As a paralegal, I provide direct support to the Real Property Law Group team on various aspects of the commercial real estate transaction. With several years of experience in assisting attorneys with real estate and corporate matters, it is my goal to provide efficient, responsive, and thoughtful service to clients.
Background:
Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S. 2008 to 2015 Legal Assistant
B.A., Law, Societies and Justice, University of Washington, 2008
B.S., Public Health, University of Washington, 2008
Contact information:
Caroline Louie, Paralegal
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.625.0048
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: clouie@rp-lawgroup.com
Practice: My practice is focused on condominium and other common interest communities, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, and general real estate development. My common interest community practice includes representing developers forming condominiums and plat communities as well as owner associations and has involved a wide variety of communities, from small commercial and residential communities to more complex commercial, mixed-use, podium, marina leasehold, and phased flats and town home residential communities. For community developers, I assist with preliminary planning, work with the client’s team handling investor, preliminary and final plat approval, and other aspects of the development, and draft unit purchase and sale and related agreements, community formation documents, and the public offering statement. Owner associations come to us to help them with general community management issues, modifying or restating governing documents that no longer fit the community’s needs, construction projects, asset acquisitions, and loans.
Practice Style: As Assistant General Counsel at Sabey Corporation I collaborated with a team of talented architects, engineers and construction professionals to find creative and practical ways to turn real estate problems into opportunities. My goal is to help my clients achieve their objectives through careful listening, team-work, responsiveness, creative problem-solving and practical legal solutions.
Background:
Sax and MacIver (Merged into Karr Tuttle Campbell). Associate 1985 – 1986
Karr, Tuttle, Koch, Campbell. Associate 1986 – 1989
Sabey Corporation. Assistant General Counsel 1989 – 1996.
J.D., The George Washington University School of Law, 1984.
L.L.M., Federal Taxation, The George Washington University School of Law, 1985.
B.A., Gonzaga University, 1979
Member, Washington State Bar
Catherine Torlai is licensed to practice in the State of Washington
Contact information:
Catherine Torlai, Partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.625.1616
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: ctorlai@rp-lawgroup.com
In my nearly 25 years of practicing law, I enjoy serving as a strategic business partner to executive teams on a comprehensive array of business and real estate transactions and strive to bring both sound business judgment and interpersonal skills to the role. In addition to private practice, I have substantial in-house expertise and now provide both growing and mature businesses with corporate counsel services, including serving as outside corporate counsel for clients who are not yet ready to hire a full time General Counsel. Additionally, my real estate practice includes transactions and acquisitions, contract and lease negotiations, financings, new construction projects and operations, entity formation, and joint ventures.
Before joining Real Property Law Group, I served as General Counsel for Aegis Living for over a decade, a privately held real estate development and senior living operator with over 2,500 employees in 3 states, and nearly $250 million in annual operating revenues. In this role, I oversaw all legal aspects of 17 ground up developments, from acquisition, to construction, to opening and leasing, including construction and permanent financing at each stage. I was a key partner in negotiating a joint venture with a private equity investor to acquire 14 properties (over 1,000 units) in a series of transactions valued at over $640 million. In addition to my real estate work and overseeing all legal functions in my role, I enjoyed an active role on the executive leadership team, helping the company to “peek around corners” and meaningfully impact the organization’s profitability and culture.
Prior to joining Aegis Living, I was a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann, where my business practice ranged from advising founders to counselling established companies on myriad corporate issues, including start-up, formation and governance issues, capital raising and acquisitions, general business counselling, and contract negotiations. I also worked with Microsoft Corporation, MSNBC and Aegis Living on various domestic and international business transactions, including a significant mergers and acquisitions practice. In particular, I served as lead counsel to Microsoft Corporation and MSNBC in 25 acquisitions and securities investments.
Background and Education:
• General Counsel, Aegis Living 2011-2023
• Partner, Cairncross and Hempelmann 1999-2011
• J.D., University of Washington, with High Honors, 1999
Activities and societies: Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, Washington Law Review; Moot Court Honor Board Member
• B.A., Dickinson College, Magna Cum Laude 1993
Activities and societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Women’s Varsity Soccer (Div. 3)
Elizabeth Chambers is licensed to practice law in the State of Washington
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Chambers, Partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206-617-1755
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: echambers@rp-lawgroup.com
Elizabeth Chambers – vCard
Practice: Heidi York focuses her legal practice on commercial and residential real estate transactions. She represents clients in a wide range of matters including preparation and negotiation of commercial lease agreements for landlords and tenants and real property purchase and sales including office buildings, industrial parks, retail locations including restaurants, laboratories and medical offices. Heidi also assists clients with cell tower agreements, CC&Rs, easements, title matters, and lease dispute resolutions.
