In Strategic Move, Former Akerman Land Use, Land Development, Real Estate Team Join
LOS ANGELES; DENVER – Oct. 11, 2017 – Ellen Berkowitz and Brady R. McShane have joined global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as shareholders in the firm’s award-winning Land Use, Land Development, and Real Estate practices in the Los Angeles and Denver offices, respectively. Berkowitz and McShane previously worked together at Akerman LLP. They will continue to work together to serve their clients at Greenberg Traurig, providing strategic legal advice to clients involved in the development of real property throughout California, including representing them before government agencies in connection with land use approvals and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
“Ellen and Brady’s addition to our real estate team enhances our ability to provide first-in-class full service representation to our local and national clients who are developing assets in California from transaction inception through exit, said Gregory A. Fishman, co-managing shareholder of the firm’s Los Angeles office and co-chair of the Los Angeles Real Estate Practice. “We strive to make Greenberg Traurig a place that attracts top-tier practitioners like Ellen and Brady, and we are honored that they have chosen to join our team.”
“As the real estate market continues to grow in California and beyond, it is important that we maintain best in class legal teams in key markets” said David G. Palmer, managing shareholder of the Denver Office. “Brady’s and Ellen’s background and client base strengthen our leading real estate teams in Los Angeles, Denver, and nationwide.”
In a related development, the Am Law 100 firm recently added a team of four attorneys in its Dallas office Real Estate Practice. The team, all previously with Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP, includes shareholder Bud Doxey, Jr. and associates Lolly Chauppette, David Ortigoza, and Wesley M. Smith.
Berkowitz joins in the Land Use and Land Development, and Real Estate practices in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She provides strategic, legal advice to, and lobbying on behalf of, clients involved in the development of real property throughout California. She represents clients before government agencies in connection with land use approvals and compliance with CEQA, as well as related litigation arising from project challenges under land use regulations. Berkowitz is recognized for her ability to fully understand the unique business and political interests impacting her clients’ development projects, and use that knowledge to navigate the often competing interests of her clients, the community, and the governing authorities. Her pragmatic approach has resulted in numerous approvals for some of the most complex and controversial land use projects in California.
Berkowitz also has a wide-ranging background in governmental advocacy. She represents clients in connection with local government contracting issues, compliance with governmental regulations, and political reform for a variety of sectors including airport concessions, billboards, energy, advertising, pipeline franchises, restaurants, health facilities, and sports and entertainment venues.
McShane joins as a shareholder in the Land Use and Land Development, Environmental, and Real Estate practices in Greenberg Traurig’s Denver office. He advises developers, landowners, financial institutions, and builders on political, regulatory, technical, and environmental issues involved in developing projects in California. His practice focuses on securing land use approvals, regulatory permits, and environmental clearance from government agencies, directing public policy and government relations strategies, and counseling clients on land use issues pertaining to the acquisition, disposition, and financing of properties.
His broad range of land use experience includes work on single and multifamily residential communities, hotels, hospitals, regional shopping centers, big box, and specialty retail stores, industrial warehouse and logistics centers, restaurants, performing arts theaters, sports stadiums, and self-storage facilities. He also advises institutional lenders on the land use and entitlement issues associated with distressed assets. McShane regularly appears in public hearings before agencies, boards, commissions, and legislative bodies and helps defend development projects in court against CEQA and other land use-related claims. He is admitted in California. His practice is temporarily authorized in Colorado pending admission under C.R.C.P. 205.6.
Greenberg Traurig's Real Estate Practice
The Greenberg Traurig Real Estate Practice is a cornerstone of the firm and recognized leader in the industry. The firm’s real estate attorneys deliver diversified and comprehensive legal solutions for property acquisition and investment, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. The team draws upon the knowledge and experience of more than 300 real estate lawyers from around the world, serving clients from key markets in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The group’s clientele includes a broad range of property developers, lenders, investment managers, private equity funds, REITs, and private owners. The firm’s real estate team advises clients on a variety of matters across a broad spectrum of commercial, recreational, and residential real estate, including structured equity and debt and the hybrids.
Greenberg Traurig’s Land Use Practice & Land Development Group
Greenberg Traurig's Land Use Practice has decades of experience in the field of land use law. The team’s goal is to provide property owners an understanding of the regulatory issues affecting their use of property and the legal aspects of opportunities available to enhance a site’s development potential. The team also guides clients through the requisite legal processes needed to achieve those enhancements. Members regularly collaborate with the firm’s local Government Law & Policy teams.
Greenberg Traurig's Land Development Group represents landowners, joint venture partners, and entrepreneurs in developing the full-cycle of real estate projects, from financing to the issuance of building permits, and certificates of occupancy to development. Additionally, group members have broad litigation experience.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.