Real Estate

LEADERS

Overview

The Real Estate Practice Group handles the most sophisticated real estate transactions worldwide.  Our team of lawyers handles complex and challenging matters for a wide array of clients, such as the owners, developers and financiers of the largest real estate projects in the United States and Europe, both in the private and public sectors. Chambers USA and The Legal 500  consistently recognized us as a top-tier real estate practice and in 2023, U.S. News – Best Lawyers® named Gibson Dunn “Law Firm of the Year” in Real Estate Law.

Practice group members are skilled in a broad spectrum of transactions that includes:

  • Real estate finance
  • Development
  • Sales and acquisitions
  • Joint ventures
  • Land use and environmental matters
  • Leasing
  • Distressed asset workouts

Real estate matters may require a range of services and present varied challenges. The Real Estate group is supplemented by the full scope of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s legal capabilities, including corporate, bankruptcy, environmental and litigation, to provide superb representation and counsel in the following areas:

  • Asset ownership, development and management
  • Cross-border acquisitions, dispositions, development and finance
  • Development, entitlement, land use and environmental matters
  • Lending and other financing transactions
  • Workouts

EXPERIENCE & RECENT REPRESENTATIONS

Both as a complement to our representation of project owners, financiers and investors and as an independent practice area, our real estate lawyers are involved in all aspects of real estate asset ownership, development and management.  Among these matters are:

  • Commercial leasing
  • Design and construction contracts
  • Project deficiencies and their correction
  • Property, leasing and asset management contracts
  • Insurance-related issues

Our international work reaches far beyond our European offices, where we routinely lead some of the largest and most complex transactions.  Our lawyers provide counsel to developers and private equity investors on real estate development opportunities worldwide.

We are experienced with all of the attendant cross-border issues.  We work with clients to obtain financing and assist in securing the protocols necessary to provide client access to world financial markets, wherever the location of the project.

Our experience with major infrastructure projects provides us with a vast repository of contacts experienced in international finance and real estate development, as well as local counsel and official government contacts in jurisdictions around the world.  Our global debt and equity transactions work involves numerous jurisdictions, including Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and South Korea.

Our proficiency in matters related to real property development is second to none.  We draw on a deep experience base of guiding the legal aspects of the largest and most complex development projects.  We represent developers in all asset classes, including:

  • Office buildings
  • Business and industrial parks
  • Large-scale, single and multi-family housing projects
  • Shopping centers
  • Hotels, golf courses and other resort properties
  • Mixed-use and other condominium projects

Gibson Dunn has extensive experience advising and assisting clients seeking to obtain entitlements to develop property, responding to concerns and objections raised by city and other relevant authorities as well as other third parties, and efficiently negotiating the resolution of such issues.  Our lawyers work with members of the litigation department to minimize the risk of challenges to development projects.

Increasingly, entitlement and environmental issues are critical factors in most real estate decisions.  Our lawyers have broad experience in these areas, especially in relation to complex details of land use entitlements.  We work closely with our Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice Group to help clients evaluate and avoid the pitfalls associated with the presence of environmental hazards.

Gibson Dunn has comprehensive familiarity with real estate financing and investment transactions of all types, from the standpoint of institutional lenders (conduit and balance sheet) and private investors, as well as borrowers.  Our broad client base includes:

  • Insurance companies
  • Banks
  • Pension funds
  • Opportunity funds
  • U.S. and international private companies and individuals
  • Landowners
  • Developers

We handle a wide spectrum of transaction types, such as:

  • Traditional secured lending, both conduit and balance sheet
  • Sale-leaseback transactions
  • Ground lease financing
  • Synthetic lease transactions
  • Mezzanine financings
  • Partnerships and other joint ventures

We are well-versed in developing alternative, creative solutions for our clients’ specific needs on an asset-by-asset basis.

Our real estate lawyers’ experience includes a significant amount of workout and restructuring of distressed loans, financings and assets.  We work with our insolvency lawyers to handle the difficult problems that arise when a project is in trouble.  We have represented a wide range of clients, including banks, private equity funds and a number of major insurance companies with distressed investments including foreclosures, workouts and restructurings in a variety of locations.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Who’s Who Legal Real Estate 2024 Recognizes 13 Gibson Dunn Partners

-August 20, 2024

Five Gibson Dunn Partners Recognized in Two Who’s Who Legal 2024 Guides

-August 12, 2024

Lawdragon Names 26 Partners Among its 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers 2024

-August 9, 2024

Gibson Dunn Adds Real Estate Finance Partner Krystyna Blakeslee in New York

-July 8, 2024

Supreme Court Holds That The Eighth Amendment Does Not Prevent Enforcement Of Camping Regulations On Public Property

-June 28, 2024

Gibson Dunn Advised the Underwriters on LandBridge Company LLC’s Initial Public Offering

-June 28, 2024

Best Lawyers in France 2025 Recognizes 20 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 20, 2024

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2025 Recognizes 25 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 20, 2024

