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Representative Matters

AXA IM Alts and its Affiliates in one of the Largest Industrial Portfolio Acquisitions of 2020

Representation of AXA IM Alts and its affiliates in one of the largest industrial portfolio acquisitions of 2020. The portfolio consists of 27 assets in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Central New Jersey, Dallas, South Florida, Southern New Jersey and Atlanta. In a significant step in its strategy to grow a U.S. wide logistics platform, AXA IM Alts, on behalf of clients and through a joint venture with Cabot Properties, Inc., acquired the 7,984,000 s/f portfolio for approximately $875 million, through a share purchase of a REIT previously managed by Cabot Properties. Representation included all matters related to property diligence, structuring, joint venture, purchase, financing, tax and environmental considerations of the property, including tax and structuring issues relating to cross-border investments.

Act in Canada and U.S. for Syndicate of Underwriters

Act in Canada and the U.S. for a syndicate of underwriters led by two investment banks in connection with the $114M initial public offering of WPT Industrial REIT, Canada's only REIT focused exclusively on the U.S. industrial real estate sector.

Boston-Based Mall Developer Structuring $150M Joint Venture

Represented a Boston-based mall developer in structuring a $150M joint venture with a large Canadian pension fund.

Canada's Largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) $1.9B Sale to Blackstone

Act for Canada's largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in its sale to Blackstone of its U.S. portfolio of 49 retail properties located in the Northeastern U.S. and Texas at a total sale price of $1.9B.

Canadian and U.S. Tax Counsel to a Canadian based Real Estate Investment Trust

Act as Canadian and U.S. tax counsel to a Canadian based Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) engaged in the ownership and management of predominantly industrial properties in North America and Europe in its conversion under a plan of arrangement to an international stapled-unit REIT with an initial (NYSE/TSX) market capitalization of $1.8B. This company was the first REIT to qualify as a REIT for Canadian income tax purposes while holding both a Canadian and international portfolio; and also the first to achieve flow-through treatment for its U.S. portfolio by electing to be a partnership for U.S. purposes and utilizing a U.S. private REIT.

Leading Gold Producer $2.3B Acquisition by Newmont Mining Corporation

Act for a leading gold producer in connection with its $2.3B acquisition by Newmont Mining Corporation. The transaction was structured as a plan of arrangement providing for cash consideration and the spin off of shares of a new TSX-listed company holding exploration assets to the former shareholders of the client.

Long-Term Ground Leases, Bond Financings, Tax and Joint Venture Work for Canadian Real Estate Developer

Representation of a privately-owned, Canadian real estate development company in connection with its long-term ground leases, bond financing, tax, and joint ventures across the United States and Canada. Our team helps this client with legal matters across many industries including real estate, multi-family, hospitality, retail, industrial, and product manufacturing. 

Owner of Watergate in Connection with Contribution of the Property to a Partnership

Representation of the owner of the iconic Watergate 600 building in Washington, D.C., in connection with the contribution of the property to a partnership controlled by Washington REIT in exchange for $135M of consideration including units in the Washington REIT partnership

Qatari Investment Firm Acquisition of Club Quarters Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Representation of a Qatari investment firm in connection with its acquisition of a 161-room, full-service Club Quarters Hotel in Washington, D.C.’s Farragut Square. 

Real Estate Investment Management Firm $560M Acquisition by Sun Life Financial

Counsel for a premier real estate investment management firm operating in Canada and the United States in its acquisition by Sun Life Financial Inc. for a purchase price of $560M.

Real Estate Investment Management Firm Acquisition of Landon Butler & Co. and NewTower Trust Company

Counsel for a premier real estate investment management firm operating in Canada and the United States in its acquisition of Landon Butler & Co. and NewTower Trust Company, the investor relations and capital-raising firm and trustee of the Multi-Employer Property Trust, an open-end commingled real estate equity fund that invests in a diversified portfolio of institutional-quality real estate assets in the United States and has in excess of $6B in net asset value as of June 30, 2015.

Real Estate Investment Trust Financing

Act as U.S. tax counsel for the second largest REIT and the largest diversified REIT in Canada in connection with a bought deal financing pursuant to which it issued $262M aggregate principal amount of stapled units and convertible debentures.

South Korean Investors Structuring $305 Million Acquisition of Novo Nordisk

Representation of a consortium of South Korean investors in connection with structuring its $305 million acquisition of Novo Nordisk’s 762,000-square-foot North American headquarters in Plainsboro, New Jersey, marking the largest single-asset sales in New Jersey in 2016.

Tax-Exempt Investors Investing in Real Estate Properties

Act as counsel in for tax-exempt investors investing in real estate properties across the US and advising on important tax and fractions rule considerations for such investors.

U.S. Tax Counsel for Second Largest REIT and Largest Diversified REIT in Canada

Act as U.S. tax counsel for the second largest REIT and the largest diversified REIT in Canada in connection with a bought deal financing pursuant to which it issued $150M aggregate principal amount of stapled units.

Under-Water Shopping Center Restructuring Loan

Representation of the owner of an under-water shopping center owner in restructuring a loan that was in default and arranging for a new investor to be admitted and take control of the borrower in a manner that protected the borrower from adverse tax consequences.