Karl R. Phares

Experience

Real Estate and Construction Finance

Served as borrower counsel for HUD construction loan financings and Fannie Mae refinancings for multiple Kansas City and other Midwest multifamily developments each in excess of $75 million

Represented institutional, REIT and private lender clients in dozens of real estate financing transactions for residential developments, commercial acquisition and construction, bridge financing and refinancing

Represented national institutional lender in numerous acquisition and leasing transactions in excess of $25 million for regional market expansion in Nebraska and Missouri

Represented cooperative association in manufactured home park residents' organization, acquisition and financing of real estate near Kansas City, the first ROC USA financing of a resident-owned community in the State of Missouri

Represented private lender in a $4 million loan to a Colorado property trust to finance affordable housing initiatives in Denver, Colorado

Real Estate Transactions

Represented Maxus Properties in the acquisition of The Isaac, a 266-unit luxury apartment complex in Frisco, Texas

Represented purchaser in three multifamily property acquisitions in Northwest Arkansas with valuations totaling more than $20 million

Advised real estate investor on acquisitions totaling more than $10 million and subsequent leasing of Class A office buildings in Leawood, KS and Kansas City, MO

Represented REIT clients in numerous acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing and asset management transactions for entertainment, industrial and multifamily properties across the United States

Represented landowners in several multimillion dollar solar lease projects in southwest Missouri, central Kansas and southeast Kansas

Real estate counsel for multiple private equity, privately-held and publicly traded companies in leasing and other real estate matters in connection with  dozens of platform and strategic acquisitions

Represented numerous beer distributors in acquisitions of distribution businesses and related real estate holdings throughout the United States totaling over $100 million

Represented aggregate and mineral developer clients in acquisition and development of severed mineral estates involving negotiation with governmental and private owners and users of surface rights

Local counsel for a publicly-traded iBuying platform client and a national homebuilder client entering new markets throughout the Midwest

Represented client in joint venture and development of boutique lifestyle hotels in Colorado and Arkansas, and the negotiation of hotel management agreements and related services agreements for the same

Represent client in acquisitions and ground leasing of multiple destination entertainment and restaurant concepts across the country, including the Dallas, Kansas City, Phoenix and St. Louis metropolitan areas with valuations in excess of $15 million each

Tax-Based Real Estate Investments

Assisted the Urban Outfitters legal team in the development of a $400 million, 1,500,000 square foot high-tech distribution and internet sales fulfillment center, including negotiation of tax abatement and job creation economic incentives with state and local governmental agencies

Represented REIT clients in creation and unwinding of multiple tenancy in common ownership structures and property management agreements for 1031 exchange investments

Represented multiple clients in structuring, acquiring and managing opportunity zone investments across the Midwest and southern United States

Represented real estate investor in sale leaseback acquisition of $16 million Class A office building in Omaha, NE as the replacement property in a 1031 exchange. Also negotiated a sublease recognition agreement for a $10 million and subtenant renovation for new global headquarters

News

Speaking Engagements

Karl speaks regularly at CLE and similar educational presentations on title insurance and related topics.

Publications

"Cooperative Ownership Can Help Solve Housing Crisis," Law360, February 28, 2022