Chambers Names Gibson Dunn “Real Estate Law Firm of the Year” at its 2024 USA Awards

-June 13, 2024

Gibson Dunn Ranked in 2024 U.S. Legal 500

-June 12, 2024

Gibson Dunn Earns 112 Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

-June 6, 2024

Gibson Dunn Advises Related Argent on Joint Venture to Create Third Brent Cross Town Built-to-Rent Development

-May 29, 2024

IRS and Treasury Issue Final Regulations Regarding Domestically Controlled REIT Qualification Test

-April 26, 2024

Supreme Court Holds That Legislatively Mandated Development Exactions Can Be Unconstitutional Takings

-April 12, 2024

Rob Carr Named to The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2024

-January 29, 2024

Who’s Who Legal Recognizes 42 Gibson Dunn Partners in its 2024 Thought Leaders USA Guide

-November 13, 2023

Developers and City Planners Will Be Watching This Case Closely

-November 3, 2023

Gibson Dunn Ranked in Chambers UK 2024

-October 19, 2023

Who’s Who Legal Real Estate 2023 Recognizes 10 Gibson Dunn Partners

-October 6, 2023

Gibson Dunn Ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2024

-October 4, 2023

Law360 Names Eight Gibson Dunn Partners as 2023 MVPs

-October 2, 2023

The Rise of State Laws Restricting Foreign Entities from Acquiring Property: Another Front in U.S.-China Tensions and the Constitutional Challenge of Florida SB 264 in Shen v. Simpson

-September 12, 2023

Bottom Dollar Partnership Guarantees Are Falling Off A Cliff

-August 29, 2023

11 Gibson Dunn Lawyers Named Lawyers of the Year for 2024

-August 17, 2023

Who’s Who Legal 2023 Recognizes Three Gibson Dunn Partners in Hospitality

-August 15, 2023

Gibson Dunn advises Canary Wharf Group on £535 million loan for Wood Wharf development

-August 1, 2023

Allison Kidd Named to 2023 GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum Women of Influence

-July 27, 2023

Gibson Dunn Adds Real Estate Partner Michael Weinberger in New York

-July 7, 2023

Sixteen Gibson Dunn Attorneys named in the 2023 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation Guide

-July 7, 2023

Best Lawyers in France 2024 Recognizes 17 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 28, 2023

Gibson Dunn Ranked in 2023 U.S. Legal 500

-June 23, 2023

Gibson Dunn Advised Purchasers of $5.4 Billion Real Estate Construction Loan Portfolio

-June 9, 2023

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2024 Recognizes 21 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 8, 2023

Gibson Dunn Earns 108 Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers USA 2023

-June 1, 2023

Who’s Who Legal Recognizes 39 Gibson Dunn Partners in its Inaugural Thought Leaders USA Guide

-January 9, 2023

Gibson Dunn Promotes 37 Lawyers to Partnership

-November 15, 2022

Measure ULA: New Transfer Tax on Los Angeles Residential and Commercial Real Property Sales Over $5 Million

-November 14, 2022

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Names Gibson Dunn Law Firm of the Year for 2023 in Real Estate and Securities Regulation

-November 3, 2022

Gibson Dunn Ranked in Chambers UK 2023

-October 20, 2022

Euromoney’s Rising Star Awards 2022 Recognizes 16 Gibson Dunn Partners

-October 12, 2022

Thirty-Nine Gibson Dunn Partners Recognized in Banking, Finance and Transactional Expert Guide 2022

-October 6, 2022

Gibson Dunn Ranked Among Top New York Real Estate Practices in 2022

-October 4, 2022

Gibson Dunn Ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2023

-September 29, 2022

Gibson Dunn Adds Real Estate Attorney in Orange County

-September 23, 2022

Law360 Names Eight Gibson Dunn Partners as 2022 MVPs

-September 6, 2022

Who’s Who Legal Guides Recognize 12 Real Estate Partners

-July 29, 2022

City of Los Angeles Imposes Significant New Requirements on Project Developers and their Principals

-July 21, 2022

Gibson Dunn Ranked in 2022 U.S. Legal 500

-June 22, 2022

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2023 Recognizes 18 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 9, 2022

Gibson Dunn Earns 101 Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers USA 2022

-June 1, 2022

Gibson Dunn Adds Real Estate and Hospitality Partner Lauren Giovannone in Los Angeles

-March 7, 2022

Webcast: Getting Ready for the Next Cycle: Strategies to Understand and Mitigate Risks to Real Property Leases, Interests and Rights of First Refusal

-February 10, 2022

2021 Year-End German Law Update

-January 13, 2022

Kimberly Schlanger Named a 2021 Senior Housing Influencer

-December 16, 2021

Gibson Dunn Promotes 27 Lawyers to Partnership

-November 4, 2021

California Governor Newsom Signs Three Important New Bills into Law Impacting Residential Zoning and Development

