‘Strong on knowledge, timeliness, and being business friendly in finding ways to accomplish the end goal’, DLA Piper LLP (US) fields a comprehensive real estate team with capabilities covering a wide range of zoning and development matters as well as transactions, workouts, restructuring, and refinancings, to name a few. The practice is well-versed advising major creditors, private equity investors, and real estate funds, alongside a number of large property owners, developers, and household companies, culminating in a diverse client roster. Equally diverse is the firm’s coverage of asset classes, with recent large engagements encompassing transactions and joint ventures in self-storage, logistics, and data centers, as well as several in the life science space. US real estate chair John Sullivan and co-vice chair Barbara Trachtenberg lead from the firm’s Boston office, while co-head Richard Klawiter takes the lead on land-use matters out of Chicago. Amy Carbins leads the Washington DC real estate practice, with partners Frederick Klein and Lauren Rico also being key names from this office. Meanwhile, Cara Nelson, noted for her experience advising foreign pension funds, heads the Boston real estate team; here, managing partner Bryan Connolly is commended for his full-cycle development expertise. In New York, partner Michael Haworth is highlighted for his cross-border expertise, notably between the US and Asia. Widely praised by clients, ‘extremely knowledgeable’ associate Oriana Montani is another name of note from the firm’s Boston office.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP handles the full range of commercial transactions encompassing acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and high-end developmental matters, in addition to substantial loan portfolio transactions, restructurings, and workouts. The team is especially skilled in its advising of lenders, operators, and investment firms, with a multitude of clients being private equity investors, asset management, and developers. On the East Coast, transactional lawyer Eric Feuerstein co-chairs the practice from New York; moving west to California, Century City-based co-chair Jesse Sharf is highly regarded for his expertise in structured and lender side finance, including mezzanine, construction, and CMBS loans, alongside his broader representation of institutional investors and developers. In New York, Harry Silvera has considerable experience on hospitality and senior housing, with Andrew Dady covering debt and equity finance, and Victoria Shusterman being prominent for her representation of REITs, banks, and insurance companies on a range of loan and financing mandates. In Los Angeles, Drew Flowers and Lauren Giovannone are key names, as is Allison Kidd in San Francisco.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP supports domestic and international clients on high-value transactions and financings together with joint ventures, leasing, and restructuring matters. Among other highlights, the last year saw the team advise the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in reaching a stadium agreement relating to the development of a new Tennessee Titans stadium, along with assisting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the development of retail units at the Grand Central Madison Terminal in New York. Covering a broad set of asset classes, expertise also extends to data centers, senior housing, and student properties as well as developments in residential, retail and resorts. In the firm's leadership team, Stephen Rabinowitz in New York and Chicago-based Michael Baum are both highly experienced representing major private equity funds, asset management companies, cross-border investors, and REITs throughout the transaction space. Meanwhile, co-chair Richard Giusto from the firm’s Miami office is particularly prominent for his representation of major developers, among other groups. Robert Ivanhoe sits in New York and is a key name in the firm’s REIT group, while Orange County’s Bruce Fischer is noted for his advising of funds, trusts, and institutional groups. In Chicago, Corey Light is highly recommended for his transactional expertise, as is Gregory Fishman in Los Angeles.

‘Unmatched in terms of knowledge, advice and negotiations’, the multidisciplinary team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP is noted for its experience advising major private equity sponsors and REITs on joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals, as well as for its expertise in funds, both in terms of formation and deployment, and securities. The firm has strong expertise across a plethora of asset classes spanning logistics, multifamily and student housing through to life sciences, data centers, and hospitality, among many others. New York based co-head Jonathan Schechter regularly represents domestic and international clients, notably top private equity firms, on transactions and joint venture matters, as does Christopher Hartmann from the same office. In Los Angeles, co-head Kevin Ehrhart focuses on capital investment, financings, and operating company acquisitions, among other areas. He is joined by Robert Keane, Jr who is often approached by pension funds, private equity groups, and commercial and investment banks for his equity investment, reorganization, workout and restructuring experience. In Chicago, co-lead Rachel Brown is another key contact, especially on structured and mezzanine financing and development matters, as is Andrew Small on private capital raising, finance, and investment mandates.

Advising clients that include global and domestic private equity investors, REITs and financial institutions, Latham & Watkins LLP’s  nationwide real estate team is known for its strong record advising on large transactions, financings, and joint venture investment work across a wide variety of asset classes and jurisdictions. Having been involved in a number of high-value sales, acquisitions, mergers, and spinoffs on both the borrower and lenders sides, the firm also possesses strong cross-border experience, illustrated by its advising of Apollo on a €1bn investment into a real estate portfolio located in Northern Germany. Michael Haas and Michelle Kelban, both based in New York, co-chair the department while vice-chair Rachel Bates leads from Chicago. Also in Chicago is co-chair of the hospitality, gaming & leisure industry group, Gary E. Axelrod , who has led on numerous transactions and mixed-use developments within the sector; also highly experienced in the hospitality sector is Meghan Cocci, who acts as the fellow co-chair of the group, this time from the firm’s Century City office. New York-based commercial real estate transaction attorneys Justin Elliott and Mark Semotiuk are further key contacts.

