Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law

Bill Patterson helps lenders, developers, investors, and business owners move real estate deals from concept to closing efficiently and with confidence. Since 2000, he has primarily focused his practice on real estate financing and commercial transactions, advising clients throughout the full lifecycle of real property matters from initial structuring through post closing issues. Bill works with local, regional, and national banks and other financial institutions on commercial real estate tra...

Austin R. Wyker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law and Tax Law. Austin R., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Austin R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Negotiates and closes complex development transactions. Assesses risk to efficiently and cost effectively achieve maximum results. Skilled at creating positive relationships between public stakeholders and private real estate developers. A real estate attorney focused on achieving her client’s business objectives, Blair Lichtenfels advises prominent developers and equity investors in connection with urban infill, brownfield, master planned, mixed use and transit-oriented developments. B...

Travis focuses his practice on commercial real estate, representing developers, investors, landlords, and tenants in the acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and financing of a broad range of real estate assets, including industrial, retail, multifamily, office, and master planned community projects throughout Texas. He also advises clients on zoning, platting, vested rights, property owners’ associations, restrictive covenants, easements, entity formation, and corporate gove...

James L. Lott, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. James L., who practices law in Madison, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peg Smith handles all aspects of commercial acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, title review and analysis, with particular expertise in drafting and analyzing conservation easements. She represents timberland companies, commercial developers, nonprofit organizations, and individual clients with respect to their various real estate needs, and regularly assists energy companies with real estate matters related to solar development, hydroelectric facilities, and transmission corrid...

Dean A. Messmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law and Real Estate Law. Dean A., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dean A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Vivek K. Chavan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Vivek K., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vivek K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

EDWARD J. LEADER counsels clients in all aspects of the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, leasing, construction and exchanging of commercial, industrial, and multi-family real estate. Ed also serves as a business advisor to clients in structuring real estate and other investment transactions. Ed's experience includes commercial finance, loan workouts and foreclosures, real estate bankruptcy issues, tax valuation complaints, and the real estate aspects of corporate acquisitions...

Nevada native with extensive experience in the private and public sectors. Transactional and land use attorney with an expertise in the lifecycle of development projects. Able to lead all aspects of real estate deals, from acquisition and financing to entitlement. A Las Vegas native, Jamie Thalgott understands Nevada’s political climate and highly regulated gaming industry and their effect on complex land use and real estate transactions. Her practice focuses on providing counsel to hig...

Michael Goldberg’s clients look to him for advice on difficult and complex restructuring issues, where he is known for his creative approaches to the solution of financial problems. Mike specializes in the areas of business bankruptcy, financial restructuring and business transactions as well as commercial real estate transactions. In his over 25 years of practice, Mike has represented a broad spectrum of clients in insolvency matters, including debtors, creditors’ committees, tru...

Jeb Joyce focuses his practice on a broad range of transactional matters, with a concentration in commercial real estate and commercial finance. He represents both lenders and borrowers in the negotiation and closing of commercial loans and also regularly provides transactional legal opinions. Mr. Joyce has extensive experience advising clients on commercial lease agreements for both landlords and tenants, real estate conveyances, and formation and governance of horizontal property regimes. I...

Kenneth B. Bley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Real Estate Law. Kenneth B., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gordon L. Gerson is managing principal of GERSON LAW FIRM APC, concentrating nationwide in all aspects of real estate and commercial real estate finance. Mr. Gerson has an active institutional and mortgage banking practice. He has substantial experience in commercial real estate finance with a particular emphasis on the origination, workout and enforcement of a loan with a particular emphasis on real estate finance for the capital markets. His past and current engagements include some of the ...

Jim Smith is a founding partner of Smith Hurst, PLC. Jim’s practice experience is extensive and spans the full range of business advisory and transactional law. He routinely counsels companies across diverse industries in a myriad of business matters including capital raising, advising Boards of Directors, senior management, executives and controlling shareholders regarding governance and fiduciary duty matters, compliance with regulatory obligations, ordinary course of business contrac...

Susan C. Glen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Susan C., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.