Bart I. Mellits
Pennsylvania
Ballard Spahr LLP
1735 Market Street, 51st Floor
Philadelphia , PA 19103
United States
Tel: 215.864.8701
Email:
mellits@ballardspahr.com
Web:
www.ballardspahr.com
Bart I. Mellits has more than 30 years of experience representing developers, owners, and institutions in a wide range of real estate projects and transactions. His experience encompasses development, joint ventures, sales, acquisitions, leasing, and loan transactions, as well as real estate workouts. He also counsels a variety of Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit clients on real estate issues affecting their businesses. Bart is a member of the firm’s Elected Board and is the former Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Department.
Bart has led legal efforts on real estate-related projects for public and private universities, national lending institutions and national retailers, in addition to national, regional, and local developers. He has worked on a broad range of projects, including research parks, hospitals and medical office buildings, shopping centers and malls, corporate headquarters, industrial and warehouse facilities, multifamily residential properties, and hotels.
Bart has represented landlords and tenants nationwide in build-to-suit leases, as well as leases for large-scale retail, office, industrial, warehouse, hotel, research, development and laboratory, and mixed-use properties, as well as bondable and other types of financing leases. He has structured a variety of portfolio sales, acquisitions, and financings with REITs, private equity firms, and other institutions.
Professional Activities
- New Jersey Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Business Law Section and Real Property Section
Recognition & Accomplishments
- Chambers USA, real estate law (Pennsylvania), 2009-2023; real estate law (Philadelphia and Surrounds), 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America, real estate law, 2009-2020, 2022, 2023
- The Legal 500 US, real estate and construction – real estate, 2013-2014, 2016-2020; real estate, 2021; real estate finance, 2021
- Led a team of attorneys in the sale of a national portfolio of warehouse and retail assets to a leading global REIT for more than $800 million by a New Jersey-based real estate company.
- Represented a national developer in its collaboration with a major university for the redevelopment of a 14-acre downtown site. The mixed-use project will include research, lab, and educational facilities, as well as tech office space, high- and low- rise residential, retail, and recreational areas.
- Represented a national developer in its collaboration with a major Florida university for development of a multi-building life science park, to include up to 1.8 million square feet of lab space, offices, retail shops, and restaurants, by preparation and negotiation of a development agreement, ground lease, and other key deal documents.
- Led a team of attorneys that guided the developer of a 13-story mixed-use project comprising an outpatient clinic and rehabilitation center for a major university hospital system, as well as medical office and research space and street-level retail and parking. Structured, prepared, and negotiated the development agreements with nonprofit and government stakeholders, as well as the key ground lease, and unique condominium structure.
- Led a team of attorneys that represented a large international pharmaceutical company in relocating more than 300 employees to a new global headquarters facility, including due diligence for the new site, tax structuring, a long-term build-to-suit lease agreement, and reciprocal easement and restriction agreements.
- Represented industrial developer in acquisition, development, financing, construction and leasing of industrial big box center on complex brownfield site.
- Represented national retailers in scores of build-to-suit, pad and in-line leases nationwide, including multibranded, multistory stores.
- Represented developer of multifamily, mixed-use project that straddles both sides of a downtown city street, including reviewing, preparing, and negotiating the contribution agreement, condominium documents, joint venture agreements, parking agreements, and financing documents.
Ballard Spahr is a recognized leader in real estate—serving clients in every segment of the industry. With across-the-board strength, regional market knowledge, and a strong national platform, we can assist from zoning and land use through acquisition, development, and lease-up.
Clients nationwide call on us to assist them in acquiring, developing, financing and disposing of their real estate. With a client-first philosophy and an unsurpassed level of skill and sophistication, we provide effective solutions to seemingly intractable challenges. These efforts have led Chambers USA to award our real estate practice and many of our lawyers a national ranking for excellence.
With almost 130 attorneys nationwide who focus on real estate matters, we have the depth and breadth of experience to take a holistic approach to the needs of our clients and provide real world advice throughout the real estate cycle. We have been a mainstay in the industry for decades and have gained the perspective needed to counsel clients in up markets, down markets, and everything in between.
Ballard Spahr LLP, an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers in 15 U.S. offices, serves clients across industry sectors in litigation, transactions, and regulatory compliance.
We partner with clients—from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, governments, and non-profit organizations—to deliver the strategic counsel, powerful advocacy, and dynamic thinking that helps them overcome challenges, protect what’s important, and position themselves for future success.
The firm combines a comprehensive scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. And we are nationally recognized in the development and use of innovative technology to drive efficiency, transparency, and results.