Christopher Pate represents publicly- and privately-held REITs and other companies in connection with major transactions, corporate governance issues, securities transactions and other financings. He has counseled buyers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions, including several valued in excess of $1 billion, and has advised issuers in multiple stock and debt offerings, including initial public offerings. In addition, Mr. Pate has assisted numerous private and non-traded registered REITs with their formation transactions and state registration process under the NASAA REIT Guidelines.

Significant Matters

In the past several years, Mr. Pate has served as Maryland counsel to CNL Hotels & Resorts, Innkeepers USA Trust and Republic Property Trust in their mergers, as well as to Tishman Speyer in its acquisition of Archstone-Smith and Ares Capital in its acquisition of Allied Capital. He has also served as Maryland counsel for the Special Committees of several companies in their consideration and negotiation of strategic alternatives.  Mr. Pate has frequently advised non-traded REITs sponsored by American Realty Capital, Behringer Harvard, Cole, Dividend Capital, Grubb & Ellis, Hines, Wells and W.P. Carey on matters of Maryland corporate law.

Activities

An active member of the community, Mr. Pate has served as Chairman of the Harford County People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board and is a former member of the Harford County Republican State Central Committee. In 2008, he was elected as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention.