Brian Crist is a partner at Ice Miller and concentrates his practice in business, real estate, environmental, public/private partnership and privatization law. He represents and counsels clients on all aspects of the acquisition, disposition, redevelopment, leasing and financing of commercial real estate assets across the country.
Brian has provided counsel to an international real estate development company on numerous transactions related to its Shari'ah compliant real estate investment funds, including serving as lead counsel with respect to a $100 million acquisition of leasehold interests in two office parks in Boca Raton, Florida in a multi-tiered ground lease structure owned by several municipal entities.
Brian has also represented publicly-traded real estate investments trusts and privately held developers over a sustained period of time with respect to the development, acquisition, sale and financing of single property and portfolio transactions throughout the country.
Brian also has provided counsel with respect to properties with environmental problems commonly called "brownfield redevelopment projects." Recently, he assisted a significant Indianapolis employer in the purchase of a tax delinquent property with environmental problems for the construction of a 150,000 square foot manufacturing facility in an economically challenged neighborhood. Brian's role as primary counsel included the negotiation of an economic development incentive package and the coordination of demolition and remediation activities to meet the client's tight construction deadlines for the completion of the manufacturing facility.
His legal practice includes extensive experience in advising clients with respect to public/private partnerships and public infrastructure transactions. Brian negotiated real estate and financing issues on behalf of the State of Indiana for its $3.8 billion lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a private concessionaire, $2.3 billion bi-state development agreement with the State of Kentucky for the construction, development and project based financing of the Ohio River Bridges Project and $325 million I-69 Section 5 Project. He also negotiated and closed on the acquisition of state owned right of way for the redevelopment of a condemned bridge as a private toll bridge on behalf of a private investment fund. In Citizens Energy Group's $2 billion acquisition of the City of Indianapolis' sewer and water system and $88 million acquisition of the City of Westfield's sewer and water system, Brian provided advice with respect to real estate, financing, environmental and risk mitigation issues.
Prior to joining Ice Miller, Brian practiced civil litigation for several years. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School, he joined the Marion County Prosecutor's Office as a deputy prosecutor where he practiced in both municipal and major felony courts and tried hundreds of cases, including homicides and other Class A felonies. Crist is a second generation Eagle Scout.
Firm Publications
News
Published In
- Survey of Recent Reported Cases in Real Property Law, Indiana Law Review, Volume 49 (2016)
- Survey of Recent Reported Cases in Real Property Law, Indiana Law Review, Volume 48 (2015)
Speaking Engagements
- Special Lease Situations: Build-to-Suit Leases and Sale-Leasebacks, 2018 CLE Webinar sponsored by the American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law and The American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Lorman Advanced Real Estate Seminars, 2006-Present
- Dirt, Sticks and Bricks – How to Buy It, Sell It, Lease It and Finance It
- Overview of Trends in Multi Family Development, Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute —Indiana Chapter, 2015
- Case Law and Statutory Update, ICLEF Advanced Issues in Real Estate Seminar, 2014
- State of Industrial Summit,Real Estate People, 2014
- Real Estate Law Update, 2014 Indiana Law Survey, 2014
- State of Multifamily, Real Estate People, 2014
- Retail Finance Roundtable Discussion, International Council of Shopping Centers, 2013
- Arming Yourself With Knowledge to Close Deals in Tough Times, Commercial Real EstateBroker Continuing Education Program, 2012
- Real Estate Finance - In the Eye of the Hurricane, Indiana University Kelley School of Business Annual Dinner for the Benecki Center for Real Estate Studies, 2011
- What Is An Agent and Why Do I Care? Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS Annual Conference, 2011
- FASB Proposed Lease Accounting Changes, Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS, 2011
- Real Estate Finance - What a Broker Needs to Know, Commercial Real Estate Broker Continuing Education Program, 2010
- Real Estate Finance - Sailing in Heavy Seas, Katz Sapper & Miller Supper Seminar, 2010
- Retail Roundtable Panelist, International Council of Shopping Centers, 2010
- Roundtable Panelist, Urban Land Institute, 2010
- Advanced Real Estate Finance, Lorman CLE Seminar, 2008
- Real Estate Finance, Lorman CLE Seminar, 2007
- Rails to Trails - Practical and Legal Issues, Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Annual Meeting, 2005
Teaching Activities
- Real Estate Finance Seminar, Indiana University Kelley School of Business - MBA Seminar, 2012
- Real Estate Finance Seminar, Indiana University Kelley School of Business - Honors Undergraduate Seminar, 2012