Peter Aitelli represents domestic and foreign clients in a wide range of commercial real estate equity and debt transactions, including acquisitions and sales; financing (including permanent, construction and participating mortgage loans and other forms of “hybrid” debt); leasing; and the structuring and formation of joint ventures and other investment vehicles for the development, ownership, and operation of all major property types, such as office buildings, shopping centers, multifamily projects and hotels. Mr. Aitelli represents institutional lenders in loan workouts, judicial and nonjudicial foreclosures, receiverships and REO dispositions. His clients include pension funds and their advisors, banks and other financial institutions, private equity firms and other investors in connection with their real estate investments.

Peter Aitelli served as the President of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) in 2021.  He previously served as the Chair of the California State Bar Real Property Law Section.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Represent real estate investment trust (REIT) and foreign pension fund in the $800,000,000 acquisition and redevelopment of 1.8 million square foot office and multifamily development in the San Francisco Financial District.

Represent investor in recapitalization of joint venture ownership of $1,600,000,000 multifamily portfolio containing 3,000 apartment units.

Represent pension fund advisor in the acquisition of controlling interest in 3.7 million square foot portfolio of “lifestyle” shopping centers in the Western United States with a value of $900,000,000 and the $220,000,000 acquisition of the Denver Grand Hyatt and adjacent 39-story class A office building.

Represent real estate investment trust (REIT) and pension fund in the $400,000,000 acquisition of 1.2 million square foot office development in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Represent overseas investor in the $1 billion acquisition of portfolio of 69 apartment properties containing 21,000 residential units in the United States.

Represent international manufacturing company in the acquisition of 5,000,000 square foot real estate portfolio with properties in the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand and Mexico.

Represent purchaser in acquisition, joint venture, financing and subsequent sale of 6,700-acre parcel on the Island of Kauai.

Financing/Debt Acquisition/Loan Workouts, Foreclosures and Receiverships

Represent lead lenders in the $210,000,000 syndicated construction financing of retail development in Hawaii.

Represent lead lender in the syndicated construction financing of class A office buildings in San Diego and Sacramento.

Represent institutional lender in the financing of class A high-rise office building in the San Francisco Financial District.

Represent lender in the restructuring and foreclosure of $230,000,000 mortgage loan secured by class A office building in San Francisco.

Represent private equity firm in the acquisition and foreclosure of $250,000 mortgage loan secured by luxury resort in Southern California.

Represent CMBS special servicer in the foreclosure of $220,000,000 mortgage loan secured by hotel and golf course resort in Hawaii.

Leasing

Act as landlord’s counsel in leasing of 2,000,000 square foot office and R&D portfolio in San Francisco Bay Area.

Represent major international industrial company in lease of 3,000,000 square foot office, R&D and manufacturing portfolio.

Represent national retailer in 1,100,000 square foot lease and development of warehouse and distribution center.

Publications
Modern Real Estate Transactions (American Law Institute; ALI-CLE).  Program Co-Chair; panelist since 2007

Commercial Real Estate Leases: Selected Issues in Drafting and Negotiating in Current Markets (American Law Institute; ALI-CLE).  Program Co-Chair; panelist since 2007

Please Don’t Pick the Cherries:  A Study of Real Estate Equity and Debt Portfolio Transactions (American College of Real Estate Lawyers); Austin, 2017

Real Estate 101 Series: Commercial Leasing (California State Bar Real Property Law Section Webinar); 2014

Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements:  Making the Deal in Today’s Markets (American Law Institute; ALI-CLE Webinar); 2014

Lessons from the Recession:  Real Estate Investments in the 21st Century (National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM) Legal & Compliance Council Meeting); Chicago, 2012

Real Estate Joint Ventures and Funds: Current Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities (Law Seminars International); San Francisco, 2010

The Defaulted Real Estate Project: Enforcement of Commercial Real Estate Loans (American Law Institute; ALI-CLE); Philadelphia, 2010; National Webcast

California Anti-Deficiency Legislation: Enforcement of Defaulted Real Estate Loans (Joint Presentation of the California State Bar and the San Diego County Bar Association); San Diego, 2010

Steiner v. Thexton: No More Free Looks in Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements (Alameda County Bar Association Real Property Law Section); Oakland, 2010

Major Real Property Acquisitions (California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)); San Francisco and Sacramento (1998-2007)

Commercial Real Property Acquisitions (Lorman Education Services); Sacramento, 2008

Current Trends and Opportunities in Timberland Investments (4th Timberland Investing World Summit); San Francisco, 2008

Commercial Real Estate Leases (Law Seminars International); San Diego, 2007

Understanding the Sophisticated Real Estate Practice (Practicing Law Institute (PLI)); San Francisco, 2001

Negotiating Leases (CLE International); San Francisco, 2001

Commercial Real Estate Transactions Handbook (Chapter Author) | Wolters Kluwer Law & Business | Aspen Publishers | 2009-2017

Survey Says!  Plotting Your Way Through the New 2016 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA Surveys | American College of Real Estate Lawyers | June, 2016

California Ground Lease Practice (Editorial Consultant) | California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) | 2009

California Title Insurance Practice | California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)| 2007

  • President, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), 2021
  • Former Chair, California State Bar Real Property Law Section
  • Chair, 2011 annual Real Property Law Retreat for the California State Bar
  • Member, American Law Institute (ALI-CLE) Real Estate Advisory Panel
  • Former member, Board of Trustees, College Preparatory School, Oakland, California
    • Vice Chair of Board and member of Board Executive Committee (2013-2016)
    • Chair, Governance Committee (2012-2015)
    • Chair, Buildings & Grounds Committee (2011-2013)