Real Estate

Overview

Steptoe & Johnson real estate attorneys are hand selected for their skill at working with clients on complex and often multi-year development projects. Clients appreciate the scalability of the real estate group and the ability to work with firm lawyers to tailor the scope of services and right-size the project team.

Attorneys in the real estate practice are entrepreneurial and measure their success on the success of their clients. Firm attorneys are often at the table when an idea becomes a plan and when a plan becomes a project.

Group members look at real estate projects holistically and often collaborate with firm lawyers experienced in labor, tax, environmental law, and litigation to ensure that clients can achieve their business goals and manage risk.

The real estate group provides comprehensive legal services to commercial and residential real estate developers, lending institutions, governmental entities, investors, inventors, entrepreneurs, energy companies, and buyers and sellers of business assets.

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Representative Experience

Represented real estate developers in analysis of planning, zoning, and land use regulations, including obtaining zoning ordinance waivers
Represented a client in the $13 million sale of over 150 acres on the east coast to a national homebuilder for a residential development
Represented a multifamily real estate company in a private offering in excess of $25 million
Represented a real estate fund in the purchase of various farms, ranches, and other rural real estate located in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas for aggregate purchase price of over $100 million
Represented a real estate client in a private placement offering of over $100 million to purchase commercial and mixed-use real estate properties
Engaged in a 1,100-acre mixed-use development including acquisition, conventional and public financing, acquisition of public grants and tax incentives, environmental remediation, construction, zoning and land use, state and federal and local environmental permitting, sales and ground leasing and build-to-suit leasing
Drafted lease documents and negotiated lease terms and build-to-suit construction contracts on behalf of real estate developers and tenants
Served as lead U.S. real estate attorney for Fortune 10 international energy company, including multisite and single-site acquisition, development, and divestment of properties across the country, and environmental claims related to such properties
Represented developer/borrower in acquisition of property in Hays County, Texas, and construction of apartment complex with both traditional financing and venture capital financing in a total amount equal to approximately $50 million
Represented senior lender in an $85 million downtown Dallas condominium development project involving PACE financing
Represented developer in various aspects of its ownership and development of 1,500 acres in northern Dallas/Fort Worth, including negotiating a development agreement with the local government
Represented large real estate developer in northern Dallas/Fort Worth in the sale and development of several lots, including a sale of nearly 40 acres in lieu of a right-of-way condemnation
Represented buyer in contract negotiations for 30,000-acre ranch
Represented banks, mortgage companies, investors, and individuals in real estate purchase, sale and refinance, including title examinations, document preparation, and closings
Conducted due diligence to ensure proper collateralization and documentation of loans by assisting in evaluation of real and personal property liens, appraisals, surveys, environmental surveys, taxes, corporate structure, leases, and other related items
Served as buyer’s counsel for real estate holding company’s acquisition of Class A high-rise office space building
Assisted client in the successful development of a mixed-use subdivision including commercial, residential, and church properties. Representation included establishing criteria for development standards; as well as drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various documents including a complex master association agreement
Represented commercial real estate developer in the multi-million-dollar purchase and development of mixed-use medical and athletic facility in Pennsylvania
Served as buyer’s counsel in the purchase of an eighteen-hole golf course and related assets

Highlights

Title agents affiliated with five different title companies, providing multiple avenues to complete a deal
Four group members were recognized among The Best Lawyers in America^® in Banking and Finance Law
Team members have key banking relationships in multiple states
Comprehensive government affairs team
A team member is a former State of WV Development Office executive
Two team members are former vice presidents of regional banks