Christopher H. Milton has a wide variety of experience in numerous areas of real estate financing, development, entitlements and operation.
He represents lenders and investors in multi-party real estate based financial transactions and related loan workouts, restructurings and foreclosures. More specifically, Chris has represented owners of real estate on mortgage loans of up to $200,000,000, various banks in construction loans ranging up to $100,000,000, large insurance companies on more than 50 permanent mortgage loans involving principal amounts from $15,000,000 to $310,000,000, and has been involved in private equity transactions, and in the formation of various joint ventures and sale/leaseback transactions. He also has represented many of these lenders and investors in workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
Chris also represents regional, national and foreign owners, developers and investors in connection with all aspects of real estate development from acquisition, through zoning relief, subdivision, permitting, environmental remediation and construction.
Furthermore, Chris has been involved in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and various other operational matters relating to real estate. Additionally, he has had significant involvement with real estate owners and operators in the valuation of real estate in eminent domain, agricultural preservation easement, conservation easement and tax abatement contexts.
Areas of Concentration
· Financings, Workouts, Restructurings & Foreclosures
· Private Placements, Sale/Leaseback Transactions
· Development and Construction
· Land Use, Zoning and Subdivision
· Environmental Compliance and Permitting
· Acquisitions and Dispositions
· Leasing and Operational Matters
· Tax Abatements, Eminent Domain
Significant Representations
Financing, Private Placement and Sale/Leaseback Matters
· Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $310,000,000 mortgage loan financing of One Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
· Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $180,000,000 mortgage loan financing of 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
· Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $87,500,000 mortgage loan financing of 40 Sylvan Road, Reservoir Woods, Waltham, Boston, Massachusetts.
· Represented lender in foreclosure of $51M loan on Westgate Mall in Brockton, Massachusetts.
· Represented two major pension funds as local counsel in connection with their financing of and investment in Trilogy, a 572-unit apartment complex in the Fenway neighborhood.
· Represented Gulf Oil in real estate aspects of new $600M credit facility involving 13 distribution facilities in 5 states.
· Represented Cumberland Farms in real estate aspects of new $350M credit facility involving in excess of 1,000 service stations in 7 states.
· Represented two major pension funds as local counsel in connection with their financing of and investment in 1330 Boylston Street, a 150-unit apartment and condominium complex in the Fenway neighborhood.
· Represented General Growth Properties in refinancing of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Massachusetts.
· Represented Century Bank, Bank of Boston, Shawmut Bank and other lenders in approximately 30 construction financings and related workouts, restructurings and foreclosures
· Represented Travelers Insurance Company on approximately 50 permanent mortgage loans in New England, and related workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
· Represented NYSE real estate investment trust in sale/leaseback of hotel resort complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
· Private placement of securities for entity acquiring real estate in Chatham, Massachusetts.
· Private placement of securities for entity developing 30-unit subsidized housing project in Rockport, Massachusetts.
· Private placement of securities for entities developing several office buildings in Phoenix, Arizona.
Development, Land Use, Environmental and Construction Matters
· Represented the First Church of Christ, Scientist in respect to Boston Landmarks Commission designation of Christian Science Plaza as a landmark.
· Represented casino operator in efforts to monitor possible advent of casinos and racinos in Massachusetts.
· Represented The Gillette Company in the master planning of and securing entitlements related to the 44-acre complex in South Boston owned by The Gillette Company including preparations for expansion of the South Boston Manufacturing Center and for cogeneration facility upgrade.
· Secured entitlements for Exchange Place, a 1,100,000 square foot office building in the Downtown Financial District in Boston.
· Secured entitlements for the 300-room/100-unit Four Seasons Hotel and Condominiums in the Back Bay neighborhood.
· Secured entitlements for Cassin/Winn Associates and Related Companies, LP for the second phase of the proposed 177-unit Baker Square condominium complex in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Boston.
· Secured entitlements for and disposition of a 32-unit luxury residential development of regional impact in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
· Implemented zoning allowing for the development of the 270,000 square foot Harvard Community Health Care Headquarters in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
· Represented the Bermuda Land Development Company in its efforts to dispose of the former U.S. Naval Annex at Morgan's Point, including significant development and environmental contamination issues.
· Secured entitlements for the first phase of the Baker Square condominium complex, including addressing significant environmental issues.
· Master planning of and securing entitlements for a 70-acre low-density residential community in Dedham, Massachusetts.
· Secured entitlements for a 31- home luxury residential project in Needham, Massachusetts.
· Performed all legal work associated with construction of a headquarters building and "clean rooms" for Kopin, Inc. in Taunton, Massachusetts.
· Secured certain entitlements for a 240-megawatt non-utility electrical generation facility for Dominion Energy.
· Secured entitlements for development of Herring Creek Farm, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
· Secured entitlements for construction of a new school for Nativity Prep.
· Secured entitlements for a 120-unit affordable housing project in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Acquisition and Sales Matters
· Represented Utilities and Industries Management Corporation in acquisition of Sam's Club in Natick, Massachusetts.
· Due diligence for Ordinary Share Issuances under AIM Rules of London Stock Exchange for Dawnay Day entities investing in retail, office, warehouse and residential assets in Germany and Ukraine.
· Disposition of 214-Acre Herring Creek Farm, Edgartown, Massachusetts to two non-profit entities and various private owners.
· Represented Reservoir Place Associates Limited Partnership in the disposition of a 500,000 square foot building in Waltham, Massachusetts.
· Represented Americana Hotels and Realty Corporation in dispositions of hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Springfield Illinois, Newark, New Jersey, New York City, New York and Jackson, Wyoming and associated workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
· Performed all legal work associated with the redevelopment of the 500,000 square foot former Armstrong World Industries facility in Braintree, Massachusetts.
· Represented the Kendall Company in the disposition of its former manufacturing complex in Walpole, Massachusetts.
Leasing, Tax Abatement, Eminent Domain and Operational Matters
· Represented Nuvera Fuel Cells in leasing of 120,000 SF research and development facility in Billerica, Massachusetts.
· Represented United Communications Group in 40,000 SF lease of office space in Dedham, Massachusetts.
· Represented private family company in leasing of space at John Hancock Building, Boston, Massachusetts.
· Negotiated private-public partnerships with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Massachusetts Highway Department and various other state and local agencies under which a new street layout will be implemented and a 2,200-foot section of the Harborwalk will be constructed.
· Represented The Gillette Company in securing significant, multi-year tax abatements for its South Boston Manufacturing Center.
· Represented Brookfield Properties Corporation in securing significant, multi-year tax abatements for Exchange Place.
· Represented the owners of the Greenhouse, a 322-unit luxury in apartment complex the Back Bay neighborhood, in securing multi-year tax abatements.
· Represented New England Seafood Center owners in eminent domain proceedings involving the MBTA Silver Line.
· Represented The Gillette Company in eminent domain proceedings involving the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project.
* Certain clients listed above were represented by Mr. Milton prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig.
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, Boston Bar Association
· Member, Real Estate Bar Association
· Member, Board of Ambassadors, The Home for Little Wanderers
· Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors, The Wellesley Club
Awards & Recognition
· Team Member, Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year" (2011)
· Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law (2010-2011)
· Listed, Chambers USA Guide, National - Real Estate Law (2009-2011)
· Member, Winning Team, Chambers USA Award for Excellence, Real Estate (2010)
· Rated, AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5