Attorneys in our multi-disciplinary Senior Housing Group have experience representing developers, owners, buyer, sellers, investors and managers, advising on both immediate needs and long term issues that arise with owning, operating or investing in this unique market. Further, our experience and membership in Meritas, a global network of approximately 170 law firms, allows us to serve clients and provide local counsel across the United States and around the world.
Real Estate/Transactional
Members of the Senior Housing Group regularly handle both individual site transactions and multi-state portfolio transactions, including development projects, acquisitions and dispositions. We have handled nearly $800 million in acquisitions, joint ventures and development deals in more than a dozen states. With a focus on effectively structuring each transaction to minimize client risk and maximize client return, we provide counsel on a wide range of matters, from advising on the most effective corporate, REIT or joint venture structures to entitlement and land use issues, from operating agreements to in-depth due diligence review to ensure there are no surprises.
Finance
If financing is needed, we have relationships with a number of lenders experienced in senior housing and can connect clients with those able to provide the most appropriate form of financing, be it traditional financing secured by real property of for-profit facilities or bond financing for not-for-profit clients.
Operational Issues
We work with owners and operators to structure leases and management agreements to ensure smooth operations throughout the years.
Labor & Employment
Senior housing often requires round-the-clock staffing, seven-days a week, which presents special challenges to employers. We can provide assistance on matters involving all phases of the employer/employee relationship from hiring, discipline and termination to wage and hour compliance, employee handbooks, and litigation prevention.
Litigation
We represent clients in a wide variety of litigation matters related to senior housing, including landlord/tenant issues, employment claims, tort actions and contractual disputes. We also counsel clients on strategies to minimize risks and avoid litigation in the operation of various types of senior housing facilities.
Intellectual Property
It is essential to protect your name and brand in senior housing, and our intellectual property lawyers can assist with the protection of trademarks, service marks and copyrights at the state, national and international levels.
Regulatory
We represent owners and operators on a wide range of federal and state regulatory matters including new facility licensure; change of ownership licensure issues; continuing care retirement community (CCRC) regulatory issues; Medicare certification and reimbursement; and Florida’s new Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program.
If you have any questions about senior housing, please feel free to contact the Chair of the firm’s Senior Housing Group, John D. Ruffier or any other member of the group.
