Introduction
Ian O’Banion is a partner and a member of Nixon Peabody’s Real Estate, Finance and Community Development practice team. He represents developers, investors, lenders and property owners in a variety of commercial transactions including real estate and general corporate matters.
Ian is a licensed architect and member of the American Institute of Architects.
My focus
Real Estate Development
Drawing on my experience as an architect in California, I advise clients with respect to real estate development matters from the purchase of raw land to the formation of design and construction agreements. I am also part of the firm’s land use and zoning team that thinks strategically about the challenges in California presented by climate change, as well as our clients’ related opportunities for financing, sustainability measures and resource conservation in order to stay ahead of the challenges and to build smarter more resilient communities.
Real Estate Finance and Workouts
I represent lenders, loan services, and borrowers in complex real estate finance matters from loan originations to modifications, workouts and foreclosures. My commercial real estate finance work involves a range of asset classes including office, hospitality, multi-family residential, agricultural, industrial and retail. I assist clients with a variety of real estate finance transactions, such as loans for the acquisition of real property, mezzanine loans, bridge loans, construction loans, securitized loans, and defeasances.
Real Estate Acquisitions, Dispositions, Sale-Leasebacks, and Leasing
I assist clients with acquisitions and dispositions of all types of commercial real estate from office buildings to vineyards, including sale-leaseback transactions. Additionally, I counsel both landlords and tenants regarding commercial real estate leases, ground leases, and lease modifications.
Corporate Transactions
I assist companies with entity formation issues as well as corporate transactions such as mergers and asset acquisitions involving real property. Additionally, I advise companies regarding corporate governance, financing, and general business services.
Looking ahead
The current market holds many opportunities for strategic real estate investors, developers, and lenders. Repurposing existing buildings and assets for new and creative uses is just one of the successful models we’re pursuing with clients.
/Insights
- “Weeding through the restrictions: Commercial real estate in the cannabis industry,” TerraLex Talks Cannabis: Key Trends and Opportunities to Capitalize on the Cannabis Market, Webinar, April 20, 2022
- “Bay Area Real Estate in a Hybrid World—2022 and Beyond,” Nixon Peabody and the Association of Asian American Bankers, Webinar, November 16, 2021
- “Commercial Real Estate Financing: Loan Document Negotiation,” Practising Law Institute™, Webinar, October 8, 2021
- “PLI's Restructuring Commercial Real Estate Leases Program,” Practising Law Institute™, Webinar, January 2021
- “Real Estate Workouts and Turnarounds,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, San Francisco, January 2020
- “Avoiding Missteps When Buying and Selling Commercial Real Estate,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, San Francisco, January 2019
- “Real estate and technology: How autonomous vehicles, drones, virtual reality and other emerging technology is shaping real estate construction and development,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, San Francisco, January 2017
In the news
- Law360
Law360 names attorneys who moved up the firm ranks in Q1
May 17, 2023This article featuring partner-level promotions in the first quarter of 2023 mentions Chicago Project Finance & Public Finance partner Julie Seymour’s appointment to NP’s Management Committee. The article also highlights members of the 2023 new partner class: Boston Intellectual Property partner Ravi Braich; Long Island Healthcare partner Jason Chimon; Washington, DC Community Development Finance partner Emily McKinney; New York City Complex Disputes partner Alper Tosun; and Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Julia Casteleiro, Ari Glatt, and Kathie Soroka of New York and Ian O’Banion from San Francisco.
- Mergers & Acquisitions
S&P Global Mobility purchases Market Scan
March 10, 2023This article covering S&P Global Mobility’s purchase of automotive pricing and incentive intelligence company Market Scan, mentions NP for advising Market Scan in the sale. The NP deal team was led by San Francisco Corporate partner Lior Zorea, leader of the firm’s West Coast Emerging Companies and Venture Capital team. The team also included Corporate partners Christian Hancey of Rochester and Shahzad Malik of Los Angeles; San Francisco Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Ian O’Banion and Alison Torbitt; Corporate counsels Michael Fitzpatrick of Boston and Matthew Goedert of San Francisco; Washington, DC Complex Disputes counsel Brian Whittaker; Rochester Cybersecurity & Privacy counsel Jenny Holmes; Corporate associates Robert Pethick of Boston and Brian Kenney of Washington, DC; and Washington, DC Construction & Real Estate Litigation associate Martha Medina.
