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Christopher H. Milton has a wide variety of experience in numerous areas of real estate development, financing, entitlements and operations.

Chris represents regional, national and foreign owners, developers and investors in connection with all aspects of real estate development from acquisition through zoning relief, subdivision, permitting and entitlements, environmental remediation and construction.

Chris represents lenders and investors in multi-party real estate based financial transactions and related loan workouts, restructurings and foreclosures. More specifically, Chris represents owners of real estate on mortgage loans of up to $200 million, various banks in construction loans ranging up to $100 million and large insurance companies on more than 50 permanent mortgage loans involving principal amounts from $15 million to $310 million, and has been involved in private equity transactions, and in the formation of various joint ventures and sale and leaseback transactions. He has also represented many of these lenders and investors in workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.

Chris is involved in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and various other operational matters relating to real estate. He is involved with real estate owners and operators in the valuation of real estate in eminent domain, agricultural preservation easement, conservation easement and tax abatement contexts.

Concentrations

  • Development and construction
  • Land use, zoning and subdivision
  • Environmental compliance and permitting
  • Financings, workouts, restructurings and foreclosures
  • Private placements, sale and leaseback transactions
  • Acquisitions and dispositions
  • Leasing and operational matters
  • Tax abatements, eminent domain

The attorney is providing legal services through and affiliated with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a New York Limited Liability Partnership. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Capabilities