Boasting an ‘outstanding understanding of the market, crucial expertise in the relevant law, and a team that is focused on customer service excellence’, the team at Paul Hastings LLP is highly regarded for its skill advising on complex high-value debt work covering areas such as restructuring, refinancing, mortgage and construction loans, in addition to its deep experience in joint ventures and transactions. In doing so, the firm represents a wide breadth of clients on the borrower and lender, developer and investor sides. The team is headed by New York-based trio Eric Landau, the global chair of real estate, Peter Olsen, the global chair of the real estate development group, and Rick Allendorf, head of the real estate finance practice group. Derek Roth leads the Los Angeles real estate department and is also the co-chair of the firm’s leisure and hospitality practice group which possesses substantial expertise in the hotel and resort sectors in particular. In the Washington DC office, Michael Berman is noted for his advise to private equity giants including Oaktree and Angelo Gordon’s Net Lease Fund, while Gerd Alexander is an active name on transactions in New York. In 2023, the firm added Pablo Clarke to their Century City office, formerly at Latham & Watkins LLP.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is best known for its complex advisory work for leading private equity funds and alternative asset management companies such as The Carlyle Group, Northwood Investors, and, in particular, Blackstone. Offering full-cycle support on large transactions and real estate developments, the team has extensive experience advising on an array of asset classes ranging from hospitality to multi-family residentials, logistics to data centers. The practice is led by Sasan Mehrara, taking over from highly experienced real estate attorney Gregory Ressa in 2023. Scott Kobak ‘is a terrific lawyer with amazing people skills‘ and can often be seen advising institutional investors on sizeable acquisitions, financings and developments. ‘Highly skilled negotiator’ Krista Miniutti is noted on transactions encompassing public-to-private, securitized and mezzanine financings, while M&A and real estate partner Anthony King brings considerable cross-border transaction experience in the US and Asia, together with expertise in securities and corporate governance aspects of deals. On the finance side, partner Whitney Salinas brings experience encompassing CMBS, balance sheet, and construction financings to name a few. The practice has extensive experience advising on M&As involving public and private companies, portfolio sales and acquisitions, and deal and debt structuring and financing, among other areas.

Praised by one client for their ‘brilliant partners’ and ‘deep bench of talent’, Goodwin is particularly well known for its representation of REITs, global funds, investors, hospitality companies, and developers on complex transactions, lease work, and fund matters, for which they have extensive expertise representing both new and established entities. In addition, the team is also known for its skill advising on complex investment vehicles, joint ventures, and finance work, covering areas such as mortgage and mezzanine financing as well as construction loans. New York partner and co-chair Diana Brummer has experience assisting institutional investors, pension funds and REITs on an array of transactions, joint ventures, and loan work, including workouts. Co-head John Ferguson is also based in New York and has extensive experience in the private investment fund space. Co-chair of the joint ventures and finance and restructuring practice groups, Alex Jacobs is a key name in the firm’s Santa Monica office and has experience spanning residential, retail, office, and hotel asset classes. Freddie Akrouche in Boston and Brian Lerman in Washington DC are other integral team members.

Holland & Knight LLP has continued to expand its national offering with the March 2023 addition of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, known for its Tennessee presence along with its expertise in the health sector in particular. With heads in New York and Miami, the large practice is involved in a broad set of sizeable development and transaction matters. This includes sizeable mandates relating to condominiums, the redevelopment of downtown Tampa, along with involvement in the development of the Tennessee Titan’s stadium in Nashville. Under the leadership of New York office’s Joe Guay, who also serves as co-chair of the hospitality, resort and timeshare group, and Miami’s Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz, the real estate team continues to provide an array of services covering acquisitions, dispositions, lease work, land use, and financings, to name a few. Stuart Saft leads the New York real estate practice group; he also co-chairs the condominium development and conversion team and has specialisms in areas including conversion-to-condominium and cooperative ownership. In Dallas, Mark Sloan is particularly active on shopping center and multifamily transactions and developments together with his representation of lenders on workouts and foreclosures. Margot Mendelson Hammond is another key name for lease finance and lending, advising out of Boston.

Jones Day ‘s ‘diverse team’ works with domestic and international banks, private equity firms, and investors in a wide range of real estate transactions, acquisitions, and dispositions, as well as the areas of built-to-suit and build-to-lease properties, acting on both the buyer and seller, borrower and lender sides. The team operates across a broad spread of real estate assets with substantial deals including the acquisition of The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as well as a number surrounding single and multifamily residential developments. Experience also extends to the sports sector, where the firm assists clients such as the Golden State Warriors on various lease matters. Together, highly experienced real estate lawyer Robert Lee and real estate and infrastructure expert Brian Sedlak lead the team out of Chicago. In the same office, Trisha Mowbray is noted for her experience representing sponsors on private equity funds and investment vehicle aspects, alongside transactions and joint ventures. William Herzberger, based in Cleveland, is another highly experienced attorney with experience covering real estate finance, distressed assets, and deal structuring, across industrial, mining, and multifamily asset classes, among others. Meanwhile, Atlanta-based Richard Rosenblatt is especially known for his high-value transaction experience. Michael Austin and Kyle Baltes are also of note from the firm’s Chicago office.

The New York City based real estate team at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP regularly advises major private equity firms, public and private companies, developers and government institutions including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on both sides of high-value transactions, debt and equity financing, corporate structuring and developmental work. In addition to residential, retail, and industrial developments, the firm is also noted for its breadth of expertise covering data centers, gaming and hospitality, higher education, and the healthcare sector, where the firm advises large providers like Northwell Health. The real estate department is headed by chair Harris B. Freidus who covers a wide spectrum of real estate and infrastructure matters including those relating to joint ventures, construction, restructuring, and leasing. Salvatore Gogliormella focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, and financings with a particular niche in healthcare industry assets like nursing facilities, hospitals, and medical office buildings. Partner Peter E. Fisch is another leading name with experience covering transactions, financings, workouts, and lease work across a plethora of sectors, including student housing and hotel.

