Practice Strengths

Real Estate


Effectively managing and leveraging real estate assets are critical to the success of today's businesses.

The foundation of Baker Hostetler's Real Estate Practice team rests on the broad experience of our real estate-focused lawyers. With capabilities in finance, distressed assets/workouts, development, acquisition, disposition and leasing matters, as well as in the energy and hospitality industries, we offer a full range of legal services to help clients meet their real estate objectives. Consistent with the multi-layered nature of our clients' transactions, our Real Estate Practice team frequently calls upon, and works seamlessly with, our colleagues in other disciplines such as tax, corporate and environmental to achieve results in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

We feature the nation's leading practice in timeshare, fractional and resort property development (for more information on our Hospitality Practice, click here)

Recognition

  • Named among the top firms in real estate law for both Ohio and Florida by Chambers USA, along with six lawyers listed as leading attorneys.
  • Ten team members listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
  • Two Fellows in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Distressed Real Estate Assets

Businesses affected by real estate and capital market turmoil require creative solutions for disposition of distressed assets, sound advice on evaluating new opportunities, and overall legal guidance throughout these turbulent times. To meet those diverse needs, Baker Hostetler has organized its Distressed Real Estate Assets capabilities. This nationwide, multi-disciplinary group provides clients with direct access to experienced practitioners who regularly deal with complex financing, acquisition, disposition, restructuring, litigation and bankruptcy issues. Our Distressed Real Estate Assets practitioners regularly work with lenders and other financial institutions, developers, asset owners, capital investors, private equity companies, investment bankers and other parties active in this complex marketplace. Please see the Distressed Real Estate Assets description for more information on this capability.

Real Estate Asset Program
Our Real Estate Asset Program (REAP) lawyers assist clients through the evaluation of their real estate and facility portfolios to identify ways to gain fiscal, management, and financial value. Our goal is to convert your real estate holdings from a liability to a performing asset.  Please see the Real Estate Asset Program description for more information on this practice.

Development and Land Use
We advise major developers and financial institutions involved in every type of development project, including: resort hotels, shopping centers, office complexes, residential subdivisions, manufacturing facilities, marinas, golf courses, historical renovations and major sports complexes, among others. Our lawyers recommend the best entity structure to help developers achieve their financial, tax and operating objectives, then handle all aspects of the land acquisition. We also prepare the leases, management agreements, development agreements, financing documents and any other documents necessary to bring the development to life.  Please see the Development and Land Use description for more information on this practice.

Finance
We can facilitate the financing of any project, whether using conventional lending or more unconventional sources including syndications, synthetic leasing, tax deferred exchanges, tenant-in-common trusts, securitization and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Our lawyers advise owners, syndicators, underwriters and investors on financing strategies, and are nationally recognized for preparing and critiquing disclosure materials and risk factors involved in private placements.  Please see the Real Estate Finance description for more information on this practice.

Transactions
We assist clients in selecting and acquiring land for location or relocation of all types of projects including plants, manufacturing facilities, office complexes, sports facilities, resort properties and headquarter buildings.  We handle all aspects of an acquisition, including negotiation of construction and permanent financing arrangements, acquisition agreements, building and architectural agreements, leases and management agreements and resolution of title deficiencies and analysis of zoning, planning and land-use issues.  Please see the Real Estate Transactions description for more information on this practice.

