The Art of the Deal Team: Managing Advisors, Lenders, and Investors
Real estate transactions, especially those in the mid-market and institutional space, rarely happen in isolation. Behind every successful deal is a team of professionals—lawyers, financial advisors, lenders, investors, accountants, and consultants—all bringing their expertise to the table. As someone who has worked on transactions exceeding $2 billion in aggregate value, I’ve learned that the ability […]
The General Counsel’s Balancing Act: Protecting the Business While Fueling Growth
Serving as a General Counsel (GC) is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles in business. On any given day, you’re expected to be part lawyer, part strategist, part risk manager, and part business partner. For me, working at the intersection of law and business has taught me that the real value of a […]
How International Travel Shapes Strategic Thinking in Law and Business
When I think about the moments that have most influenced the way I approach law and business, surprisingly few of them happened in the office or the boardroom. Instead, many of the biggest shifts in my perspective occurred thousands of miles away—walking through crowded markets in Asia, sitting in quiet cafés in Europe, or navigating […]
The Role of Legal Innovation in Mid-Market Real Estate Transactions
When people hear the term “legal innovation,” they often think of big technology rollouts, artificial intelligence, or the latest contract automation platform. Those tools are certainly part of the picture, but in my experience—especially in mid-market real estate transactions—legal innovation is more about mindset than machines. It’s about finding smarter, more efficient ways to help […]
Lessons from the C-Suite: What I Learned Helping Build a $2 Billion Real Estate Platform
For most of my career, I worked in traditional legal settings—big law firms, financial institutions, and structured finance teams. I focused on executing deals, drafting documents, and delivering legal advice. But in 2016, I stepped into a very different role. I became the first hire at a real estate private equity startup called SomeraRoad Inc., […]
From Legal Counsel to Strategic Partner: How Attorneys Add Value Beyond the Deal
For much of my career, I’ve worked on complex commercial real estate and structured finance transactions—multi-layered deals with tight timelines, aggressive business goals, and high-dollar consequences. I’ve drafted countless agreements, negotiated terms late into the night, and helped clients close deals that reshaped city skylines and company portfolios. But the longer I’ve practiced, the more […]
The Evolving Landscape of Structured Finance: Trends Shaping the Next Decade
Over the course of my 20-plus-year career in structured finance and commercial real estate law, I’ve seen tremendous change in how deals get done. From the pre-2008 boom days to the aftermath of the financial crisis, to the rise of private credit and the current shifting macroeconomic landscape, one thing has remained constant: adaptability is […]