Real Estate
What We Do
DRB’s Real Estate practice provides comprehensive and sophisticated advice and deal management to sponsors and institutional investors across the full spectrum of commercial real estate transactions. We work hand-in-hand with our clients through all aspects of the acquisition, development and operations of their real estate investments, and we are frequently engaged at the investment analysis and underwriting stage of a project so that we understand our clients’ objectives from the outset. We work closely with the firm’s Tax counsel to implement tax-efficient ownership structures that address our clients’ needs, objectives, and requirements.
Our Real Estate practice has especially deep experience in the following core areas:
Joint Venture Formation & Structuring. We represent equity investors and developers in structuring and negotiating joint venture arrangements for the acquisition, ownership, and development of all asset classes of real estate, with a particular emphasis on large-scale ground-up developments in major markets across the Unites States. We regularly address and provide innovative approaches to complex issues relating to internal governance, allocation of business risks, exit mechanisms, and other legal and business issues critical to successful joint ventures.
Acquisitions & Dispositions. We prepare and negotiate agreements for the purchase and sale of real property and equity interests in individual and portfolio assets. We carefully review the real estate diligence and leverage our deep relationships with title companies, surveyors, zoning and land use experts and other consultants to resolve thorny issues.
Financing. We routinely handle all types of financing transactions underlying real estate investments, including construction and permanent loans, mezzanine financing, credit enhancements, and preferred equity transactions. We draft and negotiate financing arrangements on both the borrower and lender sides, and we bring to bear our understanding of the risks and interests of all parties to a transaction to reach positive and efficient outcomes.
Leasing and Operations. We have extensive experience with a wide range of leasing transactions relating to offices, retail, multifamily master leases and data center leases, including workouts and modifications. We are often called upon to assist our clients with a full spectrum of operational issues arising from the ownership of real estate, including property management, easements, entitlements, insurance and claims.
Workouts and Restructurings. When economic conditions prove challenging, our depth of experience throughout the life-cycle of real estate investments and strong relationships in the lending and real estate development and investment community enable our team to assist our clients in effectively accomplishing loan modifications, workouts and restructurings.