Amy B. Rifkind | People | Arnold & Porter

Amy Rifkind is co-chair of the firm's Real Estate practice. Amy has a broad commercial real estate practice, with a particular focus on public-private partnerships (federal and local) and real estate development. She regularly handles purchases, dispositions, leases, ground leases and build-to-suits as well as loans for developers, nonprofit organizations and corporations.

Amy was named the 2009 Top Washington Lawyer-Real Estate by the Washington Business Journal and has been ranked as one of America's leading real estate lawyers by Chambers & Partners since 2010.

She regularly handles transactions for pro bono clients including several District of Columbia charter schools and nonprofit organizations.

Focus Areas

Real Estate

Experience

New York-based developer in connection with its acquisition of several buildings in Washington, D.C. and related acquisition financing.
Washington D.C.-based developer in the acquisition of multiple sites in SE Washington, D.C., near the baseball stadium, the sale of a commercial property on H Street in NE Washington, D.C. and the sale of multiple residential buildings in Washington, D.C..
New York-based real estate fund with respect to a variety of projects including (i) the acquisition of 20 buildings and land for redevelopment in Tysons Corner, Virginia, (which deal was recognized by the Washington Business Journal as the Deal of the Year, April 2011) (ii) the sale of a portion of the recently acquired Tysons Corner portfolio, (iii) a joint venture for the development of an apartment complex in Silver Spring, Maryland, and (iv) a joint venture for the acquisition of multiple apartment complexes in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
National developer in the negotiation of (i) the sale of a building in downtown Washington, D.C. after also working with the client on the acquisition of a note and joint venture agreement for the redevelopment of the site, (ii) a long-term ground lease for a retail and apartment complex in Arlington, Virginia and (iii) the acquisition of multiple properties in Washington, D.C.
National corporation in the sale of a six-acre site in Washington, D.C., several infrastructure development projects in Washington, D.C., and a joint venture agreement for the development of a substantial parcel elsewhere in the United States.

Utility company in the acquisition and disposition of several parcels in Washington, D.C.

Purchasers in the acquisition of commercial properties with General Services Administration (GSA) leases located across the United States.
Developer of an approximately 500,000 square foot building for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland including the lease with GSA and the related financing.
Developer of the 575,000 square foot National Cancer Institute building in Rockville, Maryland and the bond financing for the project.
Owner in negotiating a multi-building complex of approximately 900,000 square feet in Alexandria, Virginia lease extensions in connection with BRAC relocations.
Major national investor regarding responses to solicitations by federal agencies for over 800,000 square feet of space in Northern Virginia.

Washington, D.C.-based developer in connection with its acquisition of a parcel in SE Washington, D.C. from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and redevelopment of the site to include WMATA facilities.
Local developer in connection with its negotiation of a Joint Development Agreement and ground leases with WMATA for a multi-phased development in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Developer in the acquisition of the air rights over I-395 in downtown Washington, D.C. and development of the infrastructure to support 2.2 million square feet of improvements including negotiating agreements with the District of Columbia's Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the District's Department of Transportation.

Real estate investment company in multiple loans including a US$655 million loan secured by 260 properties in 38 states and a US$620 million loan secured by 82 properties in 40 states.
Major insurance company in a mortgage refinancing involving 25 industrial properties located in seven states.
Major insurance company in the negotiation of multiple new loans and loan restructurings.
National developer in negotiating several loan restructurings and forbearance agreements.
Major financial institution in its joint venture with a third-party investor and the acquisition of a senior loan participation related to a defaulted construction loan.

Perspectives

Summer 2023

Corporate Transparency Act Guidance (pdf)

The Real Estate Finance Journal

February 27, 2023

Corporate Transparency Act Guidance

Advisory

January 27, 2021

Corporate Transparency Act: Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Requirements for Domestic and Foreign Entities Doing Business in the United States

Advisory

January 6, 2021

Secure Federal LEASEs Act Imposes New Foreign Ownership Disclosure Requirements for Some Federal Government Leases

Advisory

June 3, 2020

DC Council's Comprehensive Response to COVID-19: Key Provisions for the Real Estate Community

Coronavirus: Real Estate Advisory

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Recognition

Chambers USA

Real Estate (D.C.) (2010–2023)

Washingtonian Magazine

“Top Lawyers Hall of Fame” (2022)
"Top Lawyers" — Real Estate (since 2011, 2022)

The Legal 500 U.S.

Real Estate (2017, 2021–2022)

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Credentials

Education

J.D., Yale Law School, 1993
B.A., Yale University, 1989, summa cum laude

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York

Clerkships

U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, The Honorable Douglas P. Woodlock

Activities

Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
Member, Federal City Council
Former member and past president, Board of Directors, Cultural D.C.
Former member, Board of Directors, D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
Former member, Community Economic Development Pro Bono Project Advisory Committee, D.C. Bar