Peter S. Britell has been the lead construction and real estate counsel in some of the preeminent construction projects and real estate transactions of the last two decades. He chaired the D& L Global Real Estate Practice Group from 2004 until becoming Of Counsel in 2010. He has broad experience in all aspects of construction and real estate, including architecture and engineering agreements; construction management and construction contracts of all types; structuring complex development projects; REITs (real estate investment trusts); purchase/sale transactions; sale/leasebacks; leasing of all kinds; complex mortgage and other financings; real estate brokerage matters; land use and development matters; partnership, limited liability company and joint venture transactions; and property, hotel and other management agreements. Mr. Britell is experienced in representing clients from non-US jurisdictions in US projects. He is very experienced in resolving construction and real estate disputes. He is listed under Real Estate in Best Lawyers in America, New York Super Lawyers and The New York Area's Best Lawyers. He is the author of "Green Buildings: Law, Contract and Regulation" (Law Journal Press, 2010), the first major treatise on the law of green buildings, and a leader in the developing law of green buildings. Representative Matters · One of the firm's team leaders in advising the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation on the World Trade Center Redevelopment Project; · One of the firm's team leaders in advising Amtrak on the proposed renovation of Penn Station in connection with the Moynihan East and West Redevelopment Project; · Drafted and negotiated documentation for the acquisition, design, construction and financing of a new performance and education facility for Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Center Condominium at Columbus Circle; · One of the lead partners representing Con Edison in drafting and negotiating the contract for the sale of nine acres on the East Side of Manhattan, including the Waterside generating plant; · Lead counsel in drafting and negotiating agreements for site acquisition, design, construction and financing for the Samuel B. & David Rose Building at Lincoln Center; and continuing representation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. in connection with its current campus-wide redevelopment project; · Construction counsel to The New York Public Library in its renovation and development projects, including restoration of the Central Research Facility at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue; restoration of Bryant Park (and construction of a six-million-volume storage facility); restoration of the Schomburg Center and the Library for the Blind; construction of the Science, Industry & Business Library in the former B. Altman store; and construction of the Bronx Library Center; · Counsel to a leading Japanese life insurer in structuring convertible mortgage financings on major "trophy" office buildings; subsequently acquiring those properties through workouts; then monetizing those properties though an institutional REIT with one of the largest US office developers; · Construction counsel advising The Cooper Union in construction of its iconic new Academic Building in Cooper Square; · Represented a European investor in master leasing two office buildings - one in Chicago and one in New York City (totaling 2 million sq. ft.) - and acquiring the fee to a third (1 million sq. ft.) from a major New York developer; · Represented a leading Japanese life insurer in a partnership to redevelop the former Gimbels 33rd Street store into what is now Manhattan Mall, a 1 million-plus sq. ft. project combining a vertical retail mall and upper-floor offices; · Drafted and negotiated the contract under which Volkswagen acquired more than 1,200 acres and a 2 million sq. ft. half-completed facility from Chrysler Corporation for Volkswagen's Westmoreland Assembly Plant in Pennsylvania; also acquisition of a large stamping facility in West Virginia from American Motors; · One of the principal architects of the New York City "pass-through" contract, developed in the early 1980s so the City could fund renovation and/or development of its museums, libraries, performing arts facilities and other cultural institutions; · Represented the New York City Parks Department in drafting and negotiation of agreements for transfer of the management of the Central Park Zoo to the New York Zoological Society, one of the first "privatizations" of a municipal facility and an inspiration for creation of the "Business Improvement District," which has since been adopted in many areas of New York City; and · Played a key role in negotiating Coudert Brother's office lease in the Grace Building, a transaction then-recognized as a benchmark New York large law firm lease. Design and Construction Dewey & LeBoeuf is one of only a few major New York firms with a design and construction practice. As leader of this practice, Mr. Britell has represented institutions in negotiating agreements with many world-famous architects, among them Frank Gehry, Morphosis, Rafael Viñoly, Enrique Norten, Foster + Partners, Davis Brody Bond, Snohetta, Polshek Partnership, Cooper Robertson & Partners, Beyer Blinder Bell, Butler Rogers Baskett and Hardy Holtzman Pfeiffer. He has also negotiated contracts with many of the largest US construction companies, among them Turner Construction Company, Tishman Construction Corporation of New York, Bovis Lend Lease, F.J. Sciame Construction Company, Inc., Suffolk Construction Company and Gilbane Building Company. Mr. Britell is very experienced in resolving disputes under design and construction agreements. Selected Activities · Adjunct Professor (2009 and 2010), University of Miami School of Law L.L.M. Program in Real Property Development, "Law of Green Buildings." · Member of the National Roster of Neutral Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (Construction and Commercial Panels). · Chairman (1987-2000) and chairman emeritus (2000-2007) of the board of Housing & Services, Inc., a not-for-profit developer of low-income housing and special needs facilities, which developed more than 1,300 residential units with a value of over $300 million during Mr. Britell's tenure. · Former partner and head of the real estate group at Coudert Brothers. · Former partner, head of the real estate department and chairman of the management committee at Lord, Day & Lord, where he created the real estate practice. · Subject of a profile in The Lure of the Law by Richard W. Moll (1990). Awards and Recognitions · Best Lawyers in America (2008-2010) · New York Super Lawyers (2008, 2009) · The New York Area's Best Lawyers (2008, 2009) Green Buildings Law Treatises · Author, "Green Buildings: Law, Contract and Regulation," (600 p.), Law Journal Press (December 2010). · Author, Chapter 13A - "Green Provisions in Leases," Negotiating and Drafting Office Leases, Wood & Di Sciullo (Law Journal Press 2009 and later updates). Articles · "Trends in Green Litigation: New Litigants, New Damages," New York Law Journal (November 21, 2011). · "LEEDing the Way to Value: Green Issues Can Drastically Affect Mortgage Collateral," New York Law Journal (August 8, 2011). · "Who to Pay for Energy Laws Compliance?" New York Law Journal (with Stuart Saft, June 21, 2010) [about the new New York City local laws mandating energy efficiency in existing buildings]. · "The World of 'Green' Impacts Commercial Leasing," New York Law Journal (March 16, 2009). · "What Does 'Green' Mean? (Green Terms in Commercial Agreements)," New York Law Journal (June 11, 2007). Courses/Programs · "Law of Green Buildings," University of Miami School of Law L.L.M. Program in Real Property Development (2009, 2010, 2011) (Adjunct Professor). · Webinar, "Green Buildings Law: What You Need to Know," (Law Journal Press, May 5, 2011). Industries Global Construction |