James B. Aronoff

• Representation of and counsel to several NYSE, NASDAQ and ASE-listed REITS, with particular focus in the retail and hospitality sectors.
• Representation of $10 billion NYSE-listed real estate operating company in its restructuring and conversion to a REIT.
• Representation of several private real estate equity funds through formation and in direct project investments of over $1 billion.
• Representation of both purchasers and sellers of over $30 billion of whole loan and servicing rights portfolios.
• Representation of global alternative asset manager in acquisition of $2.5 billion NYSE-listed multi-family REIT.
• Representation of a NYSE-listed REIT in a $350 million mortgage financing involving shopping center properties in Puerto Rico and the continental United States.
• Representation of a NYSE-listed lodging REIT in the restructuring of its $400 million hotel lease portfolio.
• Represented a real estate investment firm in the acquisition of a portfolio of more than 600 acres of prime industrial land in four different sites and in the planned development and construction of $200 million of industrial and office facilities.
• Representation of an AMEX-listed lodging REIT in the acquisition of a 10 hotel portfolio located in several Southwestern states.
• Representation of a major foreign insurance company in a $240 million sale involving 43 retail and office properties located in 14 states.
• Representation of a NYSE-listed REIT in a $300 million acquisition of nine regional mall properties located in five states.
• Counsel to a private developer in a $1.2 billion sale of 21 regional mall properties to a NYSE-listed REIT.
• Representation of a NYSE-listed REIT in the $350 million acquisition of a portfolio of 36 department stores located in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas, with lease or sublease back to the department store, plus related acquisition and lease back of additional properties in California and Utah.
• Lead transaction counsel for the leveraged lease sale/leaseback financing of 13 “Superstores” of a national retailer located in nine states.
• Lead counsel to a global auto manufacturer in connection with the leveraged lease sale/leaseback of both a major assembly operation as well as an environmentally sensitive truck painting facility.
• Counsel to a national retailer for leveraged lease sale/leaseback of eight newly constructed retail properties located in five states. Structure involved the severance of estates for years and remainder interests which enhanced the overall return to the retailer.
• Lead counsel in the leveraged lease financing of a major steel processing center in Northwestern Ohio.
• Counsel to a national grocery chain for the sale/leaseback and secured lease bond financing of 36 supermarket and grocery distribution warehouse properties.
• Drafted and negotiated dozens of Electric Vehicle Charging Station agreements at properties across the US, including the development of a national charging station program for a public REIT shopping center owner for its parking facilities.

Thompson Hine’s nationally recognized Real Estate practice provides innovative, practical counsel to help clients achieve their most critical goals – controlling risks and maximizing value on real property investments and assets.

Primary areas of practice include:

• Real estate development
• Ground lease and space lease agreements
• Borrower and lender financing and capital markets transactions
• Corporate real estate matters, including headquarter projects
• Tax credits and other government incentives

Delivering innovative solutions to real estate issues and building collaborative, high performance teams are the hallmarks of the firm’s practice. Drawing from the collective experience of their wholly-owned subsidiary Project Management Consultants (PMC) and other practice areas such as construction, bankruptcy, tax, corporate, environmental and business litigation, Thompson Hine offers sophisticated counsel on real estate transactions of any size and complexity.

The firm provides guidance on real estate litigation and settlement strategies, foreclosures, workouts, bankruptcies affecting other real estate investments, brownfields, eminent domain and land use matters.

Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award.

Thompson Hine has distinguished itself in all areas of Service Delivery Innovation in the BTI Brand Elite, where it has been recognized as one of the top 4 firms for “Value for the Dollar” and “Commitment to Help” and among the top 5 firms “making changes to improve the client experience.”

The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTH® – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals.