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Donovan L. Powell

Counsel
Vaughn Powell
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vpowell@venable.com
Washington, DC
T +1 202.344.4776

Donovan Lloyd (“Vaughn”) Powell has a broad-based commercial real estate practice with a particular emphasis on advising institutional real estate investors on the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of commercial assets nationwide. Vaughn is an experienced team leader who uses his deep understanding of his clients’ businesses to deliver superior client services. He has also represented institutional investors on matters related to ground-up multifamily development, programmatic joint ventures, and timberland investment, and has notable experience representing both landlords and tenants in drafting and negotiating leases for commercial space throughout the United States.

Prior to joining Venable, Vaughn was an associate in the real estate groups of two global law firms in Boston and, later, in Atlanta, where he regularly represented institutional real estate investors, real estate investment trusts, and companies in various complex real estate transactions ranging from single-asset transactions worth approximately $1 million to portfolio transactions in excess of $1 billion. Vaughn also served as a fellow in the Massachusetts Land Court, clerking for the Honorable Alexander H. Sands III (Ret.), and as pro bono counsel through the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVSLP) Lawyers Serving Warriors program.

Related Practices

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Led a team in due diligence and closing activities in connection with a $290 million acquisition of more than 148,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Oklahoma by a real estate investment trust
  • Represented a real estate investment trust in a $157 million disposition of three asset portfolios totaling 26,000 acres of timberland across Oregon and Washington
  • Represented a sponsor in connection with the development of a 359-unit multifamily and retail development in Atlanta, including the negotiation of a $97.8 million construction loan
  • Represented a retailer in the negotiation of a $3.2 million lease agreement and guaranty for 5,185 square feet of retail space in a Lexington, Kentucky shopping center
  • Negotiated loan documents, prepared a private placement memorandum, and drafted opinion letters for a borrower in an $11 million loan for the acquisition of four industrial assets in Ohio, Georgia, and Kentucky

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. University of Virginia School of Law 2013
  • B.A. Economics and Sociology University of Virginia 2008

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
  • Massachusetts (inactive)
  • Virginia (inactive)

Clerk Experience

  • Honorable Alexander H. Sands III Massachusetts Land Court

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Robert F. Kennedy ’51 Public Service Fellow, Massachusetts Land Court

Community
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Pro Bono

  • Maintains an active and dynamic portfolio of pro bono work; previously represented four disabled veterans seeking benefits from the U.S. Army