- Press Release
Nixon Peabody advises Galway Sustainable Capital in strategic sustainable agriculture investment
Nixon Peabody LLP is proud to have recently represented Galway Sustainable Capital in its strategic investment in Yield Resource Management Group (Yield RMG), a privately held developer and manager of sustainable agriculture, water and energy products. Read the press release.Feb 17, 2023 - Affordable Housing Finance
People on the move
Feb 14, 2023This article highlighting recent personnel moves from around the affordable housing sector includes the promotions of Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Julia Casteleiro and Kathie Soroka of New York City and Ian O’Banion of San Francisco, and Community Development Finance partner Emily McKinney of Washington, DC.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody promotes eight attorneys to partner
Feb 2, 2023This article spotlights the 2023 new partner class, which includes Long Island Healthcare partner Jason Chimon; Boston Intellectual Property partner Ravi Braich; New York City Complex Disputes partner Alper Tosun; Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Julia Casteleiro, Ari Glatt, and Kathie Soroka of New York and Ian O’Banion from San Francisco; and Washington, DC Community Development Finance partner Emily McKinney. The article also quotes CEO and Managing Partner Steve Zubiago.
- Modern Restaurant Management
MRM research roundup: Mid-August 2021 edition
This state-of-the-restaurant-industry and outlook article includes NP’s Q3 Food & Beverage Crystal Ball, covering trends around labor shortages, ransomware attacks, wildfires, and brewery distribution agreements. The insights were provided by Intellectual Property co-leader and Cybersecurity & Privacy team leader Jason Kravitz and Corporate associate Anthony Bova, both in Boston; Providence Labor & Employment counsel Jessica Schachter Jewell; and San Francisco counsel Ian T. O’Banion, and Albany associate Dana P. Stanton, both of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate groupAug 16, 2021 - Modern Restaurant Management
MRM Research Roundup: End-of-October 2020 Edition
This roundup of current industry issues to watch highlights several thought leadership pieces from NP’s recently published fourth-quarter Food & Beverage Crystal Ball. The publication summarizes trends provided by San Francisco partner Alison Torbitt and counsel Ian O’Banion, both of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Group; Rochester Corporate associate Isaac Figueras; and San Francisco Labor & Employment associates Rachel Conn and Maritza Martin.Nov 2, 2020 - Globe St.
New considerations when buying and selling San Francisco apartment buildings
Nov 4, 2019San Francisco Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Ian O’Banion wrote this contributed article outlining new legislation affecting the sale of real estate in San Francisco, including a statewide rent control law and a local measure granting certain nonprofits the first opportunity to purchase buildings or land that go up for sale.
- Law360
4 New considerations in California real estate law
San Francisco Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Ian O’Banion wrote this contributed article outlining four significant changes in California real estate law and how they will impact commercial landlords, tenants and developers.March 14, 2019 - Law360
Drought in Calif. is Changing the Real Estate Landscape
San Francisco Real Estate associate Ian O’Banion and San Francisco Energy & Environmental associate Alison Torbitt authored this column discussing how California’s historic drought conditions are impacting the real estate industry.July 23, 2015
Admitted to practice
California
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude (Business Law Certificate; CALI award recipient for excellence in Real Estate Transactions, Corporations, California Construction Law, Legal Research & Writing and Federal Income Taxation; McAuliffe Honor Society)
University of Oregon, B.Arch., summa cum laude
Professional activities
- Architect and Member, American Institute of Architects
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2025 in the field of Real Estate Law; listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2022
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllChristopher R. Froeb
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Real Estate & Affordable Housing- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1137
- cfroeb@nixonpeabody.com
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David B. Allswang
Partner / Head of National Leasing Team- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.9242
- dallswang@nixonpeabody.com
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