Robert L. Garbrecht

In addition to serving as leader of the firm's Real Estate Group, Rob Garbrecht is a commercial transactions attorney who principally practices in the areas of business acquisitions, finance, real estate, technology and state and local taxation law. He has substantial experience in structuring and negotiating business acquisitions and strategic business relationships, including public-private partnerships (PPPs) as well as in entity organization and governance matters. Rob’s real estate practice focuses on the acquisition, development, leasing and financing of real property.

His achievements have earned him inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate law) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers (real estate, business/corporate, mergers & acquisitions). He was also selected for inclusion in the 2007 (61st) edition of Marquis Who's Who in America.

A certified public accountant since 1987, Rob also represents clients in all aspects of state and local taxation matters, especially ad valorem taxation matters. Prior to entering law school, Rob practiced in the tax department of an international accounting firm.

Rob is an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and has been an author and lecturer on a variety of business matters at seminars conducted by civic and professional organizations.

• Representation of buyers and sellers in all aspects of business acquisitions in a variety of business industries, including lumber and building materials, construction, professional services, energy, communications, food service and manufacturing.  His representation typically involves negotiating the structure of the acquisition, including consideration of tax and non-tax issues in determining whether the acquisition will be an asset or stock (or equity) acquisition, letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, due diligence activities, financing, regulatory and other third-party approvals and closing of the transactions.
• Representation of management in a management-led buyout of a large architecture, engineering and construction company, including raising of private equity funds, bank financing, and other matters concerning the structuring of the transaction and eventual sale of such company to a publicly-held purchaser.
• Representation of a large privately held lumber and building materials business in all aspects of its operations, with an emphasis on its acquisitions, including representation of this entity as a stalking horse or competing bidder in Section 363 bankruptcy sales.
• Representation of a food industry company in the acquisition of all assets associated with two large food processing plants.
• Representation of a public university in a public-private partnership (PPP) to implement a long-term operations and management arrangement covering the university's utilities systems.
• Representation of an engineering, design and procurement company (EPC) in a unique transaction involving the financing and provision of EPC services related to a geothermal power plant.
• Representation of joint venture participant in military housing privatization projects throughout the nation.
• Representation of publicly held company in its acquisition of a multi-state sleep disorder business.
• Representation of clients in acquisitions of unimproved and improved real property, including title, survey and other due diligence activities.  Rob has represented purchasers of downtown Oklahoma City and Tulsa buildings and a developer of a resort on an Oklahoma lake.
• Representation of landlords and tenants in all aspects of commercial leasing transactions, including ground leases, single-occupant leases, and multi-tenant office, retail or shopping center, and industrial leases.  Rob has recently been involved in one of the largest downtown office building leasing transactions as counsel to the tenant.
• Representation of tenants of hangars and fuel facilities with local airport trusts.
• Representation of lenders and borrowers in commercial real estate financing transactions. 
• Representation of a significant operator of convenience stores in a variety of different real estate transactions and a charitable healthcare provider in its medical office building leasing activities.
• Representation of numerous clients in ad valorem tax matters, including, specifically, charitable healthcare providers in securing ad valorem tax exemptions.  One such case, In re Assessment of Real Property of Integris Realty Corp., was decided by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2002, and Rob acted as lead counsel in the case from the development of the initial exemption concept through the Oklahoma Supreme Court decision.  Rob has also been involved in various legislative actions concerning ad valorem exemption statutes.