Allen Wheeler

Real Estate Transactions

Allen has represented clients ranging from some of the largest international developers and landlords in the country to emerging local companies and banks in a host of national real estate-related activities.

Significant transactions include:

• Represented buyer in connection with acquisition of a 967,000-square-foot Class A office building in downtown Chicago.
• Represented buyer in connection with acquisition of a 765,000-square-foot Class A office building in downtown Chicago.
• Represented buyer in connection with acquisition of an 830,000-square-foot suburban Class A office project in Chicago.
• Represented seller in connection with sale of 720,000-square-foot Class A office building in Minneapolis.
• Represented life company in $130 million sale/leaseback of 250,000-square-foot corporate headquarters.
• Represented national grocer in $300 million sale/leaseback of eight distribution centers.
• Represented international real estate company in $125 million sale/leaseback of four building Class A office project in Minneapolis.
• Represented national mixed-use developer in connection with multiple ground up developments, including financing and joint ventures.
  • Recent developments in Massachusetts, Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, and Arizona.
  • Loan values for developments range between $150 million to $200 million each.
• Represented City of St. Petersburg, Florida, in connection with development and lease of land to an MLB team for a new stadium and related ancillary development.
• Represented the City of Charlotte in connection with refurbishment of stadium and lease to an NFL team.
• Represented buyer in acquisition and development of 800-acre site in Alabama for new $130 million manufacturing and distribution center.
• Represented national health provider in joint venture development of 252-room hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Represented national investment firm in negotiating 110,000-square-foot headquarters office lease in Minneapolis.
• Represented media company in negotiating 140,000-square-foot headquarters office lease in Minneapolis.
• Represented national retailer in lease of 1,200,000-square-foot distribution center lease in California.
• Represented national manufacturer in 800,000-square-foot warehouse lease in Minnesota.
• Represented numerous landlords in multiple asset classes in the consummation of dozens of landlord-side leases totaling over 3,00,000 square feet of space in the past five years.
• Represented numerous developers in acquiring, financing, joint venturing, constructing, and operating many mixed-use multifamily projects (including commercial, student, housing, and other residential) totaling in excess of 20 projects and $500 million of loans.

Prior Experience

Prior to entering legal practice, Allen was the property manager of U.S. Bank Plaza (formerly Pillsbury Center), a 1.3 million square-foot Class A building, where he cultivated skills in finance, operations and construction management, and commercial leasing. In addition, Allen received the 2003 Business Journal Best in Real Estate Award for best new lease when he completed one of the largest lease transactions in recent downtown Minneapolis history.

Allen is a former military and commercial pilot. During law school, Allen received the Best Oral Advocate Award in the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition, Region XIV.