Equity Investment, Joint Ventures, Mergers & Buyouts

“Acts for an impressive list of leading financial institutions, as well as owners, developers and REITs.”
— Chambers USA

Investments in the real estate market are particularly complex. Whether embarking on a joint venture, a merger, or buyout, or considering a tax credit investment, acquiring a REIT, or other investment options in the real estate market, you need counsel from attorneys who understand the market and the tax and regulatory implications.

Our clients include:

Developers (including homebuilders)
Entrepreneurial real estate companies and individuals
Financial institutions
Governmental entities
Hotel, hospitality, and leisure companies
Office building owners
Private equity funds
Public, private, and nonprofit companies
REITs
Retail and shopping center owners

Blank Rome’s real estate attorneys can guide you through the process to ensure the business and financial implications align with your objectives. We can negotiate and document each transaction and assist you in conducting due diligence investigations. Our attorneys can also advise you on the sale and acquisition of entities, such as private or publicly traded REITs and have handled several of the largest REIT acquisition and privatization transactions in recent years.

How We Can Help

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating letters of intent and purchase and sale agreements, conveyance documents, financing documents, tax-deferred and multiple-party exchange agreements, and escrow instructions
Conducting due diligence with regard to property title, easements, compliance and permitting requirements, and physical property evaluations
Structuring and securing financing
Analyzing tax issues and structuring transactions to minimize taxes (state, local and Federal) including, without limitation, 1031 exchanges
Preparing stock and asset purchase and merger agreement

What Sets Us Apart

Ranked Tier 1 in 2025 U.S. News & World Report–Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Real Estate Law nationally and in Philadelphia and New York City; regionally recognized in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Chambers USA 2023 recognized our practice for Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania. Chambers researchers have stated Blank Rome:
- “Acts for an impressive list of leading financial institutions, as well as owners, developers and REITs.”
- “Possesses strong capabilities in zoning and land use issues and is also regularly called upon for its expertise in restructuring work and tax assessment matters”
- Is “…regularly called upon for its expertise in restructuring work…”
- “...is ‘very, very strong in representing real estate developers.’”
Recognized as a “Top Issuer Counsel” for U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) by Commercial Mortgage Alert in February 2013.

Key Contacts

Samantha Wallack

Related Industries

Represented real estate investment trust in the acquisition of 26 outlet center for a purchase price in excess of $1.5 Billion.
Represented real estate investment and management services company in the acquisition of 110 industrial facilities located in California, Indian and Missouri for a purchase price in excess of $600 million.
Represented real estate investment and management services company in the acquisition of 14 multifamily communities located in Arizona, Florida, Texas and Virginia for a purchase price of $477 million. Simultaneous with the acquisition, the client sold the Texas properties to a third party buyer for $76 million and entered into individual loans encumbering the remaining 13 properties in an aggregate loan amount of $287.8 million.
Represented real estate investment and management services company in the sale of a portfolio of multifamily apartment properties for a purchase price of $115 million.
Represented owner and operator of senior living facilities in the sale of a portfolio of assisted living communities located in Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania for a purchase price in excess of $85 million.
Represented a large regional owner of multifamily properties in its acquisition and financing of 8,600 units with a value of approximately $1.2 billion in 2017.
Represented real estate investment and management services company in the $103.7 million sale of Westbury Plaza. This deal was recognized by Real Estate Alert as the fourth largest single-property retail deal in the U.S. in 2009.
Represented leading real estate firm in a $53 million sale of 215,000 square foot Class-A office building in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Advised on development and subsequent $34 million sale of a regional shopping center in South Brunswick, New Jersey, including a sale to Target of a “shadow” anchor pad.
Advised on bulk acquisition on behalf of a national petroleum company of 195 service stations and convenience stores in four states for more than $140 million, including coordination of zoning/permitting issues, 1031 exchanges, negotiations with landlords and other third parties, and complex due diligence matters.
Represented residential developer in connection with the acquisition of an ongoing residential development business from a real estate investment trust involving approximately 1,000 lots in 15 communities in several states, as well as houses under construction, materials, equipment, vehicles, and other intangible assets.