Watkins, Brent Lee

Mr. Warner has practiced as a real estate attorney for forty years. He is currently focusing on project review and feasibility analysis; due diligence review for potential investors; drafting and negotiation of venture and finance agreements, construction contracts, political and community outreach for project development; counseling and financing in connection with state economic development programs, and project management services.

Experience Summary:

Real estate, energy, environment, and project finance experience including:

-Consultant and attorney to real estate developers and owners.

- Principal corporate operating officer experience including:

President and CEO of L & D Funding, Ltd., a mortgage banking and real estate consulting firm which provided services to private sector project developers as well as the state housing finance agencies of Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

- Legal and management positions of increasing responsibility in real estate at former Eastern Airlines, Inc., Citibank, N.A., Realty Equities Corporation and Arlen Realty and Development Corporation.

Accomplishments Include:

-Aided a major solar project developer in identifying and gaining site control of over 50 acres of land for a response to an RFP from a utility seeking to purchase photovoltaic power.
-Aided a major environmental consulting firm in preparing portions of environmental impact statements relating to land use and zoning for a proposed power plant in the lower Hudson Valley.
-Aided a power plant developer in seeking and evaluating potential power plant sites to be used for an RFP response in a New England state.
-Aided a major wind-development company in real estate related matters. Aided in the revision of policies and land control documents and procedures for the processing and cataloguing easements and other forms.
-Acted as part of team for major consulting firm hired by Westchester County, NY to examine options regarding the Indian Point nuclear power plant - handled all matters relating to eminent domain and local law issues.
-Assisted public real estate owner evaluate power plant options on biomedical campus facility in Westchester County, NY.
-Examined multiple sites for power plants for a Fortune 300 Company. Assisted in the evaluation of sites and negotiated option agreement with landowner on behalf of client.
-Assisted in negotiating and documenting leases on two power plant sites for power company client with various departments of New York State. Also assisted client with state and local governmental agencies relating to the construction of two power plants on these sites.
-Assisted creditor's committee of a public company in the sale and divesting of real estate assets relating to wind and hydroelectric power plant sites in US and other countries. Also negotiated with creditors and settled outstanding obligations saving company over $1million.
-Assisted public company client in the real estate and other legal aspects in the siting of over 150 small onsite combined heat and power plants.
-Was retained by the National Consumer Cooperative Bank (now called National Cooperative Bank) soon after it was formed to prepare multifamily loan underwriting manual and conduct training for underwriting staff.
-Was Assistant General Counsel of public company that owned 10,000 rental-housing units and four shopping centers. Worked involved all matters relating to the purchase, sale, financing and operation of multifamily apartments and shopping centers.
-Was Assistant General Counsel of subsidiary of public company that developed, owned and operated a number of multifamily housing projects in the New York City area. Worked involved a wide range of acquisition, construction and operational issues for company.
-Was Vice President of real estate consulting subsidiary of major bank holding company. Advised clients in various aspects of real estate transactions including structuring sale-leasebacks for major conference center operator.
-Was Manager of Properties for a major airline and responsible for all real estate related matters for twenty cities in the United States and Mexico. Worked involved the negotiation, drafting and corporate approval of various types of short and long-term leases for properties as diverse as city ticket offices to new major airport terminals such as the Dallas-Ft. Worth Regional Airport.
-Was student researcher for Professor Robert Anderson aiding in the preparation of the initial edition of his book, New York Zoning Law and Practice.

Community: Former member of the Board of Assessment Review of the Town of New Castle (Chappaqua), New York.

Lectures: Lectured at the Columbia Law School; the New York University Real Estate Institute and on behalf of the National Leased Housing Association on real estate and housing subjects.

Education:
A.B. University of Rochester
J.D. Syracuse University, College of Law
LL.M Washington University, School of Law (Masters in Real Estate and Government Programs)

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES:
Member of the New York Bar