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D. Mark Sheets

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-6258

msheets@bassberry.com

https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/sheets-d-mark/

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As past chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Commercial Finance Practice Group for more than nine years, Mark Sheets brings nearly 30 years of experience in structuring, negotiating and documenting commercial real estate transactions. Having developed into a well-rounded “dirt lawyer,” Mark has established a broad background in commercial real estate, with substantial experience in virtually all aspects of acquisition, disposition, financing, sale-leaseback, development, leasing and ground leasing of a wide variety of commercial properties. Mark’s client base extends to a wide variety of commercial real estate developers, owners and users, including private companies, public companies, REITS, individuals and real estate joint ventures and partnerships, in connection with properties not only in Tennessee, but throughout the country.

Mark enjoys a national real estate practice, with specific areas of emphasis including:

Retail Development – Representing clients in connection with the development, construction, acquisition, leasing and disposition of new and existing shopping centers, “big box” department stores, stand-alone retail stores, drug stores, lifestyle centers, restaurants, and additional retail, including mixed-use and single-tenant build-to-suit properties.
Sale-Leaseback – Representing both landlords and tenants in sale-leaseback transactions. In recent years, Mark has closed more than $1 billion of sale-leaseback transactions, mainly involving healthcare and industrial properties.
Residential Development – Representing both buyers and sellers in land acquisition for residential, multi-family and mixed-use development and representing developers in the development of such projects.
Healthcare Real Estate – Representing healthcare companies in the acquisition, development, financing, disposition and sale-leaseback of real estate on behalf of owners and operators of senior housing facilities, hospitals, surgery centers, medical office buildings and other healthcare businesses, often involving multisite and multistate portfolio transactions.
Office & Industrial – Representing clients with the acquisition, disposition or leasing of core properties, including office headquarters, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and data centers; representing landlords in connection with the leasing of retail, office and industrial space to tenants.
Distressed Assets – Advising clients seeking to acquire, finance, restructure or sell distressed assets and/or debt.

Mark has a thorough, yet practical, approach to his practice. To him, no two deals are the same. Because of experience gained in numerous complex transactions, Mark is able to focus on the big picture and the client’s particular preferences and circumstances to develop structures and drive negotiations for each deal in a way that is tailored to the client’s needs and goals.

Memberships

Nashville Bar Association

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)

National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)

American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)

Representative Experience

Bob Evans Farms Sold to Post Holdings

Represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq:BOBE) in its acquisition by Post Holdings, Inc.

We represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) as lead corporate counsel in connection with its acquisition by Post Holdings,...

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Client Type: Public Company
Acquisition of Industrial Site for $600 Million Data Center for Global Tech Company

Represented a global technology company in the acquisition of a 1,300-acre industrial site for development of a $600 million data center

We represented a global technology company in the acquisition of a 1,300-acre industrial site for development of a $600 million...

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Client Type: Public Company
Bob Evans Farms Sells Restaurant Division

Represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) in the sale of Bob Evans Restaurants to Golden Gate Capital for $565 million

We represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) in the sale of Bob Evans Restaurants to Golden Gate Capital for...

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Client Type: Public Company
$32 Million Acquisition and Financing of Office Building Complex for Commercial Real Estate Investor

Represented a commercial real estate investor in connection with the $32 million acquisition and financing of a three-building office complex in Tampa

We represented a commercial real estate investor in connection with the $32 million acquisition and financing of a three-building office...

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Client Type: Private Company
Redevelopment of Twickenham Square in Huntsville, AL

Represented a developer as joint venture partner/retail developer for Twickenham Square, an urban infill redevelopment of a former public housing site in Huntsville, Alabama

We represented a developer as joint venture partner/retail developer for Twickenham Square, an urban infill redevelopment of a former public...

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Client Type: Private Company
Sale-Leaseback of Industrial Properties for Bob Evans

Represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. in a $52 million sale-leaseback transaction of industrial properties located in Texas and Ohio

We represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. in a $52 million sale-leaseback transaction of industrial properties located in Texas and Ohio....

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Client Type: Public Company
$125 Million Purchase of Corporate Campus

Represented a real estate investment company in connection with the assemblage, due diligence review and negotiation of documents, leading to a $125 million purchase of the Lifeway corporate campus in downtown Nashville

We represented a real estate investment company in connection with the assemblage, due diligence review and negotiation of documents, leading...

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Client Type: Private Company
Purchase of Land for Mixed Use Development

Represented real estate developer in the purchase of a 22-acre parcel in Nolensville, Tennessee and the simultaneous sale of a portion of the property to a local home builder

We represented real estate developer in the purchase of a 22-acre parcel in Nolensville, Tennessee and the simultaneous sale of...

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Client Type: Private Company
Retail Shopping Center Redevelopment

Represented a Kentucky developer/investor in the redevelopment of Mercury Plaza Shopping Center, near Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

We represented a Kentucky developer/investor in the redevelopment of Mercury Plaza Shopping Center, near Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro,...

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Client Type: Private Company
Investment and Development of the Gulch Crossing Office Building

Represented real estate investment and development firm MarketStreet Enterprises in the leasing and opening of the Gulch Crossing office building in downtown Nashville

We represented real estate investment and development firm MarketStreet Enterprises in the leasing and opening of the Gulch Crossing 205,000-square-foot,...

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Client Type: Private Company

Publications

Mike Gibson and Mark Sheets Author Article on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

November 14, 2016
Mark Sheets and Richard Spore Discuss Due Diligence for the Distress Deal for Lexology

April 19, 2013

Past Events

Nashville Next Generation

April 26, 2017 | Nashville, Tennessee
Practical Tips for Dealing with the Retailer's Form Lease

October 16-19, 2013 | San Diego, California

Media Mentions & Firm News

Mid-South Super Lawyers Lists 60 Bass, Berry & Sims Attorneys in 2019

November 5, 2019
84 Attorneys from Bass, Berry & Sims Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

August 15, 2019
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes 45 Firm Attorneys; Healthcare Practice Ranked Nationally for Fourth Straight Year

April 25, 2019

Accolades

Chambers USA — Real Estate (2005-2019)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2008-2019)

Nashville Business Journal “Power Leaders of Commercial Real Estate” (2016)

Nashville Business Journal “Heavy Hitters” in Commercial Real Estate

Nashville Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2011-2012)

Omicron Delta Kappa

Kentucky Law Journal — Notes Editor (1989-1990)

Education

University of Kentucky College of Law - J.D., 1990
Centre College - B.S., 1987

Admissions

Tennessee, 1990

Chambers USA

"Mark Sheets is described by clients as 'very thorough and knowledgeable on the transactional side.' He is held in high regard for his broad expertise and is adept at handling land and building transactions for private and public companies, investors and developers."

From Chambers USA 2019