Skip to main content
Professional background
Biography image

Susan C.Cornett

PartnerDayton Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiativemoc.eniHnospmohT@ttenroC.nasuS
Dayton

O 937.443.6810

Cincinnati

O 513.352.6810

Susan C.Cornett

Partner
Dayton Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiativemoc.eniHnospmohT@ttenroC.nasuS
Dayton

O 937.443.6810

Cincinnati

O 513.352.6810

Focus Areas

Financing

  • Represented a borrower in connection with a $176 million mortgage loan secured by 16 senior living facilities.
  • Represented a borrower in connection with a $411 million mortgage loan secured by 10 multi-family properties.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed REIT in connection with a $350 million mortgage loan secured by six shopping centers located in four states and Puerto Rico.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed REIT in connection with a $85 million mortgage loan secured by shopping centers in Ohio, Georgia and Missouri.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed REIT in connection with a $23.75 million loan secured by a shopping center in Columbus, Ohio.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed REIT in connection with a $30 million loan secured by a shopping center in Phoenix.
  • Represented a developer in connection with a $12 million mortgage loan secured by an office building in Dayton, Ohio.
  • Represented a borrower in connection with a $12 million mortgage loan secured by an apartment complex in Indiana.
  • Represented a lender in $28.55 million mezzanine loan for mixed use development in California.
  • Represented a lender in a $24.5 million construction loan for a student housing project in North Carolina.
  • Represented a lender in a $23.4 million construction loan for a mixed-use project in Tennessee.
  • Represented a lender in a $9 million construction loan for renovation of an office/warehouse facility in Ohio.
  • Represented a lender in modification of a $9 million loan secured by a shopping center in North Carolina.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed REIT in connection with a $85 million mortgage loan secured by four shopping centers located in Puerto Rico.
  • Represented a lender in modification of a $70.5 million loan secured by 21 properties in 10 states.
  • Represented a lender in a $3 million mezzanine loan for an apartment complex in Texas.
  • Represented a lender in a $7 million mezzanine loan for an office complex in Florida.
  • Represented a lender in a $1.8 million mezzanine loan for an apartment complex in North Carolina.

Solar Energy

  • Represented an energy company in the leasing of a 233 acre solar power facility in California.
  • Represented an energy company in an option to lease up to 525 acres for a solar power facility in California.
  • Represented an energy company in an option to lease up to 1,200 acres for a solar power facility in Texas.

Purchases and Sales/Development

  • Represented a developer in the formation and operation of a new community authority under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 349.
  • Represented a pension trust in the disposition of a $23.625 million shopping center and a $24 million shopping center located in Illinois.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $22 million apartment complex in Missouri.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $10.5 million warehouse/industrial facility in California.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $7.9 million office complex in Colorado.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $98.5 million apartment complex in California.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $110.25 million apartment complex in Washington.
  • Represented the seller in the disposition of a $14 million apartment complex in Georgia.
  • Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a $20.5 million office building in Houston.
  • Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a $53 million partnership interest in an entity owning apartment complex in Texas.
  • Represented a developer in connection with the acquisition and compilation of 15 separate properties in connection with a proposed development in Cincinnati.

Leasing

  • Representation of a publicly traded insurance company in leasing of regional offices.
  • Representation of landlords in anchor leases, big box leases and other retail lease transactions, including restaurant leases.
  • Representation of landlords and tenants in industrial, warehouse and office leases.
  • Representation of a tenant in multiple subleases of an 80,000 square foot office facility.
  • Co-author, Chambers USA Regional Real Estate – Ohio (2018 – 2021)
  • “Chesterfield and Cherryland Decisions Bring Uncertainty to Mortgage Loans,” Thompson Hine Advisory Bulletin, May 2012
  • “SOFR is the new LIBOR, or is it?  Hot topics in commercial mortgage market,” ICSS U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, 2019
  • “Current Issues in Complex Commercial Mortgage Finance Transactions – How to Get Everything You Ever Wanted without Trying Too Hard,” ICSC Regional Law Symposium, 2019
  • “The Sleeves off your vest? Think again: the Latest on Non-Recourse Carve-Outs in Loan Documents,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, 2018
  • “Crafting Tricky Contingency Clauses,” NBI/Top 9 Most Problematic Parts of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements, 2017
  • “Due Diligence Provision Disasters,” NBI/Top 9 Most Problematic Parts of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements, 2017
  • “Breaking Bad (Boy Carve-Outs): Negotiating Non Recourse Provisions,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, 2017
  • “No Returns: Due Diligence Tips for Shopping Center Acquisitions,” ICSC Regional Law Symposium, 2017
  • “Back to the Basics: Commercial Leasing for Lenders,” American College of Mortgage Attorneys, 2016
  • “Back to the Basics in Commercial Real Estate Finance: What Lenders Look for in Commercial Leases,” The ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law, 2016
  • “Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Leases,” NBI/Commercial Real Estate from A to Z, 2015
  • “Purchase and Sale Agreements,” NBI/Commercial Real Estate from A to Z, 2015
  • “Survey and Title Insurance Issues,” NBI/Surveys, Plats, Historical Records, Legal Descriptions and Title Insurance, 2014
  • “Sponsorship: Positioning Yourself for Advancement,” Roundtable Leader, Dayton Diversity Counsel, 2013
  • “Drafting Purchase and Sale Agreements and Deeds,” NBI/Legal Descriptions, Title Insurance and Surveys in Real Estate Transactions, 2013
  • “Lender, May I? Navigating the Lender and Servicer Consent Process,” Roundtable Leader, ICSC Regional Law Symposium, 2013
  • “Ethical Considerations,” NBI/Title Law in Ohio, 2012
  • “Transfers of Title,” NBI/Title Law in Ohio, 2012
  • “Introduction to Commercial Leases,” Generation Dayton – Reality Bites, 2012
  • “Commercial Leasing,” OSBA/Introduction to Real Estate Practice, 2009
  • “Evolution of Economic Terms in Commercial Leasing,” OSBA/CLE Institute Seminar, 2006
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017 to 2025 for Real Estate Law; named the Best Lawyers® 2022 and 2024 Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Dayton
  • Elected a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys
  • Selected to Leadership Dayton, class of 2015, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
  • Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2012-2019
  • Selected as a Dayton Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree; 2014
  • Listed in Legal 500 in Real Estate, 2014

Professional Associations

  • American College of Mortgage Attorneys; Vice Chair, Opinion Committee
  • International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
  • I-70/I-75 Development Association
  • Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)

Community Activities

  • The National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton (NCCJ); former member, Board of Trustees
  • The National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton (NCCJ); Co-chair,  Annual Friendship Dinner, 2014 and 2015
  • Edge Teen Center; Board of Trustees, 2013-2014)
  • Leadership Dayton, Class of 2015
  • West Chester/Liberty Township Chamber of Commerce SEBC Leadership Program, Class of 2012
  • Three Valley Conservation Trust, Board of Trustees, 2011-2014
  • Dayton Ballet Associate Board, 2008-2010
  • The Foodbank Associate Board, Chair, 2008-2010
  • American Red Cross Associate Board, 2007-2008

Education

  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., 2004
  • University of Cincinnati, M.B.A., 2004
  • University of Cincinnati, B.S., 2001

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio