2025 Women in CRE: Meredith Swisher, Bernkopf

What drew you to commercial real estate, and what keeps you passionate? I love a challenge, especially the kind presented by complicated title and real estate disputes that require focus and great attention to detail. Resolving an issue and finding a path forward for a client when a situation initially appears daunting or even impossible is both exciting and incredibly rewarding.

What’s a challenge you faced early in your career, and how did you overcome it? Early in my career, like many women litigators, I was often mistaken for or simply treated as support staff rather than recognized as lead counsel. I overcame this through persistence and zealous representation of my clients and am thrilled to see that while unconscious bias still exists, meaningful progress is occurring in our industry.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate? I would encourage any woman considering a career in commercial real estate to nurture and grow her network, and to find a mentor who can provide strategic guidance and open doors to new opportunities. I would also encourage her to stay current on market trends, as understanding the market will strengthen her credibility. Lastly, I recommend that women pursuing a career in real estate become active in a professional association for women in the industry, where they can grow their networks and access valuable resources.