Global law firm Mayer Brown has significantly expanded its San Francisco presence by hiring a prominent three-partner real estate and hospitality legal team. Teresa Goebel, Benjamin Tschann, and Dustin Calkins have joined the firm from Goodwin Procter LLP, a move designed to enhance Mayer Brown's capabilities in a recovering market.
The addition of this team establishes a major force in Northern California's competitive legal landscape, particularly in the hospitality sector. Goebel and Tschann will step into leadership roles as co-heads of the firm's global Hospitality & Leisure practice group.
Key Takeaways
- Three leading real estate lawyers—Teresa Goebel, Benjamin Tschann, and Dustin Calkins—have moved from Goodwin Procter to Mayer Brown in San Francisco.
- Goebel and Tschann will co-lead Mayer Brown's global Hospitality & Leisure practice.
- The move is a strategic investment in the San Francisco market, aiming to capitalize on its economic recovery and the growth of the AI industry.
- The team brings extensive experience in complex transactions, including large-scale development, joint ventures, and portfolio deals across hospitality, industrial, and residential sectors.
A Strategic Move in a Shifting Market
Mayer Brown's recruitment of the high-profile legal trio is a calculated investment in the Bay Area's future. The firm is positioning itself to serve a growing demand for sophisticated real estate counsel as San Francisco navigates an economic rebound, partially fueled by the rapid expansion of the artificial intelligence sector.
By integrating this team, Mayer Brown aims to create one of the most comprehensive real estate practices in Northern California. The new group will offer deep expertise in large-scale development projects, equity joint ventures, and complex investment platforms.
"Real estate investors are navigating a market that demands sector specialization, capital stack fluency, and highly commercial execution," said Brian Aronson, co-lead of Mayer Brown’s Real Estate practice. "Teresa, Ben, and Dustin bring precisely that mix."
Aronson noted that the team's proven success in hospitality, joint ventures, and portfolio transactions will provide immediate benefits to the firm's clients across various economic cycles and investment strategies.
Meet the New Partners
The three new partners bring distinct yet complementary skill sets that cover a wide spectrum of the real estate and hospitality industries. Their collective experience provides a full-service offering for institutional investors, developers, and operators.
Deep Sector Expertise
The team's combined knowledge spans numerous asset classes, from luxury hotels and resorts to industrial warehouses, multifamily housing, and sports facilities. This broad expertise allows them to advise on nearly every type of commercial real estate transaction.
Teresa Goebel: A Hospitality Leader
Teresa Goebel is a recognized figure in the hospitality legal community. Her practice focuses on the entire lifecycle of hotel and mixed-use properties, including their acquisition, development, financing, management, and sale on a global scale.
She has extensive experience structuring and negotiating hotel management agreements and the associated equity and debt investments. Goebel regularly advises some of the world's largest hotel companies and institutional investors, bringing a nuanced understanding of complex, dispute-sensitive transactions.
Benjamin Tschann: Operating-Business Specialist
Benjamin Tschann's practice centers on hospitality and other operating businesses. His work extends beyond traditional hotels and resorts to include athletic facilities, senior and student housing, and serviced residential properties.
He counsels a diverse client base—including institutional investors, REITs, and family offices—on a wide range of transactions. His expertise covers everything from acquisitions and joint ventures to debt financings and restructurings, both in the United States and internationally.
Dustin Calkins: The Transactional Expert
Dustin Calkins advises public and private real estate investors, developers, and sponsors. His practice is heavily focused on the mechanics of major deals, such as joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, and complex financing arrangements.
He has guided clients through significant transactions across all major property types, including industrial, multifamily, office, and retail. His experience includes programmatic joint ventures, billion-dollar portfolio sales, and large-scale mixed-use development projects.
A Broad Transactional Footprint
Dustin Calkins has managed a wide array of complex real estate deals, including:
- Programmatic joint ventures and recapitalizations
- Billion-dollar portfolio transactions
- CMBS (Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities) financings
- Private REIT conversions
- Large-scale mixed-use developments
Positioning for Future Growth
The team's arrival is seen as a pivotal moment for Mayer Brown's West Coast operations. The firm is signaling strong confidence in the Bay Area's long-term economic prospects.
"We’re excited to join Mayer Brown’s integrated real estate platform," said Teresa Goebel. "San Francisco is a compelling growth market, and the timing is right."
She added that the move allows her team to combine their specialized experience with Mayer Brown's global reach and collaborative culture, providing comprehensive support for clients' most complex real estate strategies.
Ward Johnson, the managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Northern California offices, echoed this sentiment. "Their arrival underscores our continued investment in the Bay Area and enhances our market-leading real estate platform with particular strength in hospitality and operating-business real estate," he stated.
This strategic hire not only strengthens the firm's transactional capabilities but also solidifies its position as a go-to legal advisor for the multifaceted real estate and leisure industries, both locally and globally.
