Profile
Vivek Chavan is a Real Estate Shareholder in the firm’s Silicon Valley office. He represents clients across a broad range of real estate transactional needs, at two separate levels of investment for clients: (i) fund and joint venture investments and (ii) real estate investments. He has represented numerous clients with the formation of their real estate funds and with their investment or sponsorship in real estate joint ventures. He also represents clients in the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, construction, operation and leasing of real properties throughout the United States, with a particular focus on the industrial, retail, office, forestry, hotel and multi-tenant property sectors. His practice includes a variety of business and transactional real estate matters, including equity, debt and construction financing, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, contributions, OP units, and tax driven structures.
Vivek represents clients in the development and construction of industrial, retail, office and hotel properties. He regularly advises clients on land-related issues and negotiates development, construction and architectural/engineering agreements, declarations, conditions of approval, subdivisions, and easements. Vivek's clients include REITs, TIMOs, funds, developers, investors, banks, foreign investors and other institutions.
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented client in a $100M acquisition of ground lease interests for on-tarmac cargo facilities at 7 international airports in exchange for OP units. Transaction involved the transfer and assumption of debt and bond financing, condemnation rights, and the assumption and modification of existing airport ground leases agreements with local airport and governmental authorities.
- Represented client in the $118M purchase of ground lease interests in 25 airfreight buildings, totaling 2.1 million square feet, located adjacent to three international airports. Transaction involved negotiating new airport ground lease agreements with local airport and governmental authorities and condemnation rights.
- Represented client in the acquisition of a key 20-acre parcel of land located adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, for the development and construction of a parking facility. Transaction involved significant regulatory and land use issues and approvals and involved obtaining approval of the acquisition and development of real property from, and the negotiation of an airport ground lease agreement with, the Los Angeles World Airports, City Council of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and other governmental agencies.
- Represented client in the acquisition of a ground lease interest in an office and warehouse building located at Washington Dulles International Airport. Transaction involved the transfer and assumption of debt and bond financing, condemnation rights, and the assumption and modification of an existing airport ground lease agreement with local airport and governmental authorities.
- Represented client in the acquisition, development, and construction of real property located adjacent to the Long Beach Airport, from The Boeing Company. Transaction involved significant regulatory and governmental issues and approvals.
- Represented client in a $618M sale of an entire industrial real estate fund, comprised of 5.8 million square feet in 100 properties portfolios in 11 states.
- Lead counsel for a cross-disciplinary team representing institutional investors in connection with the $1.39B sale of 1.1 million acres of timberlands to a consortium of publicly traded investors and operators. Transaction involved real estate, corporate, tax, employment, securities, REIT, and international law.
- Represented client in a $1B contribution of 35 portfolios in nine states in exchange for OP units. Transaction involved transfer of membership interests, joint venture agreements, tax structures, assumption of 16 loans, and $100M new financing.
- Lead counsel for a cross-disciplinary team involved in the acquisition of $2.4B of approximately 1.55 million acres of timberlands and other assets located in 7 states. Transaction involved mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing, installment notes, tax, and REIT and SEC compliance.
- Represented foreign investors in a loan workout and sale of a $210M technology center to another foreign investor; transaction involved foreign investment and tax considerations.
- Represented client in a $30M acquisition of 42 acres of land and development of data center campus; transaction was structured as a ground lease for tax consideration with purchase options and development rights and obligations.
- Represented trustee in the consolidation, workout, structuring, and liquidation of a 28 property $250M.
- Represented fund (as an investor) in a programmatic joint venture for the acquisition, development, and financing of Class B retail, multifamily, and mixed-use retail and residential assets in several states.
- Represented client (as sponsor) in a $120M joint venture for the acquisition and financing of eight office buildings.
- Represented client (as sponsor) in a $100M joint venture, structured as a REIT for tax purposes, with foreign investors, in the acquisition of a large distribution center in Texas.
- Represented client (as sponsor) in a $200M programmatic joint venture for the acquisition and financing of two Class A medical office buildings and future medical office buildings in several states.
- Represented client (as investor) in a $100M joint venture for the acquisition, renovation, and financing of five industrial buildings.
- Represented client (as investor) in the recapitalizing of a $120M office building in Hawaii, including the acquisition of the office building from 30+ TICs.
- Represented client in a $115M joint venture with an institutional bank. Transaction involved the contribution and operation of 24 industrial portfolios in six states and $70M in new financing.
- Represented publicly traded REIT in a $1.5B joint venture. Transaction involved contribution of eight shopping malls, issue of common and preferred membership interests, negotiation of joint venture documents and assumption of debt.
- Represented client, as borrower, in connection with a $458.5 million construction loan structured through the use of both tax-exempt bonds and taxable notes which were backed through various levels of credit enhancement provided by institutional lenders, as well as a swap agreement covering the full $458.5 million in exposure.
- Represented institutional industrial client as borrower in a $300M securitized financing involving seven borrowers, 20 portfolios in six states, with A/B and fixed and floating notes.
- Represented institutional industrial client as borrower in a $100M financing secured by 18 properties, totaling 1.6 million square feet. Transaction included a LIBOR floating rate shelf note, a fixed rate note, partial releases and substitution rights.
- Represented institutional industrial client as borrower in a $165M unsecured to secured facility, with recourse and non-recourse notes and guarantees.
- Represented institutional industrial client as borrower in a $70M mortgage and mezzanine loan. Properties included New York City IDA ground lease industrial properties with sandwich leases, purchase options and master guarantees.
- Represented institutional industrial client as borrower in a $60M unsecured credit facility, with revolving line of credit.
- Represented client (as the owner) in the development of a mixed-used development located adjacent to the San Diego Petco Park, including with a 36-story apartment tower, three six-story buildings, and a 1200 space multi-level parking garage.
- Represented institutional industrial client in the acquisition of land and subsequent development, construction, and sale of an industrial business park, comprising of 13 separate office condominiums and a total of 215,000 square feet of office and retail space.
- Represented institutional industrial client in the acquisition of land and subsequent development, construction, and sale of an industrial business park, comprised of 24 separate improved parcels and a total of 162,000 square feet of industrial and office space.
- Represented institutional industrial client in the development, construction, and sale of a 657,000-square foot warehouse for Home Depot.
- Represented institutional industrial client in the acquisition, development, and ongoing construction of a 120-acre master planned development. The planned development will include 1.5 million square feet of building area and will include both spec. and build-to-suit industrial buildings.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Lawdragon, 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, 2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2019 and 2025
- Team Member, Chambers USA Award for Excellence, Real Estate, 2017-2018
- Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, "Law Firm of the Year" in Real Estate Law, 2015
- Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2013 and 2014
- Member, Winning Team, Chambers USA Award for Excellence, Real Estate, 2013
- Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2012-2013, 2015, and 2023
- Member, American Bar Association
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of California at Davis School of Law, 1997
- B.A., University of California at Riverside, 1994
Admissions
- California