Education and Memberships:
Willamette University College of Law, cum laude, Dean’s Honor List, 2001
University of Portland, cum laude, 1998
Arizona State Bar, member since 2021
Washington State Bar, member since 2006
Oregon State Bar, member since 2001 (inactive)
Licensed to practice in the State of Washington and the State of Arizona
Previous Practice At:
Cairncross and Hempelmann PS, Seattle, Washington Of Counsel 2012-2014
The York Law Firm PLLC, Seattle, Washington Sole Member 2009-2012
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Seattle, Washington Associate 2006-2009
Activities Outside The Law Office Include:
– Make-A-Wish, Alaska and Washington Chapter, Corporate Counsel Position, 2014-2016
– Make-A-Wish, Alaska and Washington Chapter, Corporate Council Chairperson, 2015-2016
– Walk-For-Wishes Team Captain, 2012-2015
– Make-A-Wish Wonder of Wishes Committee Member 2020
– Interests include playing tennis and ice hockey, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors
Contact information:
Heidi York, Partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.457.2516
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: hyork@rp-lawgroup.com
Practice: I have a business undergraduate degree and worked in business for 10 years before attending law school. I have been a lawyer since 1991; I spent my first 7 years in practice as a litigator, sorting out bad deals and representing clients in the federal, state, and bankruptcy courts. These experiences influence my approach to our clients’ deals and problems: I am a member of each client’s business team; my job is to craft the deal or the workout in a way which minimizes disputes, while remaining cognizant of the business forces influencing my client’s decisions. At the same time, I appreciate the need for a careful, meticulous eye for the intricacies of the law.
Practice Style: I enjoy working on complex, real estate and personal property transactions, financings, leasing, and workouts. I draw on my business background to assist our clients with all phases of their projects: due diligence, acquisition, financing, leasing, sales, and troubled properties matters. My clients include both buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, developers and contractors, landlords and tenants, creditors and debtors.
Professional Interests: I enjoy working with professional legal organizations, such as the American Bar Association (ABA), to improve the ethical and professional development of lawyers and create opportunities for lawyers to give back to the community. I served on the ABA’s Board of Governors, where I chaired its Investments Subcommittee. I subsequently chaired the ABA Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight, and then chaired the Board of Editors of the ABA Journal. I have also served as Editor-in-Chief of the ABA’s Business Law Today Magazine, co-chair of its Commercial Law Newsletter, and on the editorial board of the ABA’s GPSolo magazine. Additionally, I am a past-chair of ABA Business Law Section’s Commercial Financial Services Real Estate Financing Subcommittee. Locally, I serve on the King County Bar Association’s Public Policy Committee.
I am a past national chair of the American Bar Foundation Fellows and a special advisor to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. I am a fellow and former regent for the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, a fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and a member of the American Law Institute (currently serving on Restatement of Property (4th)- Consultative Group). I am also a frequent writer and speaker on commercial real estate and finance matters, and am the co- editor of Real Estate Closing Deskbook (3d ed).
Awards: In 2011 I received the ABA Presidential Pro Bono Publico Citation. In 2013 the ABA Business Law Section presented me with the 2013 Jean Allard Glass Cutter Award, which recognized me as the woman business lawyer of the year.
