VOLUME 3

Inspirational Women in Real Estate

2

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

Introduction

The Real Estate Industry sometimes suffers from a lack of female Role Models. For this reason, we are proud to present, in honour of International Women’s day, the third edition of our Inspirational Women in Real Estate booklet. By continuing to highlight the stories of some of our women in Real Estate around the world, we hope to make our small contribution to engendering a more gender balanced industry. This year, we will hear from:

Antoine MercierCo-chair Global Real Estate PracticeParis

John SullivanCo-chair Global Real Estate Practice and SectorBoston

• Gabriela Alaña, Mexico

• Filipa Arobas Silva, Portugal

• Carlotta Benigni, Italy

• Kirsy Corten, The Netherlands

• Lilian Duan, China

• Davida Dunphy, New Zealand

• Alanna Hasek, UK

• Maxine Hicks, USA

• Mirjam Hinskens-van Neck, The Netherlands

• Katie Jacobson, UK

• Anne Kinyanjui, Kenya

• Alison Mitchell, USA

• Jo Owen, UK

• Fatima Rico-Villademoros, Spain

• Nicola de Sylva, UAE

We hope you enjoy reading their stories, and join us in seeking to promote inclusive work environments and equal opportunities for all. Together, we can change the face of the Real Estate Sector for the better.

Susheela RiversCo-chair Global Real Estate SectorHong Kong

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?There are 2 main things that I love about real estate. The first one is the fact that every real estate deal is different from the others. Even though there are similarities and that there are principles applicable to all real estate projects, each one is unique. Each project is different, the parties involved have different requirements to meet and different needs to satisfy and that allows me to be creative on finding a suitable legal solution for each project. The second one is that I love looking materialized my work in finished and up and running office buildings, shopping centres, houses, hotels, and industrial warehouses; witnessing my work in physical results is cool!

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?I hardly picture myself being anything else but a lawyer because I simply love what I do. Probably in another life I would give medicine a chance, most likely I would be a veterinarian because I am an animal lover!!!

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? Dare to be part of a practice that will challenge your creativity but at the same time will give you a great satisfaction when you see that all your hard work has been materialized not just in a bunch of bricks but in projects that have produced hundreds of jobs during and after their construction and that will be enjoyed by many people afterwards.

What’s your next biggest challenge?On a personal level, my next biggest challenge will be learning how to be a mom of a soon-to-be adolescent. I guess the pile of pending readings is about the get bigger and the organizational skills have to improve because adolescence is a stage in which children need even more attention. On a professional level, a big challenge is to attract more clients in a year in which the growth forecast of the real estate industry is not the best; anyway this is part of the difficulties that any sector faces every now and then.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? I deeply enjoy traveling with my family; we try to visit a new place every year. Being a partner and a working mom brings of course great challenges because the more activities and responsibilities you have, the more challenging is to allocate time to meet all demands in your life, but do not die in the attempt! Some tips that have worked for me are, being organized, setting up and training a team at the office and at home, and delegating those tasks that are not strictly necessary to be carried out by you. Do not try to be perfect (it is exhausting and unrealistic) and more importantly enjoy what you do!

Describe yourself in 3 words: Determined, tenacious, tireless

3

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

Gabriela AlañaPartnerMexico City

4

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?A journalist. What fascinates me in the world of journalism is the ability to have the sensitivity to suit the different events of life and demonstrating that in their reports. Being a good journalist is not about believing and showing that one knows everything, it is about constantly being open to knowing more, to having the humility to listen to different viewpoints. It is about always wanting to learn something new from any situation or from different types of people; from children to an elderly person, from all walks of life. A lawyer and a journalist are perhaps considered opposing professions, not least because the first defends legal confidentiality and the second supports the dissemination of information but, in the end, they belong to the same world, the world of communication.

What led you to working in law? My father. He is a lawyer and a true inspiration in the world of law. Since I was a little girl I remember looking at him and the stories related to his profession that made me want to become like him and try to make, a difference in this world.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? To all women who intend to have a career in Real Estate I advise them to be credible and organised, to define their professional and personal priorities, to have self-esteem, power of communication, persuasion, assume responsibilities, and have the ability to adapt.

