Byron Sarhangian, P.C., Partner at our Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Dallas law offices
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Byron Sarhangian, P.C.

Partner
Biography

A thoughtful attorney with a strong grasp of solutions that work for everyone.
2022 Chambers USA

Byron is the ultimate professional.
2023 Chambers USA

Byron Sarhangian serves as a strategic legal advisor, managing all aspects of legal affairs for corporate clients across a broad range of business matters. He counsels clients on complex real estate transactions, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation-related issues, and other critical legal and operational matters. Byron works closely with executives and their teams to develop practical legal strategies that align with business objectives, manage risk, and support long-term growth.

A recognized leader within the firm and the broader business community, Byron serves as Chair of Snell & Wilmer’s Real Estate Practice Group and Opportunity Zone Industry Group. He leads clients through sophisticated real estate and business transactions, including corporate relocations and expansions, acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, financing, construction agreements, and large-scale development projects throughout the United States, on Native American lands, and internationally. He also provides strategic counsel on opportunity zone investments, development projects, zoning and permitting matters, and other business-critical initiatives.

Byron’s experience extends to complex cross-border real estate matters involving U.S. and Mexican parties, allowing him to guide clients through the unique legal, regulatory, and practical considerations associated with international transactions.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of Utah
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona


Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D.)
    • Jordan A. Quick Memorial Award
    • Vanderbilt Bar Association, Vice President and Treasurer
    • Vanderbilt University Appellate Review Board
  • University of Arizona, Eller College of Management (B.S., Business Economics, magna cum laude, with honors)
    • Dean’s List
    • Honors College
  • University of Westminster, Westminster Business School, London, U.K.
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2019-2026)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Real Estate (2020-2025)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®, Real Estate (2015-2026)
  • Phoenix Business Journal, 40 Under 40 Award (2023)
  • Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine, People & Projects to Know, Up & Comers Finalist (2015)

Representative Transactions

  • Represented developer in acquisition of land and development of appx. $1 billion data center in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Represented seller of newly built Tier III data center with 1 MW in-place utility feed and 5.4 MW committed by utility company in Arizona
  • Represented hypescaler in the development of appx. $6 billion data center in Arizona
  • Represented buyer in acquisition of an approximately $600 million data center in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Counsel to national developer in the acquisition, development and build-to-suit leasing of a nearly 100-acre site with $200+ million manufacturing facility in Arizona
  • Represented publicly traded seller in a $150+ million sale-lease back-office transaction in Arizona
  • Represented seller in the sale-lease back of a nearly $80 million multisite medical office portfolio in Arizona
  • Represented public university in a nearly $40 million acquisition and redevelopment of office building in Washington D.C.
  • Represented developer of 300+ unit apartment project in Arizona, including acquisition, negotiations with surrounding landowners and property owners’ association and debt and equity financing
  • Represented client in collateralization of over $1.5 billion credit facility and $500 million debt deal with nearly 40 properties in over 20 states and Mexico
  • Represented industrial manufacturer in a $30+ million asset sale transaction
  • Represented office developer in negotiation of development agreement and Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) with the City of Phoenix for a 300,000+ square foot office building
  • Represented lender in $7+ million acquisition financing for hotel on Native American land
  • Represented developer in negotiation of a development agreement with the City of Phoenix for a 300,000+ square foot high rise office building
  • Represented Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in nationwide acquisition of numerous single-site retail, office and industrial properties, single-site retail portfolios, shopping centers and shopping center portfolios, and medical offices and medical office portfolios
  • U.S. counsel to publicly traded Canadian REIT for acquisition of numerous hotel portfolios throughout the United States
  • Represented international prescription drug manufacturer in the leasing of a 200,000 square foot facility in Arizona
  • Represented international developer in the leasing of a 300,000+ square foot multitenant airport industrial park located on land ground leased from the City of Phoenix
  • Represented developer in a nearly $30 million acquisition of over 2,000 acres for master planned development in Arizona
  • Represented developer of 1+ million square foot mixed-use project featuring Class A office, multifamily, and retail use in Arizona
  • Represented international developer with acquisition/redevelopment/zoning entitlements of six projects comprising approximately 350 total acres (office, light industrial, warehouse/distribution, multifamily, retail) in Arizona

Previous Professional Experience

  • United States District Court, District of Arizona, Judicial Extern for Hon. James A. Teilborg (2007)
  • Vanderbilt University Law School, Research Assistant for Prof. Nita Farahany (2007)
  • Office of John McCain, United States Senator of Arizona, Intern, Washington, DC (2005); Tucson, AZ (2004)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Arizona Chapter of NAIOP
    • Commercial Real Estate Development Association Board of Directors
  • State Bar of Arizona
    • Real Property Section
    • Environmental Law and Natural Resource Section

