Senior living clients have trusted Tonkon Torp to provide sophisticated business counsel since 2008. During that time we have helped clients close well over $1 billion in transactions in almost every state in the nation.
Our industry expertise spans a wide range of legal issues including real estate, secured financing, land use, corporate, employment and intellectual property.
Tonkon Torp represents owners, operators, managers, developers, and investors in the national senior living (aka seniors housing) market.
From independent and assisted living facilities to skilled nursing and continuing care communities, we guide our clients through the full breadth of real estate, development, and business matters.
Our senior living clients appreciate our long history of representing borrowers in financing transactions, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans for both local owner/operators and national firms.
We also have significant experience advising clients who are active in the senior living industry with respect to their corporate, LLC, and joint venture needs.
Additional services we provide to senior living clients include:
- Acquisitions and sales
- Joint ventures and corporate finance
- Bakruptcy and restructuring
- Development and construction
- Real estate and land use
- Labor and employment
- Licensing and permitting
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Case Studies
Tonkon Torp Secures Complete Victory – and Wins Attorneys’ Fees – in Employment Litigation Matter for Sunshine Retirement Living
In a very rare decision by a federal court, Tonkon Torp partner Haley Morrison won attorneys’ fees for the defense in a case alleging state and federal discrimination and retaliation claims. Morrison, along with local counsel from Troutman Pepper’s Atlanta office, defended Sunshine Retirement Living in the case brought by a former employee, before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Representative Matters
Ongoing Representation of National Senior Living Business
Since 2008, we have handled at least hundreds of transactions for owners and operators of independent living and assisted living seniors housing facilities throughout the U.S. Our work has included purchases and sales of operating facilities, formation and structuring of joint ventures, real estate acquisitions, development, and financing transactions, including purchases of raw land, due diligence, title review, closings, construction loans, interim loans, take-out loans, permanent loans, and portfolio loans. Lenders involved have included US Bank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Northwestern Mutual Life, PNC, Bank of New England, Prudential, BOKF dba Bank of Texas, Bank of the West, Mutual of Omaha Bank, and Synovus Bank. Loans involved included Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and our assistance has additionally included mortgage pool and defeasance transactions.
Complex Senior Housing Construction Loan Facilitation
Represented client borrower in the negotiation and closing of a construction loan for a retirement residence in Washington state. Our work included a loan agreement, related security documents, and the negotiation of ancillary development agreements among the borrower and its development and architectural contractors. On the intended day of closing, it was discovered that a subcontractor had prematurely commenced site work, jeopardizing the bank’s priority. We were able to work with the client, title, and bank to negotiate subordination agreements for the subcontractor and general contractor, and closing proceeded only one day later than planned.
Complex Property Purchase for Senior Living Development
We represented a senior living client in the purchase of property in Northern California for development of an independent living facility. This transaction involved the negotiation of amendments and modifications to multiple recorded development agreements restricting the property. The transaction additionally included negotiation of a new reciprocal easement and covenant providing for harmonious development of seller’s remaining parcel as an assisted living facility adjacent to our client’s proposed independent living facility. In connection with the reciprocal easement and covenant, we negotiated a side letter to allow the transaction to close despite having final exhibits, which were finalized and recorded the following month.
Sale of Senior Living Businesses & Property with Added COVID-Related Negotiations
Represented two affiliated senior living facilities in the sale of the businesses and underlying real property. This sale involved a payoff of a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan and coordination with the buyer for a replacement HUD loan at closing. In light of reduced occupancy amidst COVID-19, Tonkon Torp assisted the parties in negotiating a purchase price holdback to be released to either buyers or seller over the course of a year based on post-closing occupancy rates.
Complex Senior Living Transaction
Represented client in transaction to manage and potentially, in the future, acquire existing senior living facilities. The transaction involved complex issues of state licensing and regulatory oversight of facilities that receive state financial assistance.
Trademark Dispute Resolution
Represented a national provider of senior living and assisted living facilities in the resolution of a trademark dispute concerning the unique name of a local senior living facility.
Senior Housing Facility Acquisition
Negotiated and closed $14.2 million acquisition and acquisition loan for a national owner and operator of senior housing facilities. The client sought to purchase an existing facility that had been developed and built by an inexperienced operator in Louisiana. The seller's loan was in default and the property was at risk to go into foreclosure, making it essential that the deal be completed with speed and efficiency.
Native American Senior Living Facility
Represented Oregon tribe in the negotiation of a long-term ground lease of tribe property for operation of senior living facility serving tribal members.
Jerry Erwin Associates, Inc. v. Brousseau, et al.
(USDC, D. Tex.) – Represented Jerry Erwin and Associates, Inc. against eight defendants who were using the client’s copyrighted architectural plans to develop senior living facilities. The case was settled favorably for all parties with an ongoing business relationship between the client and defendants.
In re Stayton SW Assisted Living, L.L.C. (the Consolidated Sunwest Related Entities)
(Bankr. D. Or.) – Tonkon represented debtor, Stayton SW Assisted Living, L.L.C., and over 700 substantially consolidated affiliates, in a Chapter 11 proceeding that resulted in a confirmed Plan of Reorganization. The biggest and most complex bankruptcy case ever filed in Oregon, the consolidation, restructuring and $1.2 billion sale involving over 700 of Sunwest entities demanded legal expertise in bankruptcy, securities, tax, real estate, corporate governance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulated industries and commercial transactions. Al Kennedy and Tim Conway worked with a team of Tonkon lawyers and paralegals who developed and executed a complex resolution that restructured obligations owing to over 90 secured lenders, sold 146 senior living facilities (including approximately 1,200 tenant-in-common interests held by investors), and resulted in distributions to creditors and investors exceeding 100% of their claims.
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We encourage you to contact us if you have further questions about our firm or our experience. For your protection, we cannot represent you until we know that doing so will not create a conflict of interest. Accordingly, please do not send us any confidential or secret information about any matter that may involve you until you receive a written statement from us that we represent you (an engagement letter).
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