2026 Women in CRE: Featured Company - Bernkopf
We’re proud to recognize Lydia Chesnick, April (Wilmar) DaSuta, Sheryl Starr, Meredith Swisher, and Brooke Foster for their incredible contributions to Bernkopf. Each attorney brings distinct strengths, perspectives and experience that strengthen our team and the way we serve our clients across the commercial real estate industry. They excel at what they do, support the people around them, and make a meaningful impact on our clients and our firm every day.
Partner
What professional accomplishment or experience are you especially proud of?
I represent multi-generational families in the thoughtful transition of real estate and high value assets to the next generation. My work requires understanding each family’s history, values and goals as well as a long-term vision to preserve and build upon assets that the prior generation worked arduously to create. I provide strategic, personalized guidance to protect family interests, facilitate succession from one generation to the next, and build a framework that preserves wealth for future generations. While outcomes can differ, the process is meaningful and rewarding.
Partner
What has helped shape the way you approach your work and career?
I have learned how important it is to build strong relationships and invest time in understanding each client’s business, goals, priorities and risk tolerance. When you understand what matters most to a client, you can negotiate more effectively and develop solutions that align with the client’s broader objectives. That understanding makes it especially meaningful to work with clients from the outset. Being part of their growth, from where they started to where they want to go, and continuing to work with them as their businesses evolve, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
Partner
What are you most excited about in your work or the commercial real estate industry right now?
Commercial real estate litigation sits at the intersection of law and business. The most rewarding matters are often those where resolving a legal issue creates a clear path forward for a development or transaction. I’m excited about how technology, particularly AI, is changing the way real estate professionals and lawyers approach complex problems and find practical solutions for clients.
Partner
What are you most excited about in your work or the commercial real estate industry right now?
I’m excited by the transformations taking place across commercial real estate. I see tremendous opportunity in the redevelopment and repositioning of properties, particularly as communities rethink how office and other underused spaces can serve new purposes. I’m also encouraged by the next generation of women entering the industry. Their energy, creativity, and willingness to challenge traditional approaches give me great optimism about what’s ahead.
Associate
What advice or perspective would you share with women building their careers in commercial real estate?
The first few years in the profession may feel like learning a foreign language at times. There is a lot to learn, and it’s easy to compare yourself to more experienced professionals and forget how far you’ve come. Stay curious, ask questions and embrace that push outside your comfort zone. Don’t let the early moments of uncertainty convince you that you don’t belong, because you do. Confidence comes from experience, and experience comes from taking on new challenges. Once you gain confidence and find your voice, use it to advocate for yourself and ease the path for women who come after you.