Anna Wills
Associate
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Phone: +1 215 979 1524
- Duane Morris LLP
30 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
USA
Anna Wills is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group and focuses her practice on eminent domain, land use, project development, affordable housing, commercial real estate transactions, commercial leasing and lease disputes, and real estate due diligence in mergers and acquisitions.
Ms. Wills has experience in representing both government entities seeking to condemn private properties and property owners’ whose land is under threat of condemnation. Ms. Wills also represents private property owners in tax assessment appeals and administrative hearings, with extensive experience briefing statutory authority in both contexts.
In her land development practice, she has experience representing clients before local, county and state permitting authorities. She also handles litigation that arises from real estate disputes, including in land development, commercial leasing and property rights disputes.
Ms. Wills has experience in counseling outdoor advertising companies through acquisition and development and in real estate litigation, permitting processes and eminent domain proceedings.
On the transactional side, Ms. Wills counsels clients through complex commercial real estate transactions and leases and in affordable housing transactions.
In addition, Ms. Wills maintains a robust pro bono practice, representing nonprofits and disadvantaged individuals in real estate matters. For her work representing a Philadelphia nonprofit in acquiring property, Ms. Wills received the firm’s 2024 Pro Bono Award.
Ms. Wills is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Ms. Wills is a magna cum laude graduate of both Bucknell University and Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She currently serves on the firm’s Associates Committee.
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
Education
- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2022
- Student Works Editor, Villanova Law Review
- Order of the Coif - Bucknell University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2017
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Associate, 2022-present
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "Landlords Can Pursue Takings Claims Against U.S. Government for COVID-Era Eviction Moratorium, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Confirms," Duane Morris Alert, June 30, 2025
- Co-author, "Pennsylvania PUC Classifies Landlords as 'Gas Pipeline Operators,' Subjecting Them to Federal Safety Regulations," Duane Morris Alert, January 23, 2025
- Co-author, "Philadelphia's Tax Reassessment Notices Are in the Mail, October 7 Appeal Deadline Fast Approaching," Duane Morris Alert, August 12, 2024
Representative Matters
Represented commercial real estate lender in deed in lieu of foreclosure arrangement in which the lender acquired a luxury residential apartment building in lieu of foreclosing on a $130 million loan, secured by the property.
Represented WellSpan Health in its acquisition of Evangelical Community Hospital, expanding WellSpan’s network of care across 12 counties in Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.
Represented StoneMor Inc. (NYSE: STON), a leading owner and operator of cemeteries and funeral homes across the United States and Puerto Rico in obtaining a $45 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility from Signature Bank.
Represented affiliates of Full Circle Private Investment LLC in the nearly $40 million sale of two skilled nursing facilities and a personal care facility located in two different Pennsylvania counties.