Real Estate

Real estate law expertise with real-world results

Record-breaking projects. National recognition. Unrivaled industry relationships. In the world of real estate law, Brownstein is an undisputed leader. With decades of experience and an innovative team, we know how to take your projects from breaking ground to ground-breaking success.

At Brownstein, we don’t just apply real estate law academically or theoretically—we also deliver practical, business-oriented solutions that position your organization for success. From transactions and finance to land use, leasing, and beyond, we understand the full spectrum of real estate law. And as seasoned negotiators who’ve worked on both sides of the table, we know how to anticipate roadblocks and get your deals to the finish line. Together, these capabilities are why our clients—including both sellers and purchasers, landlords and tenants, municipalities and corporations—choose us time and time again to represent them.

Areas of Focus

Recognition

Facilitating an Iconic Development Project at the U.S. Air Force Academy

We combine law and policy to help our clients. In 2008 Brownstein played an integral role in drafting and passing the Colorado Regional Tourism Act which made it possible for municipalities to apply for state funds to develop large-scale projects that generate new tourism in Colorado. TrueNorth Commons at the U.S. Air Force Academy is one of those projects. A Brownstein real estate team is now working with innovative property developer Blue & Silver to develop a 57-acre complex with a visitor center, hotel, conference center, retail and office space. Our multidisciplinary team handled all aspects of the project from facilitating agreements to securing $60 million in public financing through PIFs and bonds to negotiating the master lease agreement with the Air Force and agreements with sub-developers.

Real Estate

Facilitating an Iconic Development Project at the U.S. Air Force Academy

Bringing a Cutting-Edge Stadium to the Las Vegas Skyline

After years of excitement, the iconic Allegiant Stadium, a global events destination and home to the Las Vegas Raiders and the UNLV football team, opened its doors further solidifying Las Vegas as the ultimate entertainment destination. Brownstein was integral to making Allegiant Stadium’s opening happen, serving as Nevada counsel to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. Our real estate team handled the leasing and development of this $1.97 billion, 65,000-seat enclosed stadium. As part of hosting a variety of sports and entertainment events, Allegiant Stadium is expected to generate $620 million annually and create 6,000 permanent jobs in southern Nevada. The Brownstein team also represented the City of Henderson in the sale and development of the Raiders’ team headquarters and practice facility.

Helping Vail Resorts Fulfill its Mission Through $125 Million Acquisition

Our clients rely on us to not only understand their long-term goals, but to also create legal strategies to achieve those goals. For longstanding client, Vail Resorts, Inc., this means Brownstein’s team helps execute on their commitment to bring the “experience of a lifetime” to individuals near urban centers across the country. When Vail Resorts sought to acquire three Pittsburgh-area resorts—Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort and Laurel Mountain Ski Area—our team made this dream a reality. We handled all aspects of the $125 million acquisition, including real estate and hospitality matters. The result? Vail Resorts continues to deliver on its commitment to provide an “experience of a lifetime.”

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Via a Public Private Partnership

We signed on to help Mustang Renewable Power Ventures and MSB Investors add a renewable gas facility to the state of the art Tajiguas Landfill. Our real estate team advised on CEQA, the Coastal Act and other land use issues involving the modification of entitlement approvals. We also settled litigation challenging the approvals. The result is a successful public private partnership with the county of Santa Barbara that modernizes the landfill, adding a materials recovery facility to retrieve recyclables from the garbage and an anaerobic digester. Organic waste is directed to the anaerobic digester, where the trash is treated to produce biomethane—reducing landfill gas that otherwise would be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The biomethane is then used as a renewable fuel for compressed natural gas trucks and to improve grid resiliency on California’s Central Coast.

Business Goals Align With Solving One of Denver’s Most Pressing Challenges

Sometimes assisting our clients in finding the right solution for their business needs aligns with helping the local community address one of its biggest challenges. In this case, it meant our client, Situs Group, was able to sell one of its assets—the Stay Inn Motel and adjacent undeveloped land—to the City and County of Denver to be used as part of the city’s long-term solution to homelessness in Denver. When Situs Group’s plans for the site changed, due to COVID-19 and a severe windstorm, the city reached out with an offer to purchase the property. Our work at the intersection of business and politics made our Real Estate attorneys the right team to provide counsel on navigating the long sales process that accompanies any transaction using federal funding. Now this site will provide supportive housing to the unhoused population.

Real Estate

Business Goals Align With Solving One of Denver’s Most Pressing Challenges

Conserving 12,000 Acres of Critical Habitat in Colorado

Brownstein tackles big challenges at the intersection of law and policy. In 2019, Colorado Parks and Wildlife identified Buffalo Horn Ranch as its top priority for protection of a critically important wildlife migration corridor. We led the legal effort to conserve 12,000 acres of land on the ranch with two conservation easements after an effort over several years by multiple public and private stakeholders, including state agencies, Great Outdoors Colorado, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. A premier hunting destination with the largest migratory elk herds in Colorado, the Buffalo Horn Ranch provides important habitat for elk and mule deer as well as greater sage-grouse, bald eagle, ferruginous hawk and burrowing owl. The conservation easements will protect this habitat for generations.

Facilitating Development of the Nation’s First “Carbon-Positive” Hotel

When Urban Villages decided to make Denver home to the first “carbon-positive” hotel in the nation, they knew it would be a challenge. That’s why our Real Estate and Construction teams were brought in to make this dream a reality. From negotiating the acquisition of the city-owned land; navigating entitlements, variances and transferrable development rights; securing construction financing; negotiating design and construction contracts; and advising on change of scope during construction, our team made the process as smooth as possible for Urban Villages. Set to be completed in 2024, the aspen tree-inspired design of the 13-story Populus Hotel will feature 265 guest rooms, a rooftop restaurant and bar, and retail and event space.

The First Transfer of Federal Land to an Urban Indian Health Program

American Indian Health & Services (AIHS) recently became the first Urban Indian Health Program in the country to purchase excess land from the federal government. For over six years, Brownstein’s team supported AIHS, a non-profit community clinic that has operated in Santa Barbara for the last 30 years, to acquire the land and get the local entitlements to rehabilitate a historic armory building into a modern clinic. Drawing on our deep knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, land use and real estate, the Brownstein team negotiated the real estate transaction with two federal agencies—General Services Administration and Indian Health Services. Our team attained a critical rezone of the site, which was unanimously approved by the Santa Barbara City Council in December 2023.

Securing Water Resources for a Fast Growing City

For decades, the City of Thornton, Colorado tried to secure access to water shares it purchased which originate from the Cache la Poudre River. Without it, the fast-growing city is unable to proceed with long-planned residential growth and address significant water quality challenges. After a portion of the original pipeline development plans were denied, Brownstein was retained to help secure the necessary permits. Through a local government permitting process, our Real Estate team gained unanimous approval from county officials to transport the water resources through a critical 10-mile segment of the pipeline. Thornton can now complete construction of the 70-mile water pipeline to convey 14,000 acre-feet of water from the Poudre River. Once fully operational, the pipeline will support new development that will help address Colorado’s ongoing housing shortage and create jobs. Photo credit: Helene McVey