"Calfee takes a practical approach and works to find a solution. I have had a great experience with the team. They offer invaluable assistance."
Client quote, Chambers USA
Overview
Calfee’s Real Estate attorneys represent business entities, developers, investors, joint ventures, syndicators, institutional lenders, and individuals in connection with matters related to the acquisition, disposition, construction, development, leasing, financing, and zoning of real property assets.
We represent sophisticated business entities engaged in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures of corporate real estate investments and assets. In addition to conventional real property transactions, our practice encompasses the formation of investment entities, joint ventures and tax-advantaged investment arrangements, tax-deferred exchanges, and the representation of clients in complex, multi-site, and multi-state transactions. Many of our project engagements are structured as private/public partnerships.
Noteworthy
Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings
For 12 years, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Real Estate Law by Chambers USA 2023, most recently in Band 4 in Ohio.
Chambers USA researchers noted that Calfee's Real Estate team is known for their "experienced bench of transactional experts that attracts an impressive roster of lenders, developers, and companies, as well as public sector entities. Frequently acts on the sale, acquisition, and financing of property across a range of asset classes, as well as offering extensive leasing capabilities. Complements its transactional practice with dedicated zoning and land use know-how, allowing for a full-service approach to complex development projects."
Clients interviewed by Chambers USA said that the team provides "efficient, practical, and timely advice. Calfee can grasp a challenging situation and have a great way of simplifying complex issues. The team at Calfee always provides sound counsel and makes even the most complex matters easier to understand and work through. They provided very detailed answers with a quick turnaround. They always walked through the reasons and ramifications. Their knowledge of the law and experience gave us confidence. They take the time to learn our business, in order to focus on what is key and what is not. The team works very well together, and there is great support provided across and within practice areas. Each attorney is responsive and very knowledgeable. It's a power bench. Calfee is delivering the same results as other bigger firms we work with but at a much more manageable cost."
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2023 "Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in Real Estate Law (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland, Regional Tier 2 Columbus).
Professionals
Professionals
Experience
Experience
Acquisitions and Divestitures
- Represented a local company engaged in the design, manufacture, and distribution of products for the garage door industry in asset sale to a private equity company, which private equity company retained Calfee for continued representation of company interests post-closing.
- Served as local counsel for an international pharmaceutical manufacturer in a $2.65 billion stock acquisition of a local pharmaceutical company, which included a large headquarters facility as well as handled real estate matters for the same client in the asset acquisition of another local pharmaceutical company owning real property valued at more than $80 million.
- Represented a shopping center owner in the disposition of three large shopping centers in Ohio.
- Represented a restaurant in the acquisition of outlot parcels near regional malls in the Midwest.
- Represented a public manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, coatings, and sealants in the acquisition and leasing of its real property holdings throughout the U.S. and Canada.
- Represented a public food and hospitality company in its divestiture of properties throughout the U.S.
- Represented a client in the purchase and sale, master lease, affiliate guaranty, lender consents and operating company subleases for recapitalization, sale-leaseback transaction involving the sale of its R&D, manufacturing, and office facility, and the triple net leaseback of the site.
- Represented the Cuyahoga County Public Library in the sale and purchase of real property for the construction of new library branches.
- Represented a large healthcare industry client in connection with the purchase out of foreclosure of its 13-story, historic, central business district headquarters, negotiating with the building owner, receiver, counsel to trustee for the CMBS bondholders, and with other lienholders pursuing interests in the office building. We assisted the client in advising its Board and winning Court approval for the sale.
- Represented a private manufacturing client in connection with the purchase of a target’s real estate portfolio, including owned and leased real properties in Ohio, Indiana, and Mexico, as a part of Calfee’s engagement for an $82 million acquisition of an add-on business.
Project Development
- Represented a religious order in connection with design, zoning, and restrictive covenant review required in relation to the redevelopment project.
- Represented a global retailer in the development of approximately 30 large-format retail stores in Ohio and Kentucky.
- Represented industrial end users in the acquisition and development of a $300 million rail-oriented development in Ohio.
- Represented a joint venture involved in the acquisition, financing, and development of a large-scale, mixed-use development (retail, office, hotel, and apartment) in Northeast Ohio.
