Cleary Gottlieb’s real estate practice is diversified and global, spanning the full range of transaction types, regions, and asset classes.

The firm has a long-standing record of advising on large and high-profile real estate acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financings, and restructurings.

For more than 70 years, Cleary has been a pioneer in real estate law across the globe, with lawyers in 16 international offices providing practical and innovative solutions to the business real estate needs of a wide range of U.S. and multinational clients.

Notable Experiences

Investment

  • ESL Investments in the real estate aspects of its $5.2 billion acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Sears Holdings.

  • Brookfield Asset Management in its $1 billion acquisition of a 49% interest in seven multifamily and mixed-used properties in New York, California, and Hawaii, and in its formation of a joint venture with Carmel Partners.

  • Mapletree Investments in its $2.39 billion acquisition of a portfolio of 164 U.S. industrial assets from Exeter Property Group.

  • A real estate asset manager in its $2.5 billion acquisition of a publicly traded multifamily REIT.

  • An investor in a major real estate fund that acquired MPG Office Trust, making the fund the largest office landlord in downtown Los Angeles.

  • A sovereign wealth fund in crafting complex joint ventures around the world, including a $600 million platform to develop student housing and apartments across the U.S., its potential acquisition of a publicly traded multifamily REIT, and development of a first-class office in Shanghai and the development of residential properties throughout India.

  • A significant Asian sovereign wealth fund in connection with launching a joint venture platform to acquire multifamily residential properties for conversion into extended stay apartments and the fund’s acquisition of office properties in Germany.

  • A private investment firm in multiple joint venture, acquisition, disposition and financing transactions totaling over $1.7 billion, including the acquisition and financing of hotels, retail and office buildings across the U.S., including properties in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and in connection with development projects in New York City and Ohio.

  • Genting in several development projects in the U.S., including a private investment to develop Resorts World Casino New York City, a resort-casino with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in southeast Massachusetts and in its acquisition of 40 acres of waterfront development sites in downtown Miami, Florida.

  • A private investment firm in joint venture, acquisition and financing transactions, including investment in and financing of a 5.5 acre New York City development.

  • An international holding company in its acquisition and financing of an investment property located in New York City’s prestigious Fifth Avenue retail corridor.

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Financing

  • Goldman Sachs, as lender, in the $900 million mortgage financing of a portfolio of movie studios and associated office properties in Los Angeles, with Netflix Inc., It’s a Laugh Productions Inc. (owned by Disney Channel Worldwide), and ABC Studios as the largest tenants.

  • The arrangers in the financing of Brookfield Asset Management’s $11.4 billion acquisition of Forest City Realty Trust Inc.

  • Mapletree Investments, as borrower, in its $2.08 billion financing of a portfolio of 199 industrial properties located throughout the United States.

  • Hospitality Investors Trust, as borrower, in two simultaneous financing transactions: a mortgage and mezzanine loan package totaling $1.04 billion secured by a portfolio of 120 hotel properties, and a commitment to amend a $285 million term mortgage loan.

  • The syndicate of lenders in the mortgage and mezzanine financing of Blackstone’s multibillion-dollar acquisition of Strategic Hotels & Resorts.

  • The syndicate of lenders in the mortgage and mezzanine financing of the $2.6 billion REIT spin-off transaction of over 200 Sears stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

  • The syndicate of lenders in the mortgage and mezzanine financing of GIC and Global Logistic Properties’ multibillion-dollar acquisition of IndCor Properties.

  • A Mexican bank, as lender, in numerous bridge and construction loans, financing luxury multifamily, hotel and mixed-use projects.

  • A major real estate debt fund, as lender, in numerous mezzanine and construction financings, including construction financings for major retail and mixed-use developments and condominium conversions.

  • Principal finance counsel to a major investment bank, originating over $4 billion in mortgage and mezzanine financing in the last 12 months.

  • A private equity fund, both as borrower and lender, in financings involving high-end resorts and recreation facilities.

  • Genting Group on the financing of its $3 billion Las Vegas casino and hotel development, including an EB-5 component.

  • A major investment bank in an almost $1 billion financing of a portfolio of 75 multifamily properties, the largest transaction of its kind in San Francisco to date.

  • An investment fund, as lender, in an almost half-billion dollar financing of a national portfolio of luxury hotels and in its acquisitions of subordinate tranches of CMBS debt.

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Publications

Events