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Capabilities / Retail Real Estate

Retail Real Estate

Gaining the advantage.

Husch Blackwell helps clients capitalize on retail market opportunities by helping clients find and implement the right strategies to maximize their portfolios. Whether clients are leasing, developing, redeveloping, acquiring, or selling retail centers, our team has the broad experience and the bandwidth to bring the client’s goals to fruition. Our team also has expertise in zoning, land use, and environmental risk management, as well as project financing through traditional mechanisms or by tapping into local, state, and federal development incentives and tax credits.

Our deep understanding of retail real estate enables us to quickly zero in on clients’ needs and deliver solutions that drive growth. REITs, retail property owners, big-box stores, franchise concepts, and startup businesses rely on Husch Blackwell’s fresh thinking and legal insights to advance their business objectives.

Our guidance to clients in the retail real estate sector includes:

  • Financing
  • Franchise and distribution
  • Government affairs
  • Incentive programs, sweepstakes, rebates and promotions
  • Intellectual property
  • Labor and employment
  • Lease portfolio management
  • Mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions
  • Regulatory and compliance
  • Supplier agreements
  • Taxation

Representative Experience

  • Guided H&R Block in the acquisition of all franchise locations in Oklahoma and more than half in Texas from the company’s largest franchisee, who intended to sell.
  • Represented REIT in redevelopment of a large retail space in a Wisconsin mall. Redevelopment required a major alteration to the mall’s existing conditional use approval, and our team coordinated the land use approval process with the city. The project was unanimously approved by the city’s Urban Design Commission and Plan Commission.
  • Helped Denver’s Regional Transportation District structure a public-private partnership of CDOT and RTD funds, developer equity, historic tax credits, and construction financing in order to redevelop Union Station. The station houses Denver’s AMTRAK station, a 110-room hotel, restaurant and retail space, and a 12,000-square-foot great hall.
  • Represented Raven Development in the redevelopment of Northwest Plaza Shopping Center in Missouri, at one time the largest mall in the country. Negotiated the acquisition of the vacant mall, as well as leasing and sale transactions, and assisted our client in arranging financing for the $106 million, multiphase project and in securing significant federal, state and local incentives.
  • Assisted joint venture between Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates Inc. and Loftworks LLC of St. Louis with the acquisition, financing, and redevelopment details of the redevelopment of the historic St. Louis’s Syndicate Trust Building, an $86 million project. The building became a mix of retail space, affordable housing, market-rate apartment units, for-sale condominium units and parking.
  • Represented commercial real estate firm Sansone Group in the nearly $32 million sale of Buzz Westfall Plaza in north St. Louis, a 370,000-square-foot center anchored by retail, to a private real estate investment firm. The deal was complicated by the development’s location in the middle of civil unrest in that part of St. Louis during the transaction.
  • Represented commercial real estate firm Sansone Group in its $18 million acquisition of the Towne South Plaza shopping center in Terre Haute, Indiana.
  • Represented client in the development of a Chick-fil-A restaurant. The property required consents of major big box retailers, lenders, and the requirements of Chick-fil-A corporate.
  • Structured joint venture between a major investment bank and a regional developer to acquire two shopping centers containing 450,000 square feet of retail space valued at $100 million.
  • Represented a multi-family developer in securing entitlements and negotiating agreements in connection with a multi-family housing development being developed in connection with a retail center anchored by CVS valued at $70 million.
Articles | June 2021
The Sky's No Longer the Limit
Articles | January 17, 2019
Lexis Practice Advisor®: Real Estate Joint Ventures for Commercial Real Estate Development

Andy Crossett and Samantha Maerz authored Real Estate Joint Ventures for Commercial Real Estate Development for Lexis Practice Advisor®.

White Papers | November 28, 2018
Retailers: Thinking Outside the Box to Address Driver & Equipment Shortages

According to the American Trucking Association, there is a current shortage of about 51,000 drivers which is impacting U.S. retailers, and it is predicted to get worse in the coming years.

White Papers | August 29, 2018
Buying & Selling Triple Net Leases

Retail real estate assets include much more than
shopping centers and outlet malls.

White Papers | August 23, 2018
Drafting Tips for Real Estate Purchase and Sales Agreements

After signing a real estate purchase and sales agreement, parties are often unpleasantly surprised or disappointed by what seemed to be minor points — that is, “details” — when they negotiated the agreement.

White Papers | August 16, 2018
When & How to Use Digital Signatures in Construction

An electronic signature, or e-signature, is simply data in electronic form used by a signatory to indicate assent on an electronic document.

Articles | August 07, 2018
Law360 Expert Analysis: How To Avoid Errors And Maximize Benefits In Rooftop Leases (log-in required)

Rodney Carter discusses navigating the usage of rooftop space for real estate owners. 

White Papers | July 26, 2018
"Gross Up" Provisions in Office Leases
White Papers | July 26, 2018
CRE Investors Seeking Security Through JVs
White Papers | July 02, 2018
The New World of Brick-and-Mortar Retail
Articles | April 06, 2018
St. Louis Business Journal: The death of retail is greatly exaggerated

Stacy Engles Wipfler explores the retail industry’s ‘brave new world’ and the evolution of how brick-and-mortar retailers use space.

Media Mentions | January 29, 2021
Hamilton County Herald: Husch Blackwell welcomes four
News Releases | October 30, 2019
JP Croake Joins Husch Blackwell's Madison Office

Croake's corporate practice focuses on helping businesses – from startups to established companies – at all stages of growth. 

News Releases | October 07, 2019
Two Husch Blackwell Associates Selected for AdvanceLaw Diversity Mentorships

AdvanceLaw, a collective of over 250 corporate legal departments that helps member companies find and retain outside counsel by vetting law firms and sharing feedback, launched the program earlier this year.

Media Mentions | May 10, 2019
Milwaukee Business Journal: A Budding Industry
News Releases | May 08, 2019
Husch Blackwell's Retail Team Recognized as Industry "Influencer"

Husch Blackwell’s Retail practice group was honored by Real Estate Forum in part for the 2017 creation of its Retail Institute.

News Releases | December 10, 2018
Husch Blackwell Elects 25 to Partnership
Media Mentions | August 27, 2018
Springfield Business Journal: A Conversation With … Lindsey Lund

Lindsey Lund talks to SBJ Features Editor Christine Lund about Husch Blackwell's Retail Institute.

Media Mentions | May 15, 2018
Real Estate Forum Presents Influencers in Retail

Stacy Wipfler is recognized as being among the most influential thought leaders in retail.