What’s your next biggest challenge?To start a family. This will be a big challenge since from then on my life and my decisions will not be only about me as Filipa but as a woman, mother and lawyer.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?I try to innovate every day. It excites me to have a job where what you read, write and communicate is of interest to other people. But more than that, being a lawyer in real estate sector is to know, appreciate and respect diverse cultures, their languages and needs in the built environment.

Describe yourself in 3 words: Practical, truthful and committed

Filipa Arobas SilvaSenior AssociateLisbon

5

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

What led you to working in law?There are pictures of me at 3 years old drawing on the income tax return forms that were around my house due to my parents’ jobs, so I think it was already all set! Jokes apart, I chose to attend Bocconi University in Milan before even choosing what exactly I would like to do. Then I became fond of tax law more than other economics subjects, and I decided I to become a tax lawyer. This may sound strange, but I think tax law can be really captivating.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them?I do not really have a single role model. I like to take the best from the people I have encountered on my journey. If I had to say in one sentence, it would probably be a comment from one real estate lawyer I know. It was more than 10 years ago and I was at the beginning of my career. He was mentioned among the 40 most influential lawyers in real estate around

the globe. When I sent over my congratulations to him, he simply said “these are not the important things”. This can be interpreted differently, but my personal take on it is: what we do is not to gain some ranking, what matters in the end is doing your best, and being able to obtain the trust of your clients thanks to what you do day-by-day.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate?Even if times are changing, this is still a man’s world and sometimes it can be difficult for younger, talented women. However, what I can say with confidence is that you can have a brilliant career and a full personal life if you want. Do not listen to people that say that if you want to have successful career you have to sacrifice to your personal life. Before my pregnancy I thought my life was already too full, and that I could never manage the additional work

and pressure that a baby brings. Instead, I found out that women have great organisation skills, which are often underestimated, and that everything is possible if you organise yourself and set your goals clearly.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?I began working in real estate by chance when I joined DLA Piper back in 2008. I immediately found it exciting, dealing with so many colleagues from other practices every day. Real estate is a wider world: you can go from a simple asset deal to complex transactions involving financing, funds and corporate. More importantly, I like that the real estate community is a small world! When a deal kicks off and you already know at least 2 or 3 of the people involved, it is such a pleasure. And people from the real estate industry know how to have fun…which other sector has one of its main events in Cannes?!

Describe yourself in 3 words: Determined, problem-solver and often stubborn (ask my husband…)

Carlotta BenigniTax DirectorMilan

6

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?For a long time I was convinced I would be a veterinarian, but in the end I wrote that dream off because I can’t handle blood! I truly believe that being a lawyer really showcases my best characteristics, but if I had to choose another job, I would go for a leadership position in an inspiring and international environment. I really enjoy being around ambitious, supportive people with different backgrounds.

What led you to working in law?When I was about 15 years old, my interest in the legal profession was piqued. I undertook a week-long internship with an experienced lawyer and various aspects of his job attracted me very much. The alternation between the substantive work on the one hand and the commercial aspects on the other seemed very interesting to me. In addition, I had an affinity with language from an early age so working with words appealed to me.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them?This definitely sounds like a cliché, but my parents were superb role models. My father taught me that hard work is always rewarded, and from my mother I learned that you have to choose the path that makes you happiest. I really think that they deserve this shout out, for all their support and understanding during the past years.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? I would give them the same advice I would give to other women (or men) at the beginning of their careers. Don’t focus too much on others, and keep your own values and goals in mind. Try to keep a good balance between work and private life, but also accept that you simply cannot manage your agenda 24/7. Try to figure out at an early stage which things give you energy and share this with the people you are working for, so they will be able to give you the right opportunities in that respect.

What’s your next biggest challenge?I have only been a lawyer for a relatively short time, so there will be a lot of challenges on my path. In the coming years I would like to broaden my knowledge and improve my soft skills and I also hope to gain some experience in the training of team members. I am also looking forward to getting more involved in business development and to bringing my first client in!

