Charles F. Martin III

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Charles Martin, a Partner in the firm’s Real Estate + Development Group, is a transactional commercial real estate attorney with almost two decades of experience counseling clients on redevelopment projects, the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate, joint ventures and commercial leasing and financing transactions. Charles's clients include real estate investments funds, developers, REITs, multi-national corporations, institutional, public and private lenders, retailers, municipalities, hotel chains, manufacturers and more. In addition, Charles also serves as "outside general counsel" for several clients.

    Development

    Charles represents developers and municipalities in connection with commercial real estate development projects, including having represented the City of Norwalk in a public-private partnership among the City of Norwalk, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency and Seligson Properties. The $600 million project was to be a major economic and social link in the city's plan to connect and unify central and south Norwalk along the West Avenue corridor, containing approximately 535,750 square feet of retail space, 350 residential units (approximately 15 percent affordable) and 75,000 square feet of office space. Legal services included all real estate, land use, environmental, and public finance aspects of the project, including drafting and negotiating the master developer agreement between the master developer, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Norwalk and creating and drafting a statutory special services district that would have the power to contract for operating and maintaining public improvements within the boundaries of the district and the administration of the district.

    Sales and Acquisitions / Financing Transactions

    Charles represents sellers and buyers of commercial real estate throughout the country, including the acquisition and disposition of office buildings and retail centers. He represented the owner of a Greenwich office building that was sold for $51,000,000 and a New York based real estate fund in its purchase of an approximately $23,000,000 office building and a related $16,500,000 commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loan.

    Leasing

    Charles represents landlord and tenants in office, retail, restaurant and industrial leases, including FactSet Research Systems, Inc., a NYSE company, in its approximately 175,000 SF headquarters lease in Norwalk, Connecticut, which was recognized as the 2018 Fairfield County Lease of the Year, and a global financial services software company in its national and international leasing needs including its headquarters lease in Manhattan and other leases in Orlando, Florida, Portland, Oregon and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, among others.   

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Representation of the City of Norwalk in conjunction with a mixed-use redevelopment project representing a public-private partnership among the City of Norwalk, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, and Seligson Properties. The $600 million project was to be a major economic and social link in the city's plan to connect and unify central and south Norwalk along the West Avenue corridor, containing approximately 535,750 square feet of retail space, 350 residential units (approximately 15 percent affordable) and 75,000 square feet of office space. Legal services included all real estate, land use, environmental, and public finance aspects of the project, including drafting and negotiating the master developer agreement between the master developer, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Norwalk and creating and drafting a statutory special services district that would have the power to contract for operating and maintaining public improvements within the boundaries of the district and the administration of the district.
      • Represent large Connecticut-based health insurance company in the development and leasing of its new headquarters building.
      • Led the completion of a lease for the new 175,000-square-feet global headquarters of FactSet Research Systems Inc., a leading provider of integrated global financial information and analytical applications for the investment community, in Norwalk, Connecticut, which was awarded by NAIOP as the 2018 Fairfield County Lease of the Year.

      • Represent international group in the due diligence and acquisition of a golf course in Virginia.
      • Representation of a real estate investment fund that specializes in acquiring mid- and small-cap real estate investment properties throughout the United States. Property types have included office, hotel, multifamily, and, most recently, health care-related office buildings. In one of its funds, we represented the client in closing on seven office properties. Sellers have included international and national REITs. Each office transaction is structured to be Sharia law-compliant.

      • Represent equity partner in the negotiation of a joint venture agreement related to the development of several properties in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
      • Representation of an aerospace and defense company in the financing and aspects of the purchase of a $22 million research, development, and industrial facility in California.
      • Represented a group owning several Dunkin’ Donuts stores in its leasing and acquisition needs.
      • Represented global financial services software company in its headquarters lease at 285 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, and in its other national and international leasing needs, including leases in Orlando, Florida, Portland, Oregon and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

      • Represented one of Connecticut's largest cities in the $1.2 billion redevelopment of a portion of its waterfront along Long Island Sound.
      • Represented the owner of two luxury clothing stores in its acquisition of another high-end clothing company.
      • Represented seller of an office building in Greenwich, Connecticut in an approximately $51 million transaction.

