- Negotiating a hotel management agreement for convention center hotel.
- Advising a nonprofit developer on real estate and utilities matters in connection with the redevelopment of Cleveland’s Public Square.
- Representing a municipality in connection with a mixed use development district, including the negotiation of a purchase and development and use agreement with a private developer.
- Advising a municipality in connection with the development of a community recreation center, including drafting of zoning ordinance revisions.
- Representing an NYSE-listed real estate company in the ground-up development of a community shopping center, including negotiating site development agreements with multiple national retailers and drafting development agreements with a municipality regarding tax increment financing.
- Selected for Crain’s Cleveland Business’s “Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders,” 2023
- Honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, 2023
- Honored as the Black Professional of the Year by the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, 2018
- Recipient of the American Jewish Committee Cleveland Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award, 2021
- Recipient of the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cleveland Chapter, National Philanthropy Day 2021
- Recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, 2016
- Selected for Crain’s Cleveland Business’s “Women of Note,” 2015
- Received the Del de Windt Leadership Award for Civic Engagement, The First Tee of Cleveland, December 2015
- Honored with the Ohio Leadership Excellence Award from the National Diversity Council, 2013
- Listed in Savoy’s “Most Influential Black Lawyers,” 2015, 2018, 2022
- Selected to the Top 50: Women Ohio Super Lawyers list, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023
- Selected to the Top 25: Women Cleveland Super Lawyers list, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
- Selected to the Top 50: Cleveland Super Lawyers list, 2022
- Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Real Estate, Ohio, 2015-2024
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list, 2013-2024
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2025 for Real Estate Law
- Recommended in The Legal 500, Real Estate, 2014-2021, 2024
- Named to the Lawyers of Color Power List, 2020
- Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list, 2018
- Selected as an Acritas Star, a “client-nominated, stand-out lawyer”
- Listed in “The Power 100 – Northeast Ohio’s Most Influential CEOs, Politicians & Civic Leaders,” Community Leader magazine
- Included in the Inside Business “Power 100 List” of the 100 individuals who most influence Northeast Ohio’s economy, 2014
- Selected for Crain’s Cleveland Business’s “Who to Watch in Law,” 2014
- Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2007, 2009
- Received a Woman of Professional Excellence Award from the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, 2006
- Selected as a member of the Kaleidoscope Magazine 40/40 Club, Class of 2003
Community Activities
- City Club of Cleveland, board president, 2018-2021; board member, 2010 to present
- The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, board member, 2009 to present
- The Codrington Foundation, board member, 2016 to present
- Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Committee, chair, 2024 to present; member, 2011 to present
- The Treu-Mart Fund, board member, 2020 to present
- Cleveland Heritage Medal Selection Committee, 2020 to present
- The Links Incorporated, Western Reserve (OH) Chapter, member, 2012 to present
- Case Western Reserve University President’s Commission on Student Success, member, 2020 to present
- The George Gund Foundation, board member, 2012-2017
- Museum of Contemporary Art – Cleveland (MOCA), board member, 2010-2017
- KnowledgeWorks Foundation, board member, 2020-2022
- Center for Population Dynamics, Cleveland State University, 2015-2019
- Leadership Cleveland, member, Class of 2016
- The Sherwick Fund, board member, 2012-2015
- Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, member, Advisory Committee to Albert A. Levin Chair of Urban Studies, 2001-2011
- Shaker Heights Economic Development Task Force (previously Economic Development Committee), citizen member, 2001-2011
- Campaign for Issue 6 (Cuyahoga County Reform), co-chair, 2009
- Cleveland Housing Network, Inc., secretary and board member, 2001-2006
- Cleveland Bridge Builders, member, Class of 2003
- Karamu House Inc., board member, 2001-2003
Professional Associations
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), member, 2013 to present
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), member
- ICSC Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania Retail Development & Law Symposium Planning Committee, member, 2007 to 2023; co-chair, 2012; lead co-chair, 2013
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, member
Education
- Yale University, J.D., 1997,
Earl Warren/NAACP Legal Defense Fund Scholar
Schell Center for International Human Rights Fellow, 1995
- Harvard University, B.A., 1991, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Ohio
- How To Avoid A Zombie Office Building Apocalypse,
Law360
, July 5, 2023