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?Real estate is a very interesting and multifaceted sector that is constantly changing and evolving. The market is changing, the players are changing, the rules and regulations are changing. This is a world in which you won’t get bored easily and although this industry was initially dominated by men, I see more and more inspiring women in various roles in real estate.

Kirsy CortenAssociateAmsterdam

Describe yourself in 3 words: Loyal, enthusiastic and competitive

7

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be? An artist or a designer

What led you to working in law? It was fate I think; law was not my first choice But I eventually realised I really enjoyed practising the law and applying it to real life situations.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time?

I enjoy traveling to exotic places and spending time with my family. Socialising frequently with other parents and being actively involved in school activities can help to remind you that you need to be an important

part of children’s lives when they are growing up. And get a good nanny if you can! My husband is also a partner with a major international law firm and we have two small children. It is certainly tough to manage having two busy lawyers in the family, but we do try our best to do fun family things together, like playing board games with the kids in the evening. Last year we took the kids to East Africa on a safari trip, it was the most amazing trip we have ever had.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? Susheela Rivers (Co-Chair, Global Real Estate Sector) has been a long-time role model for me. She has amazing commercial judgement and is great with clients. She also taught me to always remain optimistic and be charming even when facing the hardest challenges.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? The market can go through significant ups and downs and staying close to clients all the time and is key to weathering those fluctuations. Really take the time to understand their business and the way the think.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector? Driving around town and seeing all the buildings and developments that I have helped to finance or sell!

Lilian DuanPartnerShanghai

Describe yourself in 3 words: Passionate, virtuous, strong-minded

8

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?Assuming I have missed my shot to compete on the professional tennis circuit – I admire my entrepreneur friends who have managed to combine intrepid travel, business and family. I would love to spend a year in their shoes. One friend sources global food products, travelling as a family off the beaten track in the school holidays e.g. discovering peppers in Chilli, cheeses in France or oils in Italy, which they bring back to NZ and market into the F&B scene. It has always produced some fabulously enviable stories.

What led you to working in law? I always wanted to make things and saw law as an opportunity to be part of a team, developing great buildings. I grew up surrounded by plans and hard hats (my father was a quantity surveyor, expert witness and arbitrator). The law side seemed a lot more fun than counting bricks and enabled me to be involved in multiple projects at once.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? Outside of work it is all about my three children and not sitting down at a desk or looking at a screen. Skiing, sailing, swimming, sunshine, friends, food and wine. I find it impossible to balance competing demands and instead try to blend what I can. I contract out everything I don’t enjoy (time is precious), live close to work (so I can go from the school book parade to a client meeting within five minutes), let my older children come into the office to do their homework or come onto site to see the projects I am working on, and invite clients to things I want to go to.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them?When I was a General Counsel my CEO was an expert in client relations and taking the time to ensure he really understood a situation before reacting. As lawyers we

are often so eager to fix an issue, or offer a solution within constrained timeframes, that we don’t necessarily take the time to stand back. I also learned a lot from American sports coaches who projected positive energy to push all individuals rather than focusing on a few and then criticising their faults.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? It’s a great industry with many transferable skills and an exciting future as ways of working, communities and prop tech develop. The old boys network is still strong in the wider industry but with more and more women entering, progressing and being recognised, together we can change things.

Davida DunphyPartnerAuckland

Describe yourself in 3 words: Thoughtful, sincere and diligent

9

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?As anyone who has worked with me probably knows, I love coming up with recommendations for people on where they should go on holiday so I would probably have to work in the travel industry. Some of my happiest memories were when I lived in other countries and I would have loved to travel around the world reviewing wonderful hotels and restaurants. Unfortunately, having a young family has limited by international exploits a little for the time being so becoming a travel guru is probably off the cards for now!

