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Biography

Clay represents a wide variety of clients in connection with commercial real estate transactions, and other transactional matters in Texas and across the country. His experience spans across various industries and multiple types of properties, including office, retail, multi-family, industrial, hospitality, hospital, and mixed-use high-density urban developments. Clay focuses his practice on acquisitions and dispositions, development, construction, financing, workouts, leasing and joint ventures.

Prior to joining the firm, Clay served as in-house counsel for Hillwood Development Company, where he oversaw various legal aspects of industrial, hospitality, office, residential and retail investments, including the development, leasing and operation of Hillwoodโ€™s 75-acre mixed-use development at Victory Park, near downtown Dallas. He also served as in-house counsel for a small private equity firm, focused on strategic investments in secondary and tertiary markets, urban self-storage, and affordable housing.

Clay's Relevant Experience

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Represented a privately held real estate company in connection with the acquisition and financing of three shopping centers in Texas and in North Carolina.

Represented a real estate investment group in connection with the acquisition of fee and ground lease interests in a medical office building portfolio.

Represented various clients in connection with the acquisition and disposition of raw land, office buildings, retail shopping centers, hotels, and industrial office buildings.

Represented a private investment fund, a European pension system, an institutional real estate advisor and a state pension system in connection with acquisitions and dispositions of various office buildings.

Represented a publicly traded REIT in connection with acquisitions and dispositions of multi-family properties across the United States.

Leasing

Represented a major U.S. defense contractor in connection with an operating lease in a build-to-suit 500,000 square foot facility in the CityLine development in Richardson, Texas.

Represented a publicly traded operator of a high-end steak restaurant brand in connection with the negotiation of approximately 30 restaurant leases across the country.

Represented an owner of over 500,000 square feet of Class AA office space in Dallas, Texas, including the leases for Haynes and Boone, LLP, Ernst &Young U.S. LLP, PlainsCaptial Bank and TXU.

Represented the purchaser of the White Swan Building in Dallas, Texas, and the negotiation and documentation of the 60,000 square foot lease for the House of Blues โ€“ Dallas.

Represented a large developer in connection with a 220,000 square-foot build-to-suit lease for a publicly traded life sciences company in Almeda, California.

Development, Construction and Financing

Represented a large hospital developer in connection with the development of five hospitals in Texas, including the establishment of medical office and hospital condominium regimes.

Represented Hillwood and related interests in connection with the development and operation of Victory Park and the acquisition and operation of development sites in the Uptown area of Dallas, TX, including the construction of the Hillwood and Perot Campus located on Turtle Creek Avenue in Dallas, Texas.

Represented an institutional investor in connection with the financing and development of a high-rise, multi-family and retail building in the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas, Texas.

Represented multi-family and office developers in connection with site acquisition, loans, construction and operation of various multi-family and office products.

Represented a private equity fund in connection with the development of self-storage facilities in Texas and the acquisition and development of multiple affordable housing/LIHTC projects in Texas and Louisiana.

Represented a developer in connection with the development, construction and leasing of mixed-use office buildings containing approximately 450,000 square feet of office space, 30,000 square feet of retail space.

Represented a privately held developer in connection with the development, financing and construction of over 2,000 multi-family units in Texas.

Represented various clients in connection with construction loan agreements, acquisition financing and loan modifications for retail, multi-family, hotel, office and industrial properties.

Other Info About Clay

Education

Law School

University of Texas Austin School of Law, J.D., 2002, with honors

Undergraduate School

Baylor University, BBA,ย 1999. cum laude

Bar Memberships

Clay is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Texas

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ, Real Estate Law, 2015-2024

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Texas Bar Association

The Real Estate Council,ย Associate Leadership Council,ย 2007-2008

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Salesmanship Club of Dallas

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,ย Former Board of Directors, North Texas Chapter

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