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Overview
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Experience
Introduction
Sharona advises a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, commercial mortgage-backed securities special servicers, startups, and families, on a range of real estate transactions.
Sharona Toobian advises clients on leasing, acquisition, and financing of real estate matters. Drawing on her experience representing both sides of various transaction types—such as landlords and tenants, buyers and sellers, and borrowers and lenders—she offers knowledgeable insights to her clients.
Sharona negotiates primary deal agreements and advises on title, survey, and other due diligence matters for retail, office, hotel, and residential properties. She handles a variety of deal types and sizes, including real estate components of large corporate deals, small office leases for startups, large anchor-tenant retail leases, and the disposition or acquisition of residential property for families. Sharona’s work is defined by her thoughtful interactions with clients and negotiation of deals through their completion. She helps ensure that all details are handled and that all parties fulfill their obligations.
Sharona's pro bono practice includes representing a nonprofit community center on real estate property tax matters, a survivor in a complex domestic violence matter, a family in an adoption case, and a nonprofit in the acquisition and operation of a home in Los Angeles for development into affordable housing. Sharona also participates in the Bet Tzedek Small Business Development Project and the Self-Help Conservatorship Clinic.
Education & credentials
- UCLA School of Law, J.D., Business Law and Policy specialization, 2010
- Brandeis University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2005
- California
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Associate, 2011-2013
- Office of County Counsel, Los Angeles, CA, Property Division Law Clerk, 2008
Professional recognition
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Real Estate Law, 2023-2025
Named a “Rising Star” by Georgetown Law Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, 2018
Impact
- Perkins Coie Real Estate & Land Use Retreat Planning Committee, Chair, 2022
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Community Leadership Institute, Participant, 2015-2016; Track Co-chair, 2017-2018; Advisory Board, 2019-present Caring for Jews in Need, Committee Member, 2019 Real Estate & Construction (REC) Network, Cabinet Member, 2020-2021
- UCLA School of Law, Transactional Law Competition Course Mentor, Fall 2017
- Anti-Defamation League, Glass Leadership Institute, 2015-2016
- Represented renewable energy developers in landmark projects on real estate, general corporate, project finance, and mergers and acquisitions issues. Deals included representation of developers in $2 billion financing of a wind project in Oregon, the largest wind project in the world in 2010; $2 billion financing of a solar thermal project in Nevada, the largest solar-thermal project in the world in 2011; and $2 billion sale of two solar projects in California, the largest solar project in the world in 2013.*
*Prior experience
- Represented a purchaser/borrower in the acquisition/financing of a $25 million senior home in Los Angeles.
- Represented a lender in originating a $13 million acquisition loan for a boutique hotel in Los Angeles.
- Represented a lender in originating a $6 million acquisition loan for a hotel in Las Vegas.
- Represented landlords and tenants in the negotiation of hundreds of leases and lease amendments for retail (including anchor tenants, gyms, and restaurants), office, and industrial spaces across the United States.
- Represented a national restaurant chain in the sale/leaseback of 150 restaurants with a combined portfolio value of more than $550 million with three different purchasers. Representation included transfer tax analysis in several jurisdictions.
- Represented a buyer/lessor in the sale/leaseback of two office buildings in San Francisco.
- Represented a buyer/borrower in the acquisition/financing of a downtown Salt Lake City hotel and a downtown Minneapolis hotel.