Leslie has more than twenty years of experience representing and advising clients in matters involving commercial real estate, finance, economic development, and related corporate issues.
Overview
Leslie has more than twenty years of experience representing and advising clients in matters involving commercial real estate, finance, economic development, and related corporate issues.
Practice Areas
About
Economic Development and Incentives
Leslie specializes in procuring State and local economic development incentives, including tax abatements and jobs and investment tax credits, industrial development grants, and training and recruiting incentives, for a broad range of companies seeking to build and establish operations in Alabama, and those with existing Alabama operations. Leslie has advised major manufacturers, including companies operating in the automotive, firearms, all-terrain vehicles, aerospace and defense industries, data centers, solar energy providers, and more. She regularly assists clients based internationally.
Commercial Development and Financing
In addition to her Economic Development and Incentives practice, Leslie handles large scale commercial loan closings for banking institutions. She structures, documents, secures, and closes all types of financing transactions, including commercial real estate and construction loans; asset-based lines of credit, including government contract-based lending; letter of credit financing; floor plan lines of credit; and investment-property-backed financing.
Leslie also devotes a substantial portion of her practice to representing and advising privately held companies in the development, construction, and leasing of commercial office buildings, condominiums, manufacturing facilities, warehouse and industrial parks, and multi-family and build to rent projects. Her commercial real estate experience includes leasing; financing; land use planning; zoning; construction; acquisitions and sales; 1031 exchanges; providing title letters in connection with re-subdivisions; issuing local counsel Opinion Letters; and general corporate transactions. Leslie regularly acts as title agent for major title insurance providers.
Best Lawyers® has recognized Leslie as a leader in Commercial Finance Law and Real Estate Law for several years.
Experience
- Some of Leslie’s representative matters include:
- Negotiated economic incentives for over $125M in new construction of offices and production facilities in Cummings Research Park
- Negotiated economic incentives for two tier-one automotive parts suppliers’ manufacturing facilities totaling $332M in build-out
- Negotiated economic incentives for a $245M expansion and $19M line conversion at an existing advanced automotive manufacturing facility
- Negotiated economic incentives for a $75M renovation and expansion of an electronics manufacturing services provider’s facility
- Served as developer’s counsel for the aggregate sale of five shopping centers across Alabama totaling $15M
- Served as developer’s counsel for an expanding fast food restaurant franchisee with multiple locations
- Served as counsel for over $77M in loans for the construction and renovation of hotels, including mezzanine financing
- Served as counsel for a $25M loan for the construction of a high-end car dealership
- Served as counsel for a $24M loan for the construction of an apartment complex
- Served as lender’s counsel for an $18.75M loan for the acquisition and development of an assisted living and memory care facility by a multi-tiered entity borrower
- Writes title insurance for Fortune 100 title insurance and settlement services providers
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Law (Huntsville), 2025
- Commercial Finance Law, 2018-2025
- Real Estate Law, 2022-2025
- Banking and Finance Law, 2023-2025
- GlobeSt. Woman of Influence, CRE Legal Counsel, 2024
Bar Admissions
- Alabama, 1997
- Tennessee, 2022
Education
- Cumberland School of Law, J.D., 1997
- Curia Honoris
- Cumberland Law Review
- Vanderbilt University, B.S., Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics, 1990
- Clerkship, The Honorable Sue Bell Cobb, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, 1997-1998
Associations
- Alabama State Bar Association
- Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association
- International Women’s Forum
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- Huntsville Committee of 100
Civic Involvement
- National Children’s Advocacy Center, Board of Directors, 2003-2009
- United Way of Madison County, Board of Directors, 2009-2015
- Heart of the Valley YMCA, Board of Directors 2016-2020
- A New Leash on Life, Volunteer Foster