Advising on a range of matters that include leases, financings, joint ventures, and restructurings, Proskauer Rose LLP is praised by clients for its ‘high quality thinking and legal work’, regularly acting for large investors, operators, and developers, with experience on all sides of transactions. The real estate department is led by Keith Barnett and Ronald Sernau, the first of which is based in Boston and the latter in New York. In Boston, Sean Boulger is particularly knowledgeable in life sciences and senior housing along with a range of real estate transactions, with Katelyn O’Brien regularly advising on financings, developments, acquisitions, and dispositions. Active across a wide range of geographies and asset classes, the firm also stands out for its hospitality, leisure and gaming group for which New York partner Robert Shmalo is a key member. Also in New York is Paul Polking, who has experience representing landlords and tenants on a range of transactions and deal structuring mandates, and commercial and retail leases and subleases.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP assists private equity investors, sovereign wealth funds, REITs and large corporations on complex financings and secured loan facilities, together with high-value joint venture agreements, M&A, and sales. The practice has seen mandates across a broad range of asset classes that includes hospitality, retail, and multifamily, and standout growth in industrials, evidenced by its representation of Intel Corporation in ground lease and joint venture matters relating to two semiconductor fabrication plant developments in Arizona. Neil Rock heads the global real estate group and has experience advising on acquisitions, developments, leasing, and fund formation matters. Marco Caffuzzi, meanwhile, heads the New York team and focuses on financings and loan restructurings, including the purchase and sale of mortgage and mezzanine loans. On transactions, distressed assets, and fund formation, Chicago head Nancy Olsen is a key name. Similarly, Lost Angeles head Peter Mair is known for his expertise in real estate M&A, among other areas.

Ballard Spahr LLP fields a multidisciplinary practice with experience handling a wide scope of development, structuring, condominium, and mixed-use properties, along with a considerable pipeline of single-family residential property work. Alongside their real estate finance group, the practice is also particularly experienced in the hospitality sector, evidenced by its resort, hospitality and timeshare group. The firm is also distinct in its affordable housing niche, where the team regularly works with private and governmental bodies, including the New York City Housing Authority and Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, on affordable housing and social infrastructure developments and maintenance matters. The department is headed by Baltimore-based chair Amy McClain, with Dominic De Simone leading the private equity, loan servicing, and distressed real estate teams from Philadelphia. Joining them from Washington DC are Mary Jo George, head of housing finance, Katherine Noonan, leader on development and transactions, and Molly Bryson, affordable housing and community development group head. Denver-based Christopher Payne heads the resort, hospitality and timeshare group. Experienced on mergers, acquisitions and retail bankruptcies, Michael Ostermeyer is noted for his expertise advising on corporate portfolios and public real estate projects from the firm’s Phoenix office.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s ‘smart, creative, hardworking, reasonable, and always accessible’ team is highly proficient in its handling of joint ventures, financings, and M&A, in addition to recapitalizations, workouts, and restructuring. Acting on borrower and lender sides, clients consist of sizeable private equity groups, funds, and REITs, including major global investors like the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, JP Morgan Asset Management, and Tishman Speyer Properties. Among other asset classes, the firm has seen a stream of mandates relating to industrials and logistics, single and multi-family properties, and life science facilities. Located in New York, the practice is led by highly regarded transaction expert Peter Irwin who brings a wealth of knowledge covering acquisitions and dispositions, among other areas. Edward Rishty is prominent for his advising of family offices and sovereign wealth funds on transactions, joint ventures and capital market transactions, while Nicole Levin Mesard assists on complex financings and infrastructure transactions as well as bankruptcy and loan restructuring.

With key offices in New York and Texas along with others including in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Richmond, and Atlanta, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s nationwide real estate, development and finance team advises on transactions and financings for a range of trusts, holding companies, and large private equity firms. Moreover, the practice also has experience advising REITs, family offices, and developers, with a considerable stream of work involving hospitality, single family rentals, and industrials, data centers and life sciences. Supporting the team is a sustainability sub-group that provides assistance on matters like C-PACE financing alongside an energy sub-group that regularly handles real estate aspects of oil, gas and mining transactions. The practice is led by Dallas based partner Howard Schreiber and New York co-heads Laurie Grasso and Brett Gross. In the firm’s Dallas office, Jeff Giese is experienced on investments, transactions and joint ventures, with Matthew Scoville being another key name in the New York office for his transactions, workouts, and restructuring expertise. Other integral members include New York’s Anthony Bonan and Paul Greco, as well as ‘extremely talented partner’ Conor Shary in Houston.

With experience spanning hotel, hospitality, and resort through to large-scale office mandates, Morrison Foerster’s well-rounded global real estate group advises on high-value purchase and sale transactions, often assisting on large investments, financings and joint ventures. The firm routinely assists large asset management companies and financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo Bank, and Goldman Sachs, as well as several REITs, funds, and developers. The chair of the team is Mark Edelstein who is also known for his leading of the practice’s distressed real estate group; he is based in New York. In the same office, co-chair Jeffrey Temple has extensive experience handling multi-tiered finance transactions and credit facilities. On the West Coast, LA based co-chair, Thomas Fileti, regularly assists on transactions involving REITs, among other areas. The practice also has experience assisting on distressed assets and bankruptcies; here, New York’s Lawrence Ceriello is noted for his mezzanine debt, workout, and restructuring experience. Philip Levine is highlighted for his leading of the firm’s northern California real estate practice group in addition to his leading on several sizeable equity and debt transactions, construction loan mandates and retail lease work.

