Sharena Smith

Sharena focuses her practice on all aspects of energy real estate transactions, including development and finance matters. She represents energy developers and power suppliers, and assists them with negotiating and reviewing real estate agreements, and preparing and reviewing project development plans required in the development and operation of solar, wind, battery storage, and conventional energy projects. Her work includes:

• Purchasing and selling energy projects, as well as preparing all real estate contracts necessary to bring such projects to fruition, such as surface leases, wind and solar leases, and easements and crossing agreements.
• Drafting and negotiating various real estate transactional documents such as purchase and sale agreements, deeds, lease agreements, mortgages and deeds of trust, loan agreements, and more.
• Reviewing surveys and title insurance commitments, zoning, and preparing title curative work in connection with such transactions.

In addition to renewable energy transactions, Sharena represents developers, landlords and tenants, national banking institutions, private lenders, nonprofit organizations, equity investors, community development entities, and real estate investment trusts with their general real estate needs. As such, she reviews and analyzes numerous due diligence items, some of which include corporate documents, title and survey objections (and other curative work), environmental issues, zoning and land use issues, permitting, construction contracts, lease agreements, loan agreements, and intercreditor agreements.

Sharena has previously assisted with negotiating complex lending arrangements, including Renewable Energy Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and other tax-incentivized credit transactions. With a wealth of experience as a matter specialist, Sharena is well-versed in navigating the ever-changing real estate markets.

Further, she is passionate about advancing her clients’ business interests and goals by deftly leading them through all aspects of real estate transactions. As a trusted advisor, she is deeply committed to helping her clients achieve their business objectives in an increasingly complex legal environment.

Best Lawyers has recognized her multiple times as “One to Watch” in Real Estate Law.