Cases
Experience: Representative Transactions: Real Estate Development: Represented a Fortune 500 company in the development of a 15 million square foot campus facility, including the acquisition, financing, design
construction of the project.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the development of a 3.3 million square foot office campus project in San Jose, California.
Represented a Fortune 100 company in the development of a 2.5 million square foot campus facility in Silicon Valley, including structuring of a sophisticated alternative financing strategy.
Represented a prominent San Francisco developer in the purchase, entitlement
development of 181 Fremont Street, a highly visible office ad condominium project which will be the third tallest building in San Francisco
the tallest mixed use building in the Western United States.
Represented a national developer in the purchase, permitting, financing
development of a 2,000 acre mixed use retail, hotel,
residential project in Dublin, California.
Represented a national hotel developer in purchasing
repositioning a series of luxury hotels throughout the Western United States.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement, subleasing, financing
buildout of both a 2.1 million square foot
an 800,000 square foot office campus.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement
construction of a 1.9 million square foot corporate campus.
Represented a prominent San Francisco developer in the redevelopment of an 800,000 square foot office campus.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement, subdivision, financing
build out of a 1.7 million square foot corporate campus.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement
construction of a 1.2 million square foot corporate campus.
Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the development of a 850,000 square foot office project in San Jose, California.
Represented a developer in the purchase, entitlement
financing of a 680,000 square foot corporate campus.
Represented a large institutional developer in the purchase
redevelopment of a 600 room hotel in Southern California.
Purchase
Sales: Mr. Van Gessel has represented clients in more than $25 billion worth of real estate purchase
sale transactions for office, retail, hotel, industrial multi-family,
medical office
assisted care facilities, including many sophisticated alternative transactions, such as synthetic leases, ground leases, sale leaseback, tenancy in common
various joint venture arrangements. Most notably, he represented clients on the following projects: The sale of a corporate campus for over $1 billion.
The sale of a portfolio of 14 hotels for over $800 million
The purchase of a 1.8 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley
The sale of a 1.3 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley
The purchase of a 1.2 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley
The purchase of a 1,000,000 square foot corporate campus in Silicon Valley
The purchase of an 815,000 square foot corporate campus in Silicon Valley
The purchase of a 800,000 square foot corporate campus in Raleigh, North Carolina
The sale of a 1.4 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley
The sale of an 11 building corporate campus in Silicon Valley
The purchase of an 800,000 square foot office project in San Jose, California
The purchase of an 450,000 square foot office project in San Jose, California
The sale of a 650,000 square foot shopping center in the East Bay
The sale of a 5 building corporate campus for over $480 million
The purchase of a 2,000,000 square foot corporate campus in the Waltham, Massachusetts area
The sale of a portion of Macy's Union Square store
The sale-leaseback of over $500 million worth of real property, including a 575,000 square foot warehouse in California's Central Valley
The 'synthetic leasing' of a series of corporate campus properties in Silicon Valley
Southern California totaling more than 3 million square feet of space
The exchange of a series of Fund interests valued at $250 million between two pension funds
The purchase of unimproved property
the development of a 54 story office
condominium project thereon in the SOMA market of San Francisco
Leasing: Mr. Van Gessel has represented clients in the leasing of over 150 million square feet of office, retail
industrial space in 30 years' worth of transactions. Most recently, in the past few years he h
led the following notable transactions.
A lease of nearly 2 million square feet of space to Google, the largest office space lease in California history
A lease of 1,735,000 square feet of office space to Amazon
A lease of 1.1 million square feet of space to Facebook
A series of leases for over 900,000 square feet of office space to Google
A lease of 435,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco to Facebook, Inc., which was named the 2017 'office lease of the year' by the San Francisco Business Times
A lease of 800,000 square feet of biotechnology space in San Diego
A lease of 815,000 square feet of office space to Apple, Inc.