Described by one client as ‘organized and big-picture oriented’, the real estate team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP advises private equity firms, developers, financial institutions, and others across a wide scope of transactions, financings, and joint ventures, together with the areas of construction and development. In addition to its experience that includes multifamily residentials, life sciences and energy-related real estate, the firm is particularly distinct for its strong emphasis in the hospitality sector, with considerable experience advising several high-end hotel operators such as The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. Heading the team out of Los Angeles, head Randolph Perry provides assistance on distressed situations, joint ventures, and transactions in hospitality, with Gerard Walsh also supporting in these key areas. Also in LA is Daniel Rothberg, who regularly advices on investors over the course of transactions. Operating from San Francisco, Michael Liever advises on transactions and financing throughout a plethora of commercial property including retail and industrial parks. In the same office, Jonathan Roheim is noted for his loan structuring expertise. Seattle’s Katherine Jones is particularly noted for her hotel transaction and hospitality expertise, while Denver and Los Angeles based lawyer Nicole Walsh brings specialisms in construction contracts among other areas.

Ropes & Gray LLP is well-regarded for its advice to large REITs, global private equity firms, and sizeable funds throughout the real estate space. Transactions, structuring, and complex financing arrangements make up core specialisms, evidenced by the firm’s representation of Morgan Stanley bank in negotiating and structuring real estate loan back-leverage facilities, as well as through its assistance to Claros Mortgage Trust in its obtaining of credit facilities valued at $1bn. The investments and transactions group is led by John (Jack) Creedon in Boston and Dan Stanco in New York, both of whom have substantial experience acting on behalf of leading domestic and global institutional investors on joint ventures, debt purchases and debt restructurings, among areas like leasing, acquisitions and dispositions. New Yorkers David Kaye and Anthony Mongone are also highly active, with the former being particularly prominent on equity-side sponsor and capital partner work and the latter having expertise on debt and equity matters. Counsel Effie George Floyd is another name of note with experience on mortgage and mezzanine financings and recapitalizations.

‘Friendly and accessible’, Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s broad real estate practice covers the gamut of asset types including data centers, healthcare, hospitality and hotel as well as commercial properties in retail and industrials. Household names like 7-Eleven form part of the firm’s client roster, with a wider base consisting of funds, financial institutions, banks, and REITs, among others. Paul Mattingly, located in the firm’s Atlanta office, acts as national chair of the real estate department, with managing partner of the Atlanta office, Steven L. Kennedy, taking the lead of the development practice group. Catherine Burns is a key name on investment transactions in Boston, as is Eric Greenberg on leasing. In New York, Daniel Evans is noted for his expertise on financing, loan, and restructuring work, while Robin Freeman, based in San Francisco, co-leads the national health care real estate & finance practice. New York’s Cynthia Mitchell is another key name, noted for her role as co-chair of the health care, life sciences & pharmaceuticals industry group. Alongside its transaction and finance expertise, the firm is also highly experienced on joint ventures, leasing, and private-public-partnerships, with further capabilities extending to more niche areas, evidenced through the firm’s Corporate Transparency Act Taskforce. In 2023, the firm gained partners Amy Simpson and Katie Schwarting from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner together with Neil Weisbard, formerly at Pryor Cashman LLP. That same year saw the firm open an office in Dallas.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP‘s real estate, energy, land use and environmental group handles a wide range of real estate matters, regularly representing investors, developers, and property owners, including a number of large homebuilders and hospital systems. Hotels and self-storage facilities are other areas of expertise, as are the retail, commercial, and industrial spaces. The firm is also known for its financing and restructuring expertise and has seen a number of recent mandates relating to single and portfolio transactions and ground leases. The team has a particularly strong West Coast presence with heads Keith Garner based in San Francisco and Michael Leake in San Diego. Tim Reimers is a key contact in the firm’s Los Angeles office and heads the healthcare and public finance real estate groups where he has considerable experience handling acquisitions, project syndications, developments, and financings. The firm continues to grow its presence in New York, which houses experienced real estate transaction lawyers Eric Altman and Peter Koffler, the latter of which focuses on commercial real estate transactions including air rights transfers, multi-property transactions, and cannabis-related financings.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s is well-versed in mergers, acquisitions, and large investments, in addition to sales, loan negotiations, debt structuring, and financings. Based in New York, the team is co-led by Phillip Rosen, recommended for his transaction and restructuring experience where he often acts on behalf of major private equity groups, funds, and institutions. Fellow co-head Evan Levy is particularly prominent for his financing, workout, and development project expertise, along with his strong track record in REIT work and securities offerings. Jannelle Seales is another key member of the team on acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, as is Pejman Razavilar on joint ventures, financings, and investment vehicles.

Representing a diverse group of buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s real estate team advises across the full spectrum of real estate assets and sectors with highlights including sizeable transactions and development mandates in residential, condominiums, and offices along with mandates in the hotel and resort sectors. Negotiations and leasing arrangements are also strengths, as is the firm’s strong track record in financing, including mortgage and mezzanine loan structures, restructuring and workouts. The practice is also noted for its ability to draw on the firm’s bankruptcy, tax, and corporate & financial services groups. Operating out of New York is chair of real estate finance Krystyna Blakeslee as well as co-chairs of the real estate department Carly Glover Saviano, David Drewes, and Thomas Henry. In Los Angeles chair of real estate Misty Sanford is a key contact with expertise covering transactions, workouts, and private-public partnerships.

