As a partner and head of Crowell & Moring's commercial real estate team, Barbara Champoux's practice is all-encompassing, including transactions, debt and equity financing, joint ventures, ownership structuring and reorganization, and loan workouts and restructurings, for a diverse client base. With extensive experience with shopping centers, retail projects, mixed-use urban redevelopments, acquisitions and public/private partnerships, she is a key player in many of the nation's most prominent real estate transactions. Her knowledge of leasing and finance also extends to the acquisition, disposition and funding of distressed loan portfolios and single-asset trophy properties, as well as complex environmental, design and financing issues. Her clients include some of the most noted real estate owners in the U.S. An expert in the legal matters pertaining to the lodging and leisure industries, she has worked for 15 years with Six Flags Entertainment Corp., as well as other tourism companies, advising them on acquisitions, financing, development, construction and operation of resorts, theme parks, cultural attractions, themed restaurants, and sports/entertainment venues nationwide. She also manages the real estate activities of Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust (RACER), including its acquisition of a portfolio of 120 economically or environmentally challenged sites from General Motors. She also is committed to educating the next generation of real estate professionals. A frequent lecturer at professional events on topics including financing, distressed assets, commercial leasing and professional development topics, she has been recognized annually since 2006 by the New York Times and Key Professional Media as a Super Lawyer, designating the top 5% of lawyers in the New York metro area. This year, she was named a Clarisa Award Winner by St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters, and a "Top Woman in Real Estate" by Sokol Media. She is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women's (CREW) leadership education committee, a past chair of its industry research committee, and a past president and former chairperson of the board of NYCREW Network, CREW's New York chapter.