

IGIS Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Tiger Asset Management Investment Advisory

Meritz Alternative Investment Management

International produce and plant traits developer

An American life insurance company

Carnegie Mellon University

Hershey Foods

Work highlights

  • Representing South Street Partners in the development of a joint venture project with Salamander Hospitality in Middleburg, VA of 49 high-end residences as a part of the Salamander Resort and Spa.
  • Advised IGIS Asset Management on the negotiation of the acquisition of a 49% limited partner interest in the Midtown Center building located at 1100 15th Street in Washington, D.C., the largest D.C. real estate transaction since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
  • Represented the lender in a $250m acquisition debt for an office building in Seattle, WA.

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

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. 

Practice head(s):

David Szeker

Other key lawyers:

Darwin Huang

Testimonials

‘They take a very commercial and practical approach to legal issues. And they are very dedicated to getting a job well done.’

‘Darwin Huang take a very commercial and practical approach in handling and resolving legal issues and matters. He always put the client first, even accommodating for calls at odd hours of the day 7 days a week.’

‘Darwin Huang – simply excellent. Darwin was available at all times of the day and his response time was extremely short. ’

‘I have spent a significant amount of time working with Darwin Huang across several transactions. He is the hardest working attorney I have had the privilege to work with and is always available to answer his client’s questions or walk through issues. Additionally, he knows his limits and brings other resources at his firm into a situation whenever it is needed.’

‘The Kasowitz real estate group lead by Darwin Huang and David Szeker are some of the brightest attorneys and advisors that truly understand our business. Each attorney, from juniors to the partners, are committed to our needs and the pressure points in the way our investments works. The advice and value they provide reaches far beyond legal issues and is evident in their approach in problem solving and negotiations. The ability to balance the legal considerations with the on-the ground implications is what sets the Kasowitz group apart.’

‘Darwin Huang is our primary attorney on all our complex transactions. I have never met or worked with anyone as hard working as Darwin, every message or email is answered right away. He is a valuable member of our team and critical to the tremendous growth we have had in the last decade.’

‘Darwin Huang – extremely focused on your project and wants to understand our objectives so that he can match that in the documentation – he is a deal maker not a deal killer – always available at any time of the day or week.’

Key clients

Starwood Property Trust

JDS Development

SL Green

Axonic

iStar

GFI Capital

Cottonwood Management

Quinlan Development Group

L&L Holding

Icon Realty Management

Young Nian Group

Haven Capital

Maefield Development

Nostalgic Partners

Columbia Property Trust

Steiner Studios

Work highlights

  • Represented Cottonwood Management in providing a $105m mortgage loan to finance the lease up of a newly completed 26-story office building commonly known as The Six located in Midtown Manhattan consisting of over 90,000 square feet of office space developed by Savanna.
  • Represented iStar, a REIT focused on reinventing the ground lease sector, in its $170m acquisition of the 350,000-square-foot Newport Office Center 6 in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, from the LeFrak Organization.
  • Advised Haven Capital, a newly formed real estate finance platform formed by Ares and Regis Group, in connection with the negotiation of a new lease for its national headquarters at RXR’s 230 Park Avenue in Manhattan.

King & Spalding LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Mark Thigpen; Erik Andersen

Other key lawyers:

Timothy Goodwin; Josh Kamin

Testimonials

‘Exceptionally smart people that have your best interests top of mind. Strong moral compass, creative in structuring and problem solving. ‘

Key clients

Americold Realty Trust

APG Asset Management

Asana Partners, LP

Black Creek Group

Brookfield Infrastructure Group

Building and Land Technology (BLT)

Carroll Organization

Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management

Clarion Partners, LLC

Cousins Properties

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Edens Limited Partnership

Greystar Real Estate Partners

Jamestown

Landmark Collegiate Development, LLC

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Pantzer Properties, Inc.

Prologis, LP

Transwestern Investment Management

Aviva Investors

Bank OZK

Berkshire Realty Ventures

China Construction Bank Corporation

China Orient Advisors, Inc.

Crow Holdings Capital Partners, LLC

Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH and DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale

Fortress Investment Group/Fortress Credit Corp.

Guggenheim Commercial Real Estate Finance, LLC

HSBC Bank USA, National Association

Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc.

Morgan Stanley Real Estate Advisor, Inc and AMLI Residential

Newport US RE

NGI Investments, LLC

Otéra Capital

Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, Inc.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

TIAA-CREF

UNC Management Company

USAA Real Estate Company

Vanke Holdings USA, LLC

VineBrook Development Corporation

Vogo Realty Partners Private Real Estate Fund II

Work highlights

  • Advised Black Creek Group as it closed on the exit of a joint venture that owned a $2bn, 30-property portfolio of industrial properties located in California, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida.

