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Overview

David advises large companies as they achieve their property goals.

His multifaceted understanding of the real estate market extends to acquisitions and dispositions, campus planning and development, complex financing transactions, facilities management, construction contracting, construction administration and leasing. He also represents lenders in commercial real estate, agricultural and asset-based loans.

Among David’s noteworthy accomplishments are these:

  • Counseling a Fortune 500 company in the planning, site acquisition, assembly, financing and development of an 80-acre corporate headquarters campus in Colorado.
  • Advising on a $120 million synthetic lease transaction involving multiple properties in six states for a Fortune 250 company.
  • Representing a multinational company with a real estate transaction in the sale of a $675 million wireless communications company.

David is the city attorney for Bridgeton, Mo., and also represents municipalities and developers in all aspects of municipal law, including planning, zoning, financing and development incentives. He also is counsel to the Saint Louis Art Museum and regularly represents museums, collectors and not-for-profit organizations in all aspects of art law.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Real Estate Law, 2010-2025
  • BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star Award, 2022
  • Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers, 2021
  • Chambers USA
    • Real Estate, 2012-2024
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Real estate, Recommended attorney, 2023 and 2024
  • IFLR 1000 United States
    • Real Estate (Missouri), Highly Regarded, 2019, 2022-2024
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2013-2016
  • St. Louis Business Journal, “40 Under 40,” 2008

Education

  • J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
      • Order of the Coif
      • Washington University Law Quarterly, associate editor, 1993-1994
  • B.J., University of Missouri

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Alliance of Museums
  • American Bar Association
  • The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Experience
  • Represented a Fortune 500 company in the planning, site acquisition, assembly, financing and development of an 80-acre corporate headquarters campus in Colorado.
  • Counseled a Fortune500 company in a $120 million synthetic lease transaction involving multiple properties in six states.
  • Advised multinational company with respect to the real estate aspects of the $675 million sale of a wireless communications company.
  • Represented one of America's leading producers of coal in the financing and purchase of a 32,700-acre coal mine in Illinois.
  • Represented a Fortune500 company in the preparation and negotiation of a property management contract for its world headquarters campus in Missouri.
  • Advised Missouri municipality in connection with a $25 million retail redevelopment involving tax increment financing.
  • Represented the developer of Citygarden, a $40 million sculpture garden and public park in downtown St. Louis, Mo., including negotiation and preparation of the initial cooperation agreement with the city; acquisition of the necessary public approvals; and the negotiation of design, landscaping and construction contracts and facilities agreements.
  • Representation of a major art museum in all aspects of the $120 million expansion of its facility in St. Louis, Mo., including project planning, negotiation of design and construction contracts, public financing and assistance in construction and administration.
  • Counsel for purchaser of an important painting by Edgar Degas from a French dealer.
  • Represented art collectors in connection with cultural patrimony claims alleged by foreign governments regarding antiquities.
  • Served on legal team quickly renegotiating majority of restaurant chain's nationwide leases in wake of COVID-19 for meaningful savings in operational costs.
  • Assisted with transfer of more than 25 properties associated with M&A transaction for Fortune 500 company, coordinating local counsel in foreign jurisdictions. The divestiture helped the client focus on maximizing the strength of its global cross-border payments platform and financial network.
  • Represented water technology provider in the negotiation of a build-to-suit lease with construction financing baked in, providing client leverage to get project completed.
Case Studies
The Western Union Company

Our team developed a customized contract lifecycle management system that led to substantial savings and better outcomes for the client.

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