Yigal Saghian

• Master Planned Community Commercial Land Sales: Representation of master planned community developer in connection with sale of numerous commercial parcels and imposition of various restrictive covenants and other controls in furtherance of overall development scheme. Transactions included the prospective $30 Million sale of 70 acres to be utilized as the new corporate campus for a Fortune 100 company.°
• $10 Million Acquisition of 400 Acres of Ranch Land: Representation of master planned community developer in connection with a $10 Million acquisition of 400 acres of ranch land. Representation included drafting and negotiating various documents and instruments such as seller financing documents, restrictive covenants, access easements, surface waivers, and drill site designation agreements.°
• $16.8 Million Acquisition of 260-Unit Apartment Complex: Representation of real estate development company as purchaser in connection with a $16.8 Million acquisition of a 260-unit multifamily apartment complex located in Houston, Texas.°
• $9.5 Million Sale of Office Building Project: Representation of seller in $9.5 Million disposition of office building property in Houston, Texas.°
• $15 Million Acquisition of 2.8 Acres for Redevelopment: Representation of real estate development company in connection with negotiation of purchase and sale agreement for $15 Million proposed acquisition of 2.8 acres property in Austin, Texas. Representation included review and analysis of title and survey due diligence with special attention to effect of cell tower easement on client’s intended redevelopment.°
• $43 Million Acquisition of 19 Acres for Redevelopment: Representation of real estate developer in connection with $43 Million acquisition of a 19-acre former concrete manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas for redevelopment as a multifamily and retail mixed-use project.°
• $21.5 Million Acquisition of 20 Acres for Redevelopment (Multifamily, Retail, Entertainment, and Hospitality Mixed-Use Project): Representation of real estate development company in connection with prospective $21.5 Million acquisition of 20 acre former Imperial Sugar site in Sugarland, Texas, including review and analysis of voluminous complex title matters affecting feasibility including availability of historical tax credits and other entitlements, ability to unwind zoning and restrictive covenant framework previously imposed for now-failed prior development venture, removal of liens and resolution of ongoing litigation arising from bankruptcy of prior development venture, and other related matters.°
• $2.2 Billion Sale of Chemical Manufacturing Facilities: Representation of multinational chemical manufacturing company in connection with sale of multiple Texas manufacturing facilities. Representation included coordinating with client’s personnel, managing firm associates, and responsibility for process of identifying, reviewing, and analyzing all relevant real estate holdings including hundreds of pipelines and related easements, licenses, and permits.°
• $10 Million Office Building Acquisition and CMBS Loan Assumption: Representation of law firm as purchaser in connection with a $10 Million acquisition of a three-story office building in Houston, Texas, in a transaction involving the assumption of an existing CMBS loan assumption. Representation included advising and assisting the client in navigating complex and rigorous CMBS loan provisions, drafting springing master lease agreement, satisfying lockbox/cash management requirement requirements during then-existing cash trap period, and negotiating reduction of borrower obligations while transitioning building to a 100% owner‑occupied building.°
• $1.2 Million Restaurant Pad Site in New Retail Development: Representation of regional pizza restaurant chain in connection with acquisition of a portion of a larger parcel to be converted from an existing church to an integrated retail development. Handled all aspects of transaction including review and negotiation of title and survey and preparation of Reciprocal Easement Agreements (REA’s) and Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R’s).°

• Regional Mall & Shopping Center Redevelopment: Representation of real estate development group with focus on acquisition and redevelopment of regional malls and shopping centers. Representation included review and analysis of all contracts, agreements and covenants, conditions and restrictions pertaining to property redevelopment.°
• Urban Infill & Redevelopment: Representation of family office with significant real estate holdings in connection with various urban infill and redevelopment projects and redevelopment matters including drafting and negotiating amendments to existing recorded covenants, easements and agreements with property owners and major tenants.°
• Lender Representation – Loan Servicing and Collateral Asset Management: Representation of lenders in connection various projects affecting collateral property including review and analysis of public access easements and other public dedications, temporary license agreements for worksite staging, crane swing and other construction matters, and various redevelopment projects.°