Community Involvement

  • Valley of the Sun United Way, Board of Directors
  • St. Vincent de Paul, Advisory Board
  • Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation, Board Member
  • Child Crisis Arizona, Board Chairman
  • M1 Institute, Secretary
  • Super Bowl Breakfast, Executive Committee
  • University of Arizona Alumni Board, Phoenix Chapter
  • National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
  • Camelback Society
  • Hon Kachina Council
  • Phoenix 20-30 Club
  • Volunteer Lawyers Program
  • Urban Land Institute
    • Advisory and Management Committees – Arizona
    • Vice Chair of Residential Neighborhood Development Council – National
  • Valley Partnership

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • A Green Light for Housing? What Executive Order 14394 Means for Your Next Project,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 25, 2026)
  • “Arizona’s Data Center Landscape: Key Legal and Regulatory Trends,” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer and Association of Corporate Counsel, Arizona Chapter CLE Webinar (March 4, 2026)
  • The Real Estate Matters Keeping GCs Up At Night,” Quoted, Law360 (December 12, 2025)
  • DeepSeek AI will fuel more data center work,” Quoted, Construction Dive (March 18, 2025)
  • Data Centers Claim Prominent Place On Trump Administration’s Agenda,” Quoted, BISNOW (January 22, 2025)
  • Essential Infrastructure: Data Centers Powering Economic Growth,” Author, Data Center Dynamics (November 19, 2024)
  • Navigating Business Opportunities in Mexico: Nearshoring Strategies and Real Estate Opportunities,” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Webinar Series (November 12, 2024)
  • “NAIOP Water Policy Lunch & Learn,” Moderator, Arizona Chapter of NAIOP (November 6, 2024)
  • “Arizona Land Use in 2024: Economic Development Opportunities and Nearshoring Issues,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Arizona Chapter CLE Series, Co-Presenter (January 16, 2024)
  • “Development and Sustainability: Land, Water, Energy and Resources,” Snell & Wilmer Corporate Counsel Forum, Panel Moderator (September 29, 2023)
  • “Groundwater in Arizona: What Does the New Phoenix Active Management Area Model Mean for Future Growth?,” Moderator, Webinar (June 28, 2023)
  • Making Sense of It All: Business, the Law and COVID-19,” Quoted, InBusiness Greater Phoenix (February 2021)
  • “Opportunity Zones: Commercial Real Estate Lunch and Learn,” Panelist, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and NAIOP, Phoenix, AZ (February 5, 2019)
  • “Opportunity Zone Program Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” Speaker, TCN Worldwide Retail Group (January 22, 2019)
  • “Opportunity Zones,” Speaker, AZCREW Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ (January 15, 2019)
  • “Structuring Opportunity Zone Transactions for Apartment Transactions,” Speaker, Arizona Multihousing Association, Phoenix, AZ (December 6, 2018)
  • “9th Annual Land & Housing Forecast,” Speaker, LandAdvisors Organization, Scottsdale, AZ (December 6, 2018)
  • “Opportunity Zone Conference,” Speaker, Council of Development Finance Agencies, Dallas, TX (December 4, 2018)
  • “Commercial Real Estate Table of Experts,” Panelist, Phoenix Business Journal, Scottsdale, AZ (October 19, 2018)
  • “Arizona Commerce Authority’s Opportunity Zone & Funds Conference,” Speaker, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (September 27, 2018)
  • “How to Invest with the New Opportunity Zone Program,” Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Emerging Business Seminar Series, Phoenix, AZ (June 6, 2018)
  • “Housing and Economic Research and Market Analysis,” Panel Speaker, Urban Land Institute National Conference, Dallas, TX (October 26, 2016)
  • “Creative New Use & Urban Redevelopment,” Panel Speaker, Urban Land Institute National Conference, Philadelphia, PA (April 21, 2016)
  • “Corporate Culture,” Panel Speaker, Urban Land Institute National Conference, Philadelphia, PA (April 21, 2016)
  • What concerns Millennial homebuyers in metro Phoenix? Debt, down payment,” Quoted, AZCentral (January 22, 2016)
  • “The Millennial Class,” Moderator, Urban Land Institute’s 11th annual Trends Day Conference, Phoenix, AZ (January 20, 2016)
  • Visiting Lecturer, Arizona State University, Masters in Real Estate Development Program, Tempe, AZ (2014-2016)