The team at DLA Piper LLP (US) is well regarded for its practice representing real estate investors, advisers, asset managers, and fund sponsors, as well as lenders, borrowers, developers, and owners, in high-profile matters. The broad team has expertise in a broad range of areas, with experience across all real state asset classes, and various types of transactions including acquisitions and sales, real estate M&A, fund formations, and joint ventures. John Sullivan, based in the Boston office, acts as co-head of the real estate practice, with a particular emphasis on representing public and private pension plans, private equity funds, and complex joint-venture transactions. Fellow co-head Bryan Connolly, also based in Boston, concentrates his practice on real estate developments, acquisitions and dispositions, and leasing matters. Supporting the Boston office, John Rattigan and Oriana Montani are well-respected for their work on a wide range of real estate matters, including financings and REIT work. Elsewhere, Frederick Klein and Lauren Rico in the Washington office represent domestic and offshore investors in projects throughout the US with experience across a range of asset classes, and Cara Nelson in Boston represents foreign pension funds in complex joint venture negotiations with both domestic and foreign JV partners.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The DLA team has an unparalleled knowledge of transactions in any given market. They have a long history of what is relevant for any geography but also a wide knowledge of what is going on currently. That helps to confirm that the counsel you are receiving is truly excellent and helps drive critical business decisions.'
- 'The DLA Piper Boston real estate practice group is without question the most knowledgeable and effective in the local market. There is no attorney in the City of Boston better tied into City Hall than John Rattigan, and his team is exceptional in every respect. The DLA team has a unique blend of real-time political insight, unmatched transactional experience, and a white-glove client service approach that makes clients and collaborators feel like trusted friends.'
- 'We work most closely with John Rattigan and Oriana Montani, who are each best-in-class attorneys in their own right but in combination deliver a level of client service and legal support that is unparalleled. In particular, Oriana is impressive both in her legal knowledge and expertise, but also in her ability to lend a sense of seamlessness to working with DLA, in that, while she is the primary laboring oar and point of contact, it is always evident that John is kept fully apprised behind the scenes, and it is apparent both John and Oriana are always playing from the same sheet of music.'
- 'Oriana Montani's can-do attitude, professionalism, deep well of transactional experience, and quick thinking on her feet have resulted in her establishing herself as a force in her own right.'
- 'When I recommend DLA Piper's Boston real estate practice, I always recommend John Rattigan and Oriana Montani in combination. As a team, they deliver a caliber of service that renders one plus one equal to three.'
Key clients
- AEW Capital Management LP
- Affinius Capital
- Akamai Technologies
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P.
- Ardent Data Centers
- Ares Management Corporation
- Artemis Real Estate Partners
- ASB Capital Management LLC
- AXA
Work highlights
Represented The Fallon Company in connection with a thirty-acre $2bn mixed-use project on Nashville’s “East Bank.” The project will connect a new National Football League stadium and downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Represented Oxford Properties Group as co-developer of the 26-acre Hudson Yards mix-use project in New York City.
Represented Harrison Street in connection with an acquisition/joint venture ($1.2bn enterprise valuation) with American Campus Communities of a portfolio of public-private partnership student housing facilities located on Arizona State University’s campus.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
John Sullivan; Bryan Connolly
Other key lawyers
John Rattigan; Oriana Montani; Frederick Klein; Cara Nelson; Lauren Rico