What led you to working in law? Honestly, I fell into it. No-one in my family had been to university let alone become a lawyer so I didn’t have any real understanding of what the job entailed. I liked words more than numbers and wanted to work in an industry where there was an opportunity to work with people and have an international outlook. As soon as I started my law conversion, I realised how much happier I was doing something with practical application rather than just theory. I got offered a training contract after my first vacation scheme and never looked back.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? I have worked with some fantastic people but it’s still my dad! He left school at 16 and worked his way up from nothing to being a CEO of a FTSE listed company but was still there for my sister and me as we grew up. He worked at one company for over 45 years. We talk a lot about people having portfolio careers, how to innovate and how technology can be used to manage and streamline work. Whilst these are clearly important, we sometimes lose sight of “old fashioned” values. Through him I have seen how important values such as hard work, loyalty, generosity and networks are and how these can be a very powerful basis on which to build a career.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? Don’t let the typical image of it being a male dominated sector put you off; go for it. I think it’s a great time to be a female in real estate with a lot of willingness to see change and encourage more women to be in senior

roles. When taking part in the debut Estates Gazette future female leaders’ programme this year, I was amazed that our TED-X style presentation evening on the future of the industry was the best selling event they have that year with over 400 attendees from across the sector. Secondly, be yourself, be confident and allow people to see the value you can add.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?As a child I loved looking through the property section of newspapers and magazines and I still feel the same when I look through an information memorandum or brochure for a new deal. I love how tangible the work is. Real estate impacts on everyone’s life and walking along the street and seeing projects that I have worked on makes me buzz. I also really enjoy the variety of work in the sector. This year I have worked on a bid to acquire a student accommodation business, a data centre project and a very high value letting of film studios. I feel privileged to be working in a team with some of the best deals in the market.

Alanna Hasek Senior Associate London

Describe yourself in 3 words: Team-player, energetic and pragmatic

10

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

What led you to working in law? I was an accounting and management major as an undergraduate and initially pursued a law degree to advance my CPA career. I immediately enjoyed law more than accounting. I have always enjoyed helping people and solving complex problems.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? My parents taught me that hard work and honesty are the key to a successful life. Several teachers and my high school basketball coach were role models for me and they shared values that I hold dearly even today. My sixth grade teacher would often say: good, better, best: never let it rest until your good is better, and your better is best. That has stayed with me until this day. I am thankful that she and others have touched me and inspired me to be my best.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? I would recommend joining a real estate organisation to help you understand the broader business issues of the industry. It is an advantage to understand how deals are structured. Take some time to read articles and ask mentors to share lessons learned with you. It is critical to distinguish yourself in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace for legal services. Becoming active in a trade organisation will help you specialise over time and build a network to build an even stronger practice.

What’s your next biggest challenge?I am our firm’s new Global Co-Chair of the Infrastructure, Construction and Transport Sector. I am excited about this challenge and look forward to meeting more of our colleagues and building collaboration across sectors, offices and practices.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?What I enjoy most about real estate is seeing visions turn into realty. We help our clients create great places: walkable communities, entertainment districts and venues that bring people together. The real estate sector involves many areas of law. Often, my role is to assist with negotiating the deal and managing the legal team necessary for complex projects which include a wide range of expertise beyond real estate law, including public and private finance, corporate, tax, construction, insurance and intellectual property law.

Maxine HicksPartnerAtlanta

Describe yourself in 3 words: Resilient, positive, trust-worthy

11

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

What led you to working in law? During my study of tax law I was not really convinced that I would end up working in law. I took a six month study break and travelled around the world by myself. When I returned, I continued my study and realised that my job in the local pub was probably not sustainable for the rest of my life. I started volunteer work at the ‘rechtswinkel’, a place where students provide legal advice for free. At that point, law really started to fascinate me. I experienced the law in action. It was during an internship at a big law firm that I was convinced that working as a lawyer would be a natural fit for me.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? Being a mother of two kids (aged three and seven), I am naturally confronted with competing demands on time. During a working week, it is key for me to spend the limited time I have available with the things I enjoy outside of work, and particularly my role as a deputy

district judge and publishing. I spend as much time with my children as possible. I enjoy sports activities such as running, tennis and yoga. In the weekends, I enjoy day trips with my family followed by a family meal. Be flexible, prioritise demands and find some me-time, even though the day has only 24 hours!