Akerman LLP assists a broad set of domestic and international groups including developers, private equity trusts, banks, REITs and asset management companies on developments and redevelopments encompassing industrial, retail, residential, and office space, among others. In addition to the Florida and New York markets, the firm also has a footprint in the Chicago, California, and Dallas real estate markets, advising on a multitude of transactions, sales and leasebacks, and land transactions as well as distressed situations and loan recovery. The practice also possesses a number of growing sub-groups, including those in the areas of energy and infrastructure, private equity, and data centers and digital infrastructure. Practice chair and transaction expert Eric Rapkin leads the national team, himself based at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale. The department’s co-deputy chairs are Chicago-based Lawrence Eiben, who advises REITs, funds, developers, and joint ventures on a range of transactions, and Denver’s Allison Nelson, noted for her transaction, lease work and M&A experience, especially in the healthcare space.

Clifford Chance’s growing real estate practice is particularly prominent for its advising of funds, REITs, and financings, with particular emphasis on the borrower and investor side of developments and transactions. The firm, which draws on a substantial roster of national and international clients, is also recognized for its broad range of real estate services within the realms of joint ventures, recapitalizations, tax, and securities, with further expertise in Islamic financing structures. Advising from their New York office, the practice is led by Ness Cohen who focuses on real estate private equity and joint ventures together with financings and transactions. Also active in the New York office are Eddie Frastai who, alongside having expertise in transactions, has experience across a range of financing structures and restructuring mandates, and Jeanne Roig-Irwin, particularly experienced on dispositions and leasing.

With a strong footprint in Washington DC and Virginia in particular, Cooley LLP’s real estate practice handles transactions for clients spanning small startups to large developers. Development work and data centers are also core areas, evidenced by the firm’s advising of office leasing at The Wharf, together with a large mixed-use redevelopment at West Falls, and a 3.5m+ square feet development near Reston Town Center Metrorail Station. John Lavoie, based in Reston, has substantial experience covering acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing on behalf of both landlords and tenants, lenders and borrowers. He is also noted for his expertise in data center leasing and mandates relating to company headquarters. In the same office, Michelle Garcia Schulman is sought after for her experience advising on transactions and financings, together with her tech, data center, and life science sector expertise.

Dentons fields a large real estate practice that is well-versed on its handling of domestic and cross-border acquisitions, sales, financings, and tax credit transactions, representing number of banks, life insurance companies, and debt funds, among other groups. The practice is headed out of Chicago-based attorney Linda White who has experience spanning transactions, financings and workouts through to leasing and property management. In particular, she is also known for her broad sector and asset class experience, evidenced by her advising of Blackstone owned Willis Tower on a number of renovations and lease negotiations. Todd Stennes is another key name, highlighted for his advising of developers and investors on acquisitions, joint ventures, and financings ranging self-storage to multifamily.

The real estate team at Eversheds Sutherland is led by group leader Victor Haley and deputy leader Kristina Kopft Thomas, both based in the firm’s Atlanta office. With offices also in Illinois, New York, Texas, and Washington DC, the firm advises on major investments, transactions, and financings across a range of asset classes. Among these are strong pipelines of work in the hospitality, energy, single-family residential and data center sectors. Furthermore, the firm is also distinct for its niche in the forestry and climate solutions space, aiding several large sustainable forestry firms in acquisitions and dispositions together with developments relating to carbon sequestration and carbon credits. Atlanta-based attorneys Clayton Howell and James Jordan are key names for investments and transactions respectively, with New York’s John Busillo being especially experienced on the finance side, notably in workouts and dispositions of distressed assets. Marc Benjamin is another key name in Chicago, with Robinson Plowden covering a range of transactions and data center developmental work from Boston.

Herrick, Feinstein LLP’s ‘broad’ real estate practice oversees acquisitions, sales, and leasing, in addition to financing, joint ventures, and condominiums. The team is chaired by New York-based Belinda G. Schwartz, who is commended for her transaction and restructuring experience for developers, operators, and funds along with several international investors and family-owned real estate businesses. Co-chair Jonathan Adelsberg is particularly prominent on commercial leasing where he regularly assists landlords and tenants across a range of asset classes such as retail and office. In the same office, Yariv C. Ben-Ari is known for his transaction experience together with his role as co-chair of the firm’s Israel and hospitality groups. Other than New York, key offices are found in Newark and Pittsburgh, the latter of which opened in early 2023.

The real estate, development and construction team at Husch Blackwell LLP is led by St. Louis-based Jonathan Giokas who oversees a range of large transactions, lease work, and development mandates, evidenced by the team’s advising on a multifacility data center at Golden Plains technology campus, as well as a sizeable mixed-use development in Granby Colorado, totaling over 5,000-acres and containing commercial, residential, and hospitality properties. In Denver, Kevin Kelley is known for his experience assisting on sports facility transactions and public-private partnerships. Kansas City’s Charles Renner leads the firm’s public-private partnership team while St. Louis’ David Linenbroker assists developers and municipalities on a range of transactions, leasing, and construction contracting matters, among others. David Richardson, Courtney Hill and William Hof are other key names in St Louis, with Brad Dallet being a key contact in Milwaukee.

With experience on the lender, owner, and operator sides, Katten regularly represents banks, funds, private equity investors, and developers on a range of investments, joint ventures, and financings. Development transactions, including land acquisitions and construction loan financings, make up another area of expertise with a strong pipeline of recent mandates relating to single and multi-family developments as well as affordable housing. Timothy Little chairs the department out of New York who, outside of transactions, has considerable experience covering workouts and restructurings. New York also features Louise Carroll is particularly involved in affordable housing and community development matters alongside Glenn Miller in Washington, DC. With prior experience as chief legal officer of Ark Investment Partners, Scott Vetri is another key name on financings, acquisitions, and dispositions. David Dlugie and Frank Arado, meanwhile, are known for their leading of the practice’s Midwest and Southeast real estate offerings, with the former in Chicago and the latter in Charlotte.

