Lippes Mathias LLP partners Paul F. Wells and Thomas J. Fennell have been ranked in the Legal 500 US Elite Rankings for New York Elite in Real Estate. Wells was ranked in Band 2, while Fennell was ranked in Band 3. 

The Legal 500 worldwide rankings showcase the best performing firms around the world in major practice areas, highlighting the most accomplished, consistent and highly regarded performers across the publication's in-depth market coverage. Inclusion is determined by aggregation, analysis and weighting of Legal 500's existing jurisdictional rankings and research data, complemented by insight from Legal 500's senior editorial team. 

About Paul F. Wells 

Paul F. Wells serves as the firm's real estate practice team leader and as a member of the firm's executive committee. Wells joined Lippes Mathias after spending 11 years as regional general counsel of the country's largest privately owned commercial real estate developer. 

With extensive legal experience in commercial real estate development, Wells has represented buyers and sellers of shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, industrial buildings, mixed-use properties, self-storage facilities, and mobile home parks in a variety of complex legal transactions. Wells served as lead counsel on the sale of a $2.2 billion portfolio of 107 shopping centers. 

Wells has substantial experience negotiating franchise, license, and operation agreements with national hotel chains including Hilton, Marriott, Choice, Starwood, and Carlson. 

About Thomas J. Fennell 

Thomas J. Fennell focuses his practice in the area of commercial real estate transactions, providing clients with solution-driven counsel to address their business needs, including sales and acquisitions, financings, project development, contract review, and related real property title matters. Fennell's experience includes representing local, regional, and national developers, including owners of office and industrial parks and properties, shopping centers, and multifamily apartment complexes, in the management and negotiation of their complex strategic transactions. In addition, Fennell contributes to the firm's commercial leasing practice group, representing landlords and tenants of retail shopping centers, restaurants, office and industrial parks and properties, and other mixed-use commercial properties. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 230 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, family offices, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.