Chris Pitt concentrates his practice in commercial and residential real estate matters. In addition to representing institutional and private lenders, and commercial and residential real estate developers, purchasers, and sellers, he has broad experience in land use aspects of Massachusetts municipal law and has acted as local counsel on a variety of development issues, including zoning, subdivision control, and construction permitting.
Mr. Pitt is president of the Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts and cochair of its Title Standards Committee. He regularly chairs a seminar on resolving complex real estate title issues for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. He is a member of the Abstract Club and is an issuing agent for most major title insurance companies. In addition, he is a member of the Real Estate Finance Association and the real estate sections of the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations. Mr. Pitt was included in the 2009 and 2011 Massachusetts Super Lawyers® list in the area of Real Estate (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).
Professional Associations
- Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts, President 2012; Board of Directors 2000 to present; Title Standards Committee, Chair 2004 to present; Continuing Legal Education Committee, Cochair 2000 to 2003
- Boston Bar Association, Title and Conveyancing Committee (Real Estate Section), Cochair 2000 to 2002
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Real Estate Finance Association
Honors and Awards
- Listed in Massachusetts Super Lawyers® in the area of Real Estate Law in 2009 and 2011 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
Experience
- Advised water authority regarding title and transactional aspects of the acquisition of property in eastern Massachusetts for the development of a new water storage facility. Researched title information, advised authority's in-house counsel on drafting and negotiation of purchase and sale agreement, drafted and negotiated title clearing instruments, and provided extensive closing assistance for property acquisition.
- Undertook extensive title research and prepared title reports regarding acquisition of real estate rights for transportation authority station improvements.
- Advised transportation authority regarding title and transactional aspects of acquisition of real estate rights from public and private owners for construction of new elevators and station renovations regarding selected station accessibility program. This project included negotiation of memorandums of agreement and preparation of in-depth title reports on the statutory and record title basis for authority's interests at the stations.
- Advised transportation authority on title and transactional matters related to acquiring certain temporary and permanent interests in real estate with certain municipalities in eastern Massachusetts for accessibility improvements, including new elevators, in connection with the authority's settlement of a disabled patron accessibility class lawsuit. Work has included extensive title research, preparation of a title report delineating the authority's current and proposed interests at the stations, and successful completion of contract negotiations through memorandums of agreement with each municipality.
- Retained to complete a complex due diligence process and to structure and close a transaction involving the acquisition of existing purchase by various entities, and closing a $20 million-plus loan transaction for Southport on Cape Cod.
- Representation of a market and butcher shop in opening of its fourth store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Store is 36,000 square feet in an approximately 150,000-square-foot shopping center. Representation involved lease negotiation, corporate formation of new entity, and construction financing through DanversBank and a Small Business Administration loan for tenant improvements and new equipment.
Publications & Presentations
Presentations
- "Massachusetts Foreclosure and Title Practice Viewed through the Lenses of Bevilaqua and Ibanez" (11/30/2011) presented at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education
News
2.23.12, Attorneys Discuss Bevilaqua and Ibanez Cases at Seminar
2.22.12, Attorneys Work to Encourage More Funding for Civil Legal Aid
1.26.12, Two News Publications Quote Senior Real Estate Associate Christopher Pitt
9.09.11, Attorney Quoted in Story about Housing Court's Jurisdiction in Foreclosure Case
3.14.11, Robinson & Cole Attorneys Walk to the Hill in Boston
1.28.11, Christopher Pitt Weighs in on Revisions to Foreclosure Practice in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly