Fawaz A. Bham

Fawaz’s practice focuses on the acquisition, development, leasing and disposition of real estate nationwide, financing of projects secured by real estate, originating commercial mortgage-backed securities and balance sheet loans, and implementing private equity investment strategies and advising on organizational structure and entity formation.

Fawaz is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Leadership Team and he chairs the Pro Bono Committee in the Dallas office. He devotes time to several pro-bono efforts such as launching and leading the Dallas Attorney Volunteer Program’s virtual legal clinic platform, leading the small business clinics in the Dallas area and volunteering at the DBA Legal Lines. He also externed with the Honorable Catharina Haynes, US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

He was named 1 of the 20 Most Inspiring Leaders of 2020 by the Dallas Business Journal and 2021 Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Bar Association, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and DVAP for his pro bono service accomplishments and community advocacy. He was awarded the Rick Palmore LCLD Alumni Award in 2022 by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. 

Relevant Experience

• Represented a global sports and entertainment public company in multiple reverse build-to-suit long term ground leases and fee acquisitions within master developments and special districts, such as a 12 acre site with 102 outdoor, climate-controlled bays in the revitalized New Orleans’ River District.
• Represented a global private equity firm in connection with its portfolio acquisition of 45 large multi-family properties and 1 mixed use property across 10 states for $1.825 billion with two separate funds, which involved, among other matters, correcting construction deficiencies, satisfying outstanding required capex, terminating regulatory agreements, completing the purchase of a ground leased property, terminating condominium conversion restrictions, and navigating prohibitions on multifamily use, each on an expedited timetable while simultaneous closing of the acquisition financing with agency financing and an unsecured term loan facility.
• Represented an industry-leader in a $74 million acquisition of a portfolio of golf courses, businesses and clubs located across Texas, which involved, among other matters, an in-depth analysis of property contracts, water rights, cart, equipment and personal property leases, ground leases, local municipalities matters, liquor licenses and operating permits continuity issues, environmental impacts, intellectual property rights, membership liability, and voluminous title records, survey and zoning issues while simultaneous closing of the acquisition financing with a third-party lender.
• Represented Fairstead in their $350 million purchase of an affordable housing portfolio consisting of 48 buildings, which involved, among other matters, reviewing voluminous property, financial and title related documents, structuring the acquisition of entities, negotiation of joint venture agreements, simultaneously closing debt financing with a third party lender, and coordinating with federal and New York City agencies. This transaction is recognized as the largest affordable housing deal in New York for 2021.
• Represented a real estate investment and operating group in multiple refinances totaling $82 million for self-storage portfolios of thirteen properties across Washington, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, California and Colorado, which involved restructuring ownership, minimizing tax implications, analyzing environmental concerns and resolving zoning discrepancies.
• Represented a national lender originating a $30 million mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of 15 industrial buildings located in Illinois with a sharia-compliant master lease structure to accommodate international equity investments.
• Represented a hedge fund in its acquisition of a portfolio of 314 properties in a programmatic joint venture with a third party, which required structuring the acquisition of 6 managing entities which held title to the portfolio while navigating tax consequences and third party consents. The transaction structure permits future acquisitions to be made a part of the portfolio.
• Represented a national lender originating a $155.5 million mortgage loan for two franchised hotels in California with ground leases.
• Completed a strategic sale of a national company’s land and industrial properties in New Jersey, Ohio and California to two REITs for a combined purchase price of $50 million.
• Represented multiple national lenders in connection with securitizing originated commercial mortgage-backed securities loans.
• Represented a national lender originating a $35 million mortgage loan secured by a commercial mixed use development with retail, educational services and live/work units located in California.