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Bernard Lee

Co-Chair, Real Estate

: Philadelphia
One Liberty Place
1650 Market Street
Suite 2800
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P: (215) 665-6961
TF: (800) 523-2900
F: (215) 665-2013

Bernard Lee

Bernard is co-chair of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, which consists of more than 60 attorneys in multiple offices. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Bernard was a partner in the real estate department of a well-known Philadelphia law firm, which he joined in 1977.

Bernard’s practice areas include real estate development and financing, mixed-use and mixed-finance projects, construction and architect agreements, and hotel management, acquisition, and development. His clients include individual developers and joint venture partners, small and major corporations, and governmental and quasi-governmental entities.

Bernard recently served as a commissioner on the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. He is a past member of the Executive Board of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and former president of the Barristers’ Association. Bernard’s recent pro bono work includes the representation of a church in the acquisition and financing of a building and civic services, as well as the representation of a fraternity that provides community services and youth mentoring.

Bernard earned his undergraduate degree from Lake Forest College, where he served as president of his class, and received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Experience

Represented a national real estate investment company in multiple deals throughout the United States as preferred equity investor, joint venture partner, purchaser, or seller.

Represented the developers of the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia with respect to various development agreements with governmental and private entities, as well as continuing representation in connection with certain matters involving the expansion of the facility.

Represented the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority in the negotiation of agreements respecting the lease of property and development of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a multi-use facility in Center City Philadelphia.

Represented The Hershey Company in the sale, partial leaseback, and renovation of its original manufacturing facility into offices and negotiation of a construction contract for its new state of the art 600,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.

Represented the developer in a ground lease with a higher education institution, redevelopment for classroom, office, and retail space, and partial leaseback to the educational institution.

Represented a minority partner in the development of facilities at the Philadelphia Naval Yard.

Represented a minority partner in a sale of interest in a major Pennsylvania Convention Center hotel.

Represented Saint-Gobain Corporation in negotiating construction contracts for build-out of its new North American headquarters campus in Frazer, Pa.

Negotiated numerous architecture and construction contracts for both ground-up construction and substantial rehabilitation for owners or for major tenants. Construction types include design/build, cost plus with a guaranteed maximum price and fixed price or stipulated sum.

Represented national company in spin off of real estate assets.

Represented health care provider in joint venture with contractor in developing proposal in response to RFP for behavior rehabilitation facility.

Negotiated with national contractors such as Balfour Beatty and Turner Construction Company, as well as local and regional contractors such as Gilbane Building Company, Norwood, Driscoll Construction Co., Shoemaker Construction Co., Merion Construction Management LLC, MJ Settelen, and Penntex Construction Company.

Represented The Hershey Company in negotiating a lease for its new flagship "Hershey's Chocolate World" store in Times Square, New York City. The new store will be triple the size of Hershey's existing store and located on the ground floor in the 20 Times Square building to be constructed at West 47th Street and Seventh Avenue, Manhattan. The deal includes blade signage and the right to use a significant portion of the state-of-the-art digital billboard display.

Represented the seller in the sale of a large residential property in Philadelphia's Main Line area.

Represented an international food manufacturer in negotiating a license agreement with an operator of hotel and retail franchises to permit the operator to open stores in the manufacturer's name throughout the United States.

Represented a real estate development firm in the refinancing of the 325-room Hilton Hotel at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. Negotiations focused on a $55 million mortgage and a $20 million mezzanine loan had commenced shortly after the client transferred the hotel to a Hilton flag, which required the funding, preparation, and implementation of a Property Improvement Plan (PIP). This representation included negotiating the incorporation of the PIP into the refinance plan, as well as multi-party negotiations over the subordination agreement between the lenders and the independent manager.

News

Cozen O’Connor Member Bernard Lee Honored by Philadelphia Bar Association

February 14, 2018

The Philadelphia Bar Association has announced that Bernard Lee, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, is the recipient of the 2017 Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award.

100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 23, 2017

Lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition based on a rigorous peer-review that has been developed and defined for more than 30 years.

Sixty-Two Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2016

Sixty-two Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 13 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Fifty-Two Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2015

The current edition is based on more than five million detailed evaluations by the top lawyers of the country. This list will be included in dozens of city and regional publications in the United States including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Cozen O'Connor Helps Guide National Real Estate’s $141M Philly Loan

May 04, 2015

A team of Cozen O’Connor real estate attorneys, led by Howard Grossman, assisted a partnership comprised of affiliates of National Real Estate Development, Young Capital, SSH Real Estate and Joss Realty in its $141 million leasehold mortgage debt financing from Ullico, LLC, an insurance and investment firm.

Bernard Lee Receives Foundation of the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Renaissance Man Award

July 16, 2014

Bernard Lee, Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Department, is the 2014 recipient of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Foundation of the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division’s (WLD Foundation) Renaissance Man Award. The WLD Foundation Renaissance Man Award recognizes Bernard’s outstanding achievements in his practice, his demonstrated commitment to ensuring paths of success for diverse women in the law and his unwavering commitment to serve as a mentor to many within the firm and beyond.

Abby Wenzel and Bernard Lee to Co-Chair Cozen O’Connor Real Estate Practice Group

January 06, 2014

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce two of its members — Abby M. Wenzel and Bernard Lee — will co-chair the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, replacing current Chair Herman C. Fala, who is taking over as general counsel at longtime client Liberty Property Trust.

46 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to The Best Lawyers in America

August 28, 2013

Forty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from eight of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys were selected based on a rigorous peer-review of more than 4.3 million detailed evaluations. The list will be included in publications such as The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York magazine.

43 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to The Best Lawyers in America

February 09, 2011

Forty-three Cozen O’Connor lawyers from six of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2011 edition based on a rigorous peer–review of more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations.

Forty-Two Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Honored as Best Lawyers in America

September 29, 2009

Forty-two Cozen O’Connor attorneys from seven of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Events & Seminars

Barristers' Association of Philadelphia	Philadelphia, PA	05/13/2015
PBI: 18th Annual Real Estate Institute	Philadelphia, PA	12/04/2014

Practice Areas

Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies - Government Relations

Real Estate

Industry Sectors

Real Estate & Construction

Education

University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1977
Lake Forest College, B.A., 1972

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America 2007-2018

Bar Admissions

Affiliations

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