Melissa Vandewater

• On behalf of data center operator, negotiated and closed its acquisition of approximately 57 acres of land in Loudoun County, VA, for development and operation as new data center campus.
• Represented data center operator in the possible purchase and leaseback of a data center facility in Kansas City, Missouri.
• On behalf of a large investment bank, negotiated and closed the $92,000,000 acquisition and financing of a California life sciences property occupied by a leader in that sector, including identifying and resolving issues under an existing master declaration.°
• Represented NY-based investment bank in its $63,000,000 acquisition of ground leasehold interests in a two-building office complex in Silicon Valley.°
• Represented pension fund as borrower in $95,500,000 loan secured by multifamily and retail property in Washington, D.C.°
• Represented the seller of a mixed-use development in Austin, Texas, in a complicated transaction for over $200 million, which included the sale of existing office buildings, vacant land, interests in parking garages, and partnership interests in developed and undeveloped parcels for office and residential uses.°
• Represented the purchaser of a 35-story office tower and adjacent building in Chicago as part of a property exchange, which included the acquisition of air rights and off-site parking rights.°
• Represented investment company in its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of a REIT whose subsidiary owned an office building in Austin, Texas.°
• Served as lead counsel to purchaser in its $107,000,000 acquisition and financing of an industrial portfolio in Austin, Texas, which was one of the top-25 largest industrial transactions that year.°
• Represented sponsor and joint venture purchaser in the $35,000,000 acquisition of a mixed-use commercial project located in Lake Forest, Illinois, including assumption of the existing CMBS loan.°
• Represented the all-cash purchaser of a five-story, 38,000-square-foot mixed-use building located in Manhattan and known as the “King of Greene Street.”°

• Led a team of attorneys in the representation of the subsidiary of a major private equity firm in the leasing and development of a portfolio of properties to a hyperscaler tenant, including negotiation of build-to-suit leases, development agreements, and service level agreements, with respect to 18 buildings and over 1000 megawatts across Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.
• Represented a data center operator in the negotiation of a power shell lease for an approximate 265,000 square foot data center under development in Virginia’s Data Center Alley.
• Represented Chicago-based wellness company in connection with its industrial and office leases, including for its headquarters in a historic landmark building in Chicago’s Fulton Market and its approximate 120,000 square foot industrial lease and subsequent expansion in Franklin Park, Illinois.°
• Represented e-retailer tenant in multimillion-dollar build-to-suit industrial lease transactions and leases of existing industrial buildings.°
• Served as lead counsel to the developer of a high-end suburban mixed-use project located in the metropolitan Phoenix area; responsible for the documentation and negotiation of major office leases with prestigious corporate users within the 220,000-square-foot Class A office tower.°

• Represented national bank in various construction loans, including a condominium construction loan in Chicago, a $40,000,000 syndicated loan to demolish existing improvements and construct a speculative industrial building in Los Angeles, and an approximate $22,000,000 construction loan to pension fund-owned borrower for construction of a speculative industrial building outside Baltimore.°
• Represented national bank in multiple acquisition, redevelopment, and construction loans secured by life sciences and industrial properties throughout the United States.°
• Served as legal counsel for a large banking institution in over $250 million of syndicated loans to a real estate investment trust for the construction of shopping centers.°

• On behalf of developer, drafted and negotiated joint venture agreement and development management agreement and negotiated loan documents for the construction of two industrial buildings comprising approximately 475,000 square feet as part of a phased development in Salt Lake City.°
• Counseled real estate investment company in its construction financing and development agreements for new senior housing facilities in Park Ridge, Illinois, and Pittsburgh.°

°The above representations were handled by Ms. Vandewater prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

• Member, Programs Committee, CREW Chicago
• Chair, Industrial Leasing Committee, American Bar Association’s Real Property Leasing Group, 2020-2021
• Vice-Chair, Industrial Leasing Committee, ABA RPTE’s Leasing Group, 2018-2020
• Chair, Ground Leasing Committee, ABA RPTE’s Leasing Group, 2016-2018
• Vice-Chair, Assignment and Subletting Committee, ABA RPTE’s Leasing Group, 2015-2016