John (Jay) R. Gowell - Johnston, RI

• Corporate & Business
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Public Finance
• Real Estate & Commercial Lending

• Partner

• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island
• New York

• Rhode Island Bar Association
• National Association of Bond Lawyers
• Boston Bar Association

• University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  J.D.
  Law Review: University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Member
• Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut
  B.A.

• 2007 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list

View the profile for John (Jay) R. Gowell on Super Lawyers

• Represented national cable television provider in siting, acquisition, permitting and construction of regional operating headquarters, and statewide real estate acquisition, permitting and development of network hubs.
• Represented developer in zoning and financing of $160 million waterfront luxury residential condominium project.
• Represented global petroleum company in redevelopment of former petroleum tank farm into urban waterfront mixed-use condominium project (600 units) in development agreement and city council approvals for $17 million tax increment financing plan.
• Represented developer in development agreement and city council approvals for $9.37 million tax increment financing plan for 407 unit waterfront residential property on 48 acre former petroleum tank farm.
• Represented developer in negotiation and execution of agreement to acquire 100+ acre parcel of land from court-appointed receiver for development of sports complex.
• Represented municipality in litigation with developer over failed real estate development project involving complex development agreement, ground lease, and US HUD loans and grants for the project.
• Represented owner of world-renowned yacht facility in sale of company, and in environmental remediation, litigation and sale of adjacent 45 acre parcel, permitted for a 1500 slip marina on former US Navy base property.
• Represented developer/residential country club owner in bankruptcy litigation involving Chapter 11 bankruptcy of resort operator/condominium owner.
• Represented developer in exploratory investigation of adaptive reuse of former military sites and historic properties.
• Represented consortium of manufacturers and industry vendors in executing agreement for acquisition of former military site from US Navy for expansion of private sector maritime-related businesses.
• Represented landowner in complex land disposition strategy, encumbered by unfavorable easements and options in favor of developer of adjacent land.
• Led the Nassau County, New York negotiating team in a unique competitive procurement process with two major sports/entertainment development companies (Madison Square Garden Company and Forest City Ratner Company) in the successful negotiation of new long-term lease for revitalization and re-use of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and surrounding 77 acre site. The new lease was unanimously approved by all County advisory committees and won unanimous bi-partisan approval of the Nassau County Legislature.
• Represented RI Departments of Transportation and Administration in legislative, legal and strategic strategy for disposition of surplus land created by relocation of an interstate highway, including negotiation and conclusion of agreement for disposition of land and issuance of $37.4 million in tax-exempt bonds. Coordinated with a large team including engineers, employees from several departments and divisions of state government, other legal counsel, appointed public officials and representatives of the Federal Highway Administration.
• Served as bond counsel to the RI Economic Development Corporation and RI Airport Corporation in the documentation and closing of the issuance of $48 million in First Lien Special Facility Revenue Bonds and a $42 million Federal Highway Administration loan through the TIFIA loan program. This engagement followed legal work previously completed for the State on overall planning and the financial structure for the project.
• Led the State’s legal team on behalf of the RI Economic Development Corporation and Governor to negotiate and document development agreement, ground lease, 300 acre land acquisition, $25 million bond financing and implementation of performance based economic incentives to attract Fidelity Investments to construct an office campus in Rhode Island. Served as official spokesperson for press inquiries, particularly regarding the project’s use of eminent domain for economic development.
• Served as lead counsel for the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the RI Economic Development Corporation and other state departments and agencies in re-structuring the public’s involvement and risk exposure in this important economic development project. Led the State’s legal team through careful analysis of economic impacts, hard-fought negotiation and precise drafting of enabling legislation and legal documentation (development agreement, ground lease, public investment and related agreements), to successful completion of the project (comprising 1.3 million square foot, four level shopping mall and 4,000 space parking garage) and its financing. Successfully testified before House and Senate committees of the Rhode Island General Assembly to secure implementation of a unique performance-based sales tax subsidy. Served as issuer’s counsel in the public sale of $71 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds backed by sales tax subsidy.
• Served as the State of Rhode Island’s legal counsel to devise a non-political public bidding process for private adaptive reuse of a decaying but prominently located state-owned building. Negotiated with selected developer to obtain assurances that necessary private financial commitments and financial protections for taxpayers were in place. Documented transfer of property for rehabilitation and removal from State ownership and public liability. Site is now a successful, national-flag hotel.