Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Matters

Vedder Price lawyers have extensive experience litigating the variety of issues that come up in the acquisition, operation and disposition of wireless assets, including the following:

Operational Disputes and Regulatory Matters

Our attorneys have successfully handled numerous litigation and regulatory matters for owners of wireless infrastructure assets, including tower siting disputes, collocation and other lease disputes, boundary disputes, adverse possession and prescriptive easement claims, condemnation matters, foreclosure proceedings, disputes with tax deed purchasers, zoning, permitting and environmental regulatory matters and various other disputes arising in connection with the operation of communications sites.

Post Transaction Disputes

On behalf of a buyer of a portfolio of cell towers, obtained summary judgment that the buyer did not assume a contract obligating it to pay revenue share to the landowner in perpetuity.

On behalf of a purchaser of an easement under a billboard, obtained summary judgment that the client did not tortiously interfere with a subsequent fee simple purchaser’s alleged expectation to acquire a property without the encumbrance of the billboard.

On behalf of a purchaser of an easement under a cell tower, obtained summary judgment that the client did not conspire to defraud a fee simple purchaser of its alleged right to receive rent payments from the cell tower operator.

Competition Issues

Led a team of attorneys from multiple law firms in federal antitrust, RICO, and Lanham Act litigation and related state court actions relating to efforts to control land rights at more than 600 cell tower sites.

Transactions

Vedder Price has a large team of Real Estate and M&A attorneys that can handle acquisitions and dispositions of wireless infrastructure assets, from single asset deals to large portfolios.  Recent transactions handled by Vedder Price attorneys include:

Represented a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company in its business combination with a leading global cell site lease investment firm.

Represented a privately held cell tower development company in connection with its formation and the issuance of equity interests in the newly formed entity.

Represented a privately held cell tower development company in connection with its acquisition of another cell tower company.

Represented a privately held cell tower development company in connection with a sale of equity to a third party investor.

Services Available to the Wireless Industry and Other Clients Managing Cash Flow Real Estate Assets

General Counsel Services

We serve as outside general counsel to many middle-market enterprises, providing management, oversight and direction on various legal matters. Our extensive resources and broad range of capabilities enable us to handle all legal matters—efficiently and economically. We also work in close collaboration with the in-house legal departments of larger organizations.  Our expertise in the issues facing the wireless infrastructure industry enables us to provide comprehensive legal assistance to your organization.

Real Estate Document Preparation

We can prepare leases, easements, site license agreements and any other necessary documents tailored to your specific needs.

Private Fund Formation

We provide a full range of services to real estate industry clients in the areas of fund formation and related regulatory and compliance matters. We represent general and limited partners in the structuring and negotiation of private equity funds, venture funds, mezzanine funds, leveraged-buyout funds, real estate equity and debt funds, specific industry funds, REITs, hybrid structures and joint venture vehicles.

Private Equity and Venture Capital Investments

We represent companies seeking investment capital from existing private equity and venture capital funds. We represent management teams at every point in the acquisition and investment process including portfolio company platform acquisitions and add-on transactions, as well as providing general corporate services and representation with experienced and able Corporate & Governance team members.

Debt Financing

We work with many of the world’s leading debt providers in all parts of the capital structure, delivering comprehensive legal services that support a wide variety of transactions, including debt financing secured by wireless infrastructure assets.

Asset Securitization

Our attorneys have experience conducting due diligence, structuring transactions, and negotiating and preparing the documentation necessary to close many types of securitization transactions.

Employment Law

All companies need to navigate the myriad of federal, state and local employment laws. We have approximately 60 attorneys who practice in the areas of labor and employment law, employee benefits, and executive compensation, and cover the following: equal employment opportunity; contractual matters; wage and hour issues; implementing and amending retirement and medical plans; union relations, collective bargaining, and arbitration; preparation or revision of an employee handbook and other personnel policies; employee discharge and discipline matters; managing leaves of absence; anti-harassment, supervisory, performance management, diversity, and other training of staff; preparing employment, restrictive covenant, and separation agreements; and representation in connection with any litigations, administrative charges, or arbitrations that may be brought by or against an employer.