Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the continuing expansion of its Real Estate Practice Group with transactional partner Lawrence Eiben in the Chicago office. He bolsters the firm's core strength in the commercial real estate industry and broadens the real estate team's experience in green and renewable energy project development and financing.
"Client needs continue to fuel our growth across the United States," said Richard Bezold, chair of the Real Estate Practice Group. "Larry is a well-established lawyer in his field. His arrival not only enhances our ability to serve clients locally, but further expands our significant capabilities for real estate investors and developers pursuing projects in top investment centers like Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York."
Eiben focuses his practice on a range of transactional matters for commercial real estate clients. He represents real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate funds, real estate joint ventures and developers in connection with acquisitions, sales, developments and financing of office buildings, shopping centers, mixed-use projects, multifamily buildings and complexes, self-storage facilities and industrial centers. In addition, he handles office, industrial and retail leasing matters for landlords and tenants.
As a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Accredited Professional, Eiben's national real estate practice intersects with Akerman's expansive Green & Sustainable Development Practice. He frequently represents owners of office, healthcare and educational facilities that have been awarded LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). He also has experience representing clients in renewable energy projects.
In addition, Eiben is a member of the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Sustainable Development Product Council. He joins an extensive roster of Akerman lawyers who hold leadership positions within ULI, including Miami Office Managing Partner and land use lawyer Neisen Kasdin, who serves as a governor and trustee for ULI; Economic Development & Incentives Practice Chair Steven Polivy, who serves as an advisory board member for ULI's New York City District Council; Land Use & Sustainable Development Practice Chair Cecelia Bonifay, who is past co-chair of ULI's Climate Change, Land Use, and Energy Committee and who serves as governance chair for ULI's Central Florida District Council; Bezold, who is chair of ULI's Florida Product Council Executive Committee, and Thomas Ingram, of counsel in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, who serves as chair of ULI's North Florida District Council.
Eiben joins Akerman during a time of notable growth for the firm and the Real Estate Practice Group, in particular. In the past year, the Real Estate Practice Group was ranked among the five largest in the United States and globally by Law360. Headcount in the Real Estate Practice Group increased 11 percent since last year, with such laterals as real estate transactional partner Jane Hinton and associate Herman Enayati, who joined the Los Angeles office, where real estate transactional partner Sue Zabloudil was recently appointed as the Los Angeles office managing partner. In recent weeks, Akerman also welcomed real estate transactional partner Howard Gelt to the Denver office, as well as environmental and land use litigator Richard Leland and real estate financing lawyer Ian Tattenbaum, both partners in the New York office.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2015). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).
The Akerman Real Estate Practice Group offers comprehensive and fully integrated project counsel services to clients across the United States and in Latin America. With substantial industry experience and local market insights, Akerman represents clients in complex real estate transactions and financings, development and redevelopment projects, public private initiatives and litigation. Recognized as a national tier one law firm for Real Estate and Construction Law by U.S. News - Best Lawyers (2015), the group advises investors, developers, builders, lenders, retailers, owners and corporate end users, often in high profile matters.