Senior Counsel
Keith J. Willner
Real Estate Finance, REITs, Fund Formation & Investment Management
"A terrific negotiator, extremely smart and always well prepared, and carries decades of experience."
Chambers USA
Overview
Keith Willner is senior counsel in the Real Estate practice. He regularly counsels major REITS, institutional developers, banks, private equity and opportunity funds, insurance companies, pension funds and pension fund advisors, asset managers and other capital providers in connection with the acquisition, venturing, financing, leasing and disposition of real estate. His transactions often focus on complex structuring issues, and tax, ERISA, bankruptcy and corporate considerations, involving foreign and domestic investors.
Experience
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Representation of institutions in acquisition, directly and through tax-advantaged contributions, of properties across the country, and in acquisition, disposition, venturing and financing of nationwide portfolios.
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Represent major opportunity funds, pension funds and institutional advisors in development of national programmatic ventures with local development and operating partners for various real estate product types.
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Transactions across the country and internationally for hotel ownership clients, including acquisition, disposition, ventures and financing, as well as management agreements and other operating agreements.
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Landlord and tenant representation in company headquarters leases, including the (then) largest lease in Virginia history. Also, representation of telecommunications providers in their national lease portfolios, and representation of institutional landlords in their DC-area leasing.
Education
- University of Virginia, BA, magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa - University of Virginia School of Law, JD
Admissions
- District of Columbia
Professional & Community Involvement
- Advisory Committee, National Multi Housing Council, 1997 to date
- Advisory Committee, National Real Estate Investor, 2001 to date
- District of Columbia Bar Association, Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section Steering Committee (1997-2000), Section Financial Officer (1998-2000); Chairman, Real Property Transactions Committee (1996-1997), Chairman, Commercial Transactions Committee (1995-1996)