Geoff focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing, with a particular emphasis on office, laboratory, industrial, medical office building, and retail leasing. Additionally, he represents clients involved in real estate developments and guides them through all steps and issues they may encounter, including issues related to zoning and permitting. He is a trusted advisor to his clients, including property owners, developers, retailers, landlords and tenants operating regionally and nationally. He has extensive experience with transactions of all sizes and complexities, including sophisticated transactions across the country.
Before rejoining Mintz, he was a real estate attorney in the Boston office of another law firm, where he represented clients in real estate acquisition, leasing, and financing transactions as well as matters related to real estate development, zoning, and permitting. Geoff was also previously associated with Mintz’s Real Estate Practice as part of the team that represents a national retail chain in the acquisition, ground leasing, development, sale, and leaseback of hundreds of properties.
Experience
Leasing
- Currently represents a multibillion-dollar REIT in connection with a nationwide leasing program for office and industrial properties including drafting and negotiating master lease forms for industrial, office and retail spaces.
- Currently manages a multistate leasing program for a national real estate investment fund and their numerous US properties, including six office parks in Texas, nine office parks in California, five office parks in Massachusetts and a large office portfolio in Pennsylvania.
- Currently manages a multistate leasing program for a national REIT in connection with its portfolio of over 100 medical office buildings (MOB).
- Represents a regional developer in leasing transactions with retail and restaurant tenants related to a ground-up mixed-use development.
- Represents shopping center owners and developers in leasing matters.
- Represented landlords and tenants in connection with restaurant leases and fitness club leases.
- Represented gourmet foods company in connection with leases of office and manufacturing facilities.
- Represented private and publicly traded companies in connection with significant tenant side office, R&D, laboratory, warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing leases, ground leases, and build to suit leases all across the country totaling millions of square feet.
Acquisitions/Dispositions
- Represented a publicly-traded REIT in connection with its acquisition of single-tenant industrial properties in multiple states.
- Represented a real estate investment and management company in connection with the development and leasing of a large ground-up retail shopping center.
- Represented an owner of several office buildings in the Boston area in acquisitions, dispositions, and financings as well as office space leasing to corporate and biotech tenants.
- Represented a national supermarket chain in the acquisition, development, and financing of commercial and multi-use properties.
- Represented a regional developer in leasing transactions with retail and restaurant tenants related to a ground-up development.
- Represented Signify (f/k/a Philips Lighting) in connection with numerous sales of industrial and manufacturing facilities in multiple states.
- Regularly manages real property aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies and investors across multiple industries.
- Regularly represents healthcare industry investors in connection with owned and leased real property assets in connection with corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Financing
- Represented publicly traded REIT in connection with financing and refinancing transactions involving hundreds of properties across the country.
- Represented medical device company in connection with construction financing for a headquarters building project.
viewpoints
Nurturing a Community-Based Approach to Food Access
January 18, 2022 | Article
Commercial Leases in the Age of COVID-19 Part II - A Menu of Options for Landlords and Tenants
April 8, 2020 | Blog | By Geoffrey Smith
Commercial Leases in the Age of COVID-19 - A Menu of Options for Landlords and Tenants
April 7, 2020 | Blog | By Geoffrey Smith
The Rise of Shared Work Spaces: Tips for the Unwary
December 7, 2016 | Blog | By Jennifer Sacco Smith, Geoffrey Smith
News & Press
Mintz represented the US Department of Energy (DoE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) in the closing of a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to Hanwha Q Cells Georgia, Inc. (QCells), a leading North American crystalline silicon solar manufacturer.
Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.
Mintz and ML Strategies Receive Environmental Business Council Award For Outstanding Collaboration
June 08, 2023
BOSTON - Mintz and ML Strategies were recognized with the prestigious Nicholas Humber Award for Outstanding Collaboration by the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) at the 30th Annual EBEE Awards in Boston.
BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
Mintz Announces Nine Newly Elevated Members
December 17, 2020
The Rise of Shared Work Spaces: Tips For The Unwary
December 14, 2016
Eighty-Four Mintz Attorneys Named 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2016
Gov. Patrick's Housing Initiative Deserves Praise
December 7, 2012
Commercial Landlords Seek Share of Tenants' Online Sales
November 4, 2012
What Every Developer Should Know About Affordable Housing
March 26, 2012
Commercial Lease Pitfalls Can Snare Local Lenders
February 7, 2012
Events & Speaking
Recognition & Awards
Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Real Estate (2021 - 2024)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Rising Star (2012 – 2016)
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Boston's Future Leaders Program (2018)
Involvement
- Co-Chair, Boston Bar Association Leasing Subcommittee (2015-2017)
- Member, Boston Bar Association Real Estate Steering Committee (2015-2017)
- Member, NAIOP Massachusetts, Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
- Member, Real Estate Bar Association