Alston & Bird LLP

Alston & Bird showcases one of the largest and most sophisticated real estate practices in the United States. Situated at the intersection of capital flows and real property, the team offers the full array of qualifications and experience needed to handle virtually any type of real estate transaction or REIT issue. The group’s 50-plus lawyers reside in offices that span the country, from New York, Charlotte and Atlanta to Dallas and California. Our real estate finance practice is among the nation’s most sophisticated, and our client list is an enviable one, including many of the leading commercial and investment banks. We also represent institutional investors and nationally recognized developers in all manner of transactions, very often from conception to completion. Our REIT practice is an industry-leading, interdisciplinary group that consists of corporate, securities, real estate and tax specialists, and our public non-traded REIT practice is regarded by many as the best in the United States. Our talents and experience are demonstrably top shelf and easy to verify through client testimonials and third-party validations, which we encourage you to do.

Experience

Development
Economic Incentives
Hospitality
Joint Ventures & Investments
Land Development Regulation
Leasing
Real Estate Litigation
REITs & Funds
Enforcement, Workouts & Foreclosures
Commercial Real Estate Servicing
Sales & Acquisitions

Accolades

Alston & Bird’s Real Estate Finance & Investment and REIT Groups include a number of lawyers who have been perennially listed in Best Lawyers in America. They also include two members of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Alston & Bird’s real estate finance and investment practice also boasts high rankings in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, including, for example, three of the six Band One real estate lawyers in Georgia listed in the publication.

Bringing Value to Our Clients

Alston & Bird has had a dedicated real estate practice for generations. It is a deep and very experienced group, with broad geographical breadth that covers virtually the entire United States. Our client base consists of an enviable list of financial institutions, institutional investors, developers, REITs and other industry players. Our experience and credentials are second to none and our depth can support real estate transactions of virtually any scope.

Experience

• Represented an investment bank in the origination of a mortgage loan and mezzanine loan in the aggregate principal amount of $235 million. The mortgage loan is the largest loan in the securitization pool and is secured by a regional shopping mall located in Newark, Delaware.
   
• Represented a national bank, as lender and administrative agent, for a floating-rate, syndicated mortgage loan in the amount of $105 million secured by five single-tenant office buildings located in Texas, Illinois and Arizona.
   
• Represented a national bank in the origination of a $51.6 million mortgage loan for CMBS execution secured by 33 single tenant, industrial properties located in 12 states.
   
• Represented a national bank, as administrative agent and lender, in the origination of a syndicated mortgage loan in the amount of $120 million on a mixed-use building located in New York City. The transaction was structured to accommodate a reverse 1031 tax-deferred exchange and affiliate mezzanine debt.
   
• Represented a special servicer in the modification of a $250 million loan secured by nine hotel properties located in six states, including negotiation of an amendment to the intercreditor agreement and participation agreements.
   
• Represented a national bank in the origination of a $100 million mortgage loan for CMBS execution secured by a single tenant retail condominium located in New York City. The loan is the largest in the securitization pool.
   
• Represented a national bank in the sale of an $85 million portfolio of performing and nonperforming loans on 12 distressed assets located in six states. The deal involved transitional term negotiations with respect to collections and remedial actions during the six-month period after closing.
   
• Represented a special servicer in connection with the workout and foreclosure of a whole loan in a CDO securitization vehicle in the amount of $15.5 million and represented the issuer in the CDO in a suit by an adjacent landowner involving a dispute concerning a roadway agreement and the related priority of a roadway lien and mortgage lien, and the associated filing of a claim with a national title insurance company.
   
• Drafting of a development agreement with a major REIT for the $270 million redevelopment of a hospital and joint venture with the REIT for the development and ownership of 300,000 square foot medical office building and air rights above the new hospital, including development agreement, management agreement and lease agreement between the REIT and joint venture.
   
• Formation of a $2 billion private REIT for a Fortune 50 company’s retail real estate. This transaction involved the conveyance into the REIT and leaseback of over 575 retail stores located in 36 states.
   
• Represented a company in the $178 million acquisition of a 10-property senior housing portfolio in California, together with acquisition financing.
   
• Represented a telecommunications company in a $2.8 billion sale leaseback transaction of approximately 2,800 cellular towers located in 20 states.
   
• Represented a joint venture of two pension funds in the $130 million sale to a foreign investor of a single-tenant, 825,000 square foot corporate campus in Atlanta. The sale involved, for the first time, an Internet-based open bid process.
   
• Represented a plan sponsor in the formation of joint ventures with a national developer to develop five office buildings in a major metropolitan area, a deal valued at $800 million.

Alston & Bird's approach to diversity has been one of commitment and action to establishing diversity as a basic element of the firm's culture. The pursuit of diversity is important to the firm -- not because it has become a criterion for those who hire law firms -- but rather because the firm fully embraces the value each individual brings to the firm. A diverse culture and a willingness to recognize and appreciate that diversity strengthen the firm every day. We are proud of the activities we support and the results we have achieved.

Initiatives  

• Alston & Bird has designated a senior partner with responsibility for supporting and enhancing diversity -- not just monitoring it. John Latham ([email protected] 404.881.7915) reports directly to the firm's managing partner and chairs a diversity committee comprised of attorneys and staff from all offices. The committee is responsible for implementing the firm's policy for diversity enhancement in all hiring decisions and for overseeing a work environment that embraces diversity.
• Each of our practice group leaders is held accountable by the firm's management for the diversity efforts of her or his practice group. The success or failure of these efforts directly impacts the evaluation and compensation of our practice group leaders.
• We work with Roosevelt Thomas Consulting & Training, experts in the diversity and diversity management field, to develop education programs for our attorneys and staff.
• We offer domestic partnership insurance benefits and have a longstanding policy against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Alston & Bird is a founding member and active in the Atlanta Large Firm Diversity Alliance and the Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium.
• We proudly sponsor the Hispanic and Asian Bar Associations.

Awards and Commendations  

• Our workplace environment has been praised as one of the most open and receptive in the United States, not only among law firms, but also among all businesses. For the 14th consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been named to the list of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For,"® including placement in the top 25 for seven consecutive years, four of which were in the top 10. 
• In 2013, Vault Inc. ranked Alston & Bird ninth in the United States in diversity issues with respect to minorities.
• Alston & Bird has received a top rating of 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2012 Corporate Equality Index.  This is the eighth year in a row that Alston & Bird has received HRC’s perfect rating.
• Ben Johnson, the firm's former managing partner, received the Metro Atlanta YMCA Joseph C. Bransby Leadership Award, the highest award presented for outstanding volunteer service and recognition of exceptional leadership. Ben is also the recipient of the American Jewish Committee's Institute of Human Relations Award in recognition of his community activism and leadership in the battle against all forms of bigotry and discrimination and for his lifelong effort to promote human rights.
• The Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia has honored Alston & Bird with its "Outstanding Service to the G&L Community" award.