Loeb & Loeb LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Raymond Sanseverino; Nichole Cortese

Other key lawyers:

Kenneth Sold; Peter Strauss

Testimonials

‘Nichole Cortese – exceptional attention to detail, availability and responsiveness, effectiveness in dealing with other party’s counsel.’

 

Key clients

Global Net Lease

SL Green Realty Corp.

Stone Ridge Asset Management

Reverence Capital Partners, L.P.

American Finance Trust

Netflix Studios, LLC

Brookfield Properties

Carlyle Investment Group

Uber Technologies Inc.

New York City REIT

BNY Mellon Bank

Ivanhoe Cambridge

Columbia REIT

Global Holdings

Hines

RWN Management LLC

Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company

Trinity Real Estate, Park Tower Group, and Pearlmark Real Estate Partners

Thomson Reuters

TIAA / Nuveen

Toyota

Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation

BMR Funding – Subsidiary of Silver Paint Capital

Williamsburgh Garage, LLC

Jordache Enterprises Inc.

D.K. Property, Inc.

Murray Hill Mgmt Realty

Saks Fifth Avenue

Pearl Spaces LLC

U.S. Polo Association & US Outlet Stores LLC

Hudson’s Bay Company

Japond Restaurant LLC

Refinitiv US LLC

Gabay & Ameri II LLC

VBGO 425 Lexington LLC

Global Net Lease

SL Green Realty Corp.

Stone Ridge Asset Management

Reverence Capital Partners, L.P.

American Finance Trust

Netflix Studios, LLC

Brookfield Properties

Carlyle Investment Group

Uber Technologies Inc.

New York City REIT

BNY Mellon Bank

Ivanhoe Cambridge

Columbia REIT

Global Holdings

Hines

RWN Management LLC

Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company

Trinity Real Estate, Park Tower Group, and Pearlmark Real Estate Partners

Thomson Reuters

TIAA / Nuveen

Toyota

Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation

BMR Funding – Subsidiary of Silver Paint Capital

Williamsburgh Garage, LLC

Jordache Enterprises Inc.

D.K. Property, Inc.

Murray Hill Mgmt Realty

Saks Fifth Avenue

Pearl Spaces LLC

U.S. Polo Association & US Outlet Stores LLC

Hudson’s Bay Company

Japond Restaurant LLC

Refinitiv US LLC

Gabay & Ameri II LLC

VBGO 425 Lexington LLC

Global Net Lease

SL Green Realty Corp.

Stone Ridge Asset Management

Reverence Capital Partners, L.P.

American Finance Trust

Netflix Studios, LLC

Brookfield Properties

Carlyle Investment Group

Uber Technologies Inc.

New York City REIT

BNY Mellon Bank

Ivanhoe Cambridge

Columbia REIT

Global Holdings

Hines

RWN Management LLC

Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company

Trinity Real Estate, Park Tower Group, and Pearlmark Real Estate Partners

Thomson Reuters

TIAA / Nuveen

Toyota

Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation

BMR Funding – Subsidiary of Silver Paint Capital

Williamsburgh Garage, LLC

Jordache Enterprises Inc.

D.K. Property, Inc.

Murray Hill Mgmt Realty

Saks Fifth Avenue

Pearl Spaces LLC

U.S. Polo Association & US Outlet Stores LLC

Hudson’s Bay Company

Japond Restaurant LLC

Refinitiv US LLC

Gabay & Ameri II LLC

VBGO 425 Lexington LLC

Global Net Lease

SL Green Realty Corp.

Stone Ridge Asset Management

Reverence Capital Partners, L.P.

American Finance Trust

Netflix Studios, LLC

Brookfield Properties

Carlyle Investment Group

Uber Technologies Inc.

New York City REIT

BNY Mellon Bank

Ivanhoe Cambridge

Columbia REIT

Global Holdings

Hines

RWN Management LLC

Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company

Trinity Real Estate, Park Tower Group, and Pearlmark Real Estate Partners

Thomson Reuters

TIAA / Nuveen

Toyota

Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation

BMR Funding – Subsidiary of Silver Paint Capital

Williamsburgh Garage, LLC

Jordache Enterprises Inc.

D.K. Property, Inc.