Legal Background:
Real Property Law Group, PLLC 2001-present (member)
Tousley Brain Stephens, PLLC (Seattle)1998-2001, Commercial Real Estate Department (member)
Graham & James/Riddell Williams (Seattle)1991 to 1998, Commerical Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Litigation Departments (associate)
J.D., with honors, University of Washington, 1991 (Moot Court Honor Board; Order of the Barristers)
B.S., Business Management & Industrial Relations, 1988, summa cum laude, Seton Hall University
Kathleen Hopkins is licensed to practice in the State of Washington
Contact information:
Kathleen Hopkins, partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.625.0404
Fax: 206.625.0404
Email: khopkins@rp-lawgroup.com
Office Manager
Loretta Otero is the firm’s Office Manager where she ensures the daily operations run smoothly. Loretta brings over 20 years of administrative experience in Office Management, Human Resources, Accounting, and Records and Information Management. She assists in the development and implementation of firm policies and procedures. She manages and oversees the administration of HR policies, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and financial reports; essentially overseeing every aspect of the finance department. Formerly, Loretta worked with Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC where she worked 11 years and found her passion in accounting. She attended Griffin Business College where her studies focused on Business Administration Management.
Contact information:
Loretta Otero, Office Manager
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.452.1247
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: lotero@rp-lawgroup.com
Practice: Over the last 17 years, my law practice has developed to serve clients active in real estate, hospitality and business. Having worked closely with business owners and general counsel over many years, I understand our clients need to make prompt and well informed business decisions based on trust and confidence in my analysis of the pertinent issues. I use my market knowledge, communication skills and experience working on a variety of high profile, complex projects to advocate for clients, close transactions and achieve fair results.
Real Estate: My primary practice is commercial real estate transactions, including retail, office and industrial leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, real estate finance, real estate development, transit-oriented development, design professional services agreements, and construction contracts.
Hospitality/Business: Further, I assist hospitality and business clients with corporate formation and governance, limited liability company operating agreements, management agreements, franchise agreements, master services agreements, vendor contracts, and liquor licensing.
Construction: Over many years, I have represented owners, developers, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in a wide variety of construction claims. This construction litigation experience has assisted in preparing and negotiating comprehensive construction contracts, master subcontractor agreements, architect agreements, engineering contracts and other construction project documents.
Representative Transactions:
- Assisted large technology company in many corporate campus activities, including negotiating leases and vendor agreements with retailers, restaurants and specialty food vendors, advising on food and beverage regulatory issues and preparing operational agreements with businesses such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Compass USA, Wolfgang Puck and others
- Represented Nordstrom in retail lease negotiations in several shopping centers and mixed use projects
- Negotiated hotel acquisition, financing, franchise and management agreements on behalf of hotel owners and developers
- Represented online retailer in leasing over 1,500,000 square feet of office space and fulfillment facilities
- Prepared corporate merger and governance documents for the Washington Restaurant Association and Washington Lodging Association to become the unified Washington Hospitality Association
- Represented regional healthcare provider in securing over 250,000 square feet of office space and urgent care facilities in downtown high-rise buildings
- Drafted construction contracts and design professional service agreements for Aegis Living, ABKJ, developers, regional healthcare provider, outdoor recreational equipment retailer and other clients
- Closed the acquisition and financing of hotel properties, assisted living facilities, multifamily buildings, single-family residential plats and vacant land
- Restructured financing arrangements and leases in workout conditions for a wide variety of clients in retail, office, industrial and agricultural contexts
- Advised the Washington Hospitality Association and its members on a variety of restaurant, liquor and hospitality issues
Background:
Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S., Principal, Real Estate Practice Chair, Retail Hotel Restaurant Industry Leader
Carney Badley Spellman, P.S., Associate, Real Estate, Construction, Litigation
University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 1999
University of Washington, B.A., with Honors, 1996
Washington State Bar Association, Member
Best Lawyers Award Recipient, U.S. News & World Report
Super Lawyers Award Recipient, Super Lawyers Magazine
Sandip Soli is licensed to practice in the State of Washington
Contact information:
Sandip Soli, Partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.625.0049
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: ssoli@rp-lawgroup.com
Practice: My practice over the last 20 years has been focused on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, real estate development, finance, real estate management and other operational issues. My clients have included entrepreneurs, investors, pension funds and corporate owners of real estate. I have negotiated in excess of 5 million square feet of office, industrial, warehouse, retail leases, and build-to-suit lease transactions for both landlords and tenants and have negotiated and closed acquisitions and dispositions in excess of $800 million worth of real estate with transactions ranging in size from $1 million to over $68 million.
Practice Style: My primary goal is to become a trusted advisor to my clients through clear communication, good listening skills, responsiveness and the consistent exercise of good business judgment and discretion. I constantly seek value-add propositions in-line with the goals of my clients and bring to every new deal substantial experience and knowledge gained throughout my career to provide the most market-sensitive, efficient and practical advice possible.
