Polsinelli has expanded its real estate development capabilities adding highly experienced real estate development attorney Roxsen E. Koch as shareholder and real estate development and transactions attorney Robert C. Johnson as associate.
With more than 20 years of real estate development and public finance experience, Koch will represent clients in all aspects of real estate development and public and private finance and the use of various economic development tools. She has pioneered the use of economic development tools throughout Missouri for complex mixed used development projects and was the lead drafter of Missouri’s legislation for the Community Improvement District Act and 1996 amendments to the Transportation Development District Act.
“I’m very impressed with the firm’s real estate capabilities and national resources that can be offered to my clients,” Koch said. “I look forward to working with highly respected and recognized attorneys at Polsinelli and experiencing the exciting growth and development.”
Koch is very familiar with Kansas City’s real estate landscape. She’s worked with suburban projects such as Hartman Heritage Park in Independence, Mo. and urban core projects like the Westport Community Improvement District, 909 Walnut project and the Uptown Theater near downtown Kansas City, Mo. Her expertise stretches from developing financing structures, projects and project pro formas for hotel projects to integrating the use of multiple economic development tools for complex development projects.
Johnson will concentrate his practice in all matters of real estate development law, including land use and zoning, public finance and commercial real estate transactions. He advises and assists clients in commercial real estate transactions including the drafting and negotiation of development agreements, purchase and sale agreements, leases, options, easements and restrictive covenants. Johnson also provides experience in assisting clients in navigating state and local government approval processes to obtain necessary and valuable development entitlements, including by securing planning and zoning approvals and real estate development incentives such as STAR bonds, federal, state and local incentives and other critical financing considerations in development projects.
“We are excited to welcome Roxsen and Bob to our expanding team of highly experienced real estate attorneys and strengthen our presence in Kansas City,” Real Estate Division Chair John Petersen said. “They both understand how the constantly changing real estate business works, and will bring depth in many areas from negotiation of agreements to financing.”
The additions of Koch and Johnson occur during an exciting period of overall growth for Polsinelli, which has seen its national footprint expand to nine states and 16 cities. The firm was listed by Inc. Magazine in 2012 as the fastest-growing, full service law firm in America.
Both Koch and Johnson earned law degrees from the University of Kansas School of Law. Koch also earned a B.S.B.A. in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia while Johnson received a B.S. in Journalism and an emphasis in Strategic Communications, with distinction, from the University of Kansas.
