Overview
Sharena focuses her practice on all aspects of renewable energy real estate transactions, including development and finance matters. She represents energy developers and assists them with negotiating, securing, and reviewing leases, easements, crossing agreements, and other related real property agreements required in the development and operation of solar, wind, and conventional energy projects. Her work includes the purchase and sale of energy projects, as well as the preparation of all real estate contracts necessary to bring such projects to fruition, such as surface leases, wind and solar leases, and easements and crossing agreements. In addition, she drafts and negotiates various real estate transactional documents, such as purchase and sale agreements, deeds, lease agreements, mortgages and deeds of trust, and loan agreements, amongst various others.
In addition to renewable energy transactions, Sharena represents developers, 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, 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 leading them through all aspects of real estate transactions. As a trusted advisor, she assists her clients in achieving their business objectives in the context of the increasingly complex legal environment in which businesses operate today.
Sharena has been recognized by Best Lawyers as “one to watch” in Colorado (Real Estate) for three consecutive years.
Education & Admissions
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law (J.D., 2013),
- Recipient, Margarete E. Schmaltz Endowed Scholarship, 2012 – 2013
- Recipient, Robert Merle Johnson Endowed Scholarship, 2012 – 2013
- Recipient, Sam Cary Endowment Fund (Academic Scholarship), Fall 2011
- Recipient, Robert B. Yegge Scholarship (Full-Tuition Academics Award), 2010 – 2011
- Business Law Society, Vice President, 2011 – 2012
- Corporate Governance and Law Blog, “Race to the Bottom,” Contributor, 2012 – 2013
University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A., Business Management Economics and Legal Studies, 2008),
- International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation Nominee, 2006
- E.O.P. Certificate for Academic Excellence, 2005
- Academic Study Program in Washington, DC, Spring 2008
Admissions
- Colorado
Languages
- English, Spanish
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel, 2012-2012
News & Resources
- Coming to the Neighborhood: Colorado Passes New HOA Laws, Real Estate Transactional and Real Estate Litigation (Co-Author, 2022).
- Changes to Title and Survey Diligence Insurers Don’t Want to Miss, Insurance Thought Leadership Initiative (Co-Author, 2021).
- Inaugural Colorado Diversity, Equity & Inclusion CLE Event, Colorado Diversity Collective (Co-Presenter, 2021).
- Sarafin v. BioMimetic: Statements without Scienter are not Fraudulent, Race to the Bottom - Corporate Governance blog (Contributor, 2013).
- In re Fannie Mae: Potentially Negligent Behavior and Failure to Understand are not Evidence of Scienter, Race to the Bottom - Corporate Governance blog (Contributor, 2012).
- Directed Verdict/Judgment as a Matter of Law, Colorado Courtroom Handbook for Civil Trials (Co-Contributor, 2011).
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceDevelopment & Infrastructure
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceNonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceProject Development & Finance
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Development & Infrastructure
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Lending Transactions
- Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
- Project Development & Finance
- Real Estate & Land Use
Professional & Civic
Community Involvement
- Inclusive Romance Project – Mentee, 2023
- The Write Team Mentorship Program – Mentee, 2023
- Life Art/Dance Ensemble — Board Member, 2018-present; Secretary, 2019-present
- Nonprofit Legal Audit Clinic — Volunteer Attorney, 2014-present
- Denver Young Professionals Financial Literacy Book Club — Organizer, 2021-2023
- Lawyers in the Classroom — Volunteer, 2019-2022
- Colorado Poverty Law Project — Volunteer Attorney, 2019-2022
- Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) of Denver — Member, 2017-20
- Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking — Board Member, 2017
- Jewish Family Service of Colorado — Assisted a Holocaust survivor with obtaining a Victims of War and Post-War Oppression reparation pension from the Polish government, 2015
Accolades
- Best Lawyers® — “Ones to Watch,” Real Estate Law, 2022-24
- Black In House Counsel — Honoree, “Think Like a GC” Senior Associate Program, 2023
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) — Pathfinder Honoree, 2022
- Colorado Chamber of Commerce — Honoree, EXECs Advocacy Leadership Program, 2021