Experience

  • Represented The Gillette Company, LLC and The Procter and Gamble Company in the master planning of and securing entitlements related to the 44-acre complex in South Boston owned by The Gillette Company, LLC, including preparations for expansion of the South Boston Manufacturing Center and for cogeneration facility upgrade.
  • Represented citizenM Hotels in regard to the development of a 269-room hotel as part of the Hub on Causeway (formerly North Station) project.
  • Represented HR Massachusetts, LLC, a potential $800 million casino developer in Western Massachusetts, in regard to real estate and entitlement matters.
  • Represented the First Church of Christ, Scientist in respect to Boston Landmarks Commission designation of Christian Science Plaza as a landmark.
  • Represented a potential casino operator in efforts to monitor possible advent of gaming in Massachusetts.
  • Represented Old Grove Partners, LLC in ongoing matters relating to the acquisition, configuration and reconfiguration of a 50+ acre luxury subdivision in Westwood, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Old Grove Partners, LLC in ongoing matters relating to the acquisition, configuration and reconfiguration of a 70+ acre luxury subdivision in Dedham, Massachusetts.
  • Secured entitlements for Cassin/Winn Associates and Related Companies, LP for the second phase of the proposed 177-unit Baker Square condominium complex in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Boston.
  • Secured entitlements for and disposition of a 32-unit luxury residential development of regional impact in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
  • Implemented zoning allowing for the development of the 270,000 square foot Harvard Community Health Care Headquarters in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
  • Represented the Bermuda Land Development Company in its efforts to dispose of the former U.S. Naval Annex at Morgan's Point, including significant development and environmental contamination issues.
  • Secured entitlements for the first phase of the Baker Square condominium complex, including addressing significant environmental issues.
  • Master planned and secured entitlements for a 70-acre, low density residential community in Dedham, Massachusetts.
  • Secured entitlements for a 31-home luxury residential project in Needham, Massachusetts.
  • Performed all legal work associated with construction of a headquarters building and "clean rooms" for Kopin, Inc. in Taunton, Massachusetts.
  • Secured certain entitlements for a 240-megawatt non-utility electrical generation facility for Dominion Energy.
  • Secured entitlements for construction of a new school for Nativity Prep.
  • Secured entitlements for the 300-room/100-unit Four Seasons Hotel and Condominiums in the Back Bay neighborhood.
  • Secured entitlements for Exchange Place, a 1.1 million square foot office building in the Downtown Financial District in Boston.
  • Secured entitlements for a 120-unit affordable housing project in Melrose, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $310 million mortgage loan financing of One Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $180 million mortgage loan financing of 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $87.5 million mortgage loan financing of 40 Sylvan Road, Reservoir Woods, Waltham, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in all aspects of a $80 million mortgage financing of Reservoir Woods, Waltham, Massachusetts.
  • Represented lender in foreclosure of $51 million loan on Westgate Mall in Brockton, Massachusetts.
  • Represented lender in foreclosure of $23.5 million loan in Westwood, Massachusetts.
  • Represented two major pension funds as local counsel in connection with their financing of and investment in Trilogy, a 572-unit apartment complex in the Fenway neighborhood.
  • Represented Gulf Oil in real estate aspects of new $600 million credit facility involving 13 distribution facilities in five states.
  • Represented Cumberland Farms in real estate aspects of new $350 million credit facility involving in excess of 1,000 service stations in seven states.
  • Represented two major pension funds as local counsel in connection with their financing of and investment in 1330 Boylston Street, a 150-unit apartment and condominium complex in the Fenway neighborhood.
  • Represented General Growth Properties in refinancing of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Century Bank, Bank of Boston, Shawmut Bank and other lenders in approximately 30 construction financings and related workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
  • Represented Travelers Insurance Company on approximately 50 permanent mortgage loans in New England, and related workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
  • Represented NYSE-listed REIT in sale/leaseback of hotel resort complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
  • Privately placed securities for entity acquiring real estate in Chatham, Massachusetts.
  • Privately placed securities for entity developing 30-unit subsidized housing project in Rockport, Massachusetts.
  • Privately placed securities for entities developing several office buildings in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Represented Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC in regard to numerous foreclosures and deeds in lieu thereof in residential transactions throughout New England.
  • Represented The Gillette Company, LLC and The Procter and Gamble Company in the $80M sale of land in South Boston, Massachusetts to Parcel 3 Owner, LLC (an affiliate of Tishman Speyer and Breakthrough Properties) as a future development site adjacent to Fort Point Channel.
  • Represented The Gillette Company, LLC and The Procter and Gamble Company in the $218M sale of land in South Boston, Massachusetts to Channelside Acquisition LLC (an affiliate of Related Beal) as a future development site adjacent to Fort Point Channel.
  • Represented The Gillette Company, LLC and The Procter and Gamble Company in the $85M sale of land and shell buildings in South Boston, Massachusetts to The General Electric Company and to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency for the new international headquarters of The General Electric Company.
  • Represented LStar Ventures and its predecessor, LNR South Shore LLC, as the master developer, in the sale of various parcels of developable land within the former Naval Air Station South Weymouth, being the development now known as Union Point, to a variety of developers. The sales involved complex issues under the Base Realignment and Closure Act.
  • Represented Dividend Capital in acquisition of office building at Crown Colony in Quincy, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Utilities and Industries Management Corporation in acquisition of Sam’s Club in Natick, Massachusetts.
  • Obtained due diligence for Ordinary Share Issuances under AIM Rules of London Stock Exchange for Dawnay Day entities investing in retail, office, warehouse and residential assets in Germany and Ukraine.
  • Handled disposition of 214-acre Herring Creek Farm, Edgartown, Massachusetts to two non-profit entities and various private owners.
  • Represented Reservoir Place Associates Limited Partnership in the disposition of a 500,000 square foot building in Waltham, Massachusetts to Boston Properties Limited Partnership.
  • Represented Americana Hotels and Realty Corporation in dispositions of hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; Springfield, Illinois; Newark, New Jersey; New York, New York and Jackson, Wyoming and associated workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
  • Performed all legal work associated with the redevelopment of the 500,000 square foot former Armstrong World Industries facility in Braintree, Massachusetts.
  • Represented the Kendall Company in the disposition of its former manufacturing complex in Walpole, Massachusetts.
  • Represented Nuvera Fuel Cells in leasing of 120,000 sq.ft. research and development facility in Billerica, Massachusetts.
  • Represented United Communications Group in 40,000 sq.ft. lease of office space in Dedham, Massachusetts.
  • Represented private family company in leasing of space at John Hancock Building, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Negotiated private-public partnerships with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Massachusetts Highway Department and various other state and local agencies under which a new street layout will be implemented and a 2,200-foot section of the Harborwalk will be constructed.
  • Represented The Gillette Company and The Procter and Gamble Company in securing significant, multi-year tax abatements for its South Boston Manufacturing Center.
  • Represented Brookfield Properties Corporation in securing significant, multi-year tax abatements for Exchange Place.
  • Represented the owners of the Greenhouse, a 322-unit luxury in apartment complex the Back Bay neighborhood, in securing multi-year tax abatements.
  • Represented the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority in eminent domain proceedings related to acquisition of land adjacent to Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for limited service hotels.
  • Represented New England Seafood Center owners in eminent domain proceedings involving the MBTA Silver Line.
  • Represented The Gillette Company and The Procter and Gamble Company in eminent domain proceedings involving the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project.

Some of the above representations were handled by Mr. Milton prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

 

Recognition & Leadership

  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2010-2025
  • Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2009-2024
  • Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year, 2022
  • Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2011-2021
  • Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2010, 2013, 2017-2018, and 2022
  • Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms Edition, "Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016
  • 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
  • Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2011-2013, 2015, and 2022-2023
  • Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0

°AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM and Martindale-Hubbell NotableSM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.

A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

  • Member, Board of Ambassadors, The Home for Little Wanderers
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
  • Member, National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP)
  • Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Member, Real Estate Bar Association
  • President, Princeton Class of 1969
  • Member, The Wellesley Club
    • Past President
    • Past Member of Board of Directors
  • Past Member, United Way Real Estate and Building Industry Breakfast, Breakfast Committee
  • Past Former Member, Wellesley Country Club, Long Range Planning Committee

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of Michigan Law School
  • A.B., English, cum laude, Princeton University
Admissions
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey