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James R. Williams

Member

: Philadelphia
One Liberty Place
1650 Market Street
Suite 2800
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P: (215) 665-4698
TF: (800) 523-2900
F: (215) 665-2013

James R. Williams

James's practice encompasses a broad range of real estate matters, including development, financing, acquisitions, sales, and leasing in a number of major metropolitan areas. He represents developers and financial institutions in real estate transactions, with a particular emphasis on transactions involving tax exempt financial institutions.

James is listed as a leading lawyer in Chambers and Partners USA and served on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association from 2005 through 2007.

James earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.

Experience

Assisted GE Asset Management in the sale of equity interests in an entity that owned Wellington Apartment Complex located in Arlington, Va.

Represented GE Asset Management in the sale of individual buildings and development properties in Raleigh, N.C.

Represented GE Asset Management in the sale of Riverwood 100 office building located in Cobb County, Ga., which sold for $80 million.

Represented the borrower in the construction loan financing for the development of retail shopping center known as Oxford Commons, located in Oxford, Pa.

Represented the seller in the sale of equity interests in Benjamin Franklin Apartment Building in Philadelphia.

Represented GE Asset Management in the sale of equity interests in the entity that owned office buildings known as Metro Place located in Fairfax County, Va.

Represented landlord in the lease of a shopping center development parcel to Wawa Inc.

Handled the sale of equity interests in entity that owned Wellington Apartment Complex located in Arlington, Va.

Represented the seller in connection with the sale of One Thomas Circle, a commercial office building in Washington, D.C., to a Germany-based fund for approximately $115 million.

Represented a regional shopping center developer in the acquisition and anchor tenant leasing of a substantial parcel of property to be developed into a shopping center in Egg Harbor, N.J.

Represented the seller in connection with the sale of a four-property portfolio of shopping centers in Pennsylvania and Texas for $170.7 million. The transaction included the buyer's assumption of mortgage debt totaling $103 million.

Represented shopping center developer in the development, leasing, and financing of shopping centers located in Chester County, Pa., Delaware County, Pa., Bucks County, Pa., and Philadelphia. Representation included negotiation of development agreements with national retailers such as Walmart and Lowes and negotiation of construction contracts for the shopping centers.

Represented institutional investor in acquisition, development, and financing of multi-family residential and mixed use projects in Atlanta, Nashville, Pompano Beach, Fla., Denver, and Houston, including negotiation of construction contracts for such projects.

Represented institutional investor in negotiating development agreements and construction contracts for the construction of a Hyatt Hotel in suburban Atlanta.

Negotiated joint venture and development agreements on behalf of an investment management firm in connection with the development of a residential project in Madison, Wis., featuring 228 units and 15,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. We also assisted the client in connection with obtaining construction financing for the project.

Represented a publicly traded REIT in the simultaneous assemblage of land and development rights for a 20-acre mixed-use urban waterfront development site from three public entities and a private developer, and the commencement of construction on a $1 billion mixed-use neighborhood. The project includes a projected 1.45 million sq. ft. of build-to-suit office projects, a 180-room hotel, a 188-unit residential component, and the reconstruction and enhancement of an existing waterfront park in Camden, N.J.

Represented institutional sellers in a portfolio sale of multiple industrial properties located in Georgia, Colorado, Texas, and Nevada for an aggregate sale price in excess of $300 million. We negotiated the agreements of sale and closed the transaction on behalf of the sellers, which were multiple joint ventures our client had formed with various affiliates of a Denver-based real estate developer.

News

Seven Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named 2019 “Lawyers of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America

August 31, 2018

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that seven of the firm’s lawyers have been recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective practices by Best Lawyers in America, one of the oldest and most highly regarded peer review publications in the legal profession.

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

August 22, 2018

One hundred twenty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 20 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Fifty-four Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 12, 2018

Super Lawyers has named 54 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

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.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2017 Chambers USA Rankings

May 26, 2017

Chambers USA recognized 47 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 14 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.

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.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2016 Chambers USA Rankings

May 27, 2016

Chambers USA recognized 41 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.

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 Earns Client Recognition in 2015 Chambers USA Rankings

July 06, 2015

Chambers USA recognized 37 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 10 were ranked in the top band.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2014 Chambers USA Rankings

May 30, 2014

Chambers USA recognized 29 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; six attorneys were recognized nationally and eight were ranked in the top band. Stanley Sher was named a “Senior Statesman” in the “Transportation: Shipping: Regulatory (outside New York)” industry, for the pivotal role Sher plays in the firm’s continued success in the transportation industry.

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.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2013 Chambers USA Rankings

May 26, 2013

PHILADELPHIA – May 26, 2013 – Chambers USA has recognized 29 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their fields; five attorneys were recognized nationally and five were ranked in the top band.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2012 Chambers USA Rankings

June 11, 2012

Chambers USA has recognized 28 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their fields; five attorneys were recognized nationally and three were ranked in the top band.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2011 Chambers USA Rankings

June 16, 2011

Chambers USA has recognized 27 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their fields.

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.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2010 Chambers USA Rankings

June 18, 2010

Chambers USA has recognized 18 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their fields. The annual rankings are based on client and peer references, as well as information gathered from Chambers’ own independent research. Given both nationally and regionally, the rankings are based on qualities including technical legal ability, professional conduct, and client service.

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.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2009 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers By Law & Politics

May 28, 2009

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that 52 attorneys from the firm’s Philadelphia and West Conshohocken offices have been named 2009 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Law & Politics, and will appear in the June 2009 issues of Philadelphia magazine and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.

Philadelphia Façade Inspection Ordinance [Real Estate Alert!]

November 16, 2010

Philadelphia Façade Inspection Ordinance - Real Estate Alert! - describes the recently-adopted building façade inspection ordinance for the City of Philadelphia. With the adoption of this ordinance, Philadelphia joins almost all of the other major metropolitan areas in the country in requiring periodic inspection of building facades for public safety purposes