Francesca Leonelli

Senior Associate

Francesca is a dual qualified attorney licensed to practice in Italy and California. Her practice focuses on cross-border and domestic commercial real estate transactions involving the acquisition, disposal, financing and development of different asset classes.

Francesca represents commercial property owners, investors, developers, and real estate investment funds in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions of real property, construction projects, financings, property development, and leases. Her experience includes industrial, retail, and mixed-use projects across various industries, such as solar energy, fashion and luxury goods, and hospitality.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Law Section, 2024
  • California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section, 2024
  •  Represented a U.S. real estate development and investment company in connection with the leasing of office spaces in Northern California.
  • Represented a coffee retailer in connection with the leasing of retail spaces in Downtown Los Angeles.
  • Represented a U.S. private investment firm in connection with a solar plants acquisition project, including the takeover of various solar energy leases and easement agreements.
  • Represented an Italian insurance provider in connection with the lease of its 65,000 square feet office building laid out over six-story in Rome, Italy.
  • Acted for an institutional investor in connection with the lease of certain industrial properties in Italy.
  • Represented a real estate fund in connection with the renegotiation of a lease of a retail store in the Milan fashion district.
  • Represented a real estate fund in connection with the sale of Jil Sander’s flagship store in the Milan fashion district.
  • Represented an Italian insurance provider in connection with the acquisition by BentallGreenOak of entire capital interest of a real estate fund.
  • Represented a fund managed by a first standing Italian Asset Management Company in connection with the disposal of a mixed-use real estate portfolio.
  • Represented a German institutional investor in connection with the acquisition of a property to be used as student hotel in Venice.
  • Represented a U.S. hedge fund in connection with the acquisition and refurbishment project of a hotel.
  • Represented U.S. hedge fund in connection with the purchase of the entire capital interest of a real estate fund owning over 15 luxury leisure properties in Italy, for a value of 60 million Euro.
  • Represented Advent in connection with the acquisition of Industria Chimica Emiliana (Ice), an international pharmaceutical company, for a transactional value of 700 million Euro.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Law Section, 2024
  • California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section, 2024