Keith R Barnett

Practice Areas

Keith Barnett is co-chair of Proskauer’s Real Estate Department. He advises international, national, and local clients in all aspects of commercial real estate, including real estate finance, development, acquisitions, sales, and leasing. With more than 30 years in the industry, Keith has represented a wide variety of clients, including private equity fund sponsors, developers, life insurance companies, commercial banks, and some of the world's largest publicly traded and private retailers through the successful completion of numerous large and complex real estate transactions. Recently, Keith has led numerous high-profile deals and developments which include, amongst others: luxury hotel and condominium projects, multibillion-dollar retail anchored mixed use developments, large distribution centers (including for some of the world’s largest online businesses) and multi-family residential projects.

As a leading commercial real estate attorney, Keith counsels clients on a wide range of legal and business real estate matters across industries and sectors. He represents United States-based retailers in all their real estate needs, including acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, permitting and development. He also advises clients in connection with numerous major real estate developments, such as hotel projects, retail developments, office buildings, biotechnology and high technology facilities, residential developments, warehouse and industrial facilities and academic buildings.

In addition, Keith has an active practice representing owners and tenants in connection with leasing transactions as well as buyers and sellers of real estate across asset classes.

In the area of real estate finance, Keith has significant experience with traditional mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments and so-called "bond leases," "synthetic leases" and other accounting and tax sensitive transactions. He also advises clients in various positions with respect to options and opportunities, including loan workouts, foreclosure advice, and debt and equity restructurings.

Keith regularly teaches and speaks on issues related to real estate law. For more than a decade, he has conducted graduate-level seminars for business, architecture and real estate students at MIT, New York University and Columbia University. He has also frequently taught Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education courses on the basics of commercial real estate law and has presented to many in-house business and legal groups.