      • Represented investment banking firm in its headquarters sub-sublease of an entire floor at 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York. 

      • Represent large health care company in the approximately $90 million sale-leaseback of its corporate offices.
      • Represent large Connecticut hospital in its lease of medical space to several different medical practices.
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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      Fairfield County Commercial Brokers Network
      Secretary (2008 - Present)

      Fairfield County Bar Association
      Board Member (2013 - 2017)

      Urban Land Institute (ULI)
      Treasurer and Executive Board Member (2010 - 2012)
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the State of Connecticut in the area of Real Estate for 2023

      Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Real Estate Law for 2024 and 2023. 

      Listed in the 2021 "300 Top Lawyers in Fairfield County" in the area of Real Estate published by Greenwich Magazine.

      Listed as a Rising Star in the New York Metro Super Lawyers® list from 2009 to 2016. 

      Connecticut Law Tribune, recognized in 2013 New Leaders in the Law Yearbook

      Fairfield County Business Journal, 2012 "40 Under 40" Inductee

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      New Covenant Center
      Advisory Council (2018 - 2019)

      Stamford Partnership
      Board Member (2015 - 2017)

      Fairfield University
      Board Member, Pre-Law Advisory Council
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "Issues for Corporate Office Tenants to Consider When Subleasing," published in CBIA News and in Fairfield County Business Journal. Republished in the New England Real Estate Journal (August 20, 2010). (4/2010)

      "Don't Try to Use Estoppel Certificate to Change Lease Terms," published in Commercial Property Management Insider (5/2007)

      "Include Five Critical Operating Expense Protections in Your Lease," published in Commercial Tenant's Lease Insider (3/2007)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Demystifying Lease Provisions," at CCIM Conference (3/20/2010)

      "Deal Savers (Various Techniques That Can Be Applied to Real Estate Deals to Enhance or Save Your Transaction," at CCIM Conference (9/2007)

      "Subleases: 10 Things to Consider," at Fairfield County Commercial Brokers Network (6/26/2009)

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • April 28, 2021

        Matt Guanci and Chuck Martin Represent Bridgeport Boatworks in Major Lease Transaction

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      • March 26, 2021

        Steve Elbaum, Frank Eucalitto and Chuck Martin Among “300 Top Lawyers in Fairfield County”

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      • April 3, 2015

        Stamford Lawyers Represent Award-Winning Client

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      • July 27, 2011

        Real Estate Partner Presents Commercial Lease and Commercial Acquisitions and Dispositions

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      • August 25, 2010

        Points to Consider Before Subleasing an Office Space

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      • August 19, 2010

        MHA of Southwestern Connecticut Celebrates First Development Under Neighborhood Stabilization Program

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      • March 16, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorneys Participate on Panel Discussion About Demystifying Lease Provisions

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      • March 12, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Appointed to Executive Board of Urban Land Institute

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      R+C News Releases

      • August 17, 2023

        78 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024

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      • June 1, 2023

        2023 Chambers USA Recognizes 22 Robinson+Cole Lawyers in Eight Practice Areas

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      • August 18, 2022

        74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

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      • March 20, 2019

        Chuck Martin Involved in “Fairfield County Lease of the Year”

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      • January 2, 2019

        Chuck Martin Appointed to New Covenant Center Advisory Council

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      • October 18, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • October 19, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • October 17, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers

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      • November 13, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Lawyers Named “New Leaders in the Law”

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      • October 22, 2012

        Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

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      • June 29, 2012

        Charles F. Martin Receives “40 Under 40” Award from Fairfield County Business Journal

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