Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

Alaska, 1981
U.S. District Court District of Alaska
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Joseph L. Reece

Partner

Partner-in-Charge, Anchorage Office

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Anchorage

T907.257.5325

F907.257.5355

Joe Reece focuses on commercial, corporate and real estate law, including mergers and acquisitions and commercial litigation. His commercial law practice includes assisting clients with real estate transactions, business purchase and sale transactions, corporate advice, and financing transactions. His litigation practice includes commercial litigation and environmental compliance and related litigation.

Practice Highlights

Transactional

Has represented buyers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions in various industries including broadcasting, oil field services, construction, retail, insurance brokerage, hospital, oil refining, hotels and grocery.
Has represented multiple clients in real estate acquisitions and sales, leasing and related issues for transactions ranging from Alaska’s largest ski resort/hotel/golf course property to smaller transactions.
Has represented clients at federal Superfund and state cleanup sites, and represented many clients in due diligence of environmental issues in connection with real estate and business acquisitions.
Has represented multiple clients in formation of corporations, limited liability companies, professional corporations, and limited partnerships, and in merger and dissolution of corporate entities.
Currently represents for-profit and nonprofit corporations and limited liability companies in corporate compliance and governance.
Has represented lenders such as Bank of America, Keybank, Ford Motor Credit Corp., GE Capital, Toyota Motor Credit Corp. and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. in numerous financing transactions.

Litigation

Trial practice including taking jury and non-jury trials to successful verdict or judgment in state and federal court in cases involving contract disputes, logging claims, aircraft accidents and corporate misconduct.
Has successfully settled litigation in many other subject areas including real estate, bank financing and environmental.

Joe's clients include: financial institutions, oil interests, Alaska Native Corporations and broadcasting companies.

Representative Experience

Condemnation of real property for Sears Roebuck & Co.

Representing property owner in public taking involving a warehouse property. (Ongoing)

Corporate and construction contracting matters for PolyEarth Construction International, LLC

Representation of PolyEarth Construction International, LLC, contractor for international projects in the Middle East and elsewhere, for corporate and construction contracting matters. (Ongoing)

Corporate development for Valley Hospital Association

Corporate representation of Valley Hospital Association, co-owner of Mat-Su Valley Medical Center, including a 2008 syndication to allow partial physician ownership of the hospital and the spin-off of two corporate entities to comply with the requirements of the Stark Law. (Ongoing)

Corporate transactions, real estate development, and land use for Natives of Kodiak, Inc.

Corporate representation of multimillion-dollar corporation involved in real estate development, construction and timber. (Ongoing) Read more

Environmental contamination of real property for Sears Roebuck & Co.

Pursuing relief for environmental contamination of real property, including filing a Citizens Suit in federal court. (Ongoing)

Goldenview Park Homeowners Association v. Goldenview Land Company

Represent homeowners in class action challenging a developer's novel provision requiring a stream of payments from the homeowners to the developer lasting 90 years. (Ongoing)

Logging contracts for Natives of Kodiak, Inc.

Representing native corporation owner of timber being harvested. (Ongoing)

Commercial litigation for Chugach Alaska Corporation

Representation of Chugach Alaska Corp. in successful pursuit of claims for breach of fiduciary duty against former chairman, including a jury trial and defending appeal to Alaska Supreme Court, resulting in a monetary recovery and a ban on service as director for five years. Superior Court Case No. 3AN-05-10182; Supreme Court Case No. S-13094. (2011)

Joint venture agreement - manufacturing for KOMAN Diversified Services LLC

Negotiated series of contracts for joint venture under SBA rules for manufacturing clothing for the military. (2011)

Lease dispute - warehouse property for Arctic Circle Enterprises LLC

Dispute over liability of tenant for repair and replacement costs. Settled the matter favorably for client. (2011)

Representation of Chugach Alaska Corporation

Acted as special counsel to the board of directors in investigating and litigating allegations of wrongdoing by directors and former chairman. (2011)

Sale of commercial real estate

Sale of multiple parcels of real estate in Alaska for an amount in excess of $10 million, including resolving title issues. (2010)

Sale of commercial real estate for Bethel Marina Inc.

Sale of 25 parcels of real property in Bethel, Dillingham, and St. Mary's, Alaska, used for commercial purposes including retail sales. (2010)

Representation of mining claims owner

Sale of mining claims situated as an in-holding in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, including quiet title proceedings and access issues. (2009)

Sale of commercial real estate for Nagley Properties, LLC

Representation of Nagley Properties, LLC in sale of commercial real estate in Anchorage to Walgreen Co., including negotiating lease termination for existing tenant operating gas station/convenience store on the property. (2009)

Aviation real estate development for real estate developer

Representation of developer for proposed construction of aircraft servicing facility at Anchorage International Airport including leases, usage agreements, and construction contracts. (2008) Read more

Corporate wind-up and dissolution for Seibu Alaska, Inc.

Corporate wind-up and dissolution following sale of client's large ski resort. (2008) Read more

Eminent domain litigation for nationwide retail chain

Representation of nationwide retail chain in eminent domain litigation involving the taking of property by State of Alaska for highway interchange improvements. Total value of taking was in excess of $2 million. Case was settled with a very favorable allocation of condemnation proceeds to our client. (2008) Read more

Real estate acquisition for Northrim Bank

Representation of Northrim Bank in acquisition of a major office building in Anchorage. (2008) Read more

Sale of business for Seibu Alaska, Inc.

Represented Seibu Alaska, Inc., in sale of Alyeska Ski Resort, including ski operations, hotel and golf course. (2006)

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association
Anchorage Bar Association

Professional Recognition

Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in Real Estate and in Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions (Alaska) by Chambers USA, 2004-2012; Received "Band 1" ranking, 2012
Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Real Estate Law by Best Lawyers, 2006-present; named in Corporate Law, 2009-present
Selected to "Alaska Super Lawyers" in Business/Corporate and Real Estate, Thomson Reuters, 2009, 2011-2012
Awarded AV rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Education

J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1981, cum laude
- Associate Editor, Gonzaga Law Review
Certificate, Russian Language, Defense Language Institute, 1972
B.A., French, Loyola University New Orleans, 1970, magna cum laude