Neva Wagner (they/them/theirs)
Neva assists clients in a variety of commercial real estate transactions that range from single assets to multistate portfolios and corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Neva Wagner regularly represents clients with commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financings, sale leasebacks, developments, and joint ventures. Their clients include owners, developers, and managers of multifamily and senior housing facilities, shopping centers and other retail properties, hotels, mixed-use developments, performance venues, data centers, and office buildings. They also represent commercial tenants, high net worth individuals, and family offices.
Neva drafts and negotiates purchase and sale agreements, leases (including ground leases), financing documents, management agreements, franchise agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, condominium declarations, reciprocal easement agreements (REAs), and multiparty covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). They are experienced with managing closings, supervising and conducting due diligence investigations, and navigating use and development restrictions and other issues caused by REAs, CC&Rs, and other encumbrances.
As part of their pro bono commitment, Neva represents theatres through Lawyers for the Creative Arts, asylum seekers with the National Immigrant Justice Center at Heartland Alliance, and incarcerated transgender people through the Transgender Law Center’s programs that equip transgender inmates to advocate for themselves and encourage correctional facilities to adopt more equitable policies. Neva is also an executive committee member for the University of Iowa College of Law’s Alumni DEI Council and a member of the LGBT Bar, LAGBAC (Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association), and ICSC.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- The University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., Articles Editor, Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, 2017
- Westminster College, B.S., Justice Studies, cum laude, 2012
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
Related Employment
- Perkins Coie LLP, Chicago, IL, Summer Associate, 2016
- Iowa State Public Defender, Summer Intern, 2015
Impact
Professional Leadership
- The University of Iowa College of Law Alumni DEI Council, Executive Committee
- LAGBAC – Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Member
- LGBT Bar Association, Member
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Hotel Portfolio Acquisition by Arbor Lodging Partners
Represented affiliates of Arbor Lodging Partners in the acquisition of a 12-hotel portfolio through a newly formed joint venture with affiliates of GFH Financial Group.
Ground Lease, Development, and Finance of Nashville, Tennessee Hotel
Represented affiliates of HRI Hospitality (a hospitality-focused spinoff from HRI Properties) in the ground lease of a parcel of land in downtown Nashville, Tennessee for the ground-up development of a new Tempo by Hilton hotel.
Counsel to AJ Capital in the Acquisition and Financing of 25 acres in Miami, FL
Represented opportunity funds raised by AJ Capital Partners, a Nashville-based vertically integrated real estate investment manager, in the acquisition and financing of 25 acres of property in Miami, Florida. The properties are located in a federal opportunity zone and our client has plans for both adaptive reuse of existing buildings as well as ground-up development.
Represented Les Schwab Tire Centers
Represented Les Schwab Tire Centers, a 68-year old family-owned business and leading tire retailer and service center operator, in its sale to Meritage Group.
Sale/Leaseback of Restaurants for National Restaurant Chain
Represented a national restaurant chain in the sale/leaseback of 150 Chili’s restaurants in 22 states with a combined portfolio value of more than $550 million with three different purchasers. Representation included transfer tax analysis in several jurisdictions and the preparation of all closing documents.
Sale of Optima Chicago Center
Represented Optima, Inc. in the sale to an affiliate of New York-based Edge Principal Advisors, LLC of Optima Chicago Center. Optima Chicago Center is a modern 42-floor residential apartment building in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago with unparalleled views of the City and the Lake, and steps away from the Magnificent Mile. Optima Chicago Center was designed and developed by Optima, Inc.