A 700,000 square foot warehouse lease with Amazon
A lease of 718,000 square feet of office space to Google
A least of 700,000 square feet of office space to Google
A lease of over 500,000 square feet of office space to Hewlett-Packard
A series of leases for over 500,000 square feet of office space to Amazon.com
A lease of over 440,000 square feet of office space to LinkedIn
A lease of 380,000 square feet of office space to Northrop Grumman
A lease of over 375,000 square feet to Nutanix
A lease of almost 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Livermore, California
A lease of over 250,000 square feet to Google
A lease of over 250,000 square feet of office space to Aruba Networks
A lease of over 220,000 square feet of office space to Microsoft
A lease of 200,000 square feet of biotechnology space in Palo Alto
The largest office lease in Los Angeles in 2023
A lease of over 220,000 square feet of office space to Motorola Mobility
A lease of over 200,000 square feet of office space to Synopsis
A lease of 55,000 square feet of retail space to Dick's Sporting Goods
Biotechnology Projects: Represented UCSF in connection with various aspects of the development of its Mission Bay campus
The subletting of a 405,000 square foot biotechnology campus to an affiliate of Alphabet
A 250,000 square foot lease in South San Francisco to one of the world's largest biotechnology companies
A lease of 250,000 square feet of biotechnology space to a Fortune 50 company
A 200,000 square foot lease in South San Francisco to a large public biotechnology company
A 180,000 square foot lease in Foster City, CA to a public life science company
A 105,000 square foot lease in Fremont, CA to a public biotechnology company
A 93,000 square foot lease in San Francisco to a public life science company
An 85,000 square foot lease in Emeryville, CA to a life science company
Data Centers: Mr. Van Gessel has represented developers
users in the purchase, financing, design, construction, leasing
operation of data centers for over 20 years, including the following transactions.
Representation of nationwide developer of data centers in the purchase, development
location of approximately 20 projects worldwide
Representation of industry-leading, worldwide data center REIT in the construction
design contracts for projects worldwide
Representation of a Fortune 50 company in the leasing of data warehouse space nationwide
Representation of a prominent developer n the entitlement, construction
design of 100,000 square foot data center in San Francisco
Representation of a large public company in the leasing of a large data center project in Hillsboro, Oregon
Design
Construction: Mr. Van Gessel has represented four Fortune 100 companies in all of their design
construction contracts for more than 15 years. He also represents a large data warehouse REIT on all its nationwide design
construction contracts-more than 70 each year. He has represented clients on a wide variety of projects-from hotels
warehouses to shopping centers
even a rocket launching pad.
Distressed Loan Sales: Represented a large institutional investor in purchasing a $125 million portfolio of non-performing secured
unsecured debt
Represented a national bank in the purchase of: 1) a $235 million portfolio of REO property
distressed secured debt,
2) a $55 million real estate secured debt portfolio
Represented a pension fund advisor in the purchase of $70 million in debt secured by multi-family properties
Represented a large institutional investor in purchasing a $120 million portfolio of distressed loan secured by retail properties
Represented a large bank in the sale of over $800 million in REO property
secured
unsecured debt
Represented a local entertainment company in the purchase of a note secured by a retail shopping center
Financing: Mr. Van Gessel has represented lenders
borrowers in the origination
/or restructuring of over $4 billion worth of real estate, secured debt, including construction
term loans, mezzanine
shared appreciation loans
ground lease financing for office, retail, apartment
hotel projects. He recently served as local counsel in the financing of the Golden State Warriors' San Francisco arena. Notable transactions include: A $1 billion construction loan for construction of a corporate office campus
A $700 million loan secured by a portfolio of br
ed hotels.
A $650 million loan refinancing 555 California Street in San Francisco
A $570 million loan secured by a national portfolio of retail properties
A $360 million loan secured by a corporate office campus
A $240 million loan secured by a health spa/amusement park in Colorado
Synthetic Leasing: Represented a large data storage company in the $415M synthetic leasing of an eleven building corporate office campus in Sunnyvale, California.
