Shams S. Merchant

Biography

Shams S. Merchant advises clients on a wide range of real estate and business transactions encompassing the acquisition, divestiture, financing (interim, construction, permanent, mezzanine, CMBS, and life insurance), leasing (office, industrial, retail, hospitality, build-to-suit, ground, and sale/leaseback), and development of both commercial and residential properties, including retail, multi-family, office, industrial, hotel, self-storage, condominiums, and mixed-use developments. He also assists clients in structuring and establishing business entities, joint-ventures, and private investment funds tailored to the needs of real estate development and ownership. Shams has represented well-known Texas developers, investment funds, regional and multi-national companies, and other major real estate players.

Uniquely, Shams has a passion for adaptive reuse and has represented clients in numerous adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects in Texas, four of which received the Development of Distinction award by the Urban Land Institute and two of which received the Landmark Award for Houston’s top real estate projects by the Houston Business Journal.

Shams is known for his ability to get deals done while looking out for his clients’ interests. An efficient and effective attorney, Shams works quickly and breaks things down for his clients.

Shams also has extensive experience representing landlords and tenants in complex commercial lease disputes, buy-outs, and terminations. Furthermore, Shams has handled complex litigation involving business and real estate matters, including breach of contracts, landlord-tenant issues, real estate fraud, and title and boundary disputes.
 
Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Shams practiced at a leading Texas law firm with offices in Houston and Dallas.

Additional Languages

Gujarati, Hindi

Education

B.B.A., magna cum laude, University of Houston

• Treasurer, Phi Alpha Delta
• Gamma Iota Sigma

J.D., University of Houston Law Center

• Dean’s List
• Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section Scholarship
• Houston Bar Association Real Estate Law Section Scholarship

Bar Admissions

Texas