Overview
Barbara Schmitt, a Director, currently concentrates her practice in leasing representing major landlords in their office portfolios in Washington, DC and Boston. She has extensive knowledge of the issues facing landlords and tenants in large and small-scale leasing for office, retail and industrial uses, and also has experience in representing developers of commercial properties through all phases of acquisition, permitting, environmental approvals, construction and initial lease-up. Having represented lenders and borrowers in large and medium-size commercial real estate financings, Barbara also has extensive experience with traditional and alternative financing strategies. This broad base of knowledge enables her to understand the needs and underlying motivations of all parties to a lease transaction, thereby bringing it to a fast and effective resolution.
Representative Experience
· Ongoing representation of Beacon Capital Partners in its office leasing in metropolitan Washington, DC and Boston.
· Representation of Wells REIT II in its office leasing in Washington, DC.
· Ongoing representation of Boston Properties in its office leasing, including initial lease-up of 111 Huntington Ave., Boston and recent 230K rsf interrelated leases at the Prudential Center, Boston.
· Coordination and oversight of lease-related due diligence for Beacon Capital Partners in its property and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions.
· Representation of Equity Office Properties in its office leasing.
Professional and Community Involvement
· Faculty, Georgetown University Master's in Real Estate Program (Leasing Course)
· Instructor, Boston University Center for Professional Education
· Instructor, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education
· Former member of Board of Directors, Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW Network)
· Former Steering Committee Member and Chair of Community Involvement Committee, New England Women in Real Estate (NEWIRE)
· Alumna, Crow Point Marching Kazoo Band
Awards and Recognition
· Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent TM
· Top Women Lawyers in the Northeast, Real Estate, Martindale Hubbell, 2011
Advisories
May 2009
FDIC May Not Honor Letters of Credit Issued by Failed Banks
Publications & Mentions
December 2011
Demystifying the Proposed Lease Accounting Changes
July 2011
Proposed Lease Accounting Changes: What's All the Fuss About?
April 2011
"Companies will have to Report their Real Estate Leases as a Financial Asset - a Change that is more than just Bookkeeping," Washington Business Journal
Seminars & Events
July 2011
"Mid-Atlantic Education: FASB Follow-up Luncheon," CoreNet
2011-Present
Commercial Leasing Course, Georgetown University Master's in Real Estate Program, Faculty
2009-Present
Greater Boston Real Estate Board: 12 Hour CE Course
2003 - Present
Commercial Real Estate Basics Course, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Instructor and Co-Chair
2007-2010
Fundamentals of Real Estate Transactions Course, Boston University Center for Professional Education, Instructor