Real Estate

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.

Advised an infrastructure development, management, and operations firm in the acquisition of legacy wind power generation assets, including assessing the risk of contamination liability, advising on appropriate contract protections, and evaluating requirements regarding species protection issues.

Advised a global infrastructure investment manager on strategic power generation and infrastructure investments, including both developmental stage and operational projects, focusing on current and legacy environmental site conditions, contamination, permitting, regulatory compliance, and land use issues.

Defended a multi-family housing landlord in Baltimore City Circuit Court in a 40+ plaintiff personal injury and constitutional rights litigation related to allegations that the landlord’s security guards were harassing residents and that the guards were allegedly abusing their “Special Police” powers.

Representing a luxury resort and casino in negotiations for a multi-level parking garage lease. This is an expansion of existing space under a long-term lease and will allow the tenant to provide its visitors with safe and convenient access to the hotel and casino building.

Advised real estate investment trust on the installation of roof-top solar systems, including drafting rooftop solar leases, negotiating power purchase agreements with tenants and engineering, procurement, and construction contracts with vendors.

Advised clients on environmental issues in commercial transactions, including due diligence reviews for real estate transactions, risk evaluation of using properties as loan collateral, permit transfer, facility closures, and liability and indemnity issues in corporate transactions.

Counseled real estate investment trust (REIT) clients regarding environmental and land use due diligence for various real estate portfolio transactions involving numerous properties, including acquisitions of industrial, truck stop and gasoline station, office, hotel, and senior living properties.

We represented a Qatari businessman who was defrauded by his business partner in connection with a business park development in the Middle East. After protracted litigation, we obtained a multi-million dollar judgment in favor of our client.

Obtained judgment in favor of managing member and co-owner of multimillion dollar real estate enterprise in dissolution and breach of fiduciary duty litigation following 15-day trial. Judgment affirmed on appeal.

Represented a commercial real estate developer at both trial and on appeal in federal court in a complex dispute involving an early termination provision of a commercial lease.

Obtained multiple judgments, following trial or motion, on behalf of national, regional and local real estate developers in commercial lease matters.

We represented the client in connection with a receivership, two foreclosures, and the forced sale of multiple real estate developments. When the client’s borrower defaulted on several loans that were secured by various real estate development projects in Baltimore City, we instituted confessed judgment litigation and foreclosure actions against all of the obligors. In addition, during the course of our representation, one of the developments securing the borrower’s obligations was forced into receivership by the City of Baltimore. We were successful in obtaining judgments against the obligors and garnishing the obligors’ accounts. These actions, as well as the pressure of the pending foreclosure actions, ultimately lead to the sale of the Bank’s collateral to another developer and obviated the need for selling the development projects at foreclosure. Additionally, we were deeply involved in the Baltimore City receivership proceeding and worked with the City of Baltimore to allow the sale of the Bank’s collateral to another developer in lieu of having a receiver sell the development at a below market price . As a result of our representation, and notwithstanding the numerous obstacles posed by the borrower, we were ultimately able to force the sale of two properties to another developer and the client was paid in full, including all fees and costs, from the sale of the collateral.