Vytas A. Petrulis
Practice Areas
Experience
- Construction & Development
- Investment, Leasing, & Management
- Multifamily & Residential Real Estate
- Office Real Estate
- Real Estate Financing
“Vytas Petrulisâs practice covers a broad range of commercial real estate, with a particular focus on multistate real estate portfolio transactions and mixed-use developments. One client noted, 'He is always prepared, available, knows the subject matter, and provides great counsel.' Other sources also stated that Vytas is 'particularly strong on more complex transactions' and that he is 'very responsive and works really well with in-house counsel.'”
— Chambers USA Guide, 2023
Biography
Vytas Petrulis is a boardâcertified commercial real estate attorney who represents developers, investors, lenders, and landlords in sophisticated real estate projects across Texas and nationwide. With deep experience in multifamily and mixedâuse development, he guides clients through every stage of the deal lifecycleâfrom site acquisition and jointâventure formation to construction financing, development agreements, and ultimate disposition. Vytas is known for translating complex deal structures into actionable, businessâdriven solutions and for anticipating challenges before they arise. National developers and institutional investors rely on his steady counsel, market insight, and practical approach on their most significant transactions.
In addition to his development practice, Vytas represents institutional landlords in major Class A office leasing transactions and advises financial institutions and private equity groups on commercial real estate investments and financings. A Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), he is recognized for leadership within the real estate bar and for his work in emerging risk areas, including ADA/FHA accessibility standards, condominium regimes, construction defects, mold remediation, and green leasing. Across projects ranging from 35âstory mixedâuse towers to multiâstate apartment portfolios, Vytas is valued for his thoughtful guidance, collaborative style, and unwavering commitment to client goals.
Education
B.A., Rice University
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Professional Certifications
Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law
MixedâUse & Multifamily Development
- Represents developers in mixedâuse projects in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, involving joint ventures with institutional equity, condominium regimes, hotel components, and largeâscale construction financing.
- Advises national apartment developers on multifamily, student housing, and senior housing projects across more than a dozen states, including land acquisition, entitlement review, JV structuring, development agreements, and construction loans.
Office Leasing
- Represents institutional landlords in large Class A office leases in Houstonâs Central Business District and Galleria submarkets.
- Advises office landlord clients on leasing strategies, risk mitigation, and operational issues on both a portfolioâwide and buildingâspecific level.
- Experienced in green leasing and sustainabilityâfocused lease structures; appointed to ABA green leasing working groups.
Commercial Real Estate Finance
- Represents lenders and borrowers in commercial loan transactions involving construction, bridge, and permanent financing, including transactions exceeding $100 million.
Representative Projects
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, high rise Class A luxury multifamily residential and hotel project in the Texas Medical Center submarket of Houston, Texas, including 375 apartment units in a 35-story building. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with the landowner, creating a condominium regime and development agreement covering the apartment, hotel and parking components of the project, and negotiating a $130,000,000 construction loan.
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, office, retail and multifamily residential project in Charleston, South Carolina. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with the landowner and an institutional equity provider, negotiating the construction loan and representing the developer in its headquarters office lease as the lead tenant of the project.
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, hotel and multifamily residential project in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with an institutional equity provider, and negotiating the construction loan.
- Represented a national apartment developer in multiple conventional multifamily, student housing and senior housing development projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, including site acquisition, land development agreements, joint ventures with institutional equity providers and loans from construction lenders.
- Represented an international financial services company as the lead tenant under a 150,000 square foot lease for its new United States headquarters in a to-be-built Class A office building in the Galleria area of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the landlord under a 190,000 square foot lease to an international law firm in a Class A office building in the Central Business District of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the landlord under a 167,000 square foot lease to an energy company in a Class A office building in the Central Business District of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the purchaser in the buyout of a ground lesseeâs interest in a 193,000-square-foot Class A shopping center and three adjoining parcels of land in the Rice Village area of Houston, Texas.
- Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2009-Present
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Real Estate – Texas, 2023-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2014-2026
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2025
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers â Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, 2006
- Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
- Houston Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine
October 6, 2025
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter â October 2025
View Jackson Walker’s October 2025 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 18, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2025 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the recognition of 75 attorneys by Thomson Reutersâ Super Lawyers in the 2025 “Texas Super Lawyers” list, as well as 66 attorneys as “Texas Rising Stars” for 2025. Each year, less than 5% of attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers and 2.5% to Rising Stars. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 21, 2025
Attorney News
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
September 17, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its âTexas Super Lawyersâ of 2024
Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reutersâ 2024 âTexas Super Lawyersâ list.
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
June 6, 2024
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2024 USA Guide Featuring 67 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 23 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 67 attorneys and 23 departments for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 27 departments, with 3 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 8 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 15 recognized for the first time.
September 19, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
- State Bar of Texas â Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
- American Bar Association â Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section
- Houston Bar Association â Real Estate Law Section
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Fellow. Member Selection Committee.
- Houston Real Estate Lawyers Council
- NAIOP Houston Chapter. Board Member. Counsel
Practice Experience
MixedâUse & Multifamily Development
- Represents developers in mixedâuse projects in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, involving joint ventures with institutional equity, condominium regimes, hotel components, and largeâscale construction financing.
- Advises national apartment developers on multifamily, student housing, and senior housing projects across more than a dozen states, including land acquisition, entitlement review, JV structuring, development agreements, and construction loans.
Office Leasing
- Represents institutional landlords in large Class A office leases in Houstonâs Central Business District and Galleria submarkets.
- Advises office landlord clients on leasing strategies, risk mitigation, and operational issues on both a portfolioâwide and buildingâspecific level.
- Experienced in green leasing and sustainabilityâfocused lease structures; appointed to ABA green leasing working groups.
Commercial Real Estate Finance
- Represents lenders and borrowers in commercial loan transactions involving construction, bridge, and permanent financing, including transactions exceeding $100 million.
Representative Projects
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, high rise Class A luxury multifamily residential and hotel project in the Texas Medical Center submarket of Houston, Texas, including 375 apartment units in a 35-story building. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with the landowner, creating a condominium regime and development agreement covering the apartment, hotel and parking components of the project, and negotiating a $130,000,000 construction loan.
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, office, retail and multifamily residential project in Charleston, South Carolina. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with the landowner and an institutional equity provider, negotiating the construction loan and representing the developer in its headquarters office lease as the lead tenant of the project.
- Represented the developer of a mixed use, hotel and multifamily residential project in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia. Work included structuring, negotiating and documenting a joint venture with an institutional equity provider, and negotiating the construction loan.
- Represented a national apartment developer in multiple conventional multifamily, student housing and senior housing development projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, including site acquisition, land development agreements, joint ventures with institutional equity providers and loans from construction lenders.
- Represented an international financial services company as the lead tenant under a 150,000 square foot lease for its new United States headquarters in a to-be-built Class A office building in the Galleria area of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the landlord under a 190,000 square foot lease to an international law firm in a Class A office building in the Central Business District of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the landlord under a 167,000 square foot lease to an energy company in a Class A office building in the Central Business District of Houston, Texas.
- Represented the purchaser in the buyout of a ground lesseeâs interest in a 193,000-square-foot Class A shopping center and three adjoining parcels of land in the Rice Village area of Houston, Texas.
Recognition & Accolades
- Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2009-Present
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Real Estate – Texas, 2023-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2014-2026
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2025
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers â Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, 2006
- Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
- Houston Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine
Professional Involvement
- State Bar of Texas â Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
- American Bar Association â Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section
- Houston Bar Association â Real Estate Law Section
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Fellow. Member Selection Committee.
- Houston Real Estate Lawyers Council
- NAIOP Houston Chapter. Board Member. Counsel