Real Estate

From acquiring a single property to developing a nationally prominent commercial center, Lathrop & Gage real estate attorneys know how to secure the best deal possible.

Lathrop & Gage brings unparalleled creativity, aggressive negotiation, knowledge of a city’s inner workings and strategic incentives to the development process.

The expertise and diversity of our legal resources, combined with our proven ability to work closely with cities, economic development groups, zoning commissions and local politicians, are instrumental to our clients’ real estate project success.

Lathrop & Gage attorneys have been instrumental in acquiring, planning, developing and financing national and international commercial and residential real estate projects, including:

• Business parks
• Entertainment complexes
• Gaming facilities
• Golf course communities
• Retail and office centers 

Lathrop & Gage is proud to have some of the most prominent real estate attorneys in the United States on its team. Among the many recognitions and honors given to Lathrop & Gage real estate attorneys are:

• Best Lawyers in America®
• Super Lawyers
• Outstanding Lawyers of America  
• Martindale-Hubbell^® “AV” ratings

Chambers USA, a recognized international attorney review publication, has consistently named the Lathrop & Gage real estate team among the top departments in the states of Kansas, Colorado and Missouri, commenting about team members as “extremely knowledgeable, prominent statewide, respected, sophisticated, top-drawer, well-rounded, cutting-edge, practical, and experienced.”

In addition, the team includes fellows in the prestigious American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. Each college offers membership to only those who have national prominence and an established reputation for excellence.

Representative Experience:

• Represented BNSF Railway Co. in the development of a 250-acre intermodal project with an additional 750 acres for distribution and warehouse space in Johnson County, Kansas. The project will have a significant economic impact including the creation of more than 10,000 jobs.  Work has included facilitating negotiations with Johnson County’s elected officials, the Johnson County Commission, the Kansas Legislature and the City of Edgerton, Kansas to introduce this project. Work with the Kansas Department of Transportation to get an interchange for the intermodal facility, for which a combination of public incentives is expected to be used. Worked to acquire site, secure permits and get assessments approved in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Highway Act, the FAA and other federal and state agencies.
• Represented Greenfield Development Company, LLC, in a series of transactions across the United States in which it has purchased vacant tracts of land and constructed built-to-suit retail furniture stores for a major national chain. The stores – typically between 45,000 and 60,000 square feet — are then leased to the retailer on long-term net leases.
• Represented a commercial mortgage corporation in a number of commercial and shopping center loans for facilities across the nation, including four loans of more than $25 million on industrial parks in San Diego, a $15 million loan on an office building in Rockville, Maryland, a $22 million shopping center loan in Tucson, Arizona, a $5 million hotel loan in Missouri, an $8 million loan on an office complex in Dallas, Texas, and many others.
• Served as primary counsel and master developer in the Chapter 353 urban redevelopment of 21 acres of blighted property for the development of market rate housing in Kansas City, Missouri. Worked with city and state governments on the acquisition, condemnation and land clearance of parcels and drafted all documents pertaining to development and construction. Secured financing through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and tax credits and tax abatements from the state.