Christopher L. Versfelt

Chris Versfelt is counsel in Goodwin’s Real Estate Industry group and its REITs & Real Estate M&A and Capital Markets practices. Chris advises public and private companies, REITs, real estate operating companies, and investment banks on sophisticated capital markets transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and securities law matters.

Chris has extensive experience advising issuers and underwriters on public and private offerings of equity and debt securities and other complex financing transactions. He also counsels public companies on SEC reporting and compliance, corporate governance, and equity compensation matters. Chris is also involved in Goodwin’s PropTech Initiative, advising clients on matters at the intersection of real estate and technology.

Chris’s representative experience includes:

• Represented AvalonBay Communities in its $69 billion all-stock merger of equals with Equity Residential to create Vivmark Residential.
• Represented an underwriting syndicate of 29 investment banks in Lineage’s $5.1 billion initial public offering.
• Represented an underwriting syndicate of 11 investment banks in American Healthcare REIT’s $773 million initial public offering.
• Represented syndicates of multinational investment banks as underwriters or agents in approximately $15 billion of public debt and equity offerings by Digital Realty Trust.
• Represented Essex Property Trust in the establishment of its $750 million unsecured commercial paper program.
• Represented Citrix Systems in its $16.5 billion go-private sale to affiliates of Vista Equity Partners and Evergreen Coast Capital, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management.
• Represented Berkshire Grey in its $2.7 billion de-SPAC business combination with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp. and its subsequent sale to SoftBank Group.
• Represented EastGroup Properties in its approximately $415 million acquisition of a California industrial real estate portfolio.
• Represented TIER REIT in its $7.8 billion merger with Cousins Properties.
• Represented Brookfield Property Partners in its $15.3 billion acquisition of GGP and restructuring as Brookfield Property REIT.
• Represented bluebird bio in $850 million of follow-on equity offerings.
• Represented Cornerstone OnDemand in a $300 million strategic investment by Silver Lake and LinkedIn.
• Represented Mid-America Apartment Communities in its $3.9 billion acquisition of Post Properties.
• Represented Rockwood Capital, on behalf of its NorthRock IV Fund, in the $190 million closing of two joint ventures structured as REITs with affiliates of a Singapore private limited company.
• Represented a joint venture of The Scion Group, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation in connection with an approximately $1.4 billion acquisition of a US student housing portfolio.
• Represented multinational underwriters in shelf offerings of cumulative redeemable preferred stock by technology and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies.
• Advised numerous REITs and technology companies on shelf registration statements and the establishment of continuous at-the-market equity offering programs.
• Advised numerous clients in internal corporate reorganizations, including subsidiary mergers, conversions, liquidations, and internal asset contributions and distributions.

• Recognized by The Legal 500 US (2021–present).
• Recognized as a Rising Star by The Legal 500 US for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (2024).
• Recognized as a Leading Associate by The Legal 500 US for REITs (2025–2026).

• Co-Author, “It’s True: LTIP Unit Compensation is a “Win-Win” for REIT Shareholders and Management,” Goodwin Client Alert, June 3, 2026
• Co-Author, “Corporate Governance Trends in the Public REIT Sector: A 2026 Update,” Goodwin on REITs, February 25, 2026
• Co-Author, “Shareholder Activism in the REIT Sector: An Evolving Landscape,” Goodwin on REITs, June 26, 2025