With extensive experience advising on all sides of deals, Loeb & Loeb LLP acts for lenders, borrowers, developers, and investors across a wide gamut of real estate matters that includes acquisitions, disposals, and leasing as well as real estate finance and litigation. Advising on a number of headline deals, including its representation of The Buffalo Bills in the development of a new stadium, the practice is noted for its broad coverage of asset classes spanning industrials and office through to residential. Based in New York, Raymond Sanseverino serves as global chair, with Christopher Barbaruolo leading on real estate investments and transactions. Meanwhile, Nichole Cortese leads the leasing side, and real estate finance head Steven Kornblau being praised by one client as ‘an exceptional attorney with a very deep knowledge of complex issues.’ Also noted is deputy chair of the investments and transactions team, Victoria Stephanova, who is regularly involved in a broad set of finance and investment transactions.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is frequently involved in sizeable development projects and transactions, alongside several large leasing and loan negotiation cases, among other areas like joint ventures, title work, and restructuring. The firm acts for a multitude of buyers and sellers along with developers and lenders, advising the likes of Jay Paul Company. Advising across a broad range of assets that include industrial, office, and residentials, the team also has experience advising in the technology, health care, and culture space, with Los Angeles Museum of Art counting among its client roster. The practice is jointly led by Michael Polentz in Palo Alto and Anita Famili in Los Angeles. On the east coast, Ted Hunter advises on a range of transactions, financings, and workouts from the firm’s New York office. Meanwhile back in San Francisco, Tara Shabahang is a key name on borrower-side finance, regularly taking the lead in cases of distressed assets. LA’s Elizabeth Levin is also noted, with one client noting that ‘her understanding of legal concepts and ability to negotiate are second to none.’ 

Advising clients that include Brookfield Asset management, Huntington Bank, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation, the real estate team over at Thompson Hine LLP represents numerous large developers, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 companies on a range of real estate mandates spanning from affordable housing to retail. Industrials, distribution, manufacturing, and data centers are also core areas of expertise, benefitting from Ohio’s growing tech and chip manufacturing scene. The practice is noted for its expertise in real estate tax finance covering tax credits and government incentive schemes, among other areas. The team is led by experienced real estate lawyer Thomas Coyne in Cleveland, who has taken the lead on a number of large developments including his representation of Bedrock in the $1bn+ Cleveland Riverfront Project, together with his advising of Pratt & Whitney in the development of an engine manufacturing facility in North Carolina, also valued at $1bn. James Aronoff is also active, particularly on structuring partnerships, joint ventures, and LLCs together transactions and financings. Also in Cleveland is Robyn Minter Smyers who covers public-private partnerships and ESG-related initiatives.

With key offices in New York and Texas, Vinson & Elkins LLP is especially prominent for its transaction, leasing, and development work with mandates encompassing industrial properties and energy real estate in addition to office, hotel, retail and multifamily. The firm’s clients consist of a number of blue-chip clients that include large private equity real estate investors, funds, developers, and institutional investors. The firm also has experience in stadium projects, highlighted by their involvement in the $1.2bn development of a 25,000-seat soccer stadium and surrounding complex in Queens. New York-based co-head Wallace Schwartz is highly experienced across the transaction, joint venture, financing, workout, and restructuring spaces, drawing on around four decades of experience advising commercial real estate clients. Meanwhile, Paul Martin co-heads the team out of the firm’s Dallas office, bringing broad experience especially in the area of leasing, including built-to-suit leases and sale-leasebacks. He also has experience assisting institutional lenders and private equity funds on a range of acquisitions, dispositions, and financings. Also in Dallas is Russell Oshman who is particularly prominent in his advising on the formation of joint ventures, construction financings, and development projects, especially in the industrial warehouse and logistics sectors. Other key names include Prentiss Cutshaw in Dallas and Adam Endick in New York.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s ‘very versatile’ real estate team regularly supports REITs, funds, private equity firms, and developers on all aspects of transactions, ventures, debt financing, and leasing of properties. In addition to retail and industrials, the team has seen considerable workload in self-storage, built-to-rent properties, together with single and multi-family residentials. Global chair Andrew White advises a mix of private equity funds, REITs, institutional investors, and developers from the firm’s office in Chicago. The practice is also known for its sizeable presence in Texas, with real estate and corporate expert Billie Ellis leading the team in Dallas, and Jeff Smith and Doug Yeager, a ‘go-to’ transaction attorney, leading the Houston practice. In the New York office, William Lang takes the lead on acquisitions, dispositions, and lease transactions for landlords and tenants.

A&O Shearman’s real estate practice is headed by Lisa Brill, ‘an incredibly committed, capable, responsive and efficient lawyer’ with extensive experience covering transactions and financings alongside joint ventures. Operating out of New York, the team advises a range of investors, borrowers, and lenders, that includes global banks such as Barclays, across a range of acquisitions and disposals and development projects, as well as a strong stream of mortgage lending and loan work. Associate Helen McKinney is another key name in the team.

Akin’s real estate department handles development, acquisitions, sales, and financings, and leasing for a range of properties. Data center development, from designs through to construction, also represent a core area of expertise, with other areas of experience extending to areas such as hospitality and distribution. John Bain co-leads the team from Dallas, bringing expertise in transactions and restructuring especially in hotels, resorts, and leisure asset classes. Fellow co-head Marc Epstein is known for his experience on real estate transactions, deal structuring, and negotiations, as well as his data center expertise. Together, they advise a number of REITs, private equity groups, and investment funds, in addition to family offices, developers, and operators.

