Rena Kelley

Of Counsel

305-350-7349

rdkelley@bilzin.com

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Area of Focus:

Government Relations & Land Development, Public-Private Partnerships, Government Contracting, Affordable Housing & Tax Credit

GET TO KNOW RENA

Rena Kelley is Of Counsel to Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development & Government Relations Group, where she serves as an integral part of both the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) and Affordable Housing Practices. Rena works with the P3 Team to advise clients on complex aspects of public-private real estate developments, such as ground leases and development agreements. Her P3 experience covers both transportation infrastructure and mixed-use transit-oriented developments across South Florida. She also works with the Affordable Housing Team to advise developers, investors, and tax-exempt organizations on a broad range of matters related to commercial real estate transactions and the provision of affordable and workforce housing throughout the acquisition, development, financing, and close-out phases of projects.

Q & A

How has your time as in-house counsel at a private company helped you in serving clients?

When I served as in-house counsel to a large U.S. corporation as a part of an international conglomerate, I experienced from the ‘inside’ what businesses and key stakeholders wanted from the outside counsel that they retained. They demand no-nonsense authentic responses, and specifically tailored advice that is practical and suitable to the broader business considerations of the company. This business-minded approach to legal matters is often a deciding factor in how companies assess and recruit outside counsel, and I strive to bring that approach to all client matters.

What most excites you about working on P3 projects?

Complex real estate developments that involve public-private partnerships and affordable housing components are arguably the most sophisticated types of projects in the real estate industry, and as someone who enjoys tackling challenges, I embrace the myriad business, legal, and political issues inherent in such project with excitement. No two projects are alike, even if they are within the same industry, which is why utilizing experienced counsel is critical to navigating the nuances of each one.

EXPERIENCE

INSIGHTS

CREDENTIALS

Education

University of Virginia, J.D., 2012

Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S., Certificates in Accounting and Finance, Highest Honors, 2006
Involvement

Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Mentoring Program Chair

Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida
Member

Florida China Chamber of Commerce
Member

International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation
Member

Special Olympics Florida
Miami-Dade County Management Team, Co-Chair of the Athlete Leadership Program

The Florida Bar
Business Law Section

Young Professionals in Infrastructure
Member, 2023
Bar Admissions

Florida

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Languages

Mandarin

PRACTICES