Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP‘s real estate capital markets, tax, and M&A practices come together to assist its mainly publicly traded REIT client base with real estate capital market transactions, M&As, and IPOs. The cross-departmental team is praised as providing ’the full suite of’ advice and in particular demonstrates capabilities in equity and debt transactions as both issuer’s and underwriter’s counsel. The department shines in the mortgage REITs space, advising an array of publicly traded mortgage REITs as company counsel, alongside its strong emphasis on hotel REITs. Operating from Washington DC, well-respected capital markets lawyer Robert Smith comfortably handles public REIT transactions and jointly leads the team with Kendal Sibley from Richmond who is an expert in the federal tax aspects of structuring equity and mortgage REITs. In Richmond, Kate Saltz is a key figure in corporate finance and public and private securities offerings while George Howell in the tax team also comes recommended.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Hunton Andres Kurth team is the top of the market in terms of REIT practices in terms of providing the full suite of tax, securities law and corporate advice.’
‘George Howell and Kendal Sibley are the preeminent tax lawyers in the space who are both knowledgeable and proactive. Rob Smith is an excellent corporate and securities law partner in the REIT space.’
‘Deep expertise on mortgage REITs across multiple departments, including corporate, securities, tax and regulatory. ’
‘Senior partners are readily available; consistency of staffing at junior levels so that they have history with the company and provide greater value add’
‘Counsel is world-class.’
‘Kendal Sibley is considered an expert within the REIT space and the best I've worked with. Her advice is well-informed and actionable. ’
‘Unparalleled subject matter knowledge and eagerness to help’
‘Robert Smith is extremely knowledgeable with regard to REIT's and our space.’
Key clients
- Underwriters' Counsel For Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.
- MFA Financial, Inc. NoEllington Management Group, L.L.C.
- AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc.
- Chimera Investment Corporation
- NewLake Capital Partners, Inc.
- Underwriters' Counsel for CTO Realty Growth, Inc.
- Postal Realty Trust, Inc.
- Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
- Chatham Lodging Trust
Work highlights
- Represented the initial purchasers in connection with a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of $575 million aggregate principal amount of 4.375% exchangeable senior notes due 2027 and $575 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% exchangeable senior notes due 2029, by Rexford Industrial Realty, L.P., a subsidiary of Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.
- Advised Hersha Hospitality Trust management in its $1.4 billion acquisition by KSL Capital Partners. T
- Represented Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE) in connection with its recently-announced acquisition of Palisades Group, a U.S.-based alternative asset manager specializing in residential real estate credit for cash consideration of $30 million at closing, plus an additional potential earnout of up to $20 million over five years contingent upon achieving certain financial targets.
Lawyers
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Rober Smith; Kendal Sibley
Other key lawyers
Kate Saltz; George Howell