Shams Merchant

Shams Merchant is one of the leading commercial real estate attorneys in Texas, representing some of the nation's leading investors, developers, private equity firms, investment funds, landlords and tenants in the capital raising, purchase and sale, financing, development, leasing and operation of multi-family, retail, industrial, office, and mixed-use properties in Houston, Dallas, across Texas and nationwide.

He also assists clients in their corporate structuring and establishing business entities (including LLCs, LPs, and corporations), joint-ventures, and private investment funds (including Rule 506(b) and 506(c) offerings) tailored to the needs of commercial real estate investment, development and ownership. Shams’ practice is Texas-based but national in scope. He has represented the largest real estate companies in the world, including well-known owners, buyers, sellers, national, international and Texas-based investors and developers, deal sponsors, capital partners, private and public investment funds, regional and multi-national corporations, landlords, tenants and other real estate players. As a corporate attorney in his prior role, Shams also represents clients in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of businesses and companies, and negotiates asset purchase and stock purchase agreements, with particularly deep experience in the hospitality, restaurant and bar arena, working with some of the most well-known hospitality, bar and restaurant concepts in Texas and across the country.

Shams believes access to sophisticated and responsive counsel should not cost a premium. With that in mind, Shams provides a cost-effective and value-added service to his clients, whether they are new to the real estate or private equity business or a seasoned player. By ensuring his rates are cost-effective, Shams not only services institutional, large and sophisticated investors but also new investment funds and local real estate entrepreneurs. Shams proactively provides his clients with new ways to track and quantify value on their legal spend, from using technology to improve service delivery to offering bespoke alternative fee arrangements. By working with his clients to reduce their legal spend and quantify the value on their legal spend, Shams has successfully helped his clients increase their ROI on real estate projects and the overall profitability of their businesses.

Clients appreciate Shams’ personal dedication to their matters, friendly personality and accessibility—no matter the day or time. His clients have included a 3-star Michelin chef, multiple real estate investment companies with billions of dollars of assets, one of the largest real estate developers in the world with over $16 billion in revenue, a leading private real estate investment firm in Houston with over 130 commercial properties, many emerging real estate players, solo and new real estate investors & entrepreneurs, national restaurant groups and QSR brands, and celebrities.