Seyfarth Shaw Broadens Real Estate Practice with Addition of Partner Brett Hayes

Seyfarth Shaw Broadens Real Estate Practice with Addition of Partner Brett Hayes

Los Angeles, CA (September 21, 2005) - - Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full service law firms, today announced that Brett Hayes has joined the firm as partner in the Real Estate Practice Group. He will be resident in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Previously, Hayes was the real estate practice group leader at Holland & Knight's Los Angeles office.

Hayes’s practice is concentrated on retail, commercial and industrial property leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development and redevelopment. He has advised developers, landlords, tenants, financial institutions and others concerning shopping centers, power centers, local and regional malls, apartment complexes and various real estate projects throughout California.

"Brett’s significant experience in all facets of commercial real estate development makes him a welcome addition to our flourishing group," stated Gregg Dorman, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Group. "Our practice has expanded significantly in recent months and his knowledge of the west coast real estate market will enable our team to fully utilize the firm’s national footprint. We are pleased to welcome him to the firm."

Seyfarth Shaw’s real estate practice spans the full spectrum of commercial real estate transactions, including representing borrowers and lenders, builders and owners, brokers and investors, landlords and tenants in transactions such as acquisitions, development, investment, leasing, and financing. The group’s client base includes firms that have real estate as their key business, such as REITs, pension fund advisors or other investors, developers, mortgage lenders or builders, and companies for whom real estate is a subsidiary but crucial aspect of their business, including hoteliers, retailers, service companies and manufacturers.

"Brett has a proven track record with developers, owners, landlords, tenants and financial institutions negotiating real estate projects throughout California," stated Kenwood Youmans, managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw's Los Angeles office. "His knowledge of the regional business environment will complement and add value to the services we offer our clients."

Hayes received his B.S. from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the International Counsel of Shopping Centers. He has written and spoken on lending and due diligence matters in real estate.

"I was drawn to Seyfarth Shaw because its national real estate practice is in a period of defined growth," stated Hayes, adding that "because of the business opportunities and cultural fit, I am looking forward to contributing to the firm's continued expansion in this arena."

Founded in 1945, Seyfarth Shaw has over 600 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento as well as Brussels, Belgium. Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, real estate and business services. The firm’s practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country’s business and social fabric. Clients include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, newspapers and other media, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads. The firm also represents a number of federal, state, and local governmental and educational entities. For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com.

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