Number of years in CURRENT position: 5.5

3 skills that you use every day in your position: Reading, listening, analyzing.

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – by Stephen Covey

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less: Be a role model, listen to others and work diligently

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? Given the changes in the capital markets, clients are identifying opportunities in projects that are no longer on track for completion. A recent transaction was for a client who purchased a mezzanine loan that was in default. I worked with the client to restructure the loan and achieved a complex restructuring with three tiers of financing that will allow the completion of a commercial building to proceed and position our client to realize profits.

What was one of your biggest challenges as a leader and how did you overcome it? The greatest challenge of leadership is setting the direction of the practice, which is predicated on identifying opportunities and risks in the real estate market and constantly adapting to the needs of our clients. To meet this challenge, I am constantly following trends in the business and political landscapes that will impact the real estate industry, helping me guide my decisions in anticipating the needs of our clients and the direction of the practice.

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader? “Lisa’s remarkable range and depth of experience in all aspects of real estate law and across a wide spectrum of transactions sets her apart as an industry leader. She brings intelligence, skills, creativity and excellent judgment and is my ‘go to’ whenever I am retained on a sophisticated new matter.” - Jay Kim, Partner; Real Estate Department at Phillips Nizer LLP.