Murray Hill Mgmt Realty

Saks Fifth Avenue

Pearl Spaces LLC

U.S. Polo Association & US Outlet Stores LLC

Hudson’s Bay Company

Japond Restaurant LLC

Refinitiv US LLC

Gabay & Ameri II LLC

VBGO 425 Lexington LLC

Work highlights

  • Represented SL Green Realty Corp. in numerous commercial leasing matters at One Vanderbilt in Manhattan, New York.
  • Represented Stone Ridge Asset Management, a financial services firm, in connection with an approximately 16-year lease of 97,652 rentable square feet at One Vanderbilt Avenue in Manhattan, New York.
  • Represented affiliates of New York City REIT in connection with new leasing matters and workouts and restructurings of existing leases and mortgage debt related matters across its ownership portfolio of office and retail assets located in New York City. Approximately 300,000 square feet of space was involved in the various leasing activities.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Carol Weld King; Elizabeth Karmin

Other key lawyers:

Christina Hassan

Key clients

Westport Capital Partner, LLC

Virginia Tech Foundation

McDonald’s Corporation

BHI Miami

Primland

Argosy Capital

Rockbridge Capital, LLC

Playa Hotels and Resorts

Mr. C/Cipriani Restaurants, Hotels and Resorts

Salt Hotels

Work highlights

  • Represented an affiliate of Westport Capital Partners LLC in the acquisition of land in Apollo Beach, Florida along with a construction loan and joint venture transaction pertaining to the construction of a 430,000 square foot multifamily residential project for a total project budget of over $80m, including the negotiation of a joint venture agreement with the joint venture partner.
  • Represented Virginia Tech Foundation and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in connection with the acquisition of land from an AT&T pension fund for the development of a new campus in Alexandria, Virginia, which will include over 1 million square feet of space representing an investment of over $1bn.
  • Represented a family office owner of the Primland Resort in the negotiation of a hotel management agreement with Auberge Resorts Collection.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

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

Practice head(s):

Andrew Litvak; David Itskovich

Other key lawyers:

Laurence Papel; Christopher Staller; Eric Klinger-Wilensky

Key clients

City of Refuge

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Julian Wise

Other key lawyers:

Seth Henslovitz

Testimonials

‘Julian Wise and Seth Henslovitz have been consistently proactive in understanding the needs in almost all circumstances to provide the most appropriate action-driven advice.

‘The unparalleled track record of relevant transactions has been clearly off the charts, which has been another distinct comforting component why my group has chosen to work with this team over many transactions.’

‘Both Julian and Seth have been persistently showing a different quality of advice, which stems from their deep-rooted market expertise backed by a truly solid client network.’

Key clients

Blackstone Mortgage Trust

H.I.G.Realty Partners

MackRealEstateGroup

Monday Properties Group

Work highlights

  • Represented Blackstone Mortgage Trust in Tishman Speyer’s acquisition of two office buildings in Austin, Texas (Foundry I and Foundry II). The buildings have 240,000 sq ft of office space, as well as 17 residential units, and are in rapidly-developing East Austin.
  • Represented Monday Properties Group in the acquisition and financing of Harbor Landing, a multifamily asset located in Stamford, Connecticut.
  • Represented Blackstone Mortgage Trust in an acquisition financing by a Tower 16 Capital Partners-led joint venture of a two-property 214-unit multifamily portfolio in Colton, California.

Troutman Pepper

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. 

Practice head(s):

Anthony Greene

Key clients

Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay

Crescent Communities, LLC

Wells Fargo – Commercial Real Estate

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company

Trinity Capital Advisors, LLC

Hershey Trust Company

Pappas Properties, LLC

Portman Residential LLC

Equus Capital Partners, Ltd.

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

Work highlights

  • RepresentedCrescent Communities, LLC, a real estate investor, developer, and operator,in the disposition of the Ally Charlotte Center project in uptown Charlotte, NC.
  • Represented Equus Capital Partners, a commercial real estate agency, in connection with the sale of an industrial building in Pennsylvania.
  • Represented Portman Residential as the developer of a new 29-story apartment high-rise building in Midtown Atlanta, GA,containing 342,030 square feet, consisting of 375 units, 11,200 square feet of ground floor retail and a parking deck consisting of 432 parking stalls.

White & Case LLP

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.

Practice head(s):

Eugene Leone

Key clients

VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings III, Inc.

Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advised VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings III, Inc. on real estate matters related to its business combination with Dave Inc.
  • Advised Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation on real estate matters related to the sale of its Atlantic Aviation business to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

WilmerHale

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.

Practice head(s):

Douglas Burton; Paul Jakubowski

Testimonials

‘Highly intelligent, very experienced, quite efficient, committed to the tasks at hand and serving its clients.’

 

Key clients

Analog Devices

Atlantic Management Corporation

Beam Therapeutics

Carpenter & Company

Constant Contact

Demandware

Dyne Therapeutics

Kronos Incorporated

Translate Bio

Work highlights

  • Advised Boston-based real estate investment and development company Atlantic Management Corporation in the acquisition, financing and leasing of corporate campuses and other large assets in Massachusetts.
  • Representing developer Carpenter & Company in the site acquisition, debt and equity financing, branding, development and management, and ongoing capitalization of the first five-star hotel on Iceland’s waterfront, including the restructuring of multiple private and governmental ownership and development restrictions.