Real Estate | China

Morrison & Foerster's Greater China practice offers a leading real estate team with members based in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. We represent lenders, borrowers, funds and other investors in a wide range of finance, joint venture, acquisition and development transactions.

We Provide Comprehensive China Real Estate-Related Services

As an international law firm, we offer clients advisory and transactional services in connection with all aspects of real estate matters in China including the acquisition, development, construction, financing, ownership, leasing and operation of real estate assets and companies.

About Us

• One of the oldest and largest full service international law firms (founded in 1883) with over 1,000 lawyers in 17 offices worldwide
• One of the largest presence in Asia among U.S. law firms
• One of the very few international law firms in China with a dedicated real estate practice with on-the-ground presence in China
• Active real estate team combining deep local knowledge with international best practice deal execution and proactive client service
• Strong China platform with more than 50 lawyers on the ground in China across 3 offices (Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai)
• Recently served as sole international legal counsel to BOCOG for 2008 Summer Olympics

Acclaimed Practice

Morrison & Foerster is recognized for its leading real estate practice and team throughout Asia in Japan, China and Hong Kong. Recent awards for our Asia real estate practice include:

• Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019 – Ranked Band 2 for Real Estate: International Firms in China
• Legal 500 Asia–Pacific 2019 – Ranked Tier 2 for Real Estate and Construction: Foreign Firms in China
• China Law and Practice 2018 - Shortlisted for Real Estate Firm of the Year (International Firm)
• ALB China Law Awards 2015 - Named Real Estate Law Firm of the Year – International Award

Scope of Practice

Our attorneys are qualified to practice in China, Hong Kong, UK and the U.S., and have represented Asian and U.S. clients in the following areas:

• Finance: Virtually every aspect of sophisticated, China-based and cross-border real estate finance, including structured finance and securitization transactions, syndicated lending, mezzanine and preferred equity financings, hotel financings, development and construction financings, property and performing and non-performing loan portfolio acquisition financings and secured and unsecured opportunity fund and REIT financings.
• Joint Ventures: Creative joint venture transactions involving hotels, office buildings, shopping centers, residential developments, R&D facilities, industrial parks and other assets, as well as representing clients in a wide variety of co-investment arrangements establishing strategic alliances for real estate investment and development activities.
• Acquisitions and Disposals: Purchase and sale of all types of real estate related assets (including in the bankruptcy context) such as hotels, office buildings, shopping centers and other properties, performing and non-performing loans, equity investments and portfolios of real estate assets and loans.
• Real Estate-Related Securities Offerings: Formation of, and offerings/placements of interests in, REITs, opportunity funds and other pooled investment vehicles.
• Hotel and Resort Transactions: All facets of hotel and resort acquisition, development, financing, management and disposition, representing investors, owners, lenders and management companies.
• Leasing: Sale-leasebacks, leveraged facility leases, credit leases and off-balance sheet financings.
• Workouts/Bankruptcy: Workouts, receivership and foreclosure proceedings and bankruptcy proceedings, representing lenders, borrowers, owners, equity partners and other investors.
• Lease and Sublease Negotiations: Representing landlords and tenants, involving millions of square feet of office, retail and other commercial space in Japan, Hong Kong and China, and across the U.S., as well as representing clients in wide range of asset management and property management transactions.