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Contact | Careers
Jackson Walker
Michael K. Kuhn

Michael K. Kuhn

Partner, Houston
713.752.4309
mkuhn@jw.com
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Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Client Results Attorney News

Practice Areas

  • Real Estate

Experience

  • Investment, Leasing, & Management
  • Office | Real Estate
  • Restaurant | Real Estate
  • Retail & Mixed Use | Real Estate

Biography

Michael K. Kuhn focuses on commercial real estate, with a particular emphasis on office and retail leasing, within the firm’s Real Estate Group.

With 38 years of practice in Houston commercial real estate, Michael brings a wealth of experience and practical knowledge of the local market to the advantage of his real estate clients. Over his career, Michael has handled all types of real estate acquisition, disposition, development, and leasing matters. With significant experience in most every area of real estate law, he is able to responsively address clients’ needs and to create innovative solutions.

Michael is a recognized authority in office and retail leasing. He routinely drafts and negotiates commercial leases and advises clients on complex leasing issues and strategies.

Education

B.A., magna cum laude, Duke University
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas

Board Certifications

Commercial Real Estate Law

Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Client Results Attorney News

Over his career, Michael has handled the office leasing for as many as six Class “A” downtown office buildings in Houston, Texas. Currently, he does the leasing work for two of the Houston area’s premier shopping districts. His practice is not limited to either Houston or Texas, and he routinely handles office and retail leasing matters throughout the country.

  • Represented the owner of the Rice Village Shopping Center in the lease negotiations for most of the existing tenants including Shake Shack, Altar’d State, Front Burner Restaurants (Sixty Vines), Warby Parker, Hopdoddy, CB2, West Elm, and Mendocino Farms Sandwiches.
  • Represented the owner/developer of Village Towers, a newly-constructed mixed-use office/retail complex, in the lease negotiations for office tenants including 2nd.MD, Prologis, and Spur Energy and notable local restaurant tenants including Texadelphia, Treebeards, and Masraff’s. In 2021, Houston Business Journal named Village Towers a finalist for “Project of the Year” in the Office Building or Campus category of the 2021 Landmark Awards.
  • Represented a partnership in negotiating leases with a restaurant group to bring two restaurants to Texas Tower in downtown Houston. Both leases total over 8,000 square feet in the 47-story office tower.
  • Represented the landlord of 1000 Main in the early renewal of Shell Trading & Supply North America’s 259,000-square-foot lease. The transaction was named the largest lease deal in Houston in 2021.
  • Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1990-Present
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2008-2016, 2018-2023
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2005-2013, 2021-2022
  • Top Lawyers, H Texas magazine, 2006-2010
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2004-2007
    • Ranked for Real Estate – Texas
  • “Defining Gross Sales for Restaurants and Retailers in the BOPIS Era,” ICSC+U.S. LAW Workshop (October 2022)
  • “Redefining Gross Sales as Omnichannel Retailing Takes Hold,” ICSC US Shopping Center Law Conference Roundtable (November 2021)
  • “Rent Relief in the Time of Pandemic,” UT Law CLE’s Bernard O. Dow Leasing Institute (November 2020)
  • “Allocating Risk in Real Estate Leases: Contractual Indemnities, Additional Insured Endorsements and Waivers of Subrogation,” Strafford Publications Webinar (September 2016)
Michael Kuhn Represents Landlord in Shell Oil Co.’s Lease Renewal at 1000 Main

January 24, 2022

Michael Kuhn Handles Lease Negotiations With What If Syndicate Restaurant Group to Join Houston’s Texas Tower

December 13, 2021

Michael Kuhn Negotiates Lease to Bring Puttshack to The Shops at Houston Center

September 1, 2021

‘Houston Business Journal’ Names Village Towers Development by Jackson Walker Client Moody National a Finalist for “Project of the Year”

April 26, 2021

Jackson Walker Represents a Partnership Between Radom Capital and JPMorgan on Leasing for Montrose Collective Mixed-Use Project Coming to Houston

February 19, 2020

Michael Kuhn Represents Moody National in Lease Negotiation With Masraff’s Restaurant

January 16, 2020

Michael Kuhn Serves as Landlord Counsel in Politan Row Food Hall Lease at Rice Village

September 10, 2019

More Client Results

September 21, 2022

Attorney News

Jackson 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.

