Chris Barker, a partner in and former chair of Goodwin Procter's Real Estate, REITs & Real Estate Capital Markets Group, has particular expertise in representing tax-exempt entities in structuring and implementing debt and equity investments in real estate and in real estate operating companies. He also does a significant amount of work in the hospitality industry. Mr. Barker's practice involves representing institutional investors, public and private real estate operating companies and lenders in a wide range of real estate activities

Work for Clients

Mr. Barker has represented a number of prominent public REITs in portfolio acquisitions, joint ventures, merger and acquisition transactions and other strategic transactions. His representative clients include Charlesbank Capital Partners, AEW Capital Management, Equity Office Properties, Beacon Capital Partners, La Quinta Hotels, HEI Hospitality, Wyndham Hotels, Leggat McCall Properties and Cabot Properties.

Mr. Barker took a leave from the firm in 1990 and 1991 to work for Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, an international law firm based in Tokyo, and Japan's largest law firm. His work there included counseling Japanese lenders and investors in connection with their real estate transactions in the United States and in other countries. He continues his work for Japanese clients, primarily in connection with hotel and resort properties.

Professional Activities

Mr. Barker is co-chair of the REIT Subcommittee of the Real Property Section of the American Bar Association. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the leading real estate lawyers in Massachusetts.

Publications/Presentations

Mr. Barker has lectured and written on real estate finance subjects for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education and has been a panelist at a number of real estate capital markets symposiums.

Professional Experience

Prior to law school, Mr. Barker worked for five years as a project manager for a large industrial engineering and construction firm on projects in various regions of the United States.

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Barker is admitted to practice in Massachusetts.

Education

J.D., Harvard Law School, 1985
B.A., Brown University, 1982 (magna cum laude)