Maryland counsel to the Blackstone Group attendant to numerous acquisitions and divestitures including sale of California real estate portfolio to Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HPP), acquisition of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE), acquisition of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BMR), acquisition of portfolio from Hines Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., proposed acquisition of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) (terminated), acquisition of Home Partners of America, Inc., and acquisition of Retail Opportunity Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: ROIC)