Representative Experience
Grand Sierra
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. represented Grand Sierra Resort Corp. and affiliates in connection with the acquisition, financing, and development of the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada, formerly the Reno Hilton, and in connection with the eventual work out of the financing with its primary lenders. The project was developed in part as a hotel condominium project, and the firm worked with local counsel and special securities counsel in connection with the establishment of the condominium structure and management program. The project failed because of the collapse of the real estate condominium market and was eventually conveyed to the lender. Eric Anderson acted as lead real estate counsel and Barbara Muller acted as lead corporate and securities counsel on the project. Jim Baillie and Eric Anderson acted as restructuring counsel in connection with the work out.
The Valspar Corporation
The Valspar Corporation is one of the largest global coatings manufacturers in the world, providing coatings and coating intermediates to a wide variety of customers. Fredrikson & Byron has represented Valspar for more than 25 years. Sue Steinwall and our Real Estate Group have represented Valspar in national real estate and environmental matters since 1991, primarily in the sale and purchase of real estate, leasing, environmental remediation issues, and construction issues.
UMore Park
In 2008, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. was selected by the University of Minnesota Office of General Counsel to serve as real estate and development special counsel for UMore Park. UMore Park is a 5,000 acre tract of land in Dakota County, Minnesota owned by the University. The scope of work is very broad, and includes all legal issues associated with interim use of a portion of the land for aggregate mining, and ultimate development of the entire tract into a “unique, intellectually and culturally rich, sustainable community.” Such legal issues have and will likely include tax, organizational, intergovernmental relations agreements, mining contracts, title, survey, leasing, sale, association documents, covenants, utilities easements, scenic and conservation easements, options, construction contracts, environmental review, environmental permits, land use agreements, and miscellaneous contracts. UMore Park is expected to take from fifteen to thirty years to be fully developed, and is the largest single-owner development project to be commenced in recent decades in the seven county Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the top 10 fastest growing restaurant chains in the U.S. We represent the company in connection with its leasing work for its corporate restaurants across the country. We have also represented them in connection with the acquisition of groups of restaurant locations.
Hempel Properties
Fredrikson & Byron represents Hempel Properties and affiliated entities in connection with property acquisitions, financing, redevelopment, and various property management and tenant dispute matters. Hempel Properties is a Minneapolis-based development and property management firm that organizes separate investment groups for each individual project, including significant developer equity participation, and provides development, construction, and management services to the ownership group. The company focuses on properties that have “value added” potential, usually with a five to ten year business plan. Representative projects in which we have represented Hempel Properties include:
- The purchase, financing and renovation of the Historic Rand Tower in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- The purchase, financing and redevelopment of the Midland Bank Building in downtown Minneapolis into The Hotel Minneapolis, a Doubletree Hotel.
- The purchase, financing and repositioning of One Corporate Center I and One Corporate Center II in Edina, Minnesota, a southwestern Minneapolis suburb.
- The purchase, financing and repositioning of UBS Plaza in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.
- The purchase, financing and renovation of the Soo Line Building in downtown Minneapolis.
- The purchase and financing of Woodhill Plaza in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a western suburb of Minneapolis.
- The purchase, financing and further development of Rockridge, a strip center in Plymouth, Minnesota, a western suburb of Minneapolis, anchored by Cub Foods.
- The purchase, financing and development of Elk Ridge Center, a commercial land development in Elk River, Minnesota, a northwest suburb of Minneapolis, and the sale of parcels in the development.