Andrew E. Skopp

Advised on land use and development matters in Loudoun County, Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, and served as local counsel on more than $975 million in construction financing for a data center campus in Frederick, Maryland.

Represented a data center infrastructure development company as local Maryland counsel in a deal to secure over $975 million in construction financing for the first phase of a major data center campus. The multi-phase development project involves the conversion of a former industrial site into a modern complex that will ultimately provide 2 gigawatts of power capacity. Our ongoing representation includes advising on additional financing arrangements for subsequent development phases.

Miles & Stockbridge Principals Andrew Skopp and Joe Ward recently represented client Ernst Valery and SAA | EVI in closing $5 million in financing from the Reinvestment Fund and Columbia, Maryland-based Enterprise Community Loan Fund for its newly-created Aequo Fund, which is providing capital, access and support to the underrepresented real estate community in Baltimore, Richmond, Buffalo, Philadelphia and Portland, Maine. The Aequo Fund is investing in Black, Brown, Women and Immigrant real estate developers, enabling them to launch their first project or expand their portfolios, with a focus on projects that promote affordable homeownership in urban communities. The related Aequo Foundation also has established the Aequo Scholarship Program, which will provide financial support to individuals who are pursuing a Master's degree in Real Estate Development. By reducing the financial strain of pursuing higher education, The Aequo Foundation will make the field more accessible to developers from all backgrounds. These students also will have the opportunity to partner with Ernst Valery through the Fund to develop housing in the cities mentioned above.

Represented a lender to develop a set of loan documents, which protect our client’s interests in both the stream of income derived from borrower’s contracts with the building owners as well as the energy-related equipment installed at the buildings. The borrower is a Philadelphia-based, energy efficiency services and equipment provider. Using the loan documents we developed, our client is able to obtain a security interest when funding the borrower who is entering into contracts with large-scale building owners to provide equipment and services to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the buildings.

Represented national bank in connection with a $26 million construction loan to an affiliate of a real estate developer for construction of an apartment project secured by real property in Washington, D.C. This is a complex transaction subject to ground lease, bridge financing and federal historic tax credits.

Represent a real estate developer in connection with tax credit investments of nearly $8 million, $14 million in construction financing, and another $3 million in historic tax credits. The project included working with the Maryland Historical Trust and the National Park Service on the transformation of a historic building into affordable housing and a brew pub. Because the location was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the inclusion of a historic tax credit this project required an extra level of scrutiny of designs and plans.