Page 24 - Top Law Firms in NJ

WHY SHOULD A CLIENT CHOOSE YOU OVER THE
COMPETITION?
Wilentz is counted among New Jersey’s leading real estate practices. We provide strategic counseling through our knowledge and application of the law and through our longstanding relationships with governmental and regulating agencies to assist clients in navigating legal, political and economic aspects and obstacles of New Jersey’s local markets.
Our clients rely on our expertise in all aspects of real estate law as we practice at the forefront of redevelopment, land use, environmental and financing. We focus on seamless multidisciplinary service to advance our clients’ interests in each project we undertake.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST GROWTH AREA FOR
YOUR BUSINESS?
We see growth opportunities in realizing the benefits
of the rapidly changing federal and state incentive programs (e.g., Opportunity Zones) and leveraging these tools to advance the interests and impact of a particular development project. We approach incentive programs as strategic tools to be used on a case-by-case basis to overcome challenges in projects and ensure their success.
We are working with clients to convert brownfields into industrial projects, dilapidated urban areas into thriving neighborhoods, and helping to minimize the carbon
Todd E. Lehder Laurie E. Meyers (Real Estate Co-Chair) (Real Estate Co-Chair)
footprint by developing areas with obsolete buildings and abandoned commercial properties through mixed-use projects in and around transit.
TELL US ABOUT A CREATIVE SOLUTION THAT YOUR
FIRM PROVIDED TO A REAL ESTATE CLIENT.
We represented a developer in the purchase of a portion of a site which required seller to obtain subdivision approval pre-closing and purchaser to obtain site
plan approval post-closing. The municipality imposed substantial offsite roadway improvements as a condition of the subdivision which related solely to purchaser’s planned development. Purchaser was utilizing a 1031 exchange and any delay of the subdivision threatened the transaction. Implementing creative solutions the old fashioned way, Wilentz restructured the deal as a ground lease, with prepaid ground rent and a purchase option for nominal consideration. The developer was able to close the ground lease and complete the 1031 exchange, then process both the subdivision and site plan approvals post-closing. This restructuring created the ability to pay the ground lease rent with the 1031 exchange proceeds and work around the subdivision delay created by the off-site improvement obligations.
AT A GLANCE...
HEADQUARTERS: 90 Woodbridge Center Drive, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
YEAR FOUNDED: 1919
TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS: 101 NUMBER OF REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS: 24
AREAS OF EXPERTISE IN REAL ESTATE: Acquisitions and Sale of Real Property, Redevelopment, Real Estate Financing, Leasing, Environmental Compliance, Brownfields Development, Land Use Approvals and Litigation, Construction, Solar Energy
The Wilentz Team
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