Representative Transactions:
- Represented institutional landlord in connection with a build-to-suit lease transaction with Subaru of America for over 400,000 square feet
- Represented local online retailer in connection with a build-to-suit warehouse facility in Reno, NV
- Represented a national homebuilder in connection with the negotiation and acquisition of over 40 properties in a 10 month period
- Represented developer of mixed use project in connection with negotiating anchor grocery store lease critical for obtaining financing and investor commitments to fund construction
- Represented institutional landlord in connection with a warehouse lease for Amazon
- Represented landlord in connection with the lease for a new Tom Douglas restaurant serving as the anchor retail tenant in a mixed use project
- Represented landlord in connection with a 50,000 square foot lease with Wells Fargo N.A. in less than two weeks including requirement to obtain the ground lessor’s approval
- Represented owners and landlords in deals with numerous Fortune 100 and other repeat players and sophisticated parties such as Chrysler, Fort James Corporation, Colgate-Palmolive, IKEA, T-Mobile, Icebreaker, Panda Express, Netflix, Mission Foods, Ernst & Young, University of Phoenix, DeVry, Metzler Real Estate, Washington Capital Management, Bentall Kennedy, Trammell Crow Company
Background:
Seattle University School of Law, J.D. 1994
Oakland University, B.A. 1990
Member, Oregon State Bar since 2008
Member, Urban Land Institute
A/V rated by Martindale Hubbell Law Directory
Seattle’s Top Lawyers by Seattle Met Magazine for 2010
Seattle’s Top Lawyers by Seattle Magazine for 2003
Staci Snyder is licensed to practice in the State of Washington and State of Oregon
Contact information:
Staci Snyder, Partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.972.4980
Fax: 206.625.0376
Email: ssnyder@rp-lawgroup.com
Practice:
Cheryl’s practice is focused on commercial leasing for both landlords and tenants, commercial and residential property management, commercial real estate and personal property transactions, and financing as well as transactional legal services for small businesses and family offices.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Cheryl was a marketing director at Microsoft, small business owner, engineer at Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, and founding council member of City of Shoreline. She obtained her JD, MBA and undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington. Her education and breadth of professional experiences enable her to bring a unique perspective, insight, and approach to assisting her clients. Cheryl’s clients have praised her out-of-the-box thinking and practical legal solutions. She leverages over two decades of business experience to holistically understand the clients’ issues to deliver legal counsel. One of her clients wrote “your energy is infectious, and your solution orientation is something that I admire greatly.”
Background and Education:
In-House Counsel to Ballmer Group, 2017-2021
Legal Advisor to Korean Consulate General in Seattle, 2018-2019
Helsell Fetterman LLP, Associate, Business and Real Estate
Legal Intern at Amazon
Recipient of Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation’s “Living Pioneer Award” and International Examiner’s “Community Voices Award”
J.D., University of Washington School of Law
MBA, University of Washington Foster School of Business
BSME, University of Washington School of Engineering
Cheryl is licensed to practice in the State of Washington
Professional and Community Service:
Washington State Bar Association, Member
Korean American Bar Association, Member
- President (2019-2020)
- Chair & Volunteer, KCSC Pro Bono Legal Clinic (2017-Present)
- Board Member (2018-present)
Asian Bar Association of Washington, Member
American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services
Seattle Symphony, Secretary of the Board of Directors (2019-present)
Shoreline Community College Foundation, Board Member (2017-present)
University of Washington School of Law, Moot Court Contracts Negotiation Competition Judge
University of Washington Foster School of Business, MBA Mentor
Contact information:
Cheryl Lee, partner
Real Property Law Group, PLLC
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 654
Seattle, Washington 98101
Direct: 206.584.2594
Cell: 206.234.4412
Email: clee@rp-lawgroup.com
Cheryl Lee – vCard
Vince has retired from the practice of law. The other members of the RPLG team are ready to assist and can be reached at their contact information on this website.
Background:
Real Property Law Group, PLLC 2001-2021
Tousley Brain Stephens, PLLC 1985 to 2001, Real Estate Department. Former Managing Partner
J.D., Hastings College of Law, 1985
M.A., Department of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley, 1985
B.A., History, University of Massachusetts, 1979