MID SOUTH REAL ESTATE
With one of the largest teams of real estate attorneys in Tennessee, Holland & Knight’s Nashville Real Estate Group represents clients on all aspects of real estate transactions, development, leasing, finance and land use. We provide strategic counsel on complex, high-stakes matters throughout the region and across the country.
Our clients include national healthcare companies, multifamily investment funds, retailers, restaurant groups and institutional investors. We also manage large-scale corporate real estate portfolios and support mission-critical expansions and relocations.
KEY INDUSTRIES SERVED
HEALTHCARE
Real estate portfolio management, leasing, expansions and hospital campus development
MULTIFAMILY
Ground-up development, joint ventures and acquisitions for apartment communities and condominiums
MIXED-USE AND LIFESTYLE CENTERS
Counsel on complex urban and suburban developments that integrate retail, residential, hospitality and office components
RETAIL AND RESTAURANT
Leasing and expansion strategies for national brands, landlords and developers
OFFICE AND HEADQUARTERS
Tenant and landlord representation in leasing, construction and relocations
INDUSTRIAL AND LOGISTICS
Site selection, development and financing for distribution centers and warehouse projects
HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE
Acquisition, development and repositioning of hotels, resorts and related assets
LAND USE AND ZONING
Our team provides comprehensive counsel on every element of land development, from acquisition and entitlements to zoning, incentives and litigation. We routinely represent both private and public sector clients before administrative, trial and appellate courts. Our experience includes major commercial, industrial and utility projects, from lifestyle centers to wireless towers.
CAPABILITIES
We serve as lead counsel on sophisticated projects that shape skylines and transform communities. Our multidisciplinary team provides seamless service on matters involving:
complex development and investment transactions
mixed-use, urban infill and adaptive reuse projects
land use planning, rezoning and permitting
site acquisition and entitlement strategy
commercial leasing and portfolio management
project finance, structured finance and public-private partnerships
construction contracts and dispute resolution
tax incentives, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements and opportunity zones
RECOGNITION
A total of 39 real estate attorneys from nine markets were listed in the 2025 Chambers USA guide. The Firm received first-tier rankings in Real Estate (Washington, D.C., North & Central Florida, Tennessee and Texas) and in Real Estate – Zoning/Land Use (California and South Florida).
The 2025 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” guide awarded national first-tier rankings to the Firm’s Land Use and Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law practice groups as well as 20 metropolitan first-tier rankings in the following markets: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Portland, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
CONTACT US
Steven Kirkham Partner | Nashville +1.615.850.8564 steven.kirkham@hklaw.com
MID SOUTH REAL ESTATE DEALS
Advised on the $2.1 billion development of a new 1.7 millionsquare-foot, 60,000-seat NFL stadium and the surrounding 50-acre mixed-use district in Nashville; the team drafted the stadium development agreement, lease and related project documents and led negotiations and documentation among key public stakeholders, including the City of Nashville, state of Tennessee and local sports authority
Advising on a $2 billion automotive manufacturing expansion project in Spring Hill, Tennessee; the engagement includes negotiating and executing a major payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, as well as supporting the development and construction of a large-scale battery manufacturing facility on the project campus through a joint venture
Represented a developer in the $443 million development of two adjacent high-rise residential projects in downtown Nashville totaling over 700 rental units and more than 100 for-sale units; the team handled land acquisition, entitlements and private placement equity fundraising and closed on $191 million and $252 million in construction financing; one of the towers, a 60-story luxury residential building, will be the tallest in Tennessee
Represented a joint venture electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer in connection with real estate matters tied to project financing provided by the U.S. Department of Energy; the facility is located adjacent to a major automotive assembly plant, which is also part of the broader engagement
Represented the seller in the $787 million sale of a major open-air mixed-use development in downtown Nashville; the transaction ranks as one of the largest real estate deals in the city’s history and the fourth largest in the country
Represented a joint venture in the development of a new 144-bed, five-story inpatient psychiatric hospital facility in Saint Paul, Minnesota; the joint venture secured an $11 million revolving credit facility to finance development costs, working capital, startup expenses and construction contingencies
Represented the management company in a $49 million acquisition of the largest water park in Illinois, located in Yorkville
Represented a top 50 U.S. fast-food franchisee in a complex transaction valued at approximately $500 million; the company operates more than 150 locations across multiple states; the team guided the client through conversion to Subchapter S corporation status mid-transaction and provided comprehensive tax planning; the asset sale required individual handling of numerous property leases and transfers, including managing landlord approvals and environmental diligence; to date, closings of 68 restaurants, including land or leases for 54 properties, have totaled approximately $105 million, with additional properties scheduled to close later this year; the due diligence team efficiently managed document review and the diligence process and continues to support the client on potential future sales
Represented the buyer in the acquisition of two parcels in Caldwell County, North Carolina, including all buildings and improvements on the land; the property includes a one-story medical office building
Represented a healthcare provider in the transfer of 38 medical office buildings across 10 states to a special purpose entity; the transaction included 28 ground lease transfers and 10 conveyances by Special Warranty Deed, with all properties leased back to the hospital operator under a 15-year master lease; the deal involved a total purchase price of $394.13 million and simultaneous financing of $236.13 million arranged by a consortium of lenders; initial cumulative annual rent under the leaseback began at $25.38 million
Represented the seller in the $19 million sale of a 37,000-square-foot, 36-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Colorado
Represented the purchaser in the $5.15 million acquisition of a 1.23-acre parcel in Richmond, Virginia, for the development of a freestanding emergency department
Represented the purchaser in the $11.5 million acquisition of a medical office property located in Modesto, California
Represented the tenant in a $40 million medical office development transaction in Gwinnett County, Georgia, involving a ground lease from a regional hospital system and the planned construction of a new medical office building, with the hospital serving as the anchor tenant
Represented the real estate components of a $400 million restructuring involving the conversion of a public hospital authority to a private, nonprofit healthcare organization; the transaction included the identification and transfer of 30 real property parcels in Hamilton County, Tennessee, as well as the conveyance of additional properties in North Carolina through membership interests; the team also secured the waiver of reversionary interests from local government entities
Represented the buyer in the $152 million acquisition of a 472unit luxury multifamily property in Phoenix
Represented the seller in the $157 million sale of a twoproperty multifamily portfolio totaling 676 units
Represented the buyer in the $78.15 million acquisition of a 322-unit multifamily property in Jacksonville, Florida
Represented the joint venture in connection with a $120 million construction loan and development of a four-building, 700,000-square-foot distribution facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Represented the buyer in the $4.48 million purchase of a 115.776-acre property in Benton County, Arkansas
Represented the buyer in the $4.1 million acquisition of 273 acres of real property in Stanly County, North Carolina, at a purchase price of $15,000 per acre
Represented the lender in the disposition of a $63 million distressed construction loan and related note for a luxury development located near downtown Nashville
Represented the seller in the $10 million sale of a subground leasehold condominium in Albany, New York, which involved complex amendments to existing ground lease and easement agreements
Represented the seller in the $91 million sale of 10 medical office buildings across Georgia, involving both fee simple and ground lease transfers
Represented the developer in the senior housing development in Davie, Florida, encompassing a $20 million real estate acquisition, bridge loan for the development and an $80 million joint venture
