Women in Real Estate 2020: Black Creek Group’s Stefanie Sommers is Exceptional CRE Attorney

Black Creek Group’s Stefanie Sommers is an exceptional and entrepreneurial commercial real estate attorney. She serves as Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Denver-based firm.

She constantly works to find creative ways to execute deals in the most efficient and effective manner. Her ability to think abstractly, when examining each transaction the firm is considering, allows Sommers to handle the legal aspects of a large volume of real estate acquisitions, including the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements and legal diligence.

For example, in 2019, the legal team examined more than 13 million square feet of acquisitions for the firm and closed 64 separate acquisitions for a total purchase price of $1.8 billion. Additionally, Sommers is responsible for the legal aspects of Black Creek Group’s credit facilities, secured loans, construction loans and other financing arrangements. Finally, she helps oversee the legal aspects of Black Creek’s asset management department, which negotiated 235 leases and amendments for approximately 11 million square feet in 2019.

Sommers has earned the respect and trust of colleagues through an ability to execute. She approaches each transaction with a ‘will do’ attitude and enjoys working through unique challenges. She believes that if there is a will, there’s a way. She stands out from counterparts for her remarkable work ethic and commitment to being a dependable resource to the firm.

These are just a few of the reasons we chose Sommers as one of the 2020 Women in Real Estate Award winners in Phoenix & the Southwest. Connect Media’s Women in Real Estate Awards honor the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected positions of leadership and play key mentorship roles for others.

Sommers also finds time to help young professionals explore career opportunities and offers hands-on experience within commercial real estate law. She currently mentors’ women at the firm through the Women’s Network at Black Creek Group (WNBC), an organization committed to providing professional development opportunities for the women within Black Creek and the business community. She is an advocate for both their personal and professional growth.

Sommers formerly served as the President of the WNBC and oversaw the expansion of the program to include women in undergraduate and graduate programs. This included the development of partnerships with the University of Colorado and the University of Denver to increase opportunities for women in the commercial real estate industry. Ms. Sommers now serves on the advisory board of the WNBC. She is also a mentor to City Year AmeriCorps volunteers.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser