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William Ellis is a real estate attorney and partner in the Akerman LLP Real Estate Practice Group in Los Angeles. Ellis has more than 35 years of transactional real estate experience. He began his career as a corporate and securities lawyer handling corporate acquisitions, initial public offerings (IPOs), and mergers.

Providing his clients with a variety of real estate services, Ellis represents private equity funds, global financial institutions, investment banks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and private developers. Ellis advises his clients on construction, financing, workouts/restructurings, leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and development across the United States. He focuses on distressed property, the hospitality sector, and industrial and commercial properties; with expertise in cell towers, leasing, and movie theaters.

Before joining Akerman in 2016, Ellis was the general counsel and corporate secretary of Reading International, Inc., a leading real estate developer which owns and operates multiplex cinemas and retail and commercial real estate in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Previously, he was a real estate partner with Sidley Austin LLP for almost 16 years and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP for 16 years, both in Los Angeles.

Some of Ellis’ notable work includes representing an international bank in financing the acquisition of Hollywood Park Race Track with $400 million, the future home of the Los Angeles Rams and the $1 billion-plus construction loan for the stadium.

Ellis has been recognized by California Law Business Magazine as “Dealmaker of the Week”; Best Lawyers in America 2014-2015, listed in California for Real Estate Law; and Super Lawyers Magazine 2013-2014, named Southern California Super Lawyer.

Ellis received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Michigan Law School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government at Occidental College in Los Angeles.