2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Lauren Younkins, Younkins & Schecter LLP

“Lauren’s work is always meticulously well thought out and she is a pleasure to work with! Lauren is one of the primary attorneys working on two commercial-to-residential conversion projects for the Vanbarton Group. She has been at the forefront of the negotiations and contracts for the participating engineers, architects, construction managers and other contractors. Her already extensive experience with this burgeoning asset class is impressive and thorough.” - Mardi Schecter, Co-Managing Partner, Younkins & Schecter LLP.

Who has been pivotal in your professional development, and how have they influenced you? Without question, our firm’s co-managing partners Mardi Schecter and Kathy Younkins, who is also my aunt, have been pivotal in my career. As the founders of one of the most prominent women-owned law firms specializing in commercial real estate, their work has influenced many young women lawyers. Upon graduating from law school, I considered several different types of practices. But Mardi and Kathy’s passion for their work and exceptional level of competence set a paradigm that I wanted to be a part of.

What is your top advice for someone just starting out in your field? It is often hard to gauge your progress when starting out. My best advice for newly minted lawyers is to not be afraid to ask for help or admit that you don’t know something. Be honest and aware of your limitations. Find a mentor. Seek guidance. Don’t try to fake it.

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? We recently started working on our 4^th and 5^th commercial-to-residential conversion projects for the Vanbarton Group. In response to changing conditions in the real estate market and legislative initiatives encouraging such repositioning, these projects have ramped up. As these projects have grown, I’ve grown with them, managing increased volume, speed, and complexity. It’s exciting to be part of these projects, which raise a host of complex legal issues and address several social and economic issues, including sustainability and affordable housing.