Les Dowgier

Associate
  • Commercial Real Estate Lending
  • Commercial Real Estate Transactions
  • Office, Retail, and Industrial Leasing
  • Real Estate Finance

Overview

Les Dowgier is an Associate in K&F’s Commercial Real Estate Lending Group. Les advises lenders and borrowers in connection with sophisticated commercial financings involving office, retail, hotel and industrial assets. He is skilled at closing complex commercial real estate transactions including construction loans, term loans, mezzanine loans, corporate credit lines and other balance sheet transactions. Les strives to prevent conflicts through knowledgeable advice before a client’s loan is finalized.

Prior to joining K&F, Les worked at a prominent global law firm and boutique real estate firm, where he represented a wide range of clients in over $10 billion dollars of buyer-side, seller-side, and financing transactions, working alongside lenders, developers, opportunity funds, joint ventures, and a variety of institutional and non-institutional investors. His work included developments, office buildings, restaurants, hospitality, shopping centers, multi-family, as well as construction, mezzanine and mortgage financings, partnership and joint venture structuring, and leasing and workouts.

Representative Matters

  • Represented Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and RBC in the origination of $1.4B first mortgage loan secured by the Mall of America.
  • Represented Barclays and Bank of America in the origination of $720MM first mortgage loan to Starwood for the acquisition of a 139 hotel portfolio.
  • Led negotiations for publicly traded real estate investment trust in the purchase, development and leasing of retail properties in multiple states, including negotiating with city and state agencies regarding easements, tax abatements, and development rights.
  • Drove multi-phase, long term negotiations for publicly traded real estate investment trust with the disposition of a portion of a shopping center (including review and negotiation of documents related to rezoning, subdivision and various easements).
  • Advised publicly traded REIT in lease and ground lease negotiations throughout the United States with various national retail tenants, including the largest off-price retailer in the U.S.

Professional Experience

  • Drechsler & Drechsler LLP, Associate
  • EquityZen, Deal Counsel
  • Lucosky Brookman LLP, Associate
  • Dechert LLP, Associate

Education

New York University School of Law, J.D.

  • Real Estate Synergy Network, President & Founding Member
  • Real Estate & Urban Policy Forum, Treasurer

Rutgers University, B.S.

  • summa cum laude
  • New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association’s Honor Society

 

Admissions

  • State of New York
  • State of New Jersey