Biography
CHAIR, LUXURY BRANDS PRACTICE
Clara focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate and corporate transactions, with particular emphasis on complex commercial leasing, corporate transactions, financing, acquisitions, and sales. She counsels CEOs of multinational and global luxury brands, owners, developers, tenants, and private equity funds, including Fortune 500 companies, in the negotiation and drafting of intricate retail, office, ground, and restaurant leases, purchase and sale agreements, licensing, wholesale, financing documents, and general corporate contracts. Clara has distinguished herself by representing numerous European and global emerging and internationally acclaimed brands looking to expand their footprint in the United States.
As a trusted advisor, Clara’s clients turn to her for counsel across a wide variety of business and legal issues because of her broad-based and holistic approach and her knowledge gleaned from years of experience. For example, she often counsels’ clients with early corporate structure discussions, term sheet negotiations and strategy, lease execution, construction design, collaboration, and beyond. She works tirelessly to help the brands she works with navigate the opportunities and challenges in today’s marketplace.
Clara has also counseled clients in the hospitality industry, including the negotiation and drafting of partnership, shareholder, joint venture, license, operating, management, acquisition, sale, employment, and lease agreements for bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, casinos, and other food, beverage, and entertainment facilities.
While in law school, Clara served as a senior staff member for the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review and an intern for the Honorable Reinaldo E. Rivera at the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Department.
Outside the Firm
Clara enjoys travel and trying local foods, going to the gym (she is an avid runner), spending time with her family and friends, attending any live music event, and horseback riding.
Experience
- Represented a European perfumer and maker of luxury candles and cosmetics in the expansion and “roll-out” of the company’s retail stores in the U.S. market.
- Represented a French luxury house and manufacturer of fine crystal in securing a lease in New York’s Meatpacking District on the corner of Ninth Avenue and 14th Street, which will enable the company to open a new boutique featuring a unique design concept and new products made of wax, leather, lacquer, and porcelain.
- Represented a European fragrance company in negotiating a global license and branding agreement for its product with an acclaimed New York hotel.
- Represented a French skincare brand in its spa expansion nationwide.
- Represented a premier ice cream brand in its “roll out” of the company’s stores nationwide along with location agreements for a collaboration with the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City featured on Bravo.
Affiliations
Memberships
- American Bar Association
Clara serves as a member of the International Counsel of Shopping Centers (“ICSC”) and the American Bar Association.
Credentials
Admissions
- New York
Education
- St. John's University School of Law, JD
- Pace University-New York, BA, summa cum laude