Suzanne Wilson

Suzanne leads BBG’s real estate and development practice where she represents general contractor clients with their real estate needs and provides full transaction support to development clients during all phases of the development lifecycle including property acquisition and disposition, due diligence, financing (both public and private), leasing and construction support. Suzanne has worked on both the business and legal side of the development and construction industries, and brings experience and understanding to both the legal and business needs of her clients.

Suzanne began her legal career in 2004 as an attorney in the Real Estate, Development, Land Use, and Finance group at the Denver-based law firm of Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP). In 2008, Suzanne transitioned to a real estate and development consulting firm as a Senior Project Manager assisting clients with all aspects of real estate development. Suzanne also spent over 3 years as corporate counsel for an international heavy civil contractor where she was responsible for the contractor’s subcontracting process and all real estate issues, as well as assisting the general counsel with management of outside counsel on both litigation and contracting matters.

Her experience includes negotiation of multi-million-dollar subcontracts and supplier agreements, training the contractor’s engineering and business staff on contracts and risk mitigation, negotiating both short and long term leases on behalf of the contractor and training the project teams on owner contracts. Suzanne has been involved and provided legal support on both bid-build and design-build construction projects from bid to closeout.

Suzanne Wilson

Partner

(303) 550-5846

suzanne@bbglaw.com

Licensure

Colorado

Experience

Managed all legal aspects of the purchase and sale of various commercial properties including retail centers, office buildings and mixed-use developments.
Successfully negotiated and reconstructed over $60M of debt on a large mixed-use development in suburban Denver. It required negotiation of numerous financing and private equity agreements due to a significant change in ownership structure.
Successfully negotiated and closed the sale of a large multi-family project in Lakewood, Colorado for a developer/general contractor. She negotiated the resolution of an outstanding lien, delay claims, and the settlement of a pending litigation prior to the transfer of property.

Education

Juris Doctorate, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Order of the Coif
Bachelors of Arts, Purdue University

Why did you choose Construction Law?

I have always been intrigued by the tangible nature of construction and real estate law. To be able to practice in an area where you can actually touch and feel the finished product is very unique.

What led you to join BBG?

Even though I had promised myself I would never go back into private practice, when Mary Kay Monville introduced me to Bret, Buck, and Henry and their vision at BBG, I was hooked. The opportunity to practice sophisticated construction law while also building a real estate practice to serve BBG’s GC/Developer clients was too good to pass up. I am so glad I took the leap!

What roles have you had in the construction industry?

I have been a real estate and development attorney, a Senior Project Manager at two development consulting companies; corporate counsel at a large, international heavy civil contractor and a lawyer at BBG.

What has been the best part of being a woman working in this industry?

The close-knit community of women both on the legal side and on the operations side. While the industry is still overwhelmingly male dominated, the women I get to work with are smart, savvy and driven and who love what they do.

What would you advise women considering getting into construction or construction law?

Do it! It is so interesting and challenging and you will get to work with some amazing people and build some incredible projects. There is something so gratifying about watching a contract you negotiated grow into a building.

Anything you would like to share about yourself that we can’t find in your Bio?

I am currently working with a client as their external general counsel and it is such a great part of my practice. Being able to spend a day a week in their offices and see all the excitement associated with bidding and winning work is a blast.

Would you like to share a personal note? (Family/pets? Where you grew up? Hobbies? How do you spend your free time?)

I grew just outside Detroit, MI (Go Lions!) and am the proud wife of Ben, mom of Braeden (17), Anna (15) and my fur babies Tank and Murphy. I love to spend time outside, especially distance running and have had the opportunity to run in amazing ultra-marathons all over the Rockies.