W.F. Cody Sonntag, P.C.
Overview
W.F. Cody Sonntag is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Cody’s practice includes the representation of institutional real estate investors, developers and joint ventures in the acquisition, disposition, financing and development of commercial, office, industrial, hotel, residential and mixed-use properties across the United States.
Experience
Representative Matters
Cody's representative matters have included:
- Representation of Global Logistics Properties (GLP) in the $18.7 billion sale of its U.S. logistics business to Blackstone, the largest-ever private real estate transaction globally.
- Representation of a developer and investor in the $240 million acquisition and continued development of Sandow Lakes Ranch, in Rockdale, Texas.
- Representation of GLP Capital Partners in acquisitions, joint ventures and financings of industrial/logistics assets for the entire deployment of GLP Capital Partners’ $2.4 billion Industrial Fund IV.
- Representation of a joint venture between a capital partner and sponsor in connection with the disposition of several first-class commercial office parks in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Representation of a joint venture, real estate investment platform in connection with the acquisition of a first-class office complex in San Bernardino, California.
- Representation of a real estate investment company in connection with the acquisition and financing of multiple office buildings in an office park in Henderson, Nevada.
- Representation of a leading private equity, real estate investment firm in connection with its acquisitions of a two-building class A office complex and a three-building class A office complex, each located in El Segundo, California.
- Representation of a leading private equity, real estate investment firm in connection with its $100+ million acquisition and financing of an office building located in Torrance, California.
- Representation of a first-class self-storage operator in the recapitalization of a $125 million, national portfolio of assets, including a joint venture with its capital partner and formation of a separate investment fund for continued co-investment in the portfolio.
- Representation of a global provider of modern logistics facilities in connection with its acquisition of a $350+ million portfolio of industrial properties located in Indiana, Nevada and Texas.
- Representation of a global provider of modern logistics facilities in connection with its acquisition and financing of a $1+ billion portfolio of over 20 industrial properties located across eight states.
- Representation of a joint venture between a capital provider and sponsor in connection with its acquisition of a 1 million-square-foot trophy building located in downtown Los Angeles, California.
- Representation of a leading private equity, real estate investment firm in connection with the disposition of several apartment complexes in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
- Representation of a global provider of modern logistics facilities in joint ventures with multiple development partners for the development of more than 2+ million square feet of logistics facilities across the United States.
- Representation of a leading private equity, real estate investment firm in connection with its acquisition of a two-building creative office and media campus in Santa Monica, California.
- Representation of a leading private equity, real estate investment firm in its opportunity-zone qualifying joint venture with a local sponsor for the acquisition, financing and development of a mixed-use project on Palos Verdes, California.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Cody's representative matters included:
- Representation of a private investment company in connection with the $700 million financing and acquisition of a multi-state portfolio of cold-storage warehouses.
- Representation of publicly traded hospitality REIT in connection with the $300 million acquisition of a luxury hotel in Hollywood, California.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the acquisition and redevelopment of a 96-room Hawaiian hotel and resort into condominiums.
- Representation of a publicly traded REIT in connection with the $1.1 billion financing and acquisition of a multi-state portfolio of logistical warehouse facilities.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the redevelopment and $475 million sale of a mixed-use residential and retail campus in Playa Vista, California.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the sale of developable parcels in Playa Vista, California to a leading internet search provider for their new corporate campus.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the sale and development of an office complex in Playa Vista, California for a well-regarded entertainment services and technology company.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the $17 million acquisition and financing of an office complex in downtown Los Angeles.
- Representation of a real estate investment firm in connection with the $62 million refinancing of an office complex in Santa Ana, California.
- Representation of a joint venture between a real estate investment firm and developer in connection with the sale of several commercial office buildings in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Representation of a real estate development firm in connection with the acquisition of an option to purchase and redevelop a historic office building in downtown San Francisco, California into a boutique hotel.
- Representation of a hospitality investment group in connection with their acquisition of a stake in an international, Japanese-themed restaurant, hotel and lifestyle brand.
- Representation of a lender in connection with the $2.2 billion refinancing of a big-box retail company, secured by retail properties in over 40 states.
- Representation of a renewable-energy developer in connection with the acquisition and financing of former mining facilities in Riverside County, California for development into a water pumped-storage energy project.
- Representation of a real estate investment firm in connection with the acquisition of several $15-30 million commercial office properties from Spokane, Washington to Henderson, Nevada and Austin, Texas.
- Representation of a real estate developer in a joint venture with the existing owner for the redevelopment of vacant land in Chinatown, Los Angeles, California into a mixed-use retail and residential project.
- Representation of a real estate investment and development firm in connection with the sale of several $20 to $60 million commercial office projects across southern California.
Prior Experience
Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP, 2012–2017
More
Recognition
Named one of five “Rising Stars” in Real Estate, Law360, 2020
Princeton University School of Applied Sciences & Engineering, Departmental Book Award for a Superior Thesis: “Inclusionary Development: Affordable Housing Provision and Integration in New Jersey’s ‘Wealth Belt’”
Memberships & Affiliations
California Bar
Urban Land Institute - Full Member, Member of the Recreational Development Council
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2012California
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, School of LawJ.D.2012
Order of the Coif
Managing Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Princeton UniversityB.S.E., Civil and Environmental Engineeringcum laude2007