Retail & Mixed Use Real Estate
We maintain a strong retail development and leasing practice, with project size ranging from small pad sites and neighborhood centers up to large regional malls and megastores. Our attorneys have extensive experience in retail development, including land acquisition, site selection, land use aspects, and construction issues. We also work on all facets of retail leasing, from both the landlord and the tenant perspective. We have handled leasing for âbig boxâ retailers as well as restaurant, grocery and specialty retailers. We have particular experience in ground leasing and pad site development for developers and restaurant retailers. We are fully conversant on the issues needed for success of retail leasing, including use restrictions, signage rights, tenant exclusives, parking and access, reciprocal easement agreements, and operating covenants.
Mixed-use projects â those containing a combination of office, retail, multi-family and/or hotel or entertainment uses â have become increasingly popular as developers strive to meet market demand for âlive-work-playâ environments. Within our Real Estate Practice Group, we have lawyers skilled in handling legal matters for mixed-use projects, including leasing, development and construction, land use, finance, organizational structure, management and environmental issues. Our attorneys have worked on mixed-use projects not only within Texas but also elsewhere, including in Florida and California. Mixed-use projects are inherently more complex than other types of commercial projects and thus demand more attention to the unique issues that affect development, operation, management and leasing. Our lawyers appreciate the complexity of these projects and the need to ensure that all the âmoving partsâ mesh. In addition, we have worked to create or rearrange the ownership structure for mixed-use projects to remove obstacles to financing, improve operational efficiencies, or facilitate a component sale to a third-party buyer.
Retail Transactions
- Handled all aspects of retail leasing, operations and management of a 190,000 square-foot shopping mall in downtown Houston, Texas, including leases for national retailers such as Walden Books, Starbucks, Jos. A. Bank, and Subway Sandwiches.
- Handled development and leasing for a portfolio of 12 neighborhood and community shopping centers in the greater Houston, Texas area, including negotiating leases with national retailers, and structured the portfolio sale of those centers in a $50 million transaction.
- Represented a national convenience store operator with new store site acquisition and development, including fee acquisition and ground lease and build-to-suit lease transactions. Also handled operational matters as well as lease modifications and extensions.
Mixed-Use Transactions
- Restructured the underlying formation documents of a mixed-use project in West Palm Beach, Florida, comprising first-class office, retail, multi-family and 500-car parking garage, to resolve operational differences when the multi-family component was converted to a condominium.
- Handled leasing work and restructured ownership and allocational provisions in formation documents for a major downtown mixed-use project (office/retail/hotel) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Handled the acquisition of various showroom/warehouse properties near downtown Dallas and subsequent mixed-use redevelopment, including retail, restaurant, multi-family and hotel components. Assisted client with tax increment financing (TIF), formation of public improvement district (PID), replatting and land use issues, joint venture agreements, and construction issues.
April Vasquez Leibman and Taylor Lamb Represents Hinesâ Texas Tower in Lease Agreement
Jackson Walker partner April Vasquez Leibman and senior counsel Taylor Lamb represented Houston-based Hines in finalizing a lease agreement at Texas Tower for British law firm Clifford Chance.
Client Results • November 27, 2023
April Vasquez Leibman Represents Group 1 Automotive in Headquarters Relocation
Jackson Walker partner April Vasquez Leibman represented Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Houston-based automotive dealer, with a long-term lease agreement. The recently finalized agreement with Moody Rambin will facilitate the relocation of their headquarters to the newly developed Town Centre Two.
Client Results • November 27, 2023
Michael Kuhn Negotiates Lease to Bring NRG Headquarters to 3 Houston Center
Jackson Walker partner Michael Kuhn represented Brookfield Properties in finalizing a lease agreement with Houston-based NRG Energy. This agreement will facilitate the relocation of their headquarters to the newly redeveloped 3 Houston Center by January 2026.
Client Results • October 11, 2023
Michael Kuhn Negotiates Lease to Bring Puttshack to The Shops at Houston Center
Jackson Walker client Brookfield Properties has negotiated a lease to bring Puttshack, an indoor mini-golf entertainment venue, to The Shops at Houston Center. With the venue expected to open in late 2022, Brookfield Properties hopes to draw in Houstonians to the three-level retail destination with a newly renovated and transformed dining and entertainment experience.
