Biography
Cynthia “Cindy” Brotman Nelson has over 25 years’ experience representing and consulting institutional and entrepreneurial companies that develop, own, operate, finance, lease, and manage all types of commercial properties, with an emphasis on hotels and resorts and mixed-use developments. Cindy regularly handles sophisticated commercial real estate and financing transactions, often involving iconic properties, and represents owners, REITs, opportunity funds and developers. She represents clients in the development, acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of domestic and foreign commercial properties, including hotels and mixed-use developments, shopping centers, multifamily housing developments, office buildings, industrial properties, unimproved land, and fractional and timeshare properties.
Cindy’s practice regularly represents and consults for institutional and entrepreneurial hospitality clients who rely on her efficient and diligent approach to closing varied, high-stakes transactions. Regarded as a creative problem solver, she is relied upon not only for the real estate law aspects of the transaction, but also the operational components of running a hotel, making her uniquely qualified to both guide and protect clients in all aspects of the hotel operating business.
Cindy’s practice includes senior and mezzanine financing services, complex workout and debt restructuring, joint ventures, management agreements, franchise agreements, buying, selling, developing, and ground leasing of all types of commercial real estate products. She also assists investors with recapitalization of distressed borrowers and purchasers of troubled assets.
Education
B.B.A., The University of Texas at Austin
- Dean’s List
J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law
- Member, Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
- Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award
- Law Intern, Judge Leif Clark, Western District of Texas
- Senior Associate Editor, St. Mary’s Law Journal
- Teaching Assistant, Legal Writing and Research
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in the $1.27 billion portfolio refinancing of 34 hotels comprised of six separate mortgage loans with a combination of mortgage and mezzanine debt including a stand-alone securitization
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in the portfolio refinancing of 22 hotels with a combination of mortgage and mezzanine debt aggregating approximately $1.0 billion including a stand-alone securitization
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in the acquisition and financing of The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, Florida, which included a 26,000 square feet beach club on Lido Key, a private 18-hole golf course, and 22 acres of vacant land next to the golf course which are slated for multifamily development
- Represented a Dallas-based real estate investment trust as lead counsel in connection with its hotel acquisitions, including the acquisition and financing of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Colorado, the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower hotel, The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas hotel, the Bardessono Inn in Yountville, California, the Yountville Inn in Yountville, California, the Embassy Suites in New York, New York, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, the Hilton Hotel in Scotts Valley, California, La Posada in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Pier House Resort and Spa in Key West, Florida
- Represented a Dallas-based real estate investment trust as lead counsel in connection with its hotel acquisitions, dispositions and financings, single asset and portfolio, including the acquisition and financing of the W-Atlanta, Georgia, the W-Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Le Meridian in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Marriott in Memphis, Tennessee, the Hotel Indigo in Atlanta, Georgia, the Hyatt Regency Orange County, California, the Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, the sale of each of the Hilton Lincoln Center in Dallas, Texas and the Hyatt Dulles Airport in Virginia, and the portfolio acquisition of nine hotels from Rockbridge Capital
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in refinancing two mortgage loans secured by four hotels into one loan of approximately $450 million including the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, San Francisco Courtyard Downtown, Philadelphia Courtyard Downtown and Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile including a stand-alone securitization
- Represented a Dallas-based hospitality management company in the formation of an equity venture with a major private equity firm to acquire a portfolio of over 100 hotels located across the United States out of a bankruptcy proceeding and the documentation of a master management agreement for the portfolio
- Represented the ownership groups in connection with the development, debt and equity financing and operation of The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami; The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Colorado, as well as the development, branding and sale of various for sale residential products at these five-star mixed-use properties
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in its $478 million portfolio refinancing of fifteen hotels around the United States which was divided into four loan pools, each with mortgage and mezzanine debt components
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in connection with the acquisition of a 21 property hotel portfolio for approximately $250 million
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in connection with its $450 million portfolio refinancing of seventeen hotels around the United States, which included a mortgage loan and several layers of mezzanine debt, together with a stand-alone securitization
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in its $469 million portfolio refinancing of twenty hotels around the United States which was divided into five loan pools, including mortgage and mezzanine debt components
- Represented the management company as lead counsel in the negotiation of management agreements for multiple hotel properties including the Fairfield Inn & Suites – El Paso Airport, Residence Inn Austin Airport, TownePlace Suites Austin North Tech Ridge, Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center Hotel and The Stanley Hotel located in Estes Park, Colorado
