Ron Gart

Practice Areas

Real Estate

Career

When it comes to the intricate aspects of real estate law, Ron serves his clients as a team member, helping them achieve their goals from the ground up. Commercial real estate transactions have become increasingly complex and fast-paced—so much so that counsel must be simultaneously proactive and reactive to the business and legal concerns that arise. Ron and his team understand the priorities of clients in connection with these transactions, and address those priorities quickly, thoroughly, and to the satisfaction of his clients.

Having practiced for more than 40 years representing owners, operators, lenders, tenants, developers, and investors, Ron has gained the perspectives of most of the parties to a transaction. He uses those perspectives to the advantage of his clients in order to achieve the clients' goals and objectives. Clients appreciate that Ron understands their business, and his advice on how to achieve those objectives efficiently and successfully.

Ron has represented clients in real estate development, finance, lending, asset management, asset purchase and sales, commercial leasing, mixed-use development, and planned communities, including condominium ownership. As counsel on many successful projects, he has conceptualized and documented mixed-use office, retail, and residential projects. He has counseled developers in connection with the acquisition and development of historic structures, including an award-winning project involving an historic rehabilitation adjoined by a newly constructed commercial/retail project that will also serve as the headquarters for an international company. He also has helped clients structure investment vehicles to utilize historic tax credits and multiple sources of equity and debt funding. Ron's practice has also involved multiple acquisitions structured to address Sharia financing.

As counsel to commercial banks, thrift institutions, and the former Resolution Trust Corporation, Ron has represented lenders in loan originations, including construction and term loans, mezzanine and conduit financings, and loan workouts, restructurings, and foreclosures, some of which have involved complex litigation and bankruptcy issues. Projects for which his clients have made secured loans include student housing, hotels, multifamily, mixed-use, office, and retail developments; several projects have involved unsubordinated ground leases.

Ron seeks collegiality in his interactions with clients and adverse parties, including counsel, with the expectation that this approach will result in a more efficient execution of these complex transactions.

Ron enjoys being part of a collaborative and cohesive firm, with attorneys and staff who work together to provide value. The team members he has worked with over the years have enthusiastically provided assistance, a quality he has come to expect from Seyfarth colleagues.

Professional Memberships

Real Estate Roundtable; Advisory Board of ULI-Washington District Council; Urban Land Institute; District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia State Bars; District of Columbia Building Industry Association.

Education