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Overview

Lisa is a real estate attorney who knows the importance of understanding a client’s business.

With more than 25 years of experience in real estate, Lisa has handled hundreds of transactions across the country, both as outside counsel and as an in-house attorney for a major hotel chain and a nationally known developer of industrial property. During her tenure as in-house counsel, Lisa recognized, as a client herself, how essential it is for an attorney to have a deep understanding of the client’s priorities and strategic goals. This enables her to see the transaction from the client’s perspective, enhanced by objective legal acumen.

Lisa focuses her practice on the acquisition, development, financing, construction, leasing, management and disposition of property. She advises developers of a variety of property types—office, retail, hospitality, industrial—in all facets of complex real estate transactions. Lisa also works with developers to negotiate and manage relationships with private equity and to identify and secure economic development incentives. In addition, Lisa advises companies outside the real estate industry with property acquisitions and dispositions, and has significant experience with preparing and negotiating restaurant, office and retail leases for both landlords and tenants. Lisa excels at negotiation, with an emphasis on finding common ground and creative solutions to get to the closing table.

Industry

Services

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law
    • Texas International Law Journal, Associate Editor
    • University of Texas Corporate Counsel Society, President
  • B.S., University of Kansas

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
2024 Pro Bono Achiever
Experience
  • As in-house counsel to a major hotel chain and an industrial developer, negotiated and managed legal and business obligations for the development of real estate nationwide, including drafting contracts, analyzing due diligence materials, closing transactions, and negotiating governmental incentives, easements and use agreements.
  • Represented tenant in the negotiation of a long-term ground lease with a multi-national entertainment company for a $150 million property in Orlando, Florida.
  • Represented client in the acquisition, development and construction of a $100 million high rise hotel in downtown Nashville.
  • Negotiated and drafted ground leases for development of over 2,000,000 square feet of land with local, regional and national restaurant chains.
  • Monitored, reviewed and challenged annual property tax assessments of more than 500 parcels of real estate in 20 states, including hotels, office buildings, restaurants and shopping centers, achieving tax savings of more than $10 million.
  • Represented client in the management and leasing of a portfolio of office buildings in the St. Louis area, including property management and the negotiation and drafting of leases.
  • Successfully defended on appeal a municipality's grant of a conditional use permit to a university for the expansion of its campus.
In-House Counsel Experience
  • Director of Development and General Counsel, US Capital Development, 2020-2021
  • Associate General Counsel, Drury Development Corporation, 2008-2020