Jed W. Sonnenshein

Overview

Jed Sonnenshein represents investors, developers and corporate real estate departments in all aspects of real estate transactions, including land acquisition and development matters.  He has invaluable proficiency in evaluating and mitigating development risk at the earliest stages of large-scale, ground-up projects, and leverages that knowledge in advising clients in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of land and improved commercial real estate throughout Colorado and the United States.

Jed’s experience ranges from counseling developers of build-to-suit projects for Fortune 50 companies to hospitality companies pursuing a footprint in strategic regional markets nationwide.  He has represented two separate national builders in their successful entries into the Colorado market and now counsels them in their subsequent statewide expansion. He also recently represented one of the Rocky Mountain Region’s largest health care systems in all of the real estate components of its merger with an independent southern Colorado health system.

Prior to joining Otten Johnson Jed was a partner in the land use and real estate practice group of an AM Law 200 firm.  He currently serves on the firm’s Recruiting and Compensation Committees.

Experience

Representative experience includes:

• Industrial Developer’s Acquisition of 44 Acres of Freeway Adjacent Land in Adams County, CO for a 3 Building 640,995 SF Spec Project. Responsible for all aspects of transaction including negotiation of a license agreement with local utility providing for a drainage easement in place by prescriptive right and license agreement permitting Seller to remain on property after closing to repurpose 500,000 SF of greenhouse facilities and move out of residences on the property.
• National Homebuilder’s Acquisition of Land for 350-unit Residential Development in Frederick, CO. Identified and developed strategy to deal with the existence of oil and gas pipelines on the property without the benefit of an easement, and to mitigate risks posed by recently discovered environmental contamination.
• Acquisition of 3 Adjacent Parcels with Separate Owners for 40 Acre Logistics and Industrial Complex in Las Vegas, NV. Oversaw all aspects of development of three-building, 750,000-square foot multi-tenant light industrial, warehousing and logistics complex, including negotiation and drafting of multiple purchase agreements, and identification and resolution of myriad title and due diligence issues. Resolved multiple challenges including project’s lack of access to storm sewer facilities, existence of mechanics’ liens on one of the parcels, and CC&R’s that were incompatible with the client’s intended use of the project.
• Negotiation of Lease for Cryptocurrency Startup’s Multi-Floor Headquarters in Downtown Denver Office Building. Lease provided for construction and maintenance of a secure closed access space for air-gapped computers. Renegotiated and drafted the client’s sublease of existing space to a subtenant in another building.
• Disposition and Sale of 22 acres in Jefferson County, CO Business Park to National Multi-Family Developer. Represented Seller in complex sale of an undeveloped parcel within a corporate office park. Transaction involved change and transfer of ownership of Seller entity during sale, and recording five separate amendments to the office park’s covenants, conditions and restrictions to allow for buyer’s ground-up development of 345 unit apartment complex. Amended three different telecom company leases for to allow for relocation of three existing cell towers in order to enlarge building envelope for project and preserve revenue stream to Seller.
• National Bank’s Termination of Ground Lease and Purchase of Fee Interest. Negotiated bank’s termination of ground lease on one of its branches and acquisition of fee-simple interest in the property, as well as negotiated and prepared easement for pneumatic tubes running under the public right-of-way separating the main building from its drive-through ATM.
• Homebuilder’s Acquisition of Nearly 1,000 Single-Family Lots Throughout Colorado. Purchase of all of the Colorado assets of a Utah-based company exiting the Colorado market. Closed 12 complex land acquisitions in 20 months; prepared transactional documents for 15 different subdivisions; and, Determined and documented rights to special district improvement reimbursements.
• Development and Leasing of 3 Ground-Up Industrial Projects. Negotiated and drafted acquisition agreements; resolved title restrictions prohibiting developer’s intended use for projects; and, prepared industrial leases with turnkey buildouts and tenant improvement allowances
• Commercial Leases for Popular Camping Retailer. Negotiated and prepared several leases for all of the company’s North American retail outlet locations. Prepared conventional lease terms, such as detailing operating expense exclusion and special provisions allowing for outdoor sales events utilizing shopping center common area.
• Acquisition of 60 Acres of Land for Marijuana Cultivation Business. Exercised rights awarded in Adams County Marijuana Lot Drawing to apply for one of only 10 building permits for a state-licensed retail marijuana cultivation facility. Advised on complex financing, including non-refundable option payment prior to completing due diligence and leasing property prior to purchase to satisfy state Marijuana Enforcement Division licensing requirement.
• Development of 45-Acre Residential Subdivision in Truckee, CA. Secured all entitlements and approvals; negotiated conservation easement dedicating a portion of the project for public use; and, access easement for adjacent mining operation.

Speaking & Publications

• Quoted in, “A Lot Of Sticker Shock: How Denver Developers Can Navigate Water Access Challenges,” by Emily DeNardo, Bisnow (2025)
• Presenter, Contracting 101, LGI Homes – Colorado, LLC, Denver, Colorado (August 2022)
• Author, An Overview of Due Diligence for Land Development, Colorado Real Estate Journal (December 2020)
• Author, Vesting Offers a Sense of Security in Challenging Times, Colorado Real Estate Journal (June 2020)

Awards & Involvement

• Best Lawyers in America: Real Estate Law (2027)
• Colorado Bar Real Estate and Business Sections
• Colorado bar Association Real Estate Section Council (2017-2019)
• Colorado Housing Counsel (2017-2019)
• California Bar Real Property Section
• Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce, Secretary (former)
• Design and Urban Land Use Preservation Advisory Committee, Silver Lake Neighborhood Counsel (former)
• Jewish Federation of Los Angeles Real Estate Division, Cabinet Member (former)

Jurisdiction

• State of Colorado
• State of California
• State of Utah

Education

• J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law
• B.A., Cornell University

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