Arnold & Porter advises on a wide range of leasing, financing, and transactions, including those that involve federal government interests. Building on this experience, the team also excels on public-private partnerships along with sizeable office leasing mandates. In New York, Jeffrey Kapner advises large private equity and financial institutions on financing, acquisitions, and dispositions. In the same office, Stephen Gliatta  has substantial experience advising on investments. Meanwhile, Amy Rifkind focuses on a range of development projects, federal transactions and ground leases from the firm’s Washington DC office. Advising across a plethora of asset classes, the team is further noted for its advising of hotel owners and developers in cases of distressed assets, new developments, and transactions.

 

 

In addition to advising on all aspects of transactions, the real estate practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. regularly handles restructuring and workouts nationwide, with numerous recent mandates relating to office and mixed-use properties. The formation and representation of investment funds is another area of specialism, as is their wide-reaching experience that encompasses qualified opportunity zone projects, energy, industrial and infrastructure developments. Based in Houston, head of real estate and construction Connie Simmons Taylor possesses transaction and leasing experience across all asset classes, particularly on the developer side. Paul Landen, known for his joint venture and debt financing experience, is another key name in Houston, with Dallas-based Jeremy Gott also an active member of the team.

Headed out of New York, Blank Rome LLP‘s national practice handles single and multi-property portfolio transactions, investments, joint ventures and restructuring, together with commercial leasing where co-head Sam Walker is prominent on retail chain rollouts. The team is also known for its regular representation of institutional lenders and REITs, assisting them on a range of multifamily, retail, and industrial matters. Walker is joined by fellow co-heads Samantha Wallack and Martin Luskin, with the latter being noted for his experience on mergers and leveraged buyouts of publicly traded real estate investment trusts, among other areas. Outside of New York, key offices include Washington DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Houston.

 

Fielding a ‘second to none’ retail leasing practice, Brown Rudnick LLP’s real estate practice excels in its representation of numerous global fashion and retail brands, including Primark, Wayfair, and Wagamama across the US. The department also has considerable experience assisting on real estate matters relating to the telecommunication and energy space, evidenced by the firm’s advising of AT&T on various zoning and leasing matters across Massachusetts and New England. ‘Recognized expert for retail’, Thomas Phillips, chairs the global real estate leasing group from Boston; alongside retail he is also noted for his expertise across leisure and hospitality. Meanwhile, based between Hartford and New York, Thomas Regan regularly represents investment funds, corporates, and developers on a range of transactions and financings, and is also noted for his leading of the real estate and energy group along with the regulatory and environmental groups. On financing and capital investment, New York’s Kevin Joyce is noted.

‘Prompt, earnest, hardworking, available, and thorough’, Choate, Hall & Stewart‘s real estate practice is located in Boston and provides assistance on a broad range of acquisitions, financings, and developments in addition to restructurings and workouts, with experience spanning industrials to multifamily, retail to sports. Lease work is another core part of the practice, with mandates surrounding company HQs, life sciences, and biotech facilities. The department is also noted for its experience advising on construction and architect contracts, particularly on the owner side. Paul Laudano leads the team with experience assisting public and private real estate companies, investment banks, and private equity companies, together with other investors and operators. He is joined by Adam Zaiger who, along with his experience advising private and governmental groups, has experience covering distribution facilities and data centers, among other areas. Gregg Cosimimr, meanwhile, is highlighted for his experience on transactions and deal structuring.

Under the joint leadership of real estate chair Michael Lusardi and real estate finance chair Katheryne Zelenock, Dickinson Wright PLLC has experience advising on a spread of acquisitions, sales, and financings of land and property for a blend of developers, financial institutions, public institutions, and real estate investors. Dispute resolution and construction contracts are also areas of expertise. Alongside the Troy-based heads, Monica Labe advises on a range of transactions and lease work covering industrial, office, mixed-use and entertainment real estate, among other areas. In Grand Rapids, John Cameron and Leslee Lewis, described as ‘engaged, committed, and well-respected’, are noted, as is James Patterson for his finance, workout, and landlord and tenant lease work in Phoenix.

Jones Walker LLP’s real estate practice is led by experienced transactional attorney Henry O’Connor in Alabama, with other key offices located across the Gulf South in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as Texas, Florida, Arizona, and New York. In doing so, the practice covers a broad span of sectors that encompass hotel and hospitality as well as real estate and infrastructure aspects for clients in the energy, medical and healthcare sectors, as well as more traditional asset classes such as multifamily residential, industrial, and office. The firm also stands out for its subsidiary, Baronne Title Co., Inc, a title insurance company for real estate transactions. In addition, the practice also has experience on a range of lender side tax credit work. In Baton Rouge, Keith Colvin and Jeffry Gray are noted for their transactional experience for domestic and foreign clients. In the same office, Robert Scheffy, a licensed title agent, is another key contact; he is also noted as a member of the firm’s environmental and natural resources industry team. Outside of Louisiana, other key names include Mark Davis and Ann Corso Taylor in Jackson.

Praised by one client as ‘a market leader in hospitality real estate transactions’, K&L Gates‘ wide-ranging real estate practice is particularly stand out for its global resort, hospitality and leisure practice, together with its Caribbean practice affinity group. Charleston-based lawyer and ‘exceptional team leader’ Matthew Norton chairs both groups, overseeing a blend of development, transaction, and finance mandates. In addition to advising a multitude of US companies, asset management firms, and developers, to name a few, the department regularly represents foreign investors, including a recent uptick in those from East Asia. Seattle's Marisa Bocci is noted for her farmland, food processing and agribusiness transaction expertise. In Pittsburgh, Pierce Richardson advises corporate and institutional clients on a variety of real estate and energy mandates.

