Our Real Estate attorneys provide prompt, innovative and sophisticated counsel to our clients involved in the development, acquisition, sale, and investment in real estate – commercial, retail, industrial, recreational, multi-family and single-family. Our experience includes complex real estate projects such as hotels, theaters, industrial parks, multi-use facilities, utilities, governmental, and other public facilities.
In addition to conventional commercial and retail leasing and financing – conventional construction and longer-term banking and institutional debt, bond financing, syndications and tax-deferred exchanges – we assist clients in fashioning economic incentive packages and layered financing using local, state, and federal programs such as tax increment financing, enterprise zones, all forms of tax credits, public/private partnerships and “soft” loans.
On a national basis, we have extensive experience in site selection and due diligence procedures including title, survey, and environmental work, particularly in connection with the development of hotels and shopping centers.
Whether the project is commercial or residential, multi-family, or multi-state, we work closely with developers, investors, lenders, underwriters, governmental authorities, and operating businesses in all phases of the real estate project.
ATTORNEYS
Richard K Mersman III
Christopher M Blanton
Kathryn J Giddings
Sandra B Greenfield
Harvey A Harris
Nancy M Hawes
Gregory F Herkert
Dale E Hermeling
Jeffrey R Schwartz
Charla M Claypool
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
- Acquisition, leasing and development counsel for over 100 restaurant properties in 22 states for a national restaurant company.
- Counsel for the disposition of over 150 fee and leasehold restaurant properties and related assets nation-wide for a national restaurant company in 2007 alone.
- Counsel for several major development projects in the St. Louis region, including the Renaissance Grand Hotel, Fox Theatre, Convention Plaza, Gateway Mall, DeBaliviere Place, LeChateau/Frontenac Hilton Hotel, The Merchandise Mart, Cupples Station Warehouse and The Paul Brown Building.
- Development counsel utilizing various federal and state tax incentives including tax increment financing associated with the redevelopment of the Humbolt Building in Grand Center, the Renaissance Grand Hotel, the Washington Avenue 353 and TIF awards and the St. Charles Fountain Lakes development.
- Counsel for the implementation of a 180 acre redevelopment area in midtown St. Louis utilizing incentive programs such as Chapter 353 tax abatement, including preparation of development control and management documents.
- Counsel for the formation, administration and tax-exempt bond financings for Transportation Development Districts, Community Improvement Districts and Tax Increment Financings.
- Counsel in the assemblage of 2.5 city square block area for 1,000 room convention headquarters hotel, including $98 million empowerment zone bond financing, to date the largest offering in the country.
- Founding counsel for the St. Louis Equity Fund and the St. Louis Housing Assistance Plan, including design of the original programs, financing and legal format for implementation. Assemblage of a 68 parcel site for redevelopment of a shopping center and construction, zoning and leasing matters for the shopping center.
- Counsel in the disposition of 36 operating grocery anchored shopping centers in nine states in a single transaction by 36 separate but related owners to an UPreit.
- Construction and leasing counsel for the second largest logistics facility constructed in the United States in 2002.
- Counsel for the structuring and implementation of joint ventures between an affiliate of a national supermarket chain and a regional developer for the construction of grocery anchored shopping centers. Assistance included joint venture documentation, acquisition, financing, leasing, and construction documentation.
- Acquisition counsel for an approximately 50 acre site and platting and disposition to a discount department store and outparcel users.