A top-ranked real estate lawyer by Chambers USA, Dave is described by clients as "an exceptional mind when it comes to crafting very complex public-private partnerships."
Overview
Dave represents developers, property owners, tenants and end-user companies in large, complex real estate development projects that involve development incentives such as tax increment financing and tax abatement. He has played a key role in marquee development, renovation and redevelopment projects in both Kansas and Missouri. As outside real estate counsel to the Kansas City Royals, Dave has represented the team in negotiating its stadium leases and real estate activities.
Recognized for his creative and solution-minded approach, Dave counsels developers and businesses in public/private partnerships and other real estate-based economic development efforts. He has advised a large number of companies in successful headquarters relocations. In multiple projects, he has been involved in structuring complex financing and incentives using sources as varied as Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) grants, Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) tax credits, federal and state historic tax credits, low-income housing tax credits, and Missouri Build bonds. Additionally, Dave has worked in various projects that have included the use of state supplemental tax increment financing (TIF) and the Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA) for funding, as well as a large number of relocation projects that have included use of High Performance Incentive Program (HPIP) and PEAK incentives in Kansas and the Missouri Works program in Missouri.
Experience
Involved in projects for job retention/expansion and relocation activities in both Missouri and Kansas, including CBIZ, Cerner Corporation, Data Systems International, Walsworth Publishing, Argus Consulting, New Directions Behavioral Health, MarketSphere Consulting, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Dairy Farmers of America, Freightquote.com, Waddell & Reed Financial and Urban Outfitters
Served as counsel to Cerner Corporation in the site acquisition and development of its planned 4 million square foot office campus in Kansas City, Missouri; including zoning and development incentives such as tax increment financing (TIF, Super-TIF, and State Supplemental TIF)
Represents Burns & McDonnell, one of the nation's largest engineering and architectural firms, in obtaining zoning, entitlements and incentives (including tax abatement, TIF and job incentives under State programs) for a new 450,000 square foot campus project
Served as counsel in the renovation and redevelopment of Kansas City's Union Station, a $250 million historic restoration/adaptive reuse (the largest such effort ever undertaken in the greater Kansas City area)
Serves as counsel in the development of the Kansas City Live downtown retail entertainment district (the Power & Light District) in the South Loop area of Kansas City, Missouri
Counsel to ASM Global in the development and operation of T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Counsel to Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in the development of its new headquarters facility consisting of over 600,000 square feet of office, administrative and processing space
Represents 21c Museum Hotels in the acquisition and redevelopment of the historic Savoy Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri; into a high end boutique hotel, including obtaining entitlements and incentives (TIF and Super-TIF)
Represented Freightquote.com, America's largest online freight shipping broker, in the relocation of its headquarters to Kansas City, MO. Freightquote.com developed a new 200,000 square foot office building for its headquarters in south Kansas City. Assisted the company in negotiations involving Missouri's strategic economic incentive package, including $7 million in Missouri BUILD and $26.2 million in Quality Jobs benefits, together with tax increment financing and property tax abatement.
Represented Urban Outfitters in the development of a $400 million, 1,500,000 square foot high-tech distribution and internet sales fulfillment center, including negotiation of tax abatement and job creation economic incentives with state and local governmental agencies
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
"Anatomy of a Deal," Program and Written Course Materials, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2008, 2009, 2010
"Innovative Public Finance Solutions," Missouri Economic Development Finance Association, 2009
"Real Estate Trends & Investment Criteria – Forecast 2003," Integra Realty Resources, 2003
"Advanced Conference on Commercial Real Estate Purchase & Sale," The Seminar Group, 2001
"Insurance Issues," Advanced Conference on Commercial Real Estate Leases, Law Seminars International, 1999
"The Union Station Project – A Legal Perspective," Program and Written Course Materials, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 1998
"Insurance Issues in Real Estate," Program and Written Course Materials, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 1997
"Real Estate Practice Institute," Program and Written Course Materials, The Missouri Bar, 1996
Publications
- Missouri Methods of Practice – Chapters on "Curing Title Defects" and "Title Insurance" (including Annual Updates), West Publishing Company, 1992-2010
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized with the ICON Award from Missouri Lawyers Media, 2024
Named Kansas City, Mo., Real Estate Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers - 2012, 2018 and 2024
Dave is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and is listed in Who’s Who in America, and Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers magazine
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the areas of project finance law and real estate law for over 25 years
In Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Dave has consistently been listed as one of the top real estate attorneys in the state of Missouri. Highly regarded by clients, Dave was most recently "praised for his creativity" and for "his ability to provide original solutions to meet the specific requirements of each deal." Dave has previously been described by clients as "an outstanding lawyer" and "an exceptional mind when it comes to crafting very complex public-private partnerships."
Selected a 2019 "Baron of the Boardroom" by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Named 2012 Kansas City, Mo., Project Finance Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers®
Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame selection, 2011
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors, 2009–2014, 2020-present
- Executive Committee, 2009–2011
- Chair, Kansas City, Missouri Business Leadership Council, 2011-present
Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, 1995–present
- Audit Committee Chair, 2007–present
- Board of Directors, 2000–present
- Executive Committee, 2011–2013
KC BizPAC
- Member, Disbursement Committee, 2006–present
- Board of Directors, 2008–present
- Chair, 2009–2014
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Mid-America Chapter, Board of Trustees, 1992–present
- National Board of Directors, 2004–2010; Director Emeritus, 2010–present
- National Board, Executive Committee, 2003–2010
- Chairman, National Board of Directors, 2006–2008
Avila University
- Board of Trustees, 2002–2017
Kansas City Area Development Council, 2002–2023
- Board of Directors, 2015-2023
Victor E. and Caroline E. Schutte Foundation
- Trustee, 2000–present
Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America
- Council Board of Directors, 2004–present
- Legal Counsel, 2007–2012
- Council President, 2012–2013
- Council Executive Committee, 2007–present
- Council Finance Committee, 2007–2013
- Council Properties Committee, 1997–present
- Thunderbird District Committee, 1995–1997; 2002–2013, District Chairman, 2004–2006
Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation
- Board of Directors, 2005–2011
KU Endowment
- Advancement Board, 2009–2012
- Cancer Funding Partners, 2009–2012, 2018-present
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
- Board of Directors, 2015–2020
- Real Estate Foundation, 2009–2014
MRIGlobal
- Board of Trustees, 2010–present
BioNexus KC
- Board of Trustees, 2011–present
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
- Board of Directors, 2017–present
KC Rising
- Co-Chair, 2013–present
American College of Real Estate Lawyers
The Missouri Bar, Property Law Committee
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Real Property Law Committee, Chairman, 1992
Lawyers Association of Kansas City
Fellows of The American Bar Foundation
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Missouri, 1981
- Kansas, 2006
Education
University of Missouri—Kansas City, J.D., with distinction, 1981
Avila University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1976