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them?There are so many people I have learned lessons from: my teachers at high school; colleagues in the legal profession; and also people I have worked with during my student jobs. Also within my own family I have strong role models.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? Go for it! You won’t be disappointed. Try to work on lots of different types of projects to diversify your experience. Networking is also very important, right from the beginning of your career!

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?To see all stages of the investment in real estate pass by such as planning, project development, procurement, construction, financing, asset management and transactions. All parties involved have different interests, therefore the practice is very diverse. I enjoy working on complex and interesting legal issues that arise, keeping in mind the commercial aspects which are relevant for our clients. Furthermore, real estate has physical and technical dimensions, which have to be converted into arrangements in legally tailor made and complex agreements. Last but not least, developments such as the shift from possession to use, sustainability requirements imposed by governmental authorities and the developments in our key asset classes, requires innovation and make our sector very dynamic.

Mirjam Hinskens-van NeckAssociateAmsterdam

Describe yourself in 3 words: Determined, knowledgeable, outgoing

12

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

What led you to working in law? I have absolutely no idea but it was etched in my mind from a very young age as something I was going to pursue! If I’m honest, I didn’t deviate from the plan because I quite liked the prescribed structure that law school, a training contract and the early years of qualification had to offer. What kept me in the law is being surrounded by fiercely intelligent yet commercially savvy clients and colleagues who never cease to amaze me.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time?I am most content when at home, spending quality time with my husband and three kids, hosting friends and family, cooking or completing a fiendish sudoku under timed conditions (not necessarily in that order)!

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? My mother has been a huge role model. She’s a teacher and it’s never been just a job for her. It’s a vocation and she’s incredibly devoted to the pupils she teaches. However, somehow she never allowed her dedication to her job impact on her family’s needs. I learnt from her the importance of commitment, hard work and responsibility, to make the most of everything you do and not forget to appreciate what you have along the journey.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate?

Always make sure that you make informed decisions. Decide what you want and then focus and work hard to get it. You can have a career and a family, if you

choose to. You will not necessarily be able to perfect both roles at the same time, but that’s ok. Graft hard, learn resilience and commit.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?I love that when networking and socialising it is easy to explain our area of practice, contrary to explaining derivatives to the lay man. The real estate sector is accessible to all and the pace of transactions and the ability to add real value to tangible assets motivates me.

Katie JacobsonPartnerLondon/Birmingham

Describe yourself in 3 words: Organised, approachable, empathetic

13

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

What led you to working in law? As a child, my motivation was to choose a career different from my parents’ careers or what was expected of me: medicine. My father is a medical doctor. For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to study law. At some point I considered other careers including software engineering, actuarial science and being a detective but I always got pulled back to law. The better I understood the legal profession, considering my pragmatic and solution oriented personality, the more suitable the legal profession felt.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? Spending time with my triplets not only keeps me busy, but provides great fulfilment. I also enjoy yoga, muay thai and reading. I am also part of an organisation that provides a support system to other parents of multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets). We provide education, financial and psychosocial support.

In order to balance competing demands on my time, I have learnt a few things:

• Go easy on yourself – I give myself more grace and less judgement. I am doing the best I can. Some days work will demand more from me and on other days my kids will demand more. On such days and in order to manage stress, I may need to integrate the two to optimise my time effectively.

• It is okay to ask for help!

• “No” is a complete sentence. I have learnt to prioritise and to say no to certain requests that I probably would have agreed to take on in the past at the expense of my sanity.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? Find a mentor who can give you advice that is relevant for where you are in your career. Set your goals and do not let naysayers distract you. Do not stop

learning – get a keen understanding of the law, stay up to date with legal developments and learn how to apply the law in giving clients practical/business solutions. Clients appreciate it when we take the time to listen to them and understand their business and what they are trying to achieve. When we understand that, we are able to give solutions that will help the client.