• Leasing Counsel for Office Building Project Owner: Representation of owner of a multi-building office project as the landlord in connection with numerous leasing matters including ongoing negotiation of a 47,000 s.f. office lease with $1.5 Million in tenant improvement allowance, and a 24,000 s.f. office lease with $700,000 in tenant improvement allowance.°
• Leasing Counsel for Regional Mall & Shopping Center Real Estate Development Company: Representation of real estate development group with growing, nation-wide portfolio of dozens of regional malls and power centers. Reviewed, analyzed and abstracted hundreds of shopping center leases. Prepared and negotiated leases and related agreements for various tenants ranging from small, in-line tenants to large, anchor and big box tenants. Developed and implemented usage of standard leasing templates and document preparation protocols, including systems to monitor exclusive use rights and use restrictions, access and visibility provisions, protected area agreements, and other matters affecting development.°
• Lease Automation – Form Coding and Implementation: Representation of large real estate investment company in connection with high-volume leasing for retail, office, and warehouse/flex properties. Developed and implemented a document automation system to support high-volume leasing, allowing for quick, easy, efficient, and reliable generation of sophisticated lease documents.°
• Other Lease Drafting and Negotiation: Representation of both landlord and tenant clients with preparation and negotiation of a wide variety of commercial lease agreements. Representative lease transactions include the following:
  • Big Box Retailers - Various National and Regional Brands: Representation of landlord in connection with drafting and negotiation of leases for various national retailers including Academy, Ross, Ulta, Dollar Tree, TJMaxx, Tractor Supply, and others.°
  • Port Facilities - 20 Acre Food Distribution Facility: Representation of landlord in connection with drafting and negotiation of lease agreement for a to-be-constructed 10-acre refrigerated shipping container yard and 10-acre automated banana warehouse and processing facility.°
  • Healthcare Facilities - 45,000 S.F. Medical Clinic and Pharmacy: Representation of tenant in connection with drafting and negotiation of various medical office and pharmacy leases including lease agreement for 45,000 s.f. medical clinic and pharmacy in multi‑story medical office project to be constructed.°
  • Industrial – 7.6 Acre Lot with 61,000 S.F. Warehouse/Office: Representation of tenant in connection with drafting and negotiation of leases for industrial properties across U.S. including lease of 7.6 acre lot with 61,000 s.f. improved building space for use in supporting client’s global supply chain.°
  • 100,000 S.F. Warehouse and Distribution Center: Representation of landlord in connection with drafting and negotiation of lease of flex space in large commercial building including leasing 100,000 s.f. of space to multinational power management company for office, warehousing, and distribution center purposes.°
  • Gas Stations and Convenience Stores: Representation of landlord in connection with drafting and negotiation of packaged lease transaction including 3 leases covering 3 commercial gas stations.°
  • Office Headquarters Lease: Representation of tenant in negotiation of a 65,000 s.f. office lease for space to be utilized as company headquarters.°
  • Other Leases: Representation of various clients in connection with drafting and negotiation of leases for a wide variety of properties including restaurants, movie theaters and other hospitality and entertainment businesses; large and small office suites and office buildings; federal and local government offices; data centers; and ports, terminals, and railyards.°

• Modification of Land Acquisition Financing: Representation of master planned community developer in connection with modification of land acquisition financing to provide for partial payoffs and partial lien releases necessary to secure development financing for 500 acre phase and 226 acre phase.°
• $55 Loan Origination Secured by Multi-State Industrial Property Portfolio: Representation of Lender in connection with $55 Million loan secured by six industrial properties, containing over 800,000 square feet of rentable space, located in Texas, Florida and North Carolina.°
• $28 Million Loan Origination: Representation of Lender in connection with $28 Million loan secured by a 10-story office building project in Austin, Texas.°
• $36.5 Million Loan Origination: Representation of Lender in connection with $36.5 Million loan secured by a 332-unit multifamily project.°
• Loan Servicing and Ongoing Lender Due Diligence: Representation of lenders in connection with various matters affecting collateral properties including recent representation of lender in connection with review and analysis of borrower request for lender consent to redevelopment of collateral office building project involving expansion of an existing on-site museum and the sale of the central office park plaza to a municipal agency for redevelopment as a public event venue.°
• $150 Million Loan Assumption: Representation of lender in connection with a new borrower’s assumption of an existing $105 Million mortgage loan as part of a hotel purchase and sale transaction with Reverse 1031 Exchange and REIT Operating Lease components.°
• $55 Million Loan Workout and Short Sale: Representation of lender in connection with workout of $55 Million loan and short sale of the distressed collateral property.°
• $320 Million Workout and Deed in Lieu: Representation of lender in connection with distressed asset workout and deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to cross-collateralized $250 Million and $70 Million loans secured by an integrated shopping mall and hotel project.°
• COVID Loan Workouts. Representation of lenders in connection with various workouts arising from COVID, including numerous workouts of loans secured by hotel properties.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Saghian prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," 2021-2024

• Member, State Bar Association of Texas, 2014-Present
• Member, Houston Bar Association Real Estate Law Section, 2014-Present
  • Chair, 2023-Present
  • Chair Elect, 2022-2023
  • Secretary-Treasurer, 2020-2021
  • Council Member, 2019-2020