Robert D. Bickford Jr.

Partner

Location
New York
Phone number
(212) 808-7638

Bob Bickford focuses his practice on transactions relating to different types of real estate assets throughout the United States, representing both domestic and foreign institutional investors and entrepreneurs. With a particular focus on hospitality assets, Bob has negotiated, documented and closed transactions valued into the billions of dollars over the course of his career. Bob focuses on the financial drivers of the deal and on what each of his clients wants to achieve. Bob’s valuable perspective and veteran experience allow him to consistently deliver constructive and effectual advice to every transaction in which he is involved.

Bob consistently provides the right blend of legal skill and business acumen required to structure, negotiate and close complex and traditional structures for real estate financing and investing. Because Bob has experienced both the pitfalls and opportunities that real estate market fluctuations create, he is able to navigate beyond obstacles and challenges that seem daunting to most. Notably, Bob seeks to understand and incorporate each client’s tolerance level for risk into the deal at hand, while getting to and achieving consensus among transaction participants.

Highlights over the last year include the representation of the sellers of 787 Seventh Avenue ($1.95B); 1285 Avenue of the Americas ($1.65B); and the mortgage lenders to such properties as 1301 Avenue of the Americas ($850MM), 31 W. 52nd Street ($500MM) and 1 Seaport Plaza ($295MM). In addition, Bob also closed the sale of the Key Center complex in Cleveland ($267.5MM) and is representing Nickerson family interests in signing a long-term net lease of the 1100 Avenue of the Americas building to a Brookfield/Swig Organization tenant entity.

Listed among The Best Lawyers in America©, the Irish Legal 100, the International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers and New York Super Lawyers, Bob has been a member of the Kelley Drye’s executive committee from 1992 to 2011 and 2013 to 2018, as well as chaired the firm’s Real Estate practice group from 1992 to 2014.

“After decades of practice, I have experienced many commercial real estate cycles and have developed an eye for understanding the often multidimensional business objectives of my clients, as well as the ability to navigate them through practically every type of transaction imaginable.”

Acquisition Representation

Representing a real estate fund in connection with the acquisition of an office building in Manhattan located just west of Avenue of the Americas (and just east of 7th Avenue).

Representing a publicly traded REIT in connection with the acquisition of an M Street NW office building in Washington, DC, a transaction that involved a purchase price of $421MM.

Representing a private REIT in connection with the acquisition of a trophy office building in San Francisco, a transaction that involved a purchase price of $395.25MM.

Seller Representation

Represent a life insurance company in connection with the sale of its former headquarters office building in Manhattan, a transaction that involved a sales price of $1.95B.

Represent a publicly traded REIT in connection with sale of 2 trophy office building in Chicago, transactions that involved sales prices of $712MM and $412MM, respectively.

Represent a publicly traded REIT in connection with the sale of a trophy office building in Philadelphia, a transaction that involved a sales price of $360MM.

Represent a real estate fund in connection with the sale of Marriott branded hotel in Baltimore, a transaction which involved a sales price of $130MM.

Represent the fee owner of an office building located across from Bryant Park in Manhattan as landlord in connection with a long term ground lease of the land and building.

Represent the developer of several Marriott branded hotels in Manhattan, including the tallest hotel only building in Manhattan, in connection with site acquisition, construction and subsequently permanent mortgage financing, negotiation of the hotel franchise and management agreements.

Represent a real estate fund in connection with sale of a regional shopping mall located in Nassau County, Long Island.

Bob was selected in 2010-2025 for inclusion in the Real Estate Law area as one of The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.). A description of the selection methodology can be found at www​.best​lawyers​.com/​m​e​t​h​o​d​ology.

He was selected for inclusion for 2011-2023 in the Irish Legal 100. A description of the selection methodology can be found at www​.irish​le​gal100​.com/.

He was selected as a Leading Attorney by the International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers in 2016-2017, 2021 and 2023. A description of the selection methodology can be found at whosw​hole​gal​.com/​e​x​p​l​o​r​e​-​o​u​r​-​s​e​r​v​i​c​e​s​/​o​u​r​-​r​e​s​earch .

He was selected for inclusion in the 2008-2013 and 2018-2024 New York Super Lawyers lists, issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found at www​.super​lawyers​.com/​a​b​o​u​t​/​s​e​l​e​c​t​i​o​n​_​p​r​o​c​e​s​s​.html.

No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.