Ted M. Benn
Partner
Ted M. Benn
214.969.1423
Overview
Ted Benn counsels clients on a wide variety of real estate, corporate, and general business matters, including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, partnerships and joint ventures, debt and equity financings, lease transactions, management and consulting arrangements, and real estate developments. He has significant experience in the hospitality, golf and private club, multifamily property, real estate development, and renewable energy industries. He currently assists multiple clients with the nationwide development of wind and solar energy projects.
Representative Experience
- Assisted clients with the documentation and development of solar energy projects in the following U.S. states: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming
- Represented a client in the site acquisition and development of two battery storage sites and facilities
- Assisted clients with the documentation and development of wind energy projects in the following U.S. states: Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming
- Assisted an investment fund with the development and implementation of a unique tax advantaged transaction structure for the purchase of wind royalty payments
- Handled unique wind royalty acquisition transactions in the following U.S. states: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington
- Assisted clients with the preparation multiple forms for the acquisition of land rights for wind and solar energy projects
- Represented a publicly traded hotel company with acquisitions in multiple U.S. states
- Assisted with the acquisition of a prestigious hotel in downtown Houston, Texas
- Handled various out-of-state restaurant site acquisitions for a restaurant franchise
- Represented an exchange company client in a multiple party transaction involving the exchange of a hotel for a commodity
- Represented a large real estate developer in all aspects of the development and sale to home builders of residential lots in over 20 single-family residential developments in Texas and Colorado
- Represented a developer in connection with three fast track build-to-suit call centers in three different U.S. states totaling in excess of 500,000 square feet, involving (in a span of 10 months) the site acquisition, financing, construction, leasing, and sale of these sites
- Served as Texas counsel for a seller in connection with the $147 million sale of 198 convenience stores through the use of unique Texas divisive merger statute
- Handled numerous acquisitions, financings, and sales of multifamily properties for multifamily clients in a myriad of U.S. states
- Negotiated a lease for the corporate headquarters relocation for a Dallas-based company, including exclusive building signage rights
- Negotiated and documented venture capital financings for several startup companies
- Negotiated all leasing transactions for the landlord of a Class A+ Las Colinas, Texas office property
- Represented a conduit lender in various real estate loan transactions
- Involved in the negotiation, document preparation, and closing of numerous commercial real estate sales and acquisitions of improved and unimproved properties
- Coordinated the transfer of over 40 properties in connection with the sale of assets of a cable TV company
- Represented a lender client in several complicated off balance sheet lease/loan financing transactions
- Represented numerous landlord and tenant clients in retail, office, industrial, and ground lease transactions
- Prepared and negotiated architects’ agreements and construction contracts in connection with commercial development and construction projects
- Represented lender and borrower clients in permanent financings secured by real property
- Represented a developer in the restructure of multiple retail leases in connection with the revitalization of a shopping center in Forest Park, Ohio involving the sale of a portion of the center to a major retailer for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of a "big box" retail store
- Prepared and negotiated architects’ agreements and construction contracts in connection with commercial development and construction projects
- Represented a hospitality company in connection with more than $100 million in private country club acquisitions in various U.S. states
- Handled the sale of a renowned polo club in Palm Beach, Florida
- Assisted with the purchase of Pinehurst Resort and its eight golf courses in Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Assisted a publicly traded resort company with membership documentation for its various private alpine clubs and country clubs
- Updated membership documents for a private yacht club in Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Counseled the developer of a prestigious Dallas area country club in connection with a club turnover transaction
- Assisted members of a high-end private country club in connection with the purchase of memberships from the club's developer
- Negotiated and documented joint ventures with Mexican nationals for the development of golf courses in Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Represented a client in a $393 million stock purchase transaction resulting in the acquisition of 45 golf courses
- Handled the acquisition and eventual sale of Mahogany Run golf course in St. Thomas, USVI
- Negotiated and documented the lease agreement and investor financings for a private club in Warsaw, Poland
- Responsible for the negotiations, document preparation, and closing of over $90 million in private country club acquisitions in various U.S. states
- Assisted client with design and closing of several unique "partnerships" with member-owned country clubs
- Developed and drafted an extensive library of forms for use in new business transactions, including city club and country club lease forms, a variety of special letter-of-intent forms, a form of purchase and sale agreement, and athletic club management agreement forms
- Provided daily legal advice to company clubs and personnel on a variety of employment, corporate, litigation, and real estate matters
- Responsible for the negotiation and preparation of documents in several joint ventures for country club and real estate acquisitions
- Represented a hospitality company in lease restructures for city clubs in the Philippines and Ecuador
- Represented a hospitality company in a contentious lease workout for a city club in Luxembourg
- Designed and documented the membership offerings for Kinloch Golf Club in Richmond, Virginia, a high-end private equity golf club named "Best New Course in America" for 2001 by Golf Digest
- Represented a large golf course operator in connection with its acquisition, management, and operation of golf courses throughout the United States
Credentials
Education
- Baylor Law School, J.D., cum laude
- Mankato State University, B.S., summa cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Texas
Memberships
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Dallas Bar Association
- Chairman, DOWNTOWNDALLAS, Inc.
- Board Member and Former Chairman, National Club Association
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Real Estate Law, 2012-2024
- Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law, The American Lawyer, 2021
- Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (Real Estate), 2010-2020
- Recognized Attorney, The Legal 500 US by Legalease (Industry Focus: Renewable/Alternative Power), 2021
- Who's Who Legal: Energy by Law Business Research Limited, 2014-2016