Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is home to a real estate practice group, which is praised as ‘exceptional in every sense’. It is a reliable advisor to financial services corporations, multinational entertainment companies, hotel groups, institutional investors, and private investors. The team is led by the trio of Misty Sanford, David Drewes, and Carly Glover Saviano . Sanford, who practices in Los Angeles, is equipped to assist clients with multi-layered capital stacks, residential leasing matters, and secured bridge loans related to project construction. In New York, Drewes and Saviano offer sector-specific expertise in residential and commercial transactions, respectively. The ’amazing’ Karen Lorang operates out of LA and leverages a wealth of real estate finance expertise in her practice. John Bain works out of the firm’s office in Dallas and can handle land sales, industrial property financing, and REIT matters. He joined the team from Akin alongside Wesley Smith in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's real estate practice is exceptional in every respect. What truly sets the team apart is the seamless combination of deep technical expertise, commercial awareness, and a consistent solutions‑oriented mindset. They possess an unusually strong command of both the legal intricacies and the business realities that drive modern real estate transactions, which enables them to provide advice that is not only legally sound but highly strategic.'
- 'From a client's perspective, the team's greatest strengths are their responsiveness, precision, and ability to anticipate issues before they materialize. They operate with a level of coordination and discipline that is rare even among top‑tier firms; matters are staffed intelligently, communication is crisp, and complex issues are distilled into practical, actionable guidance. Compared with other firms we have engaged, Willkie stands out for its balance of top-quality legal work and an unwavering commitment to client service. They simply feel more invested in achieving an optimal outcome.'
- 'Very knowledgeable and a ton of depth.'
- 'The individuals I work with at Willkie stand out for their intelligence, poise, and ability to manage highly complex matters with clarity and confidence. Their partners are exceptional not only in technical mastery but also in judgment, knowing when to push, when to negotiate, and how to craft creative solutions that protect the client while keeping transactions on track.'
- 'Karen Lorang and Misty Sanford are amazing.'
Key clients
- Adept Development
- Breakthrough Properties
- Brookfield Properties
- Cain International
- Carlton Senior Living
- Caruso
- Centerbridge Partners
- Choice Hotels
- CIM Group
- Credit Suisse
- The Davis Companies
- DiamondRock Hospitality Company
- DigitalBridge Group (f/k/a Colony Capital)
- DivCo West
- Eagle Real Estate Partners
- Faropoint
- GI Partners
- Goldman Sachs
- Harbor Group International
- Harel Insurance & Finance
Work highlights
Advised leading luxury retail and real estate company Saks Global on its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group for a total enterprise value of $2.7 billion.
Representing Eagle Real Estate Partners, LLC in its acquisition of the Crystal View Apartments, a 402-unit multifamily community located at 12901 Bayport Street, Garden Grove, California.
Advised Mutual of America in the sale of its stake in 320 Park Avenue to Munich Re,which will take full ownership of the office building in New York.
Practice head
Misty Sanford; David Drewes; Carly Glover Saviano
Other key lawyers
Karen Lorang; John Bain; Wesley Smith; Andres Cantero