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Jessica A. Cohen
Jessica assists clients on a breadth of real estate transactions including purchases, financing, refinancing, and leasing.
Jessica Cohen has particular knowledge of matters involving affordable housing and healthcare, as well as industrial, agricultural, and office properties.
Jessica understands the value of efficiency, responsiveness, and communication in her client relationships. In every transaction, she collaborates with her clients to help advance them toward their business goals. She drafts and negotiates agreements, including purchase, sale, and closing documents. Jessica also handles commercial financing transactions, as well as conducts due diligence and coordinates complex, multiparty facility transactions and real estate closings.
Jessica is committed to an active pro bono practice. She frequently represents small businesses and nonprofit organizations in real estate and leasing issues, and recently assisted several Washington state food banks on their real estate matters.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Article Editor and Board Member, Seattle Journal for Social Justice, 2007
- Smith College, B.A., Government & Latin American Studies, cum laude, 2001
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
Related Employment
- Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC, Seattle, WA, Attorney, 2016-2019
- The Nathanson Group PLLC, Seattle, WA, Associate, 2015-2016
- Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), Seattle, WA, Director of Legal and Business Development, 2014-2015; Associate General Counsel, 2010-2014; Assistant General Counsel, 2008-2009
Professional Recognition
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Real Estate Law, 2021-2024
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust, Executive Member, 2021-2023
- Washington State Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Newsletter, Editor, 2019-2020; Member, 2017-2019
- CREW, Seattle Chapter, Member Development Committee, Member, 2018-2020
Community Involvement
- CREW Seattle Leadership Course, completed eight-month course, 2023
- PTA of Greenwood Elementary, Board Member, 2019-2022
- Kavana Cooperative, Board Member, 2017 – 2019
- Eastside Legal Assistance Program, Board Member and Secretary, 2012-2015
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Real Estate Acquisitions & Dispositions
- Represent privately held real estate investment company focused on healthcare properties in dozens of acquisitions around the country.
- Represented shipping container company in $11 million acquisition of property.
- Represented private family investment group in purchase and financing of $10 million condominium building.
- Represented publicly traded national homebuilder in multiple land acquisitions in Washington for single-family home projects.*
- Represented individual purchasers and sellers in residential real estate transactions (contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing).
- Represented a leader in the business of storing, maintaining, and repairing intermodal containers and intermodal equipment in the Midwest.
*Prior experience
Affordable Housing Finance
- Represented for-profit multifamily housing developer in $61 million tax-exempt bond and loan financing and joint venture equity investment deal for 245-unit, multibuilding affordable housing project in Lakewood, Washington.
- Represent for-profit developer in multifamily affordable housing acquisitions and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) transfers and loan refinancing into U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-insured loans.
- Represented for-profit multifamily housing developer in the financing of a 4% LIHTC financed project for 400 units of affordable housing in Everett, Washington. The financing included tax credit financing and construction and permanent loans from a traditional lender.
- Represent for-profit multifamily housing developer in multiple loan conversions for permanent financing.
- Negotiation of purchase and sale agreement for nonprofit organization in the sale of its affordable multifamily housing facility and preservation of affordability restrictions.
Healthcare Real Estate & Finance
- Represent Bellevue senior housing company in sale of multiple senior living properties across Washington.
- Guided nonprofit healthcare organization in post-merger conveyance of 19 properties and transfer of affordable housing regulatory agreements in the Seattle area.
- Represent national healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT) in regulatory review for a portfolio purchase of properties across Washington.
- Negotiation of purchase and sale agreement for national senior housing client in the sale of its assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona.
- Represented property owners and operators selling a portfolio of assisted living and nursing facilities for combined $20 million sale and concurrent transfer of operations to new owner.*
- Represented assisted living facility owner in a $12 million refinance of loan into HUD Section 223(f).*
*Prior experience
Real Estate Financing
- Provide Washington local counsel review of loan documents for real estate acquisition.
- Provide Washington local counsel legal opinions for real estate acquisition finance.
- Represent joint venture in acquisition financing for nationwide portfolio of healthcare facilities.
- Represented mezzanine borrower in multistate portfolio seller financed loan.
- Represent borrower in multistate portfolio of two loan facility payoffs; draft and coordinate lien release and UCC-3 terminations.
Leasing
- Represent multistate agriculture and heavy machinery company in their industrial and warehousing leasing needs throughout Washington and Oregon.
- Represented national apparel retailer in negotiation and documentation of portfolio of multiple retail leases with premises averaging 15,000 square feet in shopping centers throughout the United States.*
*Prior experience
Asset-Based Financing
- Represent private investment firm as co-lender in multiple loans to technology companies.
- Represent software company in multiple acquisition financings and joinders to existing credit facility.
Pro Bono Work
- Represent small business clients and tenants through Communities Rise.
- Represent multiple food banks throughout Washington in lease negotiations.
- Represent multiple Seattle-area nonprofit organizations with their leasing needs.