People•Brett J. Rufer
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Brett J. Rufer

People•Brett J. Rufer

Brett is a partner in Snell & Wilmer’s real estate group. Brett’s practice is concentrated in real estate and business transactions and he has extensive experience representing clients in all aspects and phases of residential and commercial real estate deals. Brett’s clients include both individuals and large and small companies, including national, regional and local homebuilders, real estate investment trusts, real estate developers, commercial and industrial real estate owners, landlords and tenants and others looking to invest in, or divest of, developed or raw real estate. 

Commercial Transactions
  • Represented publicly traded fitness and apparel company in connection with its acquisition of new manufacturing facility in Arizona
  • Represented real estate investment company in its sale of a portfolio of multi-family property assets for approximately $30MM
  • Represented publicly traded company in connection with its acquisition of new corporate headquarters in Phoenix metro area
  • Represented developer in connection with its $30MM sale of a portfolio assets throughout Phoenix metro area
  • Represented Lucid Motors in connection with its manufacturing facility in Arizona
  • Represented national developer in connection with its acquisition, development and build-to-suit leasing of a nearly 100-acre site with $200+ million manufacturing facility
  • Represented national developer in connection with entitlement, development, lease and sale of multiple retail, office and other commercial projects in Arizona
  • Represented industrial developer in connection with ground lease of State land, development and build-to-suit leasing, which culminated in sale of developed, fully-leased site to private REIT
  • Represented seller in $70+ million sale and leaseback of a portfolio of medical offices
  • Represented developer in $60+ million sale of student housing complex
  • Represented developer in connection with sale of 100+ unit apartment complex
  • Represented family-owned corporation in sale of cemetery and mortuary business in Arizona
  • Represented publicly traded company in over one-billion-dollar acquisition of portfolio of hotels
  • Represented seller in $350+ million sale of resort in California to publicly traded REIT
  • Represented publicly traded REIT in nearly $400 million acquisition of resort in U.S.
  • Represented publicly traded REIT in nearly $200+ million acquisition of resort in U.S.
Residential Development and Homebuilding Transactions
  • Represented master developer in connection with approximately $45M sale of finished lots to multiple national and regional homebuilders
  • Represented builder in connection with its acquisition of approximately 200 lots for build-to-rent community
  • Represented developer in connection with its development and sale of a 700+ lot subdivision to multiple regional and national homebuilders
  • Represented developer in connection with its development and sale of an approximately 400 lot subdivision to multiple regional and national homebuilders
  • Represented developer in connection with its entitlement, development and sale of an approximately 150 acre master planned residential subdivision in Arizona and sales to multiple regional and national homebuilders
  • Represented developer in connection with its development and sale of 150+ lot subdivision to national homebuilder
  • Represented developer in connection with its entitlement and development of a residential subdivision and $30+ million sale to publicly traded company
  • Represented national homebuilder in connection with its development of CCRs and related homeowner association documents and policies for dozens of subdivisions
  • Represented homebuilder in connection with its development and sale of custom homes in DC Ranch
  • Represented numerous national and regional homebuilders in connection with various complex regulatory and compliance matters

  • University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Ares Fellow
    • Ninth Circuit Court Bridge Program
  • Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business (B.S., Economics and Finance, summa cum laude)
    • Moeur Award (highest GPA in graduating class)
    • ASU Sun Devil Tuition Waiver
    • Chase Economics Scholar

  • Urban Land Institute NEXT Program (2020-Present)
  • State Bar of Arizona
  • American Bar Association

  • "Real Estate Transactions Toolkit," Presenter, National Business Institute (2019)
  • "The Greatest (Real Estate) Show on Earth from Offer to Close: Commercial Litigation and Transactional Issues Surrounding Funding, Diligence, and Post-Closing Disputes Specific to Real Property," Panelist, Arizona State Bar (2018)
  • "Construction Defect Claims and the Purchaser Dwelling Act in Arizona," Presenter, Lorman Education Services (2016)
  • "Construction Defect Litigation: How to Avoid and Manage Lawsuits Through an Enhanced Understanding of Arizona Laws and Procedures," Presentation to Industry Professionals (2016)

  • Arizona’s Children Association, Board of Directors (2016-Present)
  • Volunteer Lawyers Program
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson, Board of Directors (2014-2015)
  • Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, Branch Development Board Member (2006-2007)

  • Dentons, Associate
  • Snell & Wilmer, Associate
  • Arizona State Senate, FIIR Committee Research and Policy Analyst

  • Arizona

  • Supreme Court of Arizona