Represented a biotechnology company in the $271M synthetic leasing of its three building corporate headquarters
laboratory space in Redwood City, California
Represented a large software company in the $174M synthetic leasing of its four building corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
Represented a biotechnology company in the $120 synthetic leasing of its headquarters
laboratory space in South San Francisco, California.
Community Activities: Mr. Van Gessel has represented many non-profit organizations, including AIDS
homeless shelters, artistic
educational organizations, churches, theatres, l
conservation
outdoor activity groups, coffee houses training disadvantaged individuals in retail skills
community outreach programs. He was a member of the St. Mark's School (San Rafael, CA) building committee for many years, a legal advisor to Marin Academy for the expansion of its campus,
a vestry member
co-chair of the building committee for Saint John's Episcopal Church (Ross, CA) from 2002 through 2004
again from 2017-2020, where he recently served as Senior Warden. He also volunteers his time to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Jewish Family
Children's Services, Compass Family Services, Smart Learning Program, 1951 Coffee Company
REST Emergency Shelter Program. He has also served a member of the Board of Trustees of the San Rafael Public Library.
Transactions
Representative Transactions:; Real Estate Development; Represented a Fortune 500 company in the development of a 15 million square foot campus facility, including the acquisition, financing, design and construction of the project.; Represented a Fortune 100 company in the development of a 2.5 million square foot campus facility in Silicon Valley, including structuring of a sophisticated alternative financing strategy.; Represented a prominent San Francisco developer in the purchase, entitlement and development of 181 Fremont Street, a highly visible office ad condominium project which will be the third tallest building in San Francisco and the tallest mixed use building in the Western United States.; Represented a national developer in the purchase, permitting, financing and development of a 2,000 acre mixed use retail, hotel, and residential project in Dublin, California.; Represented a national hotel developer in purchasing and repositioning a series of luxury hotels throughout the Western United States.; Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement, subleasing, financing and buildout of both a 2.1 million square foot and an 800,000 square foot office campus.; Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement and construction of a 1.9 million square foot corporate campus.; Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement, subdivision, financing and build out of a 1.7 million square foot corporate campus.; Represented a prominent Silicon Valley developer in the purchase, entitlement and construction of a 1.2 million square foot corporate campus.; Represented a developer in the purchase, entitlement and financing of a 680,000 square foot corporate campus.; Represented a large institutional developer in the purchase and redevelopment of a 600 room hotel in Southern California.; Purchase and Sales; Mr. Van Gessel has represented clients in more than 25 billion worth of real estate purchase and sale transactions for office, retail, hotel, industrial multi-family, and medical office and assisted care facilities, including many sophisticated alternative transactions, such as synthetic leases, ground leases, sale leaseback, tenancy in common and various joint venture arrangements. Most notably, he represented clients on the following projects:; The sale of a portfolio of 14 hotels for over 800 million; The purchase of a 1.8 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley; The purchase of a 1.2 million square foot office campus in Silicon Valley; The purchase of a 1,000,000 square foot corporate campus in Silicon Valley; The purchase of an 815,000 square foot corporate campus in Silicon Valley; The purchase of a 800,000 square foot corporate campus in Raleigh, North Carolina; The sale of an 11 building corporate campus in Silicon Valley; The sale of a 650,000 square foot shopping center in the East Bay; The sale of a 5 building corporate campus for over 480 million; The purchase of a 2,000,000 square foot corporate campus in the Waltham, Massachusetts area; The sale of a portion of Macy's Union Square store; The sale-leaseback of over 500 million worth of real property, including a 575,000 square foot warehouse in California's Central Valley; The synthetic leasing of a series of corporate campus properties in Silicon Valley and Southern California totaling more than 3 million square feet of space; The exchange of a series of Fund intersts valued at 250 millino between two pension funds; The purchase of unimproved property and the development