James Yoakum
James has experience in commercial real estate law and real estate finance and has represented clients in executing billions of dollars’ worth of complex commercial mortgage financings, mortgaged-backed securitizations and real estate-backed financing and repurchase facilities. Prior to becoming an attorney, James worked as a real estate sales and leasing agent in Philadelphia and then founded and ran a craft distillery based in Camden, New Jersey. James brings his hard-won practical business experience and deep knowledge of the real estate and beverage alcohol industries to bear on every transaction in which he is involved.
Representative Matters
- Ongoing representation of an investment fund’s purchases, sales and management of triple-net (NNN) leased properties with a particular focus on properties leased to tenants in the veterinary and specialty healthcare industries. Assisted this particular client with 24 purchase or sale transactions nationwide in 2022.
- Negotiations for new leases, lease modifications and lease renewals for a number of office, retail and industrial tenants including a major building-supply company, a high-end clothing company, a coffee roaster and various Center City and suburban Philadelphia office tenants including nonprofits, law firms and private-equity-backed operating companies.
- Broad representation of real estate investors and developers in the multifamily, office and industrial sectors, including working closely with their leasing brokers, lenders and partners to streamline and apply best-practices to growing investment and development platforms.
- Construction contract negotiations for developers of projects including high-end residential construction, charter schools, urban multifamily projects and healthcare projects, including navigating compliance for projects receiving RACP and other types of government funding.
- Representation of a major healthcare nonprofit in connection with construction projects, acquisitions and dispositions and leasing needs throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
- Representation of property owners in the negotiation and sale of cell tower sites and easements.
- Representation of a New York-based lending group on complex mezzanine debt and preferred equity investments secured by retail development projects in Philadelphia.
- Support the real estate needs of multiple private-equity backed businesses who have closed on an aggregate of over 100 acquisitions since 2021.
- Representation of clients seeking to acquire or transfer liquor licenses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Consultation with investors and operators in the craft beer, wine and spirits industries on structuring purchases, sales and financing transactions for those businesses.
- Representation of clients on beverage alcohol regulatory and licensing issues at the local, state and federal levels.
- General representation and counsel to startups in the software and new-media industries.
Professional Associations
- Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member, Wharton Club of Philadelphia
Recognition & Accomplishments
“Lawyers on The Fast Track,” The Legal Intelligencer (2023)
Claude M. Ballard Award for Real Estate Excellence
Community Activities
Pro-bono representation of community gardens in Philadelphia seeking to acquire clear title to properties through the Philadelphia Land Bank.