MEET OUR ATTORNEYS
Experienced, Competent, and Trustworthy.
Ferd E. Niemann IV, Founding Attorney
Ferd Niemann is a real estate investor and business-minded lawyer, as well as a trained financial analyst and an experienced entrepreneur. His experience includes mobile home park investments and turnarounds, retail development and redevelopment, residential investments, and real estate law. In addition to his investments as an operator, Ferd has invested in storage, apartments, restaurants, medical startups, and a handful of other ventures.
Before founding this firm, Ferd practiced law at a top Kansas City firm focusing on economic development incentives, public finance, property tax assessments, redevelopment, land use, and zoning. Ferd was also the associate editor for Missouri Land Use Law & Practice and Missouri Economic Development Law, the foremost treatises in the fields. Prior to law school at UMKC, Ferd graduated from Rockhurst University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA. For over five years Ferd served his community while working at Jackson County in a variety of positions in the Administration, Government Relations, Economic Development, and Assessment Departments. Through his experience analyzing deals and sitting on Tax Increment Financing Commissions, Ferd has developed a critical eye for solving problems and navigating government processes. Serving as Jackson County’s Director of Assessment gave him greater insights into the valuation of personal and real property, as well as handling property tax appeals. His various positions at Jackson County honed Ferd’s skills in analysis, project and people management, and putting deals together.
Ferd is adept in finance and has successfully modeled numerous business plans; and, more importantly, implemented the plans. He has received national recognition as a high quality MHP operator and a thought leader in the industry.
Today, in addition to his own portfolio, Ferd has helped over 100 real estate clients (including RV, MHP, apartments, single family owners, and more) with their projects.
Ferd grew up in Quincy, IL and moved to Kansas City to attend Rockhurst University to pursue his education and play college baseball. Ferd enjoys chasing deals, problem solving for clients, reading great books, politics, involvement in his Catholic men’s group, and spending time with his wife Angela and their children Anthony (7), Margaret (6), and Monica (4).
Areas of Practice
Business Consulting
Economic Development & Incentives
Land Use & Zoning
Mobile/Manufactured Home Parks
Real Estate Development & Redevelopment
Real Estate Syndications
Real Estate Tax
Awards, Activities, & Civic Involvement
Band of Brothers Men’s Ministry – leader/president
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Big Brother
Catholic Challenge Sports – numerous leadership roles including former Board Member
Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) – Kansas City Chapter Board Member; CCIM Designee
FINRA Series 6/63 Licenses (inactive)
Ingram’s 40 Under Forty Selection – Class of 2017
Jackson County Government – Assessor (County Appraiser); Director of Economic Development; Deputy Director Government Affairs; numerous boards and (TIF) commissions
JAG Corps – Civil Service (2L Internship)
Knights of Columbus – Third Degree Knight; numerous leadership positions
Real Estate Broker (Missouri)
Urban Land Institute – former board member
Pi Kappa Alpha- numerous leadership positions
Rockhurst University KC Alumni Advisory Council
Publications & Speaking
CCIM Ward Center Instructor
Co-Editor of Missouri Land Use Law and Missouri Economic Development Law
Published Content:
Missouri Association of Counties
KC Star
KC Business Journal
MH Insider
CIRE Magazine
Various speaking engagements: Conferences, Panelist, University Lecturer, CLEs, Podcast (host of The Mobile Home Park Lawyer Podcast)
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas
- Colorado (Inactive)
Education
- UMKC School of Law, Juris Doctor
- Rockhurst University, MBA
- Rockhurst University, BSBA
Contact
Jay Heck, Of Counsel
Jay Heck is a real estate lawyer, broker, educator and investor. His experience representing landlords, tenants, purchasers and sellers spans across five decades. He has been the legal negotiator on approximately ten thousand separate transactions, with approximately two billion dollars in transaction volume, of nearly every conceivable real estate transaction type.
Prior to joining the firm, Jay was a real estate lawyer for three of the largest NYSE-traded companies, with headquarters located in the Kansas City metropolitan area and for two shopping center developer/operators with multi-state portfolios. In 2019, he negotiated the legal aspects of two 1,000,000+ square foot office leases, believed to be the two largest-ever office space leases, in either Kansas or Missouri.
Jay is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law (Juris Doctor, 1994) and the University of Central Missouri (Bachelor of Science, 1988).
