Shareholder
Real Estate

Philadelphia
215.751.2867
610.371.7395 fax
rdl@stevenslee.com

Bob is nationally recognized in all aspects of commercial real estate development, acquisitions and financing, with over 25 years of experience representing a wide variety of companies in diverse industries, as well as major real estate developers, syndicators and REITs. Bob's clients have included many Fortune 500 companies; national real estate companies; major healthcare institutions; large retail, hotel and restaurant chains; one of the world's leading telecommunications companies; numerous financial institutions; and a Congressionally chartered, U.S. Government lending institution.

Bob has guided Fortune 100 companies in developing major corporate facilities throughout the U.S., and has led specialized facilities development in the media, retail and petroleum industries. He continues to lecture and write extensively on such subjects as commercial leasing, zoning and land use, boundary law, real estate taxation, and real estate development.

Bob also has been an active and visible leader in a broad variety of professional and civic organizations and is active in CoreNet, ICSC, and the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bob has been named a "Leading US Attorney" by Chambers and Partners in the real estate category of its 2003, 2004 and 2005 Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers directory. In a 1999 Philadelphia magazine survey, he was recognized as one of the best real estate lawyers in Philadelphia.

Education:
University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1977
Brown University, A.B., with Honors, 1973

Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania

Representative Transactions:

• Represented one of the world’s largest global shipping companies, as its North American Counsel, in port-related and other matters throughout the United States
• Represented one of the world’s largest multi-national telecommunications companies in the build-out of its PCS Wireless Phone Network
• Represented one of the world’s largest petroleum companies in the development of its portfolio of gasoline and service centers
• Represented several of the largest U.S. energy companies in the development of their respective power plant and other facilities
• Represented a large multi-national entertainment company in the development of a major interactive theme park
• Represented a Federally chartered, publicly traded national financial institution in the creation and development of certain loan products
• Represented a global water company in its attempted privatization of a major U.S. City’s public water department
• Represented one of the largest multi-national gaming companies in the development of a casino 
• Represented many major U.S. real estate companies in the development and financing of substantial single- and multi-use projects including large residential projects, shopping centers and malls, office buildings and office parks, industrial facilities and industrial parks, marine facilities, hotels, hospitals, and other specialty properties
• Represented a regional airport in the expansion and development of new fields, terminals and related facilities
• Represented one of the largest U.S. Cities in the development and financing of its Central Library
• Represented Fortune 500 Companies and other public and private companies in the development and financing of a myriad of corporate facilities

Selected Publications:

• “Mortgage Lending in the 21st Century,” CREF Chapter, co-authored with Gary S. Smuckler and Henry Liu, January 2003
• “Wired Buildings: Extending the Last Mile of Internet Access to Commercial Tenants,” co-authored with Ajay Raju, August 2000
• "Negotiating Leases - With Reason," co-authored with Basil Donnelly, Commercial Realty Review, January/February 1999
• "Keeping Corporate Site Acquisition Programs on Course," Corporate Real Estate Executive Magazine, May 1998
• "Managing Corporate Site Acquisition Programs," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, April 1998
• Chapter -- A Primer on Commercial Mortgage Loan Documents, co authored with Gary S. Smuckler and Karl F. Schmuck, Handbook of Commercial Mortgage Real Estate Finance, 1994
• Development & Construction in the United States, Chapter 28 of Business Opportunities in the United States, co authored with Robert F. Cushman, 1992
• "Real Property Securities in Western Countries and Eastern European Countries," Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats, 1991
• "Benefits Are Real, But So Are Risks For Tenants Leasing Space In An Overbuilt Market," Legal Intelligencer, 1991
• "Beyond Rental Rates," Focus Magazine, 1991
• "Boundary Law," National Business Institute, 1991

Selected Speaking Engagements:

• Speaker, “Real Estate and Infrastructure Development Projects,” KPMG Real Estate Executive Forum, Philadelphia, 2007                           

• Speaker, “Real Estate and Infrastructure Development Projects,” Opportunities and Challenges in China Symposium, Monte Jade, Philadelphia, 2007                        

• Speaker, “Real Estate and Infrastructure Development Projects,” Fourth Annual Summit on Legal and Financial Strategies for Doing Business in China, Atlas Seminars, New York, 2006

• Guest Lecturer “Commercial Real Estate Leasing,” Temple University Law School, 2005

• Lecturer, “Did We Give Away The Store? 2004’s Major Corporate Lease Deals,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2004

• Lecturer, “Who Ya’ Gonna Call? – Lease Busters!” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2003

• Mock Board Chair, Dynamic Leadership Training for Nonprofit Superheroes, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 2001

• Guest Lecturer, Real Estate Transactions course, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2001

• Speaker, Wired Buildings:  Extending the Last Mile of Internet Access to Commercial Tenants, ACREL Fall Meeting, 2000

• Speaker, Technology in Action, Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) Program: “The Internet and Professional Services Firms,” 2000  

• Speaker, Themed Entertainment Destinations and Resorts, ABA Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section – 2000 Spring Symposium and Committee Meeting, 2000

• Guest Lecturer, Real Estate Transactions course, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2000

Professional Associations/Civic Affiliations:

• American College of Real Estate Lawyers
• Philadelphia Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees; Chair, 2005-2006; Chair, Bar Home Project
• Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC), Chairman
• Center City District, Board of Directors
• Philadelphia Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• American Bar Association