Nancy T. Scull

Complex commercial real estate transactions can be lengthy and arduous as they move through the multiple layers of development, finance and government approval. Scull is the hub that connects those spokes.

She's currently representing the joint venture led by Trammel Crow Co. to build a massive 8.5-acre "tech hub" of offices, retail space and homes just a block away from the Diridon transit station in downtown San Jose. The company, along with a capital partner, acquired the land last September from Adobe Systems Inc. for $58.5 million. A part of the City of San Jose's master development plan, the project could break ground in late 2017.

"Everyone's very excited about what might happen in this area of San Jose," Scull said. "We don't just do the land acquisition. We help the clients through the entire development, creating a scheme to place the offices, retail and apartments on the market and sell these various components. This is long-term."

Scull is also handling the San Diego "Civita" project, a community development with 4,000 residences and 900,000 square feet of retail space and is representing similar projects in Los Angeles, Tempe, Ariz., Washington state and New Jersey. Scull said the average of these developments - often referred to as urban centers or urban in-fill projects - is five to 10 years.

She is highly active in guiding commercial real estate developers through the approval with the state Bureau of Real Estate.

Before joining Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Scull practiced for 30 years with the renowned San Diego legal giant Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP until it merged with McKenna Long & Aldridge in 2012.

"I have some clients that go back that long," Scull said. "It's very gratifying building these long term relationships and it really suits me. And at at the end of the day well have an impact on the people who work, live and play in these communities."

- Banks Albach