In his non-office hours, Jay enjoys working on home improvements, lawn and gardening projects and his two vintage automobiles.
Areas of Practice
Purchase and Sale Agreements
Title and Survey Review
Leasing- Office, Retail and Industrial
Subleasing
Ground Leasing
Landlord- Tenant Disputes
Easements
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas
Education
- UMKC School of Law, Juris Doctor
- University of Central Missouri (Bachelor of Science)
Contact
Lance Bond, Of Counsel
Lance Bond, an “Of Counsel” member at our real estate law firm, exemplifies a unique combination of litigation expertise, real estate transactional experience, and a commendable military background. Lance’s legal journey, which started before the opening of his private practice in 2013, includes invaluable experience with two multi-national corporations where he skillfully negotiated and drafted real estate contracts.
In the realm of civil litigation, Lance has a decade of experience representing both business plaintiffs and business defendants in Missouri and Kansas courts. Lance’s adeptness in handling complex litigation matters spans a range of disputes, including business-to-business conflicts, breach of contract cases, eviction defense, debt defense, and landlord/tenant disputes.
Lance’s eight years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps have instilled in him a relentless work ethic and resilience, making him a formidable force in the courtroom. Whether dealing with a sophisticated real estate transaction, preparing agreements, or alternative dispute resolution, Lance’s professional negotiation skills and robust advocacy ensure the achievement of favorable outcomes for clients.
In his role at our firm, Lance continues to leverage his expertise in real estate transactions and civil litigation, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and effective legal professional.
Outside of work, Lance enjoys delving into historical novels and practicing archery, activities that reflect his appreciation for history and his focus on precision and discipline.
Areas of Practice
Civil Litigation
Debt Defense
Real Estate Disputes
Mediation
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Business Disputes
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas
Education
- UMKC School of Law, Juris Doctor, Emphasis in Business and Entrepreneurial Law
- UMKC, Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy
Contact
Douglas Raney, Senior Attorney
Douglas Raney is a real estate attorney and developer with over a decade of experience structuring and managing deals. Douglas has drafted, negotiated, and analyzed all sorts of legal documents, including purchase agreements, loan documents, commercial leases, operating agreements, and easements. Douglas and his partnerships have bought and sold millions of dollars’ worth of real estate assets, and he uses this background to advise clients how to structure contracts and partnerships in the most beneficial manner possible while anticipating and avoiding conflict before it arises to prevent the need for costly litigation.
While in law school, Douglas financed his education by moonlighting with middle to high stakes poker, fully paying off his student loans within four months of graduation. In addition to being a regular at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Douglas enjoys travel, tennis, and walking his two dogs with his fiancée, with whom he lives in Lawrence, Kansas.
Areas of Practice
Real Estate Transactions
Business Transactions
Residential Development
Dispute Resolution
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas
- Texas
- Licensed Kansas Real Estate Broker
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, Juris Doctor
- University of Notre Dame, BS
Contact
Hunter Woodhart, Associate
Hunter is a real estate transactional attorney with a passion for complex deals. As a member of the KC Real Estate Law team, he manages all aspects of buying, selling, leasing, financing, and raising capital for real estate deals in the multi-family, manufactured housing, and commercial real estate sectors. With experience in contract drafting, title and survey review, zoning and land use, seller financing, and raising private capital pursuant to a private placement memorandum, Hunter has a critical eye for identifying and mitigating risks in even the most challenging transactions.
Hunter graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 2021, where he earned a Business and Commercial Law certificate. During law school, he focused his studies on courses that complement his current practice, such as Due Diligence in Business Transactions, Corporate Finance, Real Estate Finance, Land Transactions, and Local Government Law. Prior to law school, Hunter participated in the Legal Education Accelerated Degree program at the University of Kansas, which allowed him to complete his final undergraduate year as a first-year law student.
Outside of work, Hunter enjoys traveling and hiking.
Areas of Practice
Real Estate Law
Contracts
Lease Review and Drafting
Zoning & Land Use
Title & Survey Review
Real Estate Syndications
Awards, Activities, & Civic Involvement
Former Treasurer of Federal Bar Association (KU Law)
Business Law & Commercial Law Certifications (KU Law)
International Trade & Finance Certification (KU Law)
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas (Inactive)
Education
- University of Kansas School of Law, Juris Doctor
- University of Kansas, BA
Contact
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