Client Results • September 1, 2021
‘Houston Business Journal’ Names Village Towers Development by Jackson Walker Client Moody National a Finalist for “Project of the Year”
Jackson Walker congratulates Moody National Companies on its Village Towers project being named a finalist for “Project of the Year” in the Office Building or Campus category of the 2021 Landmark Awards.
Client Results • April 26, 2021
âAustin Business Journalâ Names Mixed-Use Development Financed by Jackson Walker Client Lionstone Investments the âProject of the Yearâ for 2020
Transformed from a 10-acre former rail yard to a mixed-use urban district with 800 apartment units and 115,000 square feet of retail over a three-year period, the Saltillo District has quickly developed into a new hub in Central Texas with one of the regionâs most diverse mobility infrastructure programs.
Client Results • September 24, 2020
Jackson Walker Represents a Partnership Between Radom Capital and JPMorgan on Leasing for Montrose Collective Mixed-Use Project Coming to Houston
Jackson Walker is representing a partnership between Radom Capital and JPMorgan in leasing the mixed-use project Montrose Collective, which broke ground on February 10 and is expected to be completed in late 2021.
Client Results • February 19, 2020
Michael Kuhn Serves as Landlord Counsel in Politan Row Food Hall Lease at Rice Village
As foodies in Houston anticipate the autumnal opening of the wildly popular food hall Politan Row, Jackson Walker congratulates real estate partner Michael Kuhn on his role as landlord counsel in negotiating the lease at Rice Village.
Client Results • September 10, 2019
Jackson Walker Advises Silos Harvesting Partners in Sale of a Portion of The Campus at Legacy West
Japan-based luxury hotel firm Kintetsu Enterprises Co. of America has purchased a portion of The Campus at Legacy West from Silos Harvesting Partners L.P. to build the first Miyako Hotel in Texas.
Client Results • April 16, 2019
Caleb Trotter Joins Jackson Walker Real Estate Practice in Houston
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Caleb Trotter has joined the firm as a partner in the Real Estate group in our Houston office. Caleb brings extensive experience with a wide range of real estate issues and transactional matters, including within the rapidly expanding data center and digital infrastructure space.
Attorney News • February 3, 2026
In Memoriam: A Tribute to Michael Kuhn
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our friend and partner Michael Kuhn on April 15, 2025. Michael was a cherished member of our team and a beloved friend to many. His contributions to our firm and the legal community were immense, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
Spotlight • May 6, 2025
Shams Merchant to Moderate Panel Discussion on the Current State of Retail and Experiential Retail Developments
Jackson Walker attorney Shams S. Merchant will serve as the moderator during a panel discussion on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at the Dallas-Fort Worth Experiential Retail & Mixed-Use event.
Speaking Engagements • October 12, 2023
Jackson Walker Welcomes Karl Baker to Real Estate Practice in San Antonio
Joining from a San Antonio-based real estate law firm, Karl Baker has a broad and diverse practice covering acquisitions, leasing, and financing across all product types and assisting developers seeking entitlements, incentives, and development agreements from cities, counties, and other governmental entities across Texas.
Attorney News • March 8, 2023
Avoiding Fashion Faux Pas: Factors to Consider When Drafting Agreements for Fashion Companies
By Serene Ateek & Shannon Zmud Teicher
In order to properly run a successful business and create a solid brand, fashion companies need to enter into many agreements that span the areas of corporate, real estate, and intellectual property. This article discusses factors to consider when drafting favorable provisions within three commonly used agreements.
Insights • January 13, 2022
Tiana DeLeo Dunn and Michael Kuhn Discuss Retail Leases and Internet Sales at ICSC+U.S. Law Conference
Tiana Dunn and Michael Kuhn were featured during the 2021 ICSC+U.S. Law conference roundtable sessions. Presented by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the conference was held on November 3-5, 2021, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in California.
Speaking Engagements • December 14, 2021
Jackson Walker Expands Real Estate Financing Practice With Addition of Andrew Ingrum and Michelle Vincent Parker
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the expansion of the Finance & Banking practice with the additions of Andrew A. Ingrum and Michelle Vincent Parker as partners in the Dallas office.
Attorney News • November 3, 2021
