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Mr. Wells practices in the firm's commercial real estate and business and financial transactions departments. He joined the firm after spending eleven years as Regional General Counsel of Benderson Development Company, the U.S. 's largest privately owned commercial real estate developer. Mr. Wells has extensive experience in commercial real estate development with an emphasis on the acquisition, disposition, financing, structuring, planning and closing of single-asset and portfolio transactions. He has represented buyers and sellers of shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, industrial buildings, mixed-use properties, self-storage facilities and mobile home parks on numerous transactions, including serving as lead counsel on the sale of a $2.2 billion portfolio of 107 shopping centers. Mr. Wells also has experience structuring and closing real property tax deferred exchanges. Mr. Wells has represented clients in connection with commercial mortgage, bondable lease and construction financing transactions with commercial banks, life insurance companies and conduit lenders. He has substantial experience negotiating franchise, license and operation agreements with national hotel chains including Hilton, Marriott, Choice, Starwood and Carlson on behalf of hotel owners, operators and management companies. In addition, Mr. Wells has experience negotiating asset and stock purchase and sale agreements, forming and organizing corporations and limited liability companies and drafting partnership, joint venture and limited liability company agreements. Partner Tel: 716.853.5100 Fax: 716.853.5199 Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate and Development Business and Financial Transactions Education: Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 1993) Fordham Urban Law Journal, Member University of Dayton (B.S. in Business Administration; Major, Accounting, 1985) New York State Certified Public Accountant Admitted To Practice: State of New York State of New Jersey Prior Professional Work Experience: Benderson Development Company, Buffalo , NY - Regional General Counsel (1995 - 2006) Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon, New York , NY Corporate Associate (1993 - 1995) National Futures Association, New York , New York Compliance Supervisor (1986 - 1993
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