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
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.
Attorney News • September 18, 2025
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.
Attorney News • August 21, 2025
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.
Spotlight • June 5, 2025
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.
Attorney News • September 17, 2024
‘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.
Attorney News • August 15, 2024
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.
Spotlight • June 6, 2024
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.
Attorney News • September 19, 2023
‘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.
Attorney News • August 17, 2023
Chambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2023 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 51 attorneys and 17 departments for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys recognized in the guides were ranked in 19 practice areas, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas and 6 named among the top attorneys nationwide in their respective areas.
Spotlight • June 1, 2023
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.
Attorney News • September 21, 2022
‘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.
Attorney News • August 18, 2022
‘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.
Attorney News • August 19, 2021
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.
Attorney News • August 20, 2020
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 109 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2020 Edition, With Eight Named “Lawyers of the Year”
Jackson Walker congratulates our 109 attorneys named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers in America 2020 list, including eight attorneys who were named “Lawyers of the Year.”
Attorney News • August 14, 2019
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 98 Jackson Walker Attorneys
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. For over three decades, recognition in Best Lawyers has been regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, since an attorney cannot pay to be listed.
Attorney News • August 16, 2018
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 94 Jackson Walker Attorneys
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 94 Jackson Walker attorneys in its 2018 edition. 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.
Attorney News • August 15, 2017
Priya Coffey, Kurt Nondorf, and Vytas Petrulis Featured in ‘Houston Business Journal’ Real Estate Law Guide
Jackson Walker partners Priya Coffey, Kurt Nondorf, and Vytas Petrulis were featured in a Houston Business Journal article titled “HBJ’s 2015 Law Guide: Largest Real Estate Firms” on February 27, 2014.
Attorney News • March 10, 2015
- 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