Ballard Spahr Nabs GSA's David Winstead

WASHINGTON, DC-David Winstead, GSA’s former Commissioner of the federal Public Buildings Service, has joined the Real Estate Department of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll. He is based in Ballard’s Washington, DC, office and also will work with the firm’s two offices in Maryland and other nine US offices. As Commissioner of PBS, Winstead oversaw the management of more than 1,500 federal buildings nationwide and more than 175 million square feet of leased space. Winstead, who will be working with various Ballard practices, including the real estate and public finance practice, spoke with GlobeSt.com this morning–his first day on the job.

Ballard Spahr’s client base is becoming increasingly interested in the role of the public market–both for real estate and public infrastructure, he says. “All real estate private sector companies are looking at opportunities in the public domain right now,” Spahr explains. “There is huge growth of public stimulus money coming for rehabbing public buildings, for example–an area of opportunity for construction companies. There is also a huge wave of investment expected on the state level through the stimulus, all of which leads into growth opportunities.”

Winstead is also a former Secretary of Transportation for the State of Maryland and former President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials–experience that will be used in Ballard’s infrastructure practice as well, Allan R. Winn, managing partner of Ballard’s Washington, DC, office and leader of the office’s real estate practice, tells GlobeSt.com. “We have worked on the privatization of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and are working on similar projects in other parts of the country.” Demand among the firm’ clients is increasing for infrastructure expertise, he says.