The New York City-based real estate practice at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP handles a series of real estate matters ranging from financing and loan matters including construction, mortgage, and mezzanine structures, through to workouts, lease work, acquisitions and dispositions. Also noted for their arbitration and disputes experience, the team advises clients that include REITs, large private equity and investment firms, trusts, and several large companies. The firm also continues to grow its international client base with a growing number of Asian insurance companies, banks, and Asian investors seeking the firm’s advice on US-bound ventures. David Szeker spearheads the team and is particularly active on the borrower side where he advises on financings and transactions, as well as joint venture formation, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and disputes. Also, central to the practice is Darwin Huang who covers much of the firm’s lender-side work; in doing so, he represents an array of developers, investors, and financial institutions on a range of real estate matters. At the associate level, Matthew McElroy and Miami-based Kathleen Maurer are also noted.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP regularly represents tenants, landlords, developers and sponsors on transactions, leasing, joint ventures, and financings across all asset classes. The firm is particularly notable for its advice to large private equity and asset management companies, as well as its broader experience on behalf of REITs, developers, and lenders. Co-head David Wolff is located in Chicago, with fellow co-heads David Herman in New York, and Mal Serure between New York and Los Angeles. Wolff is particularly experienced on structuring, negotiations, and transactions, while Herman brings expertise covering the likes of IPOs, special purpose acquisition companies, workouts and restructurings. Serure, meanwhile, is well-versed across a range of loan work that encompasses the areas of mortgage and mezzanine loan financings, among others. In 2023, Marshall Brozost, Alykhan Shivji, and David Neville left the firm.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP handles the full spectrum of real estate acquisitions, sales, financings and development work together with fund formation and fundraising. Assisting a mixture of investment funds, financial institutions, and hotel management groups on the developer and investor sides, the team continues to advise on a number of large multifamily, hospitality, and industrial mandates. Key offices can be found in Washington DC and Atlanta with hospitality and lodging expert Carol Weld King co-leading from the former and development and finance partner Matthew Sours co-leading from the latter. Thomas Gryboski leads on the hospitality side in Georgia and is recognized for his representation of hotel operating companies. Other key names include hospitality expert Christina Hassan in DC and Atlanta’s Mark Block on joint venture work.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has a particularly strong practice for land acquisitions and construction financing along with equity investments, entitlement, development, and leasing. The practice is headed by investment, development, and financing expert Eric Klinger-Wilensky in Atlanta, experienced transaction and leasing attorney David Itskovich in Boca Raton, and Orlando-based Jo Thacker, noted for her knowledge on land use, zoning, and intergovernmental coordination and planning, together with her experience representing property owners before local governments throughout Florida state. Situated in Boca Raton, Jeffrey A. Deutch is experienced on financing and joint ventures, with Christopher Staller also being a key name at the same office. Nashville’s Laurence Papel brings further breadth, particularly in hotel development, as does Charleston’s Jay Claypoole in multifamily and condominium documents together with easements, land use, and development.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s ‘highly knowledgeable’ team frequently assists private equity investors, financial institutions, developers, and multinational companies on acquisitions of land and properties, joint ventures, and lender side construction loans and acquisition financings. In the past year, the team has been particularly active in the industrial, multifamily, and mixed-use spaces, in addition to energy matters involving offshore and wind energy. John Jennings leads the team from San Antonio and handles a broad range of transactions as well as negotiations of federal, state and local economic development incentives. Katherine Tapley brings experience in acquisition and development mandates including in multi-family, healthcare, and entertainment venues. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, transaction and finance attorney Dani Davis is also active on a range of matters including workouts.

Acting for lenders and borrowers, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP‘s New York-based practice focuses on complex real estate finance mandates, regularly advising on mortgage and mezzanine financings, acquisitions, leases, and joint ventures. With clients including Blackstone Mortgage Trust and The Carlyle Group, the real estate team advises a blend of large investment and private equity funds across a diverse set of asset classes. Julian Wise has extensive experience on transactions and finance structuring, including in senior and multi-tranche mezzanine financings, intercreditor agreements, loan portfolio acquisitions and disposals, and restructurings. Partner Seth Henslovitz is another key name on a range of finance, transactions, and restructuring matters, as is Ari Aranda.

The team at White & Case LLP regularly handles acquisitions, sales, and development together with financings and workouts for a wide collection of domestic and global owners and developers. Team leader Eugene Leone is regularly approached by private equity firms and entrepreneurs for her transaction and structuring expertise which encompasses the likes of joint ventures and leasing; he divides his time between the Chicago and New York offices. In New York, Steven Lutt provides assistance on M&A and distressed debt transactions spanning industrial to hospitality, residential to mixed-use properties. Transactional experts Michael J. McKeever, David J. Pezza and Aaron Potter, noted for his energy and condominium construction and development experience, are also highly active members located in the Chicago office.

WilmerHale’s real estate practice group is particularly active in the life science space as well as developmental work. The team has experience representing owners and developers, REITs and corporates, with expertise encompassing transactions, the formation of joint ventures, and lease work. Recently, the firm has also been involved in a number of headquarters and lab lease transactions, representing parties on both the landlord and tenant sides. Based in Boston, Douglas Burton leads the team covers a range of asset classes spanning from life-sciences through to hospitality, multi-family, and senior housing. Paul Jakubowski is also of note, as are counsel Michael Kaplan and Brett Jackson.