2026 Women in CRE: Featured Company - Davis Malm

At Davis Malm, we value the women within every practice group, as their leadership and expertise directly drive the success of our clients and our firm. Our commercial real estate team champions this excellence, proving that collaboration, skill, passion, client focus, creativity, and mentorship are keys to successful outcomes. This team brings knowledge and experience to clients involved in construction and development; land use, zoning and permitting; leasing; transactions; and litigation matters. We are proud to have this exceptional team of women representing our firm – and our clients.

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What advice or perspective would you share with women building their careers in CRE?
My advice is to build relationships and to become extremely good at what you do. Much of the industry is driven around referrals, relationships, hard work, and being at the top of your game. Have good mentors, don’t burn bridges and be as informed as you possibly can be. Real estate is a relationship business, and if you lay the foundation for becoming a “go to” person who can get things done, the business will follow.

What professional accomplishment or experience are you especially proud of?
As a corporate and real estate transaction attorney, I can’t identify one specific matter. However, in the aggregate, serving as the first female managing partner of Davis Malm and having a successful practice—doing what I love with excellent colleagues, inspirational mentors, and fantastic clients—has been an incredibly fulfilling journey.

What has helped shape the way you approach your work and career?
My parents initially inspired me, because they were incredibly honorable people with remarkable work ethics. They instilled in my siblings and me the value of following the rules, doing what is right and not acting with selfish intent. I also have an insatiable interest in learning and reading, and I always enjoy an intellectual challenge. Working with amazing clients and colleagues, assisting others, and doing what is honorable in my parents’ memory are what keep me inspired.

What are you most excited about in your work or the commercial real estate industry right now?
I am excited about opportunities for innovation in commercial real estate and adaptive reuse and sustainability. Older buildings facing rising vacancy rates can be repositioned into mixed-use, retail, or residential spaces offering tremendous value. Developments in new technology are accelerating these conversions and breathing life into underutilized assets.

What professional accomplishment or experience are you especially proud of?
In a breach of contract dispute, I successfully argued for lis pendens and real estate attachment by establishing that a lease proposal could be enforceable. I persuaded the court that, although it contemplated a future agreement, the proposal contained material terms sufficient to be treated like an offer to purchase.

What advice or perspective would you share with women building their careers in commercial real estate?
Treat your clients’ matters as your own. Doing so makes you a stronger advocate and more compassionate attorney. Lawyers should be more than legal advocates; we should serve as trusted advisors, consultants, and, at times, friends. Good lawyering requires judgment, creativity, problem-solving, and anticipating issues before they arise.

What are you most excited about in your work or the commercial real estate industry right now?
Zoning reform has been a focal point of the public and the Legislature in recent years, especially in 2026. I am looking forward to helping clients navigate the new amendments to the zoning statute, and any other changes to the regulatory scheme that may arise, to achieve their intended outcomes.

What professional accomplishment or experience are you especially proud of?
Any time I can help take a weight off a client’s shoulders is among my proudest moments. Whether fixing a title issue, getting a project permitted, or resolving a neighbor dispute, it is fulfilling to see clients able to move forward.

What advice or perspective would you share with women building their careers in commercial real estate?
Understand the project beyond the legal standpoint. Real estate projects are often a team effort, so try to absorb as much knowledge as you can from other team members —the engineers, architects, and owners.