What’s your next biggest challenge?Keeping pace with the effect of technological change on the industry – it is quite apparent that we cannot ignore innovation and the disruptive impact of technology on the real estate sector. On a personal note, I would also love to take part in, and win a muay thai match – all this training I do has to count for something!

Anne KinyanjuiPartnerKenya

Describe yourself in 3 words: Pragmatic, perceptive and resilient

14

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

What led you to working in law? My dad was a lawyer who really loved his job and my mother really thought it was important that I attend graduate school. That was all the thinking that I put into it. I wasn’t one of those people who was born with a burning desire to be a lawyer. I just rolled into it; both being a lawyer and practicing real estate finance. I have to say I am super lucky because I really like what I do and I think I am well suited to it.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? I enjoy running and hitting the gym. I also love to read. I love to grab a cocktail with my husband after work and let the stress of the job dissipate a bit. I think we just need to go hard at it all and enjoy as much as we

possibly can. Try not to miss out on family stuff – the work will all get done in due course, and then there will be no regrets.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? Jim Beard (DLA Piper Chicago). He taught me so much before he passed away in 2016. I worked closely with Jim for my first 10 years of practice. I loved how he was quietly the smartest person on the deal but he pretended that he was just your average Joe. This technique worked really well. He would often say things like “I know I am not as smart as you and maybe I am missing this point, but...” He always won that way. He was super hardworking and intense but incredibly personable with clients. He taught me how important it is to get the clients to actually like us, and he was never

too busy to help me out with anything that I needed. He was the first into the office every day – usually by 6:30am (and he had already hit the gym!) but he made sure left the office by 5:30 to play softball with his wife and friends and he never missed a chance to go fishing with his son.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?I enjoy practicing in real estate law for a bunch of reasons. I like business and numbers (and money). Practicing real estate finance is a great way to marry both law and business. Because I get the business side I am better able to understand the transaction at hand and the needs of the clients. The business aspects of the transaction are the aspects that jazz me. I also really like the people in the real estate sphere. They are typically pretty cool.

Alison MitchellPartnerChicago

Describe yourself in 3 words: Hardworking, ambitious, happy

15

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

What led you to working in law? I always wanted to be a solicitor from about the age of 14. I was partly encouraged by my father to think big but I also became increasingly aware how integral the law is in our daily lives. I genuinely thought that I would have professional variety and my decision has not disappointed me in anyway. If anything the law has opened up more opportunities than I could have ever imagined.

What do you enjoy outside of work, and what tips do you have for balancing competing demands on your time? As a working mother I would lie if I didn’t say it is hard at times to juggle all that needs doing, and this can be more challenging as you become more senior and have more demanding frontline client responsibilities. There are days that can feel truly overwhelming when family needs crash into client deals and urgent timescales. I am a big believer in assessing what you do over time – a day is never a good length of time to judge balance! The best way to spend time is together as a family and ideally doing an activity which

allows us to have fun together or more accurately for me to be laughed at by my daughter, All I know is that my family are my world. Also, learning when to say no and what you can commit to is also key to survive professionally.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? Everyone needs role models and they should evolve as your career grows. I have a close group of female industry contacts who I speak freely and openly to – I cherish these exchanges as we give each other support and encouragement – some have even become clients as a result although I value my friendships with each of them far more.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? The advice I would offer to a younger woman is what I would also offer to a younger man. Get involved and see what experience and opportunities come your way. Say ”yes” to things and challenge yourself and try and

enjoy being stretched and challenged. You really never know what will come your way if you say yes and get involved. By gaining insight on a range of matters (whether areas of work or client types) you will find yourself overtime being able to make informed work decisions which becomes ever more critical if you are working out what you need to commit to and what is not as necessary for your personal journey.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector?The ever changing client challenges and the exposure to more complex areas. I love the variety of what I do and the fact I get to work both with assets and corporate entities as well as being able to see the physical assets too is just great. I still get a thrill looking at the London skyline and seeing properties and buildings that I have bought, sold or been involved with in some way. I really believe that I am fortunate that my clients have exposed me to a wide range of sectors and that I can get close to businesses and evolving strategies, so I feel like I am always learning something new, and can gain a fresh perspective which I really love.