-October 25, 2021

Gibson Dunn Ranked in Chambers UK 2022

-October 21, 2021

Who’s Who Legal Real Estate Guide 2021 Recognizes Nine Gibson Dunn Partners

-August 25, 2021

10 Gibson Dunn Partners Named Lawyers of the Year

-August 19, 2021

Supreme Court Enjoins Enforcement of New York State’s Eviction Moratorium

-August 13, 2021

Kimberly Schlanger Named Among 2021 Women to Watch in Real Estate

-July 28, 2021

Who’s Who Legal 2021 Recognizes Gibson Dunn Partners in Competition, Hospitality and Product Liability Defense

-July 28, 2021

U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirms Limits to the Government’s Ability to Mandate Public Access to Private Property

-July 8, 2021

German Transparency Register on Beneficial Ownership: New Filing Requirements for German Corporations and Foreign Entities Directly or Indirectly Acquiring German Real Estate

-June 16, 2021

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2022 Recognizes 10 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 3, 2021

Gibson Dunn Earns 94 Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers USA 2021

-May 20, 2021

New York State Legislature Poised to Pass New Tax on Real Estate Debt Financing

-March 31, 2021

California’s AB 2345 Expands and Enhances Density Bonus Law Development Incentives

-January 26, 2021

Webcast: Bankruptcy and Real Estate: Risks and Opportunities in Distressed Situations

-January 19, 2021

2020 Year-End German Law Update

-January 14, 2021

Gibson Dunn Adds Real Estate Finance Partner Robert Carr in London

-January 8, 2021

New Dubai Law on Unfinished and Cancelled Real Estate Projects

-December 16, 2020

Gibson Dunn Ranked Among Top New York Real Estate Practices in 2020

-November 19, 2020

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Names Gibson Dunn Law Firm of the Year for 2021 in Antitrust and Real Estate

-November 5, 2020

Who’s Who Legal 2020 Guides Recognize 12 Gibson Dunn Partners

-October 30, 2020

Gibson Dunn Ranked in Chambers UK 2021

-October 23, 2020

California Extends Residential Housing Development Entitlements Due to COVID-19

-October 8, 2020

33 Gibson Dunn Partners Recognized in Banking, Finance and Transactional Expert Guide

-October 7, 2020

Gibson Dunn Named a Top Commercial Real Estate Law Firm

-October 6, 2020

Law360 Names Eight Gibson Dunn Partners as 2020 MVPs

-October 5, 2020

Gibson Dunn Ranked in the 2021 UK Legal 500

-October 5, 2020

Thirteen Gibson Dunn Partners Recognized in Expert Guides’ Women in Business Law

-September 22, 2020

Michael Szczurek Named a Top Lawyer Under 40 in California

-August 12, 2020

Crain’s New York Names Noam Haberman a Rising Star in Real Estate

-July 27, 2020

Erin Rothfuss Named Among 2020 Women of Influence in Real Estate

-July 22, 2020

Best Lawyers in Germany 2021 Recognizes 19 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 26, 2020

City of Los Angeles Proposes Penalties for Unoccupied Property by Imposing New Vacancy Tax

-June 22, 2020

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2021 Recognizes 12 Gibson Dunn Attorneys

-June 12, 2020

New York State Legislature Passes Relief Package for Renters and Property Owners

-June 2, 2020

Pending California Landlord-Tenant Legislation Could Have Significant Impacts on Property Owners

-May 21, 2020

New York Moratorium on Residential and Commercial Evictions Extended Through August 20, 2020

-May 7, 2020

Gibson Dunn Earns 84 Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers USA 2020

-April 24, 2020

The CARES Act Decoded:  A Primer for Real Estate Stakeholders & What to Focus on Next

-March 31, 2020

English Law Force Majeure Clauses: A 4-Step Checklist & Flowchart

-March 31, 2020

State of California and City of Los Angeles Enact New Tenant Protections in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

-March 31, 2020

Practical Solutions for Resolving Commercial Disputes When the Courthouse Is Closed

-March 25, 2020

Force Majeure Clauses: A 4-Step Checklist & Flowchart

-March 24, 2020

Law360 Names Gibson Dunn Among Its 2019 Real Estate Practice Groups of the Year

-February 4, 2020

Gibson Dunn Named a 2019 Law Firm of the Year

-January 13, 2020

2019 Year-End German Law Update

-January 10, 2020

Gibson Dunn Ranked in Chambers UK 2020

-October 10, 2019

Noam Haberman Named to GlobeSt. 50 Under 40

-October 10, 2019

Gibson Dunn Ranked in the 2020 UK Legal 500

-October 4, 2019

Gibson Dunn Ranked Among Top New York Real Estate Law Firms in 2019

-October 2, 2019

Law360 Names Seven Gibson Dunn Lawyers as 2019 Rising Stars

-September 9, 2019

12 Gibson Dunn Partners Named Lawyers of the Year

-August 19, 2019

Gibson Dunn Lawyers Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America® 2020

-August 15, 2019

New York State Supreme Court Invalidates State Title Insurance Regulations

-August 7, 2019