David Graham, Legal Dept. Leader, Real Estate Attorney Email & Phone Number

United States

Fort Myers, Fl, Us

In-house counsel for Chico’s FAS Inc. (NYSE: CHS), a women’s apparel retailer operating over 1300 stores in North America under three brands: Chico’s, White House Black Market, and Soma Intimates. I lead the Real Estate Legal team. The Real Estate Legal team delivers legal services to the Real Estate Department, the Store Design & Construction Department, the Lease Accounting Team and other business units of Chico's FAS, Inc., as well. I report to both our SVP of Real Estate, Store Design & Construction and our EVP, General Counsel.In past positions, I have successfully negotiated, structured or resolved hundreds of commercial real estate transactions and disputes relating to: acquisition and sale, occupancy expenses, leasing, development, construction, financing, work-outs, mechanics’ liens, easements, condominiums, sale-leasebacks, tax-deferred (1031) exchanges, tax revaluation, and zoning. My current focus is our corporate legal department and retail and shopping center real estate, but my prior work has spanned nearly all classes of commercial real estate—including office, industrial, institutional, restaurant, mixed-use and telecom.

Columbus, Ohio, Us

DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (NYSE: DSW) is a national footwear retailer. I selected, managed and collaborated with outside counsel to deliver value and to achieve DSW’s goals. I was a generalist about half the time. The other half was focused on DSW’s real estate interests. My Real Estate/Legal team (inside and outside) was responsible for all legal aspects of real estate for over 470 store locations: lease negotiations, lease modifications, lease enforcement, lease administration, construction, auditing, disputes and litigation. In addition, I was responsible for asset management of nearly $100 million of owned corporate real estate. I worked closely together with great people on these teams at DSW: Finance, Accounting, Procurement, Tax, Human Resources, Benefits/Compensation, Supply Chain and Fulfillment, Store Planning and Construction, Merchandise/Allocation, and Marketing. Other significant responsibilities at DSW included: mergers and acquisitions, international transactions, managing litigation, procurement and contract processes, compliance transactions, vendor/supplier relations, health care contracts and claims, bankruptcy and receiverships, and philanthropy.

Columbus, Ohio, Us

Columbus, Ohio, Us

Served buyers and sellers of industrial, commercial, office, retail, and luxury residential properties in negotiation, due diligence, and closing. Negotiated and structured §1031 exchanges.Served lenders and borrowers in negotiating and funding acquisition loans, construction loans, and permanent financing for commercial, office, food franchise, retail, and health care projects. Enforced complex commercial foreclosures.Served owners, general contractors and subcontractors in negotiating and drafting construction, construction management, design-build, and design agreements. Prepared, enforced, and defended mechanics’ liens.Served landlords and tenants in retail, restaurant, office, wireless telecom, health care, commercial, and industrial; Enforced leases, including litigation; Developed form leases.Served owners of institutional, industrial, health care, and mixed-use development, zoning, and property management. Prosecuted real estate tax valuations, exemptions, and appeals.

Columbus, Oh, Us

Commercial Construction Law: Contracts, Enforcement, Disputes. Serving General Contractors.Retail Real Estate: Negotiating Deals for Shopping Center Tenants.

Cleveland, Ohio, Us

Met the legal needs of publicly-traded companies, middle-market businesses, small businesses and institutions involving commercial real estate; mergers, acquisitions & divestitures; general corporate; and creditors’ rights.

Juris Doctor (Jd), Cum Laude, Law

Bsba, Cum Laude, Finance / Business Administration