Daniel J. Ansell

Dan Ansell is Co-Chair of the US Real Estate Litigation Practice and the Founder and National Chair of the Real Estate Operations Group ('REOPS'). Dan represents real estate owners, managers, tenants, lenders, and borrowers nationally in a wide variety of matters including real estate litigation, commercial lease disputes, loan workouts and litigation, office, retail and industrial leasing, bankruptcy proceedings, class actions, construction and ADA issues, lending transactions and disputes, and high stakes State and Federal Court litigation.

In the year 2000, Dan created REOPS to better serve the day-to-day needs of the real estate industry. This department incorporates and cross-trains attorneys in several legal disciplines critical to the ownership and operation of real estate including leasing, lease litigation and real estate bankruptcy. REOPs provides an integrated approach to legal issues in property ownership and management and has grown to more than 50 attorneys in offices across the United States. The department handles matters nationwide and is capable of handling multi-faceted issues without redundant involvement from other departments.

Throughout his career, Dan has represented clients in major real estate transactions and litigations. For example, in 2006 he represented Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ('MetLife') in the sale of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town ('PCV/ST') for $5.4 billion - reported to be one of the largest real estate sales in U.S. history. Subsequent to the sale, Dan represented MetLife in Roberts v. Tishman Speyer Properties, L.P., et al., a highly publicized case that was ultimately argued at the New York State Court of Appeals and settled successfully. In 2020, Dan represented a Fortune 100 company in the closure of more than 80 retail locations. In 2021, Dan was lead counsel for the owner in HWA 555 Owners, LLC v. RGN-San Francisco XXIV, LLC in San Francisco Superior Court. After trial, the Court issued a declaratory judgment in the owner’s favor holding that the tenant’s purported termination of a $120 million lease obligation was invalid. In 2023, the California Court of Appeal affirmed trial court decision.

Concentrations

•Real estate litigation and arbitration
•Commercial loan disputes, workouts, and litigation
•Construction litigation including delay, substantial completion, and design defect disputes
•Mechanic’s lien disputes and litigation
•Internal investigations and risk management
•Office, retail, and industrial leasing
•Real estate bankruptcy issues and litigation
•Real estate brokerage commission disputes
•Complex commercial litigation
•Economic development incentives
•Data center operations and disputes
•Appellate practice
•Letters of credit and suretyship issues
•Hotel and resort litigation
•Insurance disputes
•Environmental disputes
•Building security issues
•Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
•Real estate transaction due diligence
•Catastrophe planning and response
•Alternative dispute resolution

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Real Estate, 2018-2026
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Real Estate - Litigation, 2017 and 2022
•Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2017-2018, 2022
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2007-2025
•Named, Client Service All-Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2015
•Member, Winning Team, U.S. News - Best Lawyers 'Law Firm of the Year' in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2013
•Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, 'Top Tier' Firm in Real Estate, 2013
•Team Member, a Law360 'Real Estate Practice Group of the Year,' 2011-2012, 2022 and 2023
•Team Member, a Law360 “Appellate Practice Group of the Year,” 2010 and 2011
•Member, Winning Team, ChambersUSA Award, Excellence in Real Estate, 2010
•Rated, AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0