1000 Main Houston TX

January 24, 2022

Client Results

Michael Kuhn Represents Landlord in Shell Oil Co.’s Lease Renewal at 1000 Main

Jackson Walker partner Michael Kuhn represented Union Investment Real Estate GmbH in an agreement with Shell Trading & Supply North America to renew its lease at 1000 Main, located in Houston’s Central Business District. At 259,000 square feet, the transaction was named the largest lease deal in Houston in 2021.

Tiana Dunn and Michael Kuhn with Jackson Walker logo

December 14, 2021

Speaking Engagements

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.

Skyline of the city of Houston

December 13, 2021

Client Results

Michael Kuhn Handles Lease Negotiations With What If Syndicate Restaurant Group to Join Houston’s Texas Tower

Michael Kuhn negotiated leases with What If Syndicate to bring two restaurants to Texas Tower in downtown Houston. Both leases will total over 8,000 square feet in the 47-story office tower, which topped out in March 2021 and is nearing final completion.

September 22, 2021

Attorney News

Jackson 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.

Skyline of the city of Houston

September 1, 2021

Client Results

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.

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.

Village Towers - Courtesy of Moody National

April 26, 2021

Client Results

‘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.

Michael Kuhn and Kati Orso - Rent Relief in Time of Pandemic (November 12_ 2020)

November 12, 2020

Speaking Engagements

Michael Kuhn and Kati Orso Present “Rent Relief in the Time of Pandemic” During Bernard O. Dow Leasing Institute

During the 2020 Leasing Institute, Jackson Walker partners Michael Kuhn and Kati Orso discuss the rent relief alternatives being negotiated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

More Attorney News

Practice Experience

Over his career, Michael has handled the office leasing for as many as six Class “A” downtown office buildings in Houston, Texas. Currently, he does the leasing work for two of the Houston area’s premier shopping districts. His practice is not limited to either Houston or Texas, and he routinely handles office and retail leasing matters throughout the country.

  • Represented the owner of the Rice Village Shopping Center in the lease negotiations for most of the existing tenants including Shake Shack, Altar’d State, Front Burner Restaurants (Sixty Vines), Warby Parker, Hopdoddy, CB2, West Elm, and Mendocino Farms Sandwiches.
  • Represented the owner/developer of Village Towers, a newly-constructed mixed-use office/retail complex, in the lease negotiations for office tenants including 2nd.MD, Prologis, and Spur Energy and notable local restaurant tenants including Texadelphia, Treebeards, and Masraff’s. In 2021, Houston Business Journal named Village Towers a finalist for “Project of the Year” in the Office Building or Campus category of the 2021 Landmark Awards.
  • Represented a partnership in negotiating leases with a restaurant group to bring two restaurants to Texas Tower in downtown Houston. Both leases total over 8,000 square feet in the 47-story office tower.
  • Represented the landlord of 1000 Main in the early renewal of Shell Trading & Supply North America’s 259,000-square-foot lease. The transaction was named the largest lease deal in Houston in 2021.

Recognition & Accolades

  • Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1990-Present
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2008-2016, 2018-2023
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2005-2013, 2021-2022
  • Top Lawyers, H Texas magazine, 2006-2010
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2004-2007
    • Ranked for Real Estate – Texas

Publications & Speeches

  • “Defining Gross Sales for Restaurants and Retailers in the BOPIS Era,” ICSC+U.S. LAW Workshop (October 2022)
  • “Redefining Gross Sales as Omnichannel Retailing Takes Hold,” ICSC US Shopping Center Law Conference Roundtable (November 2021)
  • “Rent Relief in the Time of Pandemic,” UT Law CLE’s Bernard O. Dow Leasing Institute (November 2020)
  • “Allocating Risk in Real Estate Leases: Contractual Indemnities, Additional Insured Endorsements and Waivers of Subrogation,” Strafford Publications Webinar (September 2016)

Practice Areas

  • Real Estate

Experience

  • Investment, Leasing, & Management
  • Office | Real Estate
  • Restaurant | Real Estate
  • Retail & Mixed Use | Real Estate
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