Benjamin J. Hawkins

Real Estate

• Represented real estate developers in connection with development and sale of large master planned residential communities in Arizona
• Represented numerous buyers and sellers in purchase and sale of residential and commercial properties throughout Arizona
• Represented large condominium developer in Phoenix in connection with general governance and development of additional condominium phases
• Represented developer in +$100M sale and leaseback of student housing complex
• Represented master developer in connection with approximately $45M sale of finished lots to multiple national and regional homebuilders
• Represented national homebuilder in connection with its development of CCRs and related homeowner association documents and policies for dozens of subdivisions
• Represented national homebuilder in connection with its acquisition of unfinished and finished lots from master developer using construction escrows and County bond financing for various on- and off-site improvements
• Represented numerous national and regional homebuilders and developers in connection with various complex regulatory, zoning and compliance matters
• Represented numerous corporate clients with respect to general due diligence matters in connection with various real estate transactions
• Represented local non-profit corporations on leasing issues and disputes with tenants/landlords involving COVID-19-related issues
• Represented for-profit and non-profit corporations in connection with fencing and adjacent land owner disputes involving adverse possession
• Represented airport authority in connection with leasing and subleasing of airport hangers and development of airport infrastructure
• Represented international mining corporations in connection with mining operations and access disputes over public late under Federal patents
• Represented developers of property under “Opportunity Zone” regime in Arizona in connection with the acquisition, development and financing of mixed-use commercial/retail/hotel building
• Represented large high-rise owner in connection with sale and development of adjacent property
• Represented owners and developers of commercial property in connection with re-zoning efforts and general zoning compliance
• Represented homeowners associations in connection with disputes and issues involving overpayment of assessments, use by the public of common area and adjacent land, and disputes with cities/towns/counties
• Represented pro bono individual in connection with housing dispute and ownership of residence
• Represented homeowners association in connection with conversion of public to private streets under Arizona law

Commercial Finance

• Represented local, regional and national lending institutions on 150+ financing transactions in connection with the acquisition, development or refinancing of real estate and non-real estate assets totaling over $2B
• Represented various lenders in connection with +$100M finance and acquisitions of franchised fast food restaurants located across the United States
• Represented lending institutions on numerous real estate secured transactions involving hotel, commercial and residential, REITs, leasehold interests on public land, and subdivision and condominium regime collateral
• Represented institutional lenders on lending transactions involving mezzanine structures and other loans secured by non-real estate assets
• Represented and assisted lender as origination counsel and assisted with securitization and packaging of CMBS real estate loans with collateral located in 20+ states
• Represented national lenders in connection with secured lending on agricultural goods from Mexico covered under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)
• Represented borrowers in connection with forbearances and negotiations with lenders involving nonpayment and underperforming commercial collateral

Corporate/Business

• Represented local and national corporations, partnerships, LLCs and non-profit organizations with respect to complex regulatory and compliance matters
• Represented local and regional utility companies regarding utility easement negotiations
• Represented clients with respect to membership disputes, expulsion and buy-outs of members and related transactions
• Represented public and private corporations in connection with general corporate governance and employment and consulting agreements
• Represented emerging businesses and startups in connection with business formation, entity selection and general governance
• Represented local non-profit organizations in connection with membership voting and governance issues and disputes
• Represented limited liability companies in connection with conversion to for-profit corporations
• Represented large international mining client with respect to acquisition of U.S.-based mining technology company
• Represented international clients in connection with international management, consulting and purchase/sale agreements
• Represented agricultural and ranching clients in connection with stock conversion and certification
• Represented clients in the medical marijuana/hemp industries with respect to corporate governance, lending and finance issues, entity formation and conversion, and general corporate legal and contractual issues
• Represented partnerships in connection with partnership offerings