Jo OwenPartnerLondon

Describe yourself in 3 words: Strong-willed, collegiate and thoughtful

16

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be? There would be several things I would like to do: (i) caring for others (i.e. elderly, children, etc.); (ii) making perfumes or (iii) interior design.

Who were your role models, and what lessons did you learn from them? It was especially my mother and my grandmother. They both worked since they were very young and always with a positive and strong character day by day. In addition, during my time of study and at work, I have met many women and men who teach me new things every day.

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate? I would advise her to work hard every day and always be aware of where she has gone on your own merits. I believe that the real estate area is very varied and that

it can fit many types of profiles, so she can always feel comfortable. I believe that the few impediments that she, as a woman, can encounter along the way, she can overcome perfectly with effort and logic. This kind of advice is what I try to give to the new interns or juniors who access to the DLA Piper Madrid Office.

While it is not all rosy and sometimes, being a woman, you encounter obstacles along the way in life as a lawyer, I firmly believe that at DLA Piper important things are being achieved at this level and that we women can achieve a lot.

What’s your next biggest challenge? To try to continue combining my life as a lawyer and my professional growth with my personal life, always bearing in mind that it is not incompatible. As a new challenge, I want to grow this year in my professional career and achieve better goals.

What do you love about working in the real estate sector? What I like most is the variety of professionals you meet and work with every day: with public administrations, with architects, with financiers, with banks, with other lawyers, with sales managers. a lot of variety that makes you go deeper into each subject and learn every day.

Anything else you’d like to share? I think women have a very important role in the real estate sector, which initially could have been more male-oriented. I think that we bring new ideas and approach things, sometimes in a different way, which helps the work.

Fatima Rico-VillademorosAssociateMadrid

Describe yourself in 3 words: Tolerant, positive and decisive

17

WWW.DLAPIPER.COM

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be? At school, I envisioned myself a working as a diplomat (involving international travel, of course!). So perhaps I would have been a diplomat.

These days I have a keen interest in food and nutrition, and so if I was to have a sudden career change, I could see myself gravitating towards this space. That said, I do think by nature I am more of a lawyer, than a scientist, so I’ll probably just stick with lawyer.

What led you to working in law? English and International Relations & Politics were my favourite subjects at school, which naturally led me to towards choosing between studying either a politics or law degree at university.

With a little persuasive career coaching from my parents to suggest that, a law degree combined with my natural argumentative skills would stand me on

better career path and that studying a law degree did not mean I had to be a lawyer, I went on to study law at Aberdeen University, …and became a lawyer!

What advice would you give to younger women considering a career in real estate?There was a general perception that the skills of a property lawyer were not as easily transferable in terms of geographies, as that of other areas of law. This is no longer the case, the real estate market is less restricted now than ever by geography, and very much more a global market.

I have lived and practiced as a real estate lawyer in a very diverse range of legal frameworks, including Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Not only have my skills been easily transferable, but I believe that this multi-jurisdiction exposure has made me a more rounded, versatile and global real estate lawyer.

What’s your next biggest challenge?I think the same challenge we are all facing, the ways in which technology and sustainability is touching and changing not only the way we work and provide services, but also the real estate sector and emerging subsectors in which we work. Tied to this is the challenge of keeping up with the pace of that change.

My own personal challenge for the year ahead is to keep exploring, developing and implementing more efficient ways, processes and systems that allow us to collaborate better with our clients, as well as looking at new ways of providing the same service in more efficient ways that meet both our client’s ever changing business and internal requirements.

Nicola de SylvaSenior AssociateAbu Dhabi

Describe yourself in 3 words Tenacious, versatile and conscientious

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. Further details of these entities can be found at www.dlapiper.com.This publication is intended as a general overview and discussion of the subjects dealt with, and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. It is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for taking legal advice in any specific situation. DLA Piper will accept no responsibility for any actions taken or not taken on the basis of this publication. This may qualify as “Lawyer Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Copyright © 2020 DLA Piper. All rights reserved. | MAR20 | A04973