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Jennifer J. Understahl

Profile photo for Jennifer J. Understahl
Profile photo for Jennifer J. Understahl
Partner

Jennifer J. Understahl

  • Phoenix
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Jennifer helps clients close sophisticated commercial real estate transactions across the United States and internationally.

Jennifer Understahl guides large corporations in managing their owned and leased real estate portfolios. She negotiates commercial leases for both landlords and tenants; strategizes on real estate financing, including new loans and workouts of existing loans; oversees acquisition and due diligence teams; and advises on cutting-edge issues and uses, including electric vehicle charging. Jennifer also develops strategies to improve forms and team efficiencies, balancing each client's business objectives with legal risks.

Jennifer is experienced in a wide range of asset types, including industrial buildings, retail developments, senior housing facilities, offices, research and testing facilities, vacant land, and mixed-use projects. She works with both emerging companies and established corporations to strategize on sophisticated deals and assist with day-to-day real estate and leasing issues. As the lead outside real estate counsel for several tech clients, she assists with expanding office, headquarters, retail, electric vehicle charging stations, and research and development footprints both domestically and internationally. In addition, Jennifer counsels online retailers on their changing real estate needs as they move from e-commerce to brick-and-mortar sales. She also has extensive experience in commercial real estate loan workouts and represents some of the country's largest commercial mortgage-backed securities special servicers.

A leader in the firm, Jennifer is a member of the firm's Partner Compensation Committee and the firm's Strategic Diversity Committee. Additionally, she belongs to multiple national and local industry groups, including the Urban Land Institute and International Council of Shopping Centers, and serves on the Trends Day board of the Urban Land Institute Arizona.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif, Articles Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review, 2005
  • Arizona State University, M.F.A., Poetry, 2000
  • University of Evansville, B.F.A., English, cum laude, 1995

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Arizona

Related Employment

  • Perkins Coie Brown & Bain P.A., Phoenix, AZ, Summer Associate, 2004

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Real Estate and Real Estate: Finance, 2023-2024

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Real Estate Law, 2023-2025

  • Recognized by Arizona Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star," 2014, 2015

  • Recognized by Arizona Super Lawyers as a "Southwest Super Lawyer," 2016

Impact

Community Involvement

  • Urban Land Institute (full member):

    Trends Day Committee (AZ District Council), Member (invitation only)
    Urban Plan Outreach Program (AZ District Council), Volunteer
    Women’s Leadership Initiative (AZ District Council), Member and Mentor (invitation only)
    Responsible Property Investment Council (ULI national) (invitation only)

  • United States Tennis Association, Central Arizona USTA League Grievance Committee, Member
  • Arizona Women Lawyers Association
  • Georgetown University Law Center’s Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Invitee, 2017-2021
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