of a 54 story office and condominium project thereon in the SOMA market of San Francisco; Leasing; Mr. Van Gessel has represented clients in the leasing of over 80 million square feet of office, retail and industrial space in 30 years' worth of transactions. Most recently, in the past three years he handled the following notable transactions.; A lease of nearly 2 million square feet of space to Google, the largest office space lease in California history; A lease of 1.1 million square feet of space to Facebook; A lease of 435,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco to Facebook, Inc., which was named the 2017 office lease of the year by the San Francisco Business Times; A lease of 815,000 square feet of office space to Apple, Inc.; A 700,000 square foot warehouse lease with Amazon; A lease of 718,000 square feet of office space to Google; A least of 700,000 square feet of office space to Google; A lease of over 500,000 square feet of office space to Hewlett-Packard; A series of leases for over 500,000 square feet of office space to Amazon.com; A lease of 350,000 square feet of office space to Amazon; A lease of almost 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Livermore, California; A lease of over 250,000 square feet to Google; The subletting of a 405,000 square foot biotechnology campus to an affiliate of Alphabet; A lease of over 250,000 square feet of office space to Aruba Networks; A lease of over 220,000 square feet of office space to Microsoft; A lease of over 220,000 square feet of office space to Motorola Mobility; A lease of over 200,000 square feet of office space to Synopsis; A lease of 55,000 square feet of retail space to Dick's Sporting Goods; Data Centers; Mr. Van Gessel has represented developers and users in the purchase, financing, design, construction, leasing and operation of data centers for over 20 years, including the following transactions.; Representation of nationwide developer of data centers in the purchase, development and location of approximately 20 projects worldwide; Representation of industry-leading, worldwide data center REIT in the construction and design contracts for projects worldwide; Representation of a Fortune 50 company in the leasing of data warehouse space nationwide; Representation of a prominent developer n the entitlement, construction and design of 100,000 square foot data center in San Francisco; Representation of a large public company in the leasing of a large data center project in Hillsboro, Oregon; Design and Construction; Mr. Van Gessel has represented four Fortune 100 companies in all of their design and construction contracts for more than 15 years. He also represents a large data warehouse REIT on all its nationwide design and construction contracts-more than 70 each year. He has represented clients on a wide variety of projects-from hotels and warehouses to shopping centers and even a rocket launching pad.; Distressed Loan Sales; Represented a large institutional investor in purchasing a 125 million portfolio of non-performing secured and unsecured debt; Represented a national bank in the purchase of: 1) a 235 million portfolio of REO property and distressed secured debt, and 2) a 55 million real estate secured debt portfolio; Represented a pension fund advisor in the purchase of 70 million in debt secured by multi-family properties; Represented a large institutional investor in purchasing a 120 million portfolio of distressed loan secured by retail properties; Represented a large bank in the sale of over 800 million in REO property and secured and unsecured debt; Represented a local entertainment company in the purchase of a note secured by a retail shopping center; Financing; Mr. Van Gessel has represented lenders and borrowers in the origination and/or restructuring of over 4 billion worth of real estate, secured debt, including construction and term loans, mezzanine and shared appreciation loans and ground lease financing for office, retail, apartment and hotel projects. He recently served as local counsel in the financing of the Golden State Warriors' San Francisco arena.; Community Activities; Mr. Van Gessel has represented many non-profit organizations, including AIDS and homeless shelters, artistic and educational organizations, churches, theatres, coffee houses training disadvantaged individuals in retail skills and community outreach programs. He was a member of the St. Mark's School (San Rafael, CA) building committee for many years, a legal advisor to Marin Academy for the expansion of its campus, and a vestry member and co-chair of the building committee for Saint John's Episcopal Church (Ross, CA) from 2002 through 2004 and again from 2017-2020. He also volunteers his time to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Compass Family Services, where he currently serves as Junior Warden, Smart Learning Program, and REST Emergency Shelter Program.
