Education

Catholic Univ of America Columbus School of Law, J.D.
University of Maryland, B.A., Government and Politics

Bar Admissions

Maryland
District of Columbia

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Sharon Nelson Craig

Partner
Washington
t: 202-419-2563

Sharon Nelson Craig has more than 20 years of extensive experience in representing sellers, buyers, developers, landlords, tenants, borrowers and lenders in connection with the sale, acquisition, financing, development, leasing and operation of commercial real estate. Ms. Craig's clients have included office, residential, industrial and shopping center developers and property owners, retailers, state retirement and pension systems, asset managers, homebuilders, state transportation authorities, business entrepreneurs, faith-based institutions and other non-profit organizations, governmental guaranteed lenders and other public and privately-held financial institutions.

Since joining Holland & Knight in 2003, Ms. Craig’s practice has been focused primarily in two areas: retail leasing and development, and multifamily residential development, specifically condominium development and conversions. In the retail leasing and development practice, Ms. Craig regularly represents owners and tenants of shopping centers and urban retail projects in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing and management of such projects, including, without limitation, the preparation and negotiation of real estate sale and purchase agreements and retail leases, subordination agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, certificates and other related documents.

In the multifamily residential development practice, Ms. Craig has assisted developers in creating new condominiums or converting existing rental facilities to condominiums, including the preparation of all documents required in connection therewith, compliance with the requirements of applicable state and local agencies, the coordination of the client’s team (including the engineers and sales agents) to assure an efficient process, and advising the client on issues to minimize the client’s liability in such projects. In mixed-use projects, Ms. Craig is uniquely positioned to combine both her retail leasing and development and multifamily residential practices, to provide the utmost in client service, including without limitation, drafting the necessary documents to allow for a practical but cohesive existence among the various uses in the project, including the granting of easements, providing for cost allocations among shared project components, and addressing liability issues.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Craig’s legal career included serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of a privately-held real estate development company and forming and operating her own law practice.

Ms. Craig regularly speaks on the topic of mixed use development, including, without limitation, for organizations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Law Conference.

Professional Honors & Awards

  • Distinguished Women in Law Award, Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, 1997

Memberships

  • Bar Association of the District of Columbia
  • Maryland Bar Association
  • Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)- Baltimore, Inc., past President
  • African American Real Estate Professionals, Inc.- Baltimore Chapter, Inc., founding member and past President
  • African American Real Estate Professionals, Inc.- District of Columbia Chapter, Strategic Planning Committee