Latham & Watkins combines real estate, capital markets, and tax expertise to advise REITs on a wide range of transactional and financing matters across multiple asset classes, including large-scale IPOs, M&A, and debt and equity offerings. The practice is co-headed by Los Angeles–based Julian Kleindorfer, Lewis Kneib, and Ana O'Brien, bringing together extensive capital markets and tax experience. Kleindorfer has advised on numerous securities offerings for REITs and real estate companies, while Kneib regularly acts as outside counsel to REITs and investment banks on equity and debt offerings, private placements, and tender and exchange offers, including acting as underwriters’ counsel. O’Brien focuses on the federal taxation of REITs, advising on formations, capital markets transactions, joint ventures, and strategic investments. Tax partner Pardis Zomorodi advises REITs on formations, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and ongoing operational tax matters, including IRS rulings. Brent Epstein advises REITs on public offerings and capital markets transactions. Michael Rechtin recently joined the firm.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Key clients
- Ares Management LLC
- Bank of America
- Citigroup
- Digital Realty Trust
- Essex Property Trust
- Four Corners Property Trust
- Goldman Sachs
- Host Hotels & Resorts
- Hudson Pacific Properties
- JP Morgan
- Lineage, Inc.
- Paramount Group
Work highlights
Advised Sun Communities, a REIT that owns and operates or has an interest in manufactured housing and recreational vehicle communities, in its US$5.65 billion sale of Safe Harbor Marinas, a marina and superyacht servicing business, to Blackstone Infrastructure.
Advised Paramount Group, a vertically integrated REIT that owns, operates, manages, and redevelops Class A office properties, in its US$1.6 billion acquisition by Rithm Capital.
Advised Digital Realty Trust in the second phase of its US$7 billion joint venture with Blackstone for the purpose of developing four hyperscale data center campuses across three metros in Europe and North America.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Julian Kleindorfer; Ana O’Brien; Lewis Kneib
Other key lawyers
Pardis Zomorodi; Brent Epstein; Michael Rechtin