About Our Real Estate Team

Baker Hostetler's real estate team has a history of getting projects developed and deals done. Our firm has the multidisciplinary strengths to solve all the complex contractual, environmental and tax problems that can arise in single-use or multi-use developments. We regularly work on multimillion dollar projects, and our team includes lawyers recognized by their peers as being at the top of their game.
Real Estate Lawyers
Gary M. Alletag Partner
Houston 713.646.1356
G. Thomas Ball Partner
Orlando 407.649.4004
Brian A. Bash Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7581
Amy L. Bellman Associate
Denver 303.764.4129
Maureen A. Brennan Of Counsel
Cleveland 216.861.7957
Michael D. Bridges Partner
Columbus 614.462.4775
Ted R. Brown Partner
Orlando 407.540.7915
Alberto S. Bustamante III Partner
Orlando 407.540.7900
Jeffrey E. Decker Partner
Orlando 407.649.4017
Andrew M. Drogen Partner
New York 212.589.4292
Timothy J. Eloe Partner
Chicago 312.416.6212
W. John English, Jr. Partner
Houston 713.646.1384
David L. Evans Jr. Associate
Orlando 407.649.4078
Andrew M. Fisher Associate
Orlando 407.540.7932
Seth Freedman Counsel
Houston 713.646.1336
Kati L. Freeman Staff Attorney
Houston 713.646.1364
Richard T. Fulton Partner
Orlando 407.649.4005
Robert H. Gebaide Partner
Orlando 407.649.4059
Bruce R. Greene Partner
Los Angeles 310.442.8834
Kurt P. Gruber Partner
Orlando 407.649.4042
Patrick Hannon Partner
New York 212.589.4640
Mark Hatcher Associate
Columbus 614.462.4765
Elaine A. Hutchins Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7937
Joseph F. Hutchinson, Jr. Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7701
Lyndie M. James Associate
Orlando 407.540.7903
Pamela Gale Johnson Partner
Houston 713.646.1324
Victoria L. Johnson Counsel
Cleveland 216.861.7375
Amy E. Kellogg Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7982
James M. King Partner
Denver 303.764.4087
Julie A. Kolm Associate
New York 212.589.4648
Mark A. Kornfeld Partner
New York 212.589.4652
Jonathan F. Langer Associate
Denver 303.764.4057
Gregory D. Lee Of Counsel
Orlando 407.649.4096
Janet J. Lee Associate
Los Angeles 310.979.8466
Chris LeVeque Associate
Los Angeles 310.442.8861
Lawrence V. Lindberg Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7483
Joel A. Mayo Of Counsel
Denver 303.764.4108
James R. Mitchell Of Counsel
Orlando 407.649.4688
Sameer V. Mohan Partner
Houston 713.646.1309
Patricia J. O'Donnell Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7647
David W. Oigarden Associate
Orlando 407.540.7934
Rosemary O'Shea Partner
Orlando 407.649.4006
Michael J. Pappert Partner
Houston 713.646.1371
Jessica M. Parker Associate
Orlando 407.649.4683
Patrick J. Pauken Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7289
William L. Pence Partner
Orlando 407.649.4095
Ben L. Pfefferle III Partner
Columbus 614.462.2601
Karen Ward Procell Of Counsel
Orlando 407.649.4098
Tiffany D. Reyes Staff Attorney
Houston 713.646.1357
Harlan W. Robins Partner
Columbus 614.462.2665
Matthew C. Roesch Associate
Columbus 614.462.2621
Katherine Graham Sarlson Staff Attorney
Cleveland 216.861.7147
Michelle M. St. Pierre Partner
Denver 303.764.4089
David L. Starbuck Partner
Denver 303.764.4107
Ronald A. Stepanovic Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7397
Summer D. Swallow Associate
Houston 713.646.1306
Sarah M. Tobin Associate
Houston 713.646.1368
Allison E. Turnbull Partner
Orlando 407.540.7917
Andrea C. Wall Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7985
Robert J. Webb, RRP Partner
Orlando 407.649.4060
Michael C. Wilde Associate
Orlando 407.540.7901
Heather R. Wlodek Associate
New York 212.589.4663
Donald A. Workman Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1602
Todd D. Yaross Associate
Columbus 614.462.4750
Sue H. Yoo Associate
Costa Mesa 714.966.8806

For more information about our real estate practice:

National Contact

Harlan W. Robins

614.462.2665 

Chicago
Ronald S. Okada 312.416.6210
Cincinnati
Eric J. Geppert 513.929.3405
Cleveland
Elaine A. Hutchins 216.861.7937

Columbus

Harlan W. Robins

614.462.2665 

Costa Mesa
George T. Mooradian 714.966.8800
Denver
Joel A. Mayo 303.764.4108

Houston
Michael Pappert 713.646.1371

Los Angeles
Bruce R. Greene 310.442.8834
New York
Andrew M. Drogen 212.589.4292
Orlando
Jeffrey E. Decker 407.649.4017
Washington, DC
Jeffrey H. Paravano 202.861.1770

 

Contact

National Leader
Harlan W. Robins
614.462.2665


Contacts by Office »

Representative Clients

Associated Estates Realty Corp.

Developer's Diversified Realty Corp.

Hyatt Hotels

LESCO, Inc.

Steiner +  Associates

The E.W. Scripps Company

The Orvis Company, Inc.

Practice Highlights

A team of nearly 50 real estate lawyers throughout the United States

Provide guidance on handling distressed assets, workouts, and evaluating new opportunities in a turbulent market

Instrumental in creating and revising timeshare legislation in California, Illinois and Texas on behalf of our clients

Nationally recognized for our experience in real estate syndication and securitization

Counsel multiple publicly traded companies, including REITs, in connection with the acquisition and divestiture of portfolio properties.

Represent numerous clients in negotiating retail leases on a nationwide basis, including clients opening more than 70 stores annually.