Boston, Massachusetts. Nixon Peabody is pleased to announce that a team of real estate attorneys specializing in land use, permitting and zoning — Partner Jennifer Schultz, Senior Counsel Adam Weisenberg and Counsel Jordan Smith — have joined the international law firm's Boston office. Jen will lead Nixon Peabody's Permitting and Land Use team.
The addition of Jen, Adam and Jordan significantly expands Nixon Peabody’s capabilities in these key practice areas.
Jenn focuses on permitting and land use work for complex, large-scale developments in the greater Boston area, Worcester and Springfield areas, and throughout southern New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Jenn represents traditional real estate developers as well as land-centric non-profits, including family offices, real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate investment management companies (REIMs), university, hospital and hotel owners and managers, and organic farms. Jenn's practice also includes a focus on development in the life sciences and renewable energy sectors, having permitted over a dozen significant life science developments in the Boston area in recent years. She is currently working with multiple development clients in the fast-growing climate technology real estate asset class.
Adam has over 40 years of experience in real estate law encompassing all asset types. He practices commercial real estate development, finance and investment throughout the U.S. and handles a wide range of client work including zoning, land use, permitting, ground leases, development and management agreements, common area plans, joint ventures and partnerships, acquisitions, sales and exchanges, construction, permanent and mezzanine financing, zoning, entity structuring and formation transactions, fund formation, REITs, residential and commercial condominiums.
Jordan practices in the areas of land use and mixed-use development, representing real estate owners, developers, real estate investment trusts, investors, universities and other clients in relation to permitting for laboratories, office buildings, multi-residential projects, hotels, corporate and educational campuses throughout Massachusetts and abroad. As part of advising on investments in development projects, he routinely performs extensive due diligence of all permitting matters, including local, state and federal approvals, and also advises on and negotiates land use agreements, including contiguous easements and reciprocal easement agreements.
“Jen, Adam and Jordan strengthen a strong group in Boston and across the firm,” said Christopher Froebe, partner and leader of Nixon Peabody's Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. “Outside of real estate, they have clear synergies in the firm's tax credit, regulatory, life sciences and energy sectors, and we look forward to working with clients and colleagues in these areas. Jen, Adam and Jordan bring full development and land use capabilities to lead projects from concept to execution, and we are pleased they will join us to enhance our service to clients.”
Government relations and land use and zoning policy development are additional areas where Nixon Peabody's platform facilitates the work of teams across practice areas, creating opportunities for clients to grow their business.
“Legislation and politics are at the heart of municipalities' unique zoning codes and permitting regulations across the state, and this team has deep experience in that area,” said James Vallee, managing partner of Nixon Peabody's Boston office and leader of the firm's Government Relations and Public Policy practice. “Likewise, we have deep experience in policy areas that will benefit Jen, Adam and Jordan's clients.”
Jen earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A., cum laude, from Middlebury College. Adam earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Yale University. Jordan earned his J.D. from Boston University Law School, his MA from Cornell University and his BA from Wesleyan University.