Real Estate: Connecticut

THE FIRM Bingham McCutchen's Hartford real estate group is particularly visible on transactional matters, including bankruptcy work, as befits the current economic climate. Key clients include large banking interests and life insurance companies. In recent highlights, the team represented People’s United Bank in relation to a $12.3 million construction loan for an 80,500 sq ft retail center in Ocala, Florida.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Frank Appicelli is the high-profile cochair of the Hartford office's real estate practice, and is a reliable name in the market for his highly effective commercial finance and property skills. He recently advised People's United Bank on the aforementioned construction loan. He also counts The Hartford on his enviable client roster.

"Excellent" and "good performer" Jeffrey Smith is another high-quality lawyer who is highly sought after by financial institutions on transactional real estate and associated investment matters. His key clients include Aetna Life Insurance, which he assists with maintaining its mortgage loan portfolio.

Mark Oland is an admired name in the market whose multifaceted practice includes advising municipalities, such as the city of Bristol, on land use and environmental matters. He recently acted for an affiliate of Platinum Equity in a complex transaction concerning industrial and office premises located in Canada.

THE FIRM This real estate group is a regular sight in the local market acting for land owners as well as developers. Its broad expertise includes land use, eminent domain and mortgage work, as well as more conventional transactional and financing matters. Highlights include advising RiverOak Investment on a $75 million Shari'a-compliant building acquisition.

Sources say: "Excellent." "A terrific real estate practice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clients seek out Garry Berman's services because he is "very knowledgeable technically, and extremely responsive." He serves as chair of the Hartford real estate practice as well as the entire firm's commercial leasing department, and is accordingly a high-profile figure in Connecticut. His client roster includes household names such as PepsiCo and A/X Armani Exchange.

Dwight Merriam is one of the more senior figures in the practice and is a strong choice of counsel for land use, zoning and regulatory matters. Sources "hold him in high regard" and peers describe him as "a worthy adversary" in contentious matters. He recently advised a prominent real estate company on a high-value ongoing eminent domain dispute against the State of New York.

Stamford lawyer Steven Elbaum chairs the firm's metro New York property group, and acted on the RiverOak Investment matter. Sources "have lots of respect" for the breadth of his capabilities, with a practice covering leases and brownfield redevelopment. His principal clients include Priceline.com and Nielsen Company.

Stamford partner Edward O'Hanlan is increasingly recommended in the sector, with sources describing him as "great and responsive." He frequently works closely with Merriam on high-stakes land use, permitting and environmental matters.

THE FIRM This strong regional firm's capabilities emanate from its integrated real estate, environmental and land use practice. It has an established reputation for quality work in the leasing and general transactional arena, especially from its Stamford office. Key clients of the practice include utilities companies and developers.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stamford stalwart Jerome Berkman is one of the market's most established practitioners. He commands high respect from a variety of sources, and is recognized as an effective force in areas such as construction, financing and leasing matters.

Michael Byrne is also based in the Stamford office. He wins plaudits for his strong and deft skills in "broad transactional work" and real estate matters. He focuses on representing parties in financing work, as well as tenants, developers and land owners.

THE FIRM This group acts for major clients from the healthcare, banking and land development sectors. It is a 12-attorney team with an active role in work ranging from syndicated commercial real estate loans and build-to-suit leases to development of affordable housing. Its talents extend to the permitting and land use arena.

Sources say: "Accurate, detailed and concerned about its clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Proctor chairs the firm's real estate practice from its Bridgeport office and is lauded by clients for his "very thorough, accurate and proactive" legal work. He attracts substantial market attention, especially for his expert lender representations.

THE FIRM Shipman & Goodwin's Hartford and Stamford offices play a key part in its strong regional real estate practice. It has a sizable team dedicated to this field of practice, making it an excellent choice for a range of clients, including developers, public bodies and private equity funds. Highlights include the ongoing representation of the State of Connecticut in the $500 million public and private Adriaen's Landing project in downtown Hartford.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Barry Hawkins handles real estate and litigation matters from the Stamford office. He is a senior figure who attracts the highest levels of market praise as a "preeminent" lawyer and a "workhorse" in this arena. His key highlights include advising Webster Bank on a contentious zoning issue regarding a potential branch of the bank.

"Great team player" Timothy Hollister is based in the Hartford office and has a visible practice in real estate litigation, land use and affordable housing work. He counts a number of development companies as clients, and advised one such company in a keenly fought federal civil rights action arising from an eminent domain dispute.

Stamford partner Donald Gustafson is an approved title insurance agent and lawyer, and stands out particularly for his sound transactional and loan work. He recently acted for a real estate developer and a private equity entity in deal negotiations, including advising on funding arrangements.

Kent Nevins was formerly general counsel at mortgage investment entity CBA Commercial. Now back in private practice in Shipman & Goodwin's Stamford office, he is well positioned to provide commercial advice on a range of transactional real estate matters, including REITs and general development work. His clients include Starwood Capital and Levin Properties.

William Rock is described as "a solid lawyer" in the Hartford office. He heads up the firm's finance group, and is highlighted for his work on the finance side of general commercial as well as real estate matters. His key clients include residential mortgage lenders such as 1st Alliance Lending.

Christopher Smith practices out of Hartford. He is noted for his "solid" and "active" practice, especially in land use, zoning and environmental work, as well as contentious matters. His high-level practice has seen him argue appellate matters all the way up to the Connecticut Supreme Court.

THE FIRM Brown Rudnick maintains a respected real estate practice handling a broad range of issues, backed by the firm's deep, far-reaching network of resources. The group is especially recommended for its real estate litigation expertise.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Regan is a key contact.

THE FIRM This Bridgeport firm maintains an excellent real estate practice acting on a comprehensive range of matters, including real estate litigation, development and transactions. Key clients include the Jewish Center for Community Services and Monroe Land Holdings.

Sources say: "Very experienced and professional." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mark Kirsch serves as the chair of the real estate practice. Work highlights include advising the Jewish Center for Community Services on its sale of assets located in Bridgeport. Kirsch attracts praise for being "experienced, responsive and extremely thorough" in his approach.

THE FIRM This real estate practice group maintains longstanding and loyal client relationships with a number of household names, such as The Home Depot, UBS and Walmart Stores. The team advises across a range of real estate work, including development, acquisitions and tax.

Sources say: "They provide good service and get us good results."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources describe John Mallin as "knowledgeable, professional and dependable," with "superb technical skills." He serves as the firm's lead lawyer for real estate, construction and environmental work. His recent highlights include advising UBS on the ongoing establishment, sale and leaseback of a $160 million common interest community and office complex.

THE FIRM This compact but highly effective team makes excellent use of the firm's successful transactional and healthcare practices in the region. Clients agree that it has the resources to handle midmarket real estate work in an efficient and timely fashion, particularly from the New Haven office. It is also praised for its flexible approach, and key clients include Yale-New Haven Hospital, New London Development Corporation and Oce Imaging Supplies.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Susan Bryson is a principal real estate partner practicing out of the firm's New Haven office, whose skill set also includes environmental and energy matters. Sources praise her local knowledge and can-do attitude: "She knows all about New Haven, and is very hands-on," said one impressed interviewee. Bryson recently advised Oce Imaging Supplies on a property transaction, which raised questions of unauthorized use and environmental compliance.