John L. Sullivan

Senior Counsel

Co-Chair, Global Real Estate sector

Probably the best legal mind I have ever been around, with an unbelievable depth of knowledge on all matters real estate

— client quoted in Chambers USA

Emailjohn.sullivan@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 617 406 6029

Boston

About

Areas of FocusReal Estate Finance Construction and Engineering Development, Land Use and Zoning Real Estate Disputes and Restructuring Real Estate Finance Life Sciences

Bar admissionsMassachusetts

EXPERIENCE

Examples of John's experience include:

Represented a non-US investor in the US$3.6 billion acquisition of a privately-held REIT owning approximately 180 industrial properties in 15 states and a related management and development platform
Represented a non-US investor with respect to the acquisition, joint venture and financing of a newly constructed headquarters building in New York City with a project cost of approximately US$2.1 billion
Represented a non-US investor in the US$2.1 billion acquisition of a portfolio of office buildings and a related joint venture
Represented a non-US investor in the acquisition and joint venture of a trophy office building in New York City valued in excess of US$1.2 billion in a highly structured transaction involving entities and investors from multiple countries
Represented a fund sponsor in the roll-up of multiple real estate investment funds owning approximately 53 apartment properties located throughout the US
Represented an institutional investment advisor in the formation of a joint venture with a public REIT to acquire a US$326 million portfolio of student housing properties in conjunction with the closing of a US$1.2 billion merger of two public REITs
Represented a non-US pension fund in a programmatic joint venture for the acquisition, financing, and development of apartment projects throughout the US
Represented a US real estate investment advisor in the acquisition and joint venture for an office tower valued in excess of US$500 million
Represented a non-US institutional investor in the acquisition of a privately-held REIT that owned more than 100 farms in six states
Represented an institutional investor in the sale of six REITS owning apartment projects in five states
Represented a real estate private equity fund in a US$220 million investment in a portfolio of assets that included 44 office and industrial properties, a 351-mile railroad easement and six parcels of undeveloped land. The fund's investment was divided into a US$70 million mezzanine loan and a US$150 million unsecured loan and closed simultaneously with a US$835 million recapitalization
Represented a non-US investor in the phased acquisition of equity interests in a venture that owns a portfolio of eight regional retail malls in the US with a gross value in excess of US$500 million. The transaction also included the acquisition of a US$26 million unsecured loan to the joint venture. All of the parties were non-US entities and the transaction involved many complex tax, debt and restructuring issues
Represented a non-US investor in the US$276 million acquisition of a leasehold condominium in New York City containing residential and retail space, including the simultaneous closing of a US$110 million senior loan and a US$70 million mezzanine loan
Represented a real estate opportunity fund in the formation of a joint venture to acquire and develop skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the Southeastern United States
Represented a real estate opportunity fund with respect to a mezzanine loan and joint venture investment in the development of a condominium and apartment project in New Jersey
Represented an institutional investment advisor in the acquisition of a US$139.5 million shopping center in Hawaii
Represented real estate funds and real estate advisors with respect to the acquisition of office, retail, residential, hotel, industrial and multi-family projects located throughout the US
Represented institutional real estate advisors with respect to participating and non-participating mezzanine loans involving projects throughout the US
Represented various institutional investors in workouts and restructurings throughout the US
Represented opportunity funds in the acquisition, financing, and sale of portfolios of performing and non-performing loans

Education

J.D., Cornell Law School, 1983, cum laude
Editor in Chief, Cornell International Law Journal

B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 1980, summa cum laude

Awards

Bylines

Seminars

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

John was previously a director at one of the country's leading real estate investment advisory firms, where he was responsible for acquisitions, sales, financing and workouts and restructurings. John's combination of business and legal experience is highly valued by his clients.

Teaching Experience

John teaches classes on real estate joint ventures at The MIT Center for Real Estate.

Memberships And Affiliations