Grier Hoyt

Co-Chair, Leasing

Grier focuses his practice on negotiation and documentation of leases, acquisitions, development transactions, ground leases, lease restructurings and workouts, condominium regimes, telecommunication licenses, and easements and covenants for office buildings, medical office buildings, shopping centers, industrial flex-use, warehouse, built-to-suit, and mixed-use properties. He represents owners, developers, and users in commercial real estate transactions in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and along the East Coast. As a skilled negotiator, Grier thrives on structuring business deals to achieve advantageous results for all parties.

Grier is a leading leasing attorney in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and co-chair of the firm’s Leasing Practice. Throughout his career, he has closed more than 15 million sq. ft. in leasing transactions on behalf of landlords and tenants, including build-to-suit, headquarters, and high-end retail transactions.

Grier earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from University of Georgia. He earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

138 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 28, 2019

Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor Further Expands its Washington D.C. Real Estate Practice, Adding Transaction Attorney James Grier Hoyt

June 18, 2019

Hoyt has closed leasing transactions on behalf of landlords and tenants in excess of 15 million square feet, including major build-to-suit and corporate headquarters deals.

Publications

Beware the Boilerplate — 10 Costly Pitfalls for the Commercial Tenant [Alert]

July 22, 2020

Grier Hoyt lists 10 costly pitfalls for the office tenant to avoid when entering into an office lease agreement.

Education

  • Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1984
  • University of Georgia, B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Awards & Honors

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated

Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2024

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • Virginia

Montgomery County Election Judge

American Bar Association, Leasing Committee

District of Columbia Building Industry Association