Justice K Barber
Partner – Real Estate
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

 

Description of field of expertise

Clients face a rapidly changing environment heavily impacted by the advancement of technologies that influence where and how people choose to live, work, and commute—which all affect investment and leasing strategies. Justice has a strong understanding of the traditional matters clients confront. She stays at the forefront of new challenges and opportunities so she can provide timely guidance to clients regarding how their businesses may be impacted and propose appropriate responses.

Justice represents institutional investors, developers, lenders, and private fund sponsors with acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and financing of office, industrial, retail, senior care, multifamily, and other real estate assets. 

Justice provides counsel regarding the structuring and formation of partnerships, and limited liability companies for the purpose of owning, developing, and managing various real estate assets. Her practice also includes guiding clients in connection with joint ventures and general corporate governance matters. In addition to representing her clients in their core real estate transactions, she also works with clients to develop transactional processes and forms to maximize efficiency, reduce errors, and improve outcomes for her clients.

Justice advises a diverse range of clients. These include institutional investors, developers, lenders, and private fund sponsors in their wide-ranging types of investments. This experience has provided Justice with the insight to properly guide clients to the best result in connection with their acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and financing of a multitude of asset classes in several different geographic locations.

Justice presents the legal analysis and options to her clients, alongside the practical risks, so they can make informed decisions that are in line with their institution’s objectives and risk profile. She is skilled at communicating both key legal and business matters so that different client stakeholders thoroughly understand the issues and feel confident in their ultimate decisions.

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Real estate law is a multifaceted practice. Early in your career, take steps to be involved with a variety of the concentrations represented in real estate transactions (such as acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and financing work) so that you gain a better understanding of the practice areas and how they are important to the success of each client’s business. It’s perfectly normal to feel a bit overwhelmed when you’re starting out. Embrace the learning curve and know that it is a part of your growth process. Take the opportunity to ask questions about changes in drafts. That way, you’ll understand the larger context around the issues and apply that knowledge in future transactions. In addition to refining your craft with coworkers, consider joining industry or legal organizations so that you can make valuable connections outside of work. Those relationships can ultimately benefit you in your professional career and personal life.