LeAnn Davis

LeAnn Davis

Partner

She / Her / Hers

Cleveland

T 216.363.6232

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Overview

LeAnn is a practical and experienced commercial real estate attorney, assisting developers, lenders, corporations, and investors in all phases and types of complex real estate transactions.

Licensed in Ohio and Florida, LeAnn has a special interest in commercial asset redevelopment, joint ventures, conservation and environmental credit projects, legal opinion practice, and in resolving difficult title issues.  LeAnn’s graduate education and prior experience as in-house counsel for public corporations and a regional non-profit conservation organization sharpened her skills in operational strategy, management, and critical problem-solving, all of which allow her to provide efficient and pragmatic counsel for her clients at Benesch.

What I Do

Real Estate

Experience

Managed and executed portfolio disposition program of shopping center and mall anchor properties located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for publicly traded REIT as both outside and seconded counsel, including over $2.5 billion in asset sales, winding down and modification of joint venture relationships, and other legal, corporate and operational support.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented private lender client in conversion and restructuring of debt position to equity interest and negotiation of $155MM in new senior and mezzanine debt and construction financing secured by luxury hotel property located in Manhattan.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented institutional real estate investment manager in various preferred equity investments, including acquisition and restructuring finance transactions secured by multifamily properties in New York and Ohio and industrial properties in Connecticut.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented national multifamily developer in various new construction financing and agency refinancing transactions for various multifamily development projects, including multifamily developments located in Nevada, Texas, and New Jersey.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented large global investment firm as borrower in construction financing transaction secured by ground leased multifamily property located in New Jersey.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented large national shopping center developer in acquisition financing and refinancing transactions, including shopping centers located in Florida, Ohio, Texas and California.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented publicly traded REIT in the portfolio and one-off acquisition and disposition of various triple net lease and quasi- triple net lease retail properties located throughout the United States.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented publicly traded shopping center REIT in disposition of mall outparcel located in California.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented national natural resource management and consulting services company in various fee and easement acquisition transactions relating to ecological restoration and mitigation bank development projects, including acquisition of land and perpetual easements in Ohio and Indiana.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented private family investment group in acquisition of shopping center and multifamily properties in South Carolina and Arizona, respectively, including negotiation of new acquisition financing and utilization of 1031 exchange proceeds.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented digital intelligence company in restructuring its headquarters office lease in Illinois and facilitated negotiation and execution of various new international office leases in India, Spain and Mexico following corporate spin-off and acquisition by private equity company.

Key Contacts: LeAnn Davis

Represented a publicly traded REIT in a $150+ million acquisition of 23 strip shopping centers in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Texas, Virginia and Indiana.

Key Contacts: Jack KunkelPooja BhaskarMatthew G. MrazekLee KorlandMichael K. SwearengenLeAnn DavisShannon LigettiKelly M. NollSam A. MintzerJennifer L. KatzakisEvan M. McLaughlinLauren E. Lipsyc

Represented Columbia Pacific Advisors in a joint venture with Criterion Group in obtaining $180 million in refinancing for a 34-property, 15.4 million-square-foot industrial outdoor storage portfolio spanning 290 acres across key Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets nationwide.

Key Contacts: Tabitha B. HumphriesJack KunkelPatrick J. LombardiDavid HudsonRobin Evans Melanie FriedmanLizbeth Aviles Abbey WalshBrian (Tae Hee) LeeJennifer L. StapletonMichael J. BarrieMichael K. SwearengenLeAnn DavisJacob H. Marshall

Represented Blackstone in connection with its acquisition of a portfolio of 228 mortgage loans from Atlantic Union Bank for approximately $2 billion.

Key Contacts: Tabitha B. HumphriesJack KunkelDavid HudsonMelanie FriedmanPooja BhaskarHunter WinsauerKyle P. GillenMatthew G. MrazekPhilip SilvermanBrian (Tae Hee) LeeKevin J. Kiley Jr.Michael W. WardKevin D. MargolisMichael K. SwearengenMichael R. BeerChristopher M. MatgouranisMichael A. PrimroseLaura L. HultAdam N. SaurweinLeAnn DavisGaetano G. SavelliJeffrey J. WildDana B. WeissBarry J. GuttmanKelly M. NollJanelle R. GasbarrinoJoel R. PentzJennifer L. KatzakisSam A. MintzerLisa M. BehraMatthew P. DelguydChris F. MoratschekNathan WagnerLaura Mehl SugarmanEvan M. McLaughlinAlyssa L. RobertsAnthony A. GhazoulNisha PatelJustin MaroniAndrew S. NicollLauren E. LipsycRachel KashienJared E. Kriwinsky

Represented a nonprofit animal services company in the purchase of its new headquarters in Garfield Heights, OH. 

Key Contacts: LeAnn DavisJared E. Kriwinsky

Represented Brookfield Asset Management in connection with the real estate and loan-related matters of its acquisition of a portfolio of 43 mortgage loans from Valley National Bank for over $920 million.

Key Contacts: Matthew G. MrazekKevin J. Kiley Jr.LeAnn DavisJeffrey J. WildBarry J. GuttmanD. Zev RosenbergLaura Mehl SugarmanEvan M. McLaughlinJustin MaroniLauren E. LipsycJared E. Kriwinsky

Represented a real estate development and investment firm in the sale of multifamily development located in Salisbury, MD for $15 million, which required a loan assumption by the buyer and a joint venture with the buyer.

Key Contacts: LeAnn DavisJennifer L. KatzakisJared E. Kriwinsky

Represented guarantor and its subsidiary borrowers in connection with a $530,000,000 syndicated mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of 35 shopping center assets located across the nation.

Key Contacts: Kevin J. Kiley Jr.Michael K. SwearengenJennifer R. HooverLeAnn DavisKelly M. NollJared E. OakesJennifer L. KatzakisChris F. MoratschekD. Zev RosenbergEvan M. McLaughlinElliot M. Smith

Serving as lead real estate legal counsel to Toys “R” Us Property Company I, LLC (“Propco I”), a subsidiary of Toys “R” Us, Inc., in an effort to maximize the value of Propco I’s portfolio of approximately 284 properties in 46 states totaling 14.5 million square feet as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Toys “R” Us and its affiliates. Benesch is performing comprehensive real estate legal services associated with the operation, lease and sale of these of properties, which include former Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores, distribution centers, the Company’s corporate headquarters in Wayne, NJ, and surplus retail properties ancillary to the former store locations.

Key Contacts: LeAnn DavisJeffrey J. WildJared E. OakesSam A. Mintzer

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Credentials

Education

University of Florida Warrington College of Business, 2003, MBA
  • Competitive Strategy
The University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law, 2002, J.D.
  • Florida Law Review, 2001-2002
  • Senior Editor, Galleys, Summer 2002, Fall 2002
  • The Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board, 2001-2002; Chair, Summer 2002, Fall 2002
  • Order of the Coif
Duke University, 1997, B.A.
  • Political Science and Public Policy
  • Dean’s List

Clerkships and Bar Admissions

Florida
Ohio

More

  • Member, Urban Land Institute, Cleveland District Council; Executive Committee, 2008-2013; Chair, Young Leaders Group 2008-2010
  • Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
  • Member, Northeast Ohio Gator Club (University of Florida Alumni Association); President, 2008-2012; Board of
    Directors, 2006-2013
  • Fairmount Presbyterian Church (Cleveland Heights, OH): Member; Clerk of Session 2015-2017; Board of
    Trustees, 2012-2014; Chair, Properties Committee, 2012-2014; Junior High and High School Youth Advisor,
    2010-2017; Pastor Nominating Committee 2011-2013
  • Member, Western Reserve Historical Society; Board of Directors (2024-present), Building and Grounds Committee, Governance Committee
  • Member, American Bar Association; Real Property, Probate and Trusts Section, Business Law Section
  • Member, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council
  • Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2009-2011
  • Recipient, University of Florida Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Leadership, 2007-08