Tom Burns

Chief Council

tom.burns@GetITReal.com
(831) 476-4300  

EXAMPLES OF PAST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland

Representation of development projects, including urban entertainment center and urban and suburban office buildings; representation of national clients for office and warehouse leasing, subleasing and build-to-suit transactions throughout U.S. and Canada; acquisition of office and warehouse buildings; financing multi-family projects; and representation of real estate service providers.

Planet Hollywood International, Inc. (PHL), Orlando Florida; Real Estate Counsel

Provided legal services and counsel to Company for its real estate and related requirements in United States and internationally, including Planet Hollywood and Official All Star Café restaurants; retail stores; and related concepts, including Planet Movies by AMC, Cool Planet ice cream parlors, music, casinos, and hospitality (hotels).

Negotiated in excess of 60 transactions and consummated over 40 transactions with value exceeding $350M, including land purchases; land leases; restaurant, retail, and office leases; warehouse and distribution facilities; options to acquire land and facilities; subleases; and joint venture and franchise agreements in the United States (17 States) and internationally (Europe: Ireland, Germany, Belgium, France, England, and Italy; Far East: Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Guam, and China; South America: Brazil and Argentina; Puerto Rico; and Canada - Montreal, Windsor, Toronto, and Edmonton).

 Participated in the site selection process and negotiated letters of intent, including landlord contribution and construction work; and coordination of development and construction.

Consummated acquisition of land and supervise construction of HQ office building and distribution center in Orlando, Florida, including permitting process.

Negotiated and drafted agreements with general contractors, architects, consultants, brokers, and other service providers.

Coordinated and managed required permits and licenses, including construction, business, signage, liquor and special events; and compliance with ADA and environmental regulations, including environmental remediation.

Engaged and managed domestic and international outside counsel for special projects, including litigation and formation of business entities.

Coordinated local government support and hearing processes before governmental agencies and community groups for re-zoning, signage, building, and use permit requirements.

Carlton Fields, P.A.  Orlando, Florida; Shareholder

Practiced in the areas of commercial real estate, business and corporate law.

First Vice President & Senior Counsel, CB Commercial Real Estate Group, Inc. McLean, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Provided legal and business services and counsel to Eastern Division of CBC, consisting of 25 offices including general brokerage, institutional and corporate services, and additional business units, with emphasis on Management Services, Realty Advisors, Mortgage Banking Services, Investment/Financial Services, Portfolio Services and Appraisal Services.

Commercial real estate law, including acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, development, brokerage, asset and property management, construction services, financing and loan restructuring, environmental, land use and zoning, bankruptcy and receivership, valuation and appraisals, and single and multi-asset securitization.

Corporate legal services, including general corporate law, employment, licensing, authorization to do business, trademarks, copyright, and intellectual property.

In-House training programs, designed and delivered training in commercial real estate law and development, including agreements and forms for engagement, representation, leasing, acquisition and disposition and agency law, general fiduciary duties and obligations disclosures and related topics, with emphasis on environmental, property and asset management, valuation, mortgage financing and restructuring, conducted loss prevention and avoidance, foreclosures, bankruptcy and receivership.

Participated in the leveraged buy-out of the Company from Sears Roebuck & Company in 1989, including finance structuring and Securities & Exchange Commission compliance.

Business Litigation including representation of CBC in litigation and pre-litigation matters, arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution, with emphasis on conduct loss avoidance.

Engaged and managed outside counsel in 40-50 law firms providing general legal services to CBC and its business units, including pre-litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Institutional REO, RTC, and FDIC Properties and Portfolios, extensive work with the evaluation, disposition, and acquisition, including due diligence and auctions.

Monitored, influenced and impacted proposed legislative, administrative rulings and other regulatory actions affecting commercial real estate. 

Special Counsel and Acting Deputy Director, Energy Crisis Intervention Program Task Force, Washington, D.C.

Special Taskforce of the White House Domestic Policy Staff, including liaison with Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Attorneys and Office of General Counsels of Departments of Energy, Health and Human Resources and other energy-related agencies.  Supervised program functions of litigation, legislative initiatives and Congressional oversight.  Prepared legislation and administrative proposals and provided Congressional testimony.  Drafted, negotiated and enforced agreements between U.S. Government and non-governmental energy providers.

Private Law Practice, Boston, Massachusetts and Ann Arbor, Michigan

General law practice specializing in commercial real estate, business and corporate law and related litigation.  Associated with Peabody & Arnold, Boston, Massachusetts; Keys, Creal & Hurbris, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Brimacombe & Schlecte, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Concentrated in commercial and residential real estate, business and corporate litigation, financing and banking law.

EDUCATION AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1970.  Research Assistant to Professor John Jackson for treatise on The Law of GATT and related international trade issues.

Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, M.A., 1967.  Fields of concentration including international business, trade and investment, economic development and international law.

Recipient of Crown Zellerback Scholarship.

University of Michigan, B.A. Economics, 1965

NCAA All-American Swimming Team

Instructor, Orlando Board of Realtors (Commercial), Orlando, Florida (1995 - 1996)

Instructor, Department of Economics, University of Michigan (1968 - 1970)

Instructor, Department of Economics, Boston University (1966 - 1967)

STATE BAR LICENSES

Massachusetts, Michigan, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.  Florida admission pending.