Go To Lawyers: Fouad Akrouche

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Years in practice:

14

Best known for:

Advising on the full range of commercial real estate transactions for multi-national real estate investment companies, including co-investment structures, joint ventures, restructurings and recapitalizations, mortgage, construction, and mezzanine financings and workouts, and asset-level and entity-level acquisitions and dispositions.

Why I chose my practice area:

I was drawn to real estate because it combines strategic thinking with tangible results. I enjoy helping clients bring complex projects to life and seeing the real-world impact of that work. The collaborative nature of the practice and the lasting relationships it fosters are what keep me energized.

Most memorable case:

Advising an institutional private equity real estate sponsor in forming new joint venture partnerships across retail, industrial and operational real estate platforms, then implementing their business plans through large-scale acquisitions and financings. Also notable: advising a vertically-integrated real estate investment company on complex portfolio dispositions and financings spanning dozens of industrial and office assets across multiple states, requiring coordination of multiple lenders, simultaneous closings, and tax-efficient structures.

What makes me a leader in my field:

Leadership means going beyond the deal itself. I strive to be a steady partner to clients and am equally focused on mentoring junior lawyers through my internal leadership role in the Real Estate group and service on the Summer Associate Committee.

Outlook for 2026:

Clients are becoming more strategic and selective, focusing on creative structures to unlock value. I expect continued emphasis on joint ventures, co-investments, recapitalizations, and adaptive reuse projects as the market adjusts.

Bar involvement/leadership roles:

Member of the American Bar Association and Urban Land Institute. At Goodwin, I serve on the Steering Committee for future business focuses and the Summer Associate Committee.

Representative clients:

Brookfield Properties, Bain Capital Real Estate, AEW Capital Management, The DSF Group, Longpoint