- Represented a privately held company in connection with the assemblage, acquisition, and leasing of real properties in Northeast Ohio for a mixed-use student housing and retail project.
- Represented a transportation authority in connection with its development of a multi-modal transportation facility, office building, and retail complex.
- Represented a client in connection with the sale of developed and undeveloped parcels to medical industry users.
- Represented a utility provider in the development and construction of a training center facility in Northeast Ohio.
- Represented a senior healthcare entity in connection with the construction and development of a new headquarters and training center using New Markets Tax Credits and subdivision and sale for the development of portions of its campus.
Real Estate Finance
- Represented a lender in out-of-state financing involving term and construction loans for large multi-tenant industrial development ground leased from the federal government.
- Represented a national bank in foreclosure and acquisition of large-scale, urban retail and hotel development.
- Represented a port authority in the financing of $95 million urban, mixed-use retail/grocery/apartment/parking development.
- Represented an institutional lender in numerous term loans involving manufacturing facilities.
- Represented a lender in term, construction, and bond financing for industrial development in Northeast Ohio.
- Served as local counsel to a hospitality joint venture in connection with the financing for the redevelopment of a downtown Cleveland property.
- Served as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of taxable revenue parking bonds for the construction of a parking garage, retail, and office space in Nashville, TN.
- Served as borrower’s counsel for fiber optic conduit financing.
- Represented a lender in financing term loans for a large multi-state retail tire store.
Leasing
- Represent a retail developer in leasing efforts in connection with a large, urban retail project in transition.
- Represent a local restaurateur in connection with high-profile restaurant leasing and catering projects.
- Represent a large healthcare industry client in negotiating a long-term lease of a 340,000 square-foot office tower to reposition and consolidate numerous, smaller service center operations.
- Represented a global corporation in a lease of 117,000 square foot downtown office headquarters.
- Represented a global retailer in ground leases of large sites in Ohio.
- Represented a public mining company on a 3,000-acre mining lease in West Texas involving lease negotiations, site due diligence, and project management.
- Represented a public mining company in connection with their mineral leases, track leases, and transloading leases throughout the U.S.
- Represented a designer and manufacturer of swimwear on the negotiation and documentation of its lease for a 190,000 sq. ft. new chief assembly, distribution, and office facility.
- Represented a local housing authority in the master lease of its former headquarters.
Land Use / Zoning
- Represented a hotel client in the sale of an out-lot for redevelopment, which sale involved lot split, zoning variances, and reciprocal easement agreement
- Represented a senior / assisted living development client in obtaining zoning and development approvals for independent / assisted living developments in Southwest and Central Ohio.
- Represented a nonprofit client in obtaining zoning approvals for addiction treatment / mental health facilities in Southwest Ohio.
- Represented a client in obtaining conditional use permit for industrial use in Northeast Ohio.
- Represented a nonprofit client in connection with the subdivision of its campus.
Real Estate Tax and Investments
- Represented Duke Energy Convention Center in tax valuation appeal resulting in a $50 million value reduction.
- Represented the Cincinnati Recreation Commission in tax valuation appeals for seven municipal golf courses resulting in tax savings of approximately $1 million annually.
Services
Services
Acquisition and Divestiture
- Real Estate purchases and sales
- Mergers, acquisitions, and corporate real estate transactions
- Joint Ventures
- Tax-deferred exchanges
- Sale/leaseback transactions
- Structuring acquisition entities
- Title, survey and site diligence
- Environmental risk management
- Environmental due diligence/compliance
Project Development
- Site control and acquisition agreements
- Construction and architectural contracting
- REAs, CCRs
- Public/private development projects
- Condominiums and co-operatives
- Tax abatement and governmental participation
- Conservation easements
Real Estate Finance
- Construction, permanent and mezzanine financing
- Ground lease financing
- Leveraged lease/loan transactions
- Bonds and structured financing
- Tax increment financing
- Equity syndication/participation
- Multi-state and international financing
Leasing
- Commercial, office, industrial, retail
- Ground leases
- Air rights
- Submerged land
Land Use / Zoning
- Planned unit/master development programs
- Building and zoning code compliance
- Annexation and eminent domain
- Zoning and entitlements
Real Estate Tax and Investments
- Joint ventures
- Real estate tax appeals
- Real estate tax litigation
News & Events
News
Blog Posts