- Represented a hospitality real estate investment trust as lead counsel in the portfolio refinancing of eight hotels, in the approximate amount of $385 million, with a combination of mortgage and mezzanine debt including the Embassy Suites Portland, Embassy Suites Crystal City, Embassy Suites Orlando, Embassy Suites Santa Clara, Crowne Plaza Key West, Hilton Costa Mesa, Sheraton Minneapolis and Historic Inns of Annapolis, including a stand-alone securitization
- Represented the ownership group as lead counsel in its acquisition and financing of numerous hotel properties including, without limitation, the Holiday Inn Plantation, Florida, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Greenville Airport, South Carolina, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Milwaukee Airport, Wisconsin, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa, Florida, the Comfort Suites Park Place Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Holiday Inn Rifle, Colorado, the Courtyard by Marriott Springfield, Ohio, the Courtyard by Marriott Daytona speedway, Florida and the portfolio acquisition of the Fairfield Inn in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the Fairfield Inn in Williston, Vermont, the Fairfield Inn in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, the Fairfield Inn in Wallingford, Connecticut, the Fairfield Inn in Woburn, Massachusetts and the Fairfield Inn in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Represented a joint venture between The Gencom Group and a Goldman Sachs affiliate in the acquisition and financing of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Hawaii, including the development and sale of various forms of branded for sale residential products
- Represented the purchaser as lead counsel in the acquisition and financing of the Lodge at Rancho Mirage, California and its proposed redevelopment and conversion to The Ritz-Carlton, including the development of various branded for sale residential products
- Represented the ownership group as lead counsel in connection with the acquisition and debt and equity financing of the nine Bradford Suites hotels located in Texas and Colorado and the reflagging to Hyatt Summerfield Suites, as well as the ultimate disposition of such assets
- Represented a joint venture between The Gencom Group and Barclays Capital as lead counsel in the acquisition, debt and equity financing of the Marriott Grand Cayman
- Represented NYLO Hotels in connection with the development of its NYLO-branded hotels in Plano, Texas and Las Colinas, Texas
- Represented the ownership group as lead counsel in connection with the acquisition and financing, and related joint venture agreements, of shopping malls and centers around the country including the Pueblo Mall in Pueblo, Colorado, Trinity Oaks Shopping Center in Dallas, Texas, Spring Creek Center in Plano, Texas and The Village at Colleyville Crossing in Colleyville, Texas
- Represented the ownership group as lead counsel in connection with acquisitions, single asset and portfolio, of numerous apartment communities aggregating approximately $500 million
- Represented the purchaser as lead counsel of downtown Dallas’ Patriot Tower, a 30-story office building designed by I.M. Pei, and the leasing of floors to HKS Architects (approximately 140,000 square feet), Greyhound Lines (approximately 95,000 square feet) and APEX Clearing Corporation (approximately 40,000 square feet)
- Represented investment buyers as lead counsel in connection with their acquisition, financing and ultimate disposition of the TriWest Building, Dallas, Texas, the Santa Fe Building, Richardson, Texas, and the Century Office Building, San Antonio, Texas
- Represented investment buyers as lead counsel in connection with their acquisition, financing and ultimate disposition of 3100 Monticello, Dallas, Texas; Landmark Office Building, Fort Worth, Texas; Metroport, Irving, Texas and Republic Place, Plano, Texas
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Ranked for Leisure & Hospitality – Nationwide, 2011-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2012-2023
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Leisure and Hospitality Law, 2023
- Leisure and Hospitality Law, 2012-2023
- Real Estate Law, 2012-2023
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2016-2022
- The Top Women Attorneys in Texas, 2020 – Super Lawyers
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” D Magazine, Real Estate, 2007-2015, 2017
- Recognized, The Legal 500 United States, Real Estate, 2007, 2013
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- The Real Estate Council, Member
- Urban Land Institute, Member
November 17, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022
View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022
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 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
August 1, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2022
View Jackson Walker’s August 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
June 1, 2022
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2022 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 48 attorneys and 16 departments for inclusion in the 2022 edition of the Global and USA guides.
February 11, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Announces Largest Class of Newly Elected Partners to Date
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of 14 attorneys to the Firm’s partnership on Friday, February 11, 2022. In addition to electing 14 new partners, the Firm also congratulates Bart Cicuto, Noah Speck, and Austin Thomas on their promotion from associates to senior counsel.
October 5, 2021
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – October 2021
View Jackson Walker’s October 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 22, 2021
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 57 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2021
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 19, 2021
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
May 20, 2021
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2021 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 41 attorneys and 14 departments for inclusion in the 2021 edition of the Global and USA guides.