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Real Estate Development

Real estate development is a bedrock of ArentFox Schiff’s real estate practice. Our attorneys guide clients through all aspects of development projects of every complexity and asset class.

Our Focus

ArentFox Schiff's real estate attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in development projects across the entire real estate landscape, from traditional residential, office, multifamily, retail, industrial, and hospitality developments, to more specialized projects involving senior living facilities, self-storage, data centers, manufactured housing communities, utility infrastructure, major event spaces and professional sports arenas and stadiums. We assist and counsel clients through all stages and documentation of development projects, from RFPs and land acquisition contracts to development agreements, construction contracts, comprehensive declarations, site development agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, and all related service agreements. Our attorneys also work with local, state, and federal stakeholders to help negotiate, facilitate, and prepare entitlements, joint development agreements, and public/private partnership agreements. 

Our Work

  • Represented Foulger-Pratt, LLC in the redevelopment of Landmark Mall into a 4,000,000-sf mixed-use project on the former Landmark Mall site in Alexandria, Virginia. The development has been rebranded as WestEnd and will include Inova Hospital’s new campus, residential, retail, and entertainment offerings.
  • Represented the City of Falls Church, Virginia in the development of a $1,200,000,000 transit-oriented mixed-use development in a public/private partnership with a private developer that includes retail, multifamily, hotel, senior living, and community space in West Falls Church.
  • Represented Sunrise Senior Living on the negotiation of development, joint venture, management, and financing agreements related to more than 100 assisted and independent living properties (located in 21 states and valued at over $1 billion in the aggregate) comprising eight portfolios involving six separate joint venture partners and several different construction lenders.
  • Represented Arena Stage, the largest theater dedicated to American playwrights, on the design and construction of a $135 million overhaul of its existing facility, including the related public and private financing.
  • Represented Silver Diner, Inc. in the development of Silver Diner restaurants across the Mid-Atlantic.
  • Represented the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in the assembly and acquisition of a site, the engagement of architects, developers, and several other professionals, to develop an approximately 300,000-sf mixed-use building in Washington, DC to be used primarily as AAMC’s headquarters.
  • Represented ThinkFoodGroup, LLC in connection with the development of José Andrés-branded restaurants in Doha, Dorado Beach, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, DC.