Law Offices Gilchrist & Rutter Professional Corporation





Email Susan Fowler McNally

Direct Phone: 310-393-4000

Direct Fax: 310-309-4515

Honors and Awards

Bar Admissions

Professional Associations
and Memberships

Pro Bono Activities

Classes, Seminars, and Speaking Engagements

Susan Fowler McNally 

Partner

Susan Fowler McNally is a partner in Gilchrist & Rutter PC and a member of the firm's Real Estate and Sustainability practice groups. Her practice focuses primarily on real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, office, retail and industrial leasing, secured and unsecured financings, insurance, telecommunications licenses, TV and movie access licenses, asset management contracts, and construction, design professional and consultant contracts, as well as sustainable and green issues in design, construction, leasing and asset management contracts.

Ms. McNally is the author of "Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions, Part II: Drafting Tips", Probate & Property, November/December, 2002 and "Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions, Part I: Advantages to Landlord and Landlord's Lender", Probate & Property, July/August, 2002; and "Why Standby Letters of Credit Reign Supreme as Credit Enhancements" and "Letters of Intent: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ", Lease Negotiation Handbook (2003).

In addition to being quoted in many articles on real estate issues in the Wall Street Journal, American Bar Association Journal, Commercial Lease Law Insider, Real Estate Southern California and Lawyer's Weekly U.S.A., Ms. McNally's articles on various aspects of commercial leases, transactions and letters of credit have been widely published in professional journals and business publications. She is a sought-after speaker on her areas of expertise for professional groups, conferences and national conventions.

Ms. McNally spearheaded a partnership between the Los Angeles Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles (CREW-LA) and the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at UCLA to raise $100,000 for the CREW-LA/Chris Adams Scholarship Endowment Fund which will award fellowships to UCLA graduate students pursuing careers in commercial real estate.

Ms. McNally's clients have included Century National Properties, Inc.; CommonWealth Partners; LDW Resort & Hotel Development, LLC; Maguire Investments; The Archon Group, L.P.; Thomas Properties Group; and the United California Realty Corp.

Ms. McNally earned her J.D. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she participated in the UCLA Moot Court Honors Program. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Urban Planning/Sociology from the University of the Pacific, Raymond-Callison College, Stockton, California.

Representative Experience

Negotiated and documented design and construction contracts for 1,470,000 square foot mixed-use development above the Universal Metro red line subway station.

Negotiated and documented sale-leaseback of campus on 2.97 acres in the heart of Hollywood, California.

Negotiated and documented the construction agreements for CAA's headquarters building in Century City, California. The Gensler-designed complex replaced the former ABC Center.

Negotiated, documented (for landlords) and reviewed (for tenants) numerous space leases and lease amendments in high-rise office projects, as well as in suburban office and retail projects, in California, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Indiana, including leases with Fortune 500 companies, national law firms, national healthcare providers, restaurants and multi-state retail chains.

Negotiated and documented development and construction agreements, including architectural and engineering agreements, consultant contracts, project management and contractor agreements with respect to high-rise and low-rise mixed-use projects, resort hotels and time shares.

Negotiated financing for real estate projects, including revolving credit-based loans, construction loans and rate swap agreements.

Negotiated and prepared purchase and sale agreements, and documented tax-deferred, like-kind exchanges.

Negotiated and documented owner participation agreement with the Community Development Commission with respect to a large office, hotel and retail complex in Pasadena, California.

Negotiated and documented strategic alliance, joint venture, license and employment agreements for emerging growth company.

Articles & Publications

"Securing Lease Obligations - Lease Guaranties, Letters of Credit and Other Credit Enhancements" , ICSC 2008 U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference Materials, October, 2008

"Get Guaranty When Renting Space to Limited Liability Entity" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, July, 2008

"Leasing to Federal Agencies: Is the Red Tape Worth the Green Backs?" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, June, 2008

"Use Work Letter Agreements to Ensure Renovations Run Smoothly", Commercial Lease Law Insider, November, 2007

"Pass Through Your Building's Insurance Deductibles - But Set Limits" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, November, 2007

"Limit Tenant's Special Rights", Commercial Lease Law Insider, September, 2007

"Protect Yourself When Temporarily Filling Retail Space with Nonprofits", Commercial Lease Law Insider, September, 2007

"Ignoring Disaster Preparedness Akin to Gambling", California Executive, September, 2007

"Set Reasonable Charge For After - Hours HVAC Service" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, February, 2007

"Don't Let Tenant's Rent Abatement Apply to Additional TIA", Commercial Lease Law Insider, November, 2006

"Negotiate Building Services Up-front to Avoid Potential Overcharges, Disputes" , Commercial Tenant's Lease Insider, October, 2006

"Follow Five Tips to Make Your Center's Emergency/Disaster Plan More Effective" , Shopping Center Management Insider, September, 2006

"Predispute Jury Trial Waivers in Leases Now Unenforceable in California" , The Commercial Lease Law Insider, November 2005, Shopping Center Management Insider, February 2006, and Professional Office Building Management, March, 2006

"How to Cut Risks When Letting Production Company Film at Your Center" , Shopping Center Management Insider, February, 2006

"If Disaster Strikes How Ready Are You?" , Southern California Real Estate Conference Materials, June 11, 2004

"The Process Begins - Tying Up the Property", Real Estate Purchase and Sale Transactions - How to Do Them Right!, April 28, 2004

"Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions: Drafting Tips" , Annual Survey of Letter of Credit Law & Practice, Inst. of International Banking Law & Practice Inc., 2004

"Why Standby Letters of Credit Reign Supreme as Credit Enhancements" and "Letters of Intent: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", Lease Negotiation Handbook, 2003

"Starring Your Building" , Commercial Investment Real Estate Journal, July/August, 2003

"Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions: Advantages and Drafting Tips, Part II: Drafting Tips" , Probate & Property, November/December, 2002

"Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions, Part I: Advantages to Landlord and Landlord's Lender" , Probate & Property, July/August, 2002

"The Subtleties of Sublease Deals" , Real Estate Southern California, October, 2002

"Don't Require Named Person's Signature to Draw on Letter of Credit", Commercial Lease Law Insider, July, 2002

"Bankruptcy Protection - Unlike Cash Deposits, Letters of Credit Pay Off Even If a Tenant Files For Chapter 11" , California Real Estate Journal, March 18, 2002

"How to Structure a Lease to Protect Against the Risk of a Bankruptcy of the Tenant" , 2002 Annual Survey of Letter of Credit Law & Practice, Inst. of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. and Real Estate Issues, Fall 2001

"How to Reduce Impact of Tenant Bankruptcies" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, May, 2001

"Insider Checklist: How to Cut Risks When Renting to Movie or TV Studio" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, April, 2001

"Disaster-Proofing Commercial Leases", Shopping Center Business, January, 2001

"Protect Yourself If Your E-Commerce Tenant Goes Bankrupt" , Commercial Lease Law Insider, September, 2000

Honors and Awards:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, www.martindale.com


"The Best Lawyers in America" The Los Angeles Tiimes and U.S. News & World Report (2009)


"Who's Who in L.A. Law - L.A.'s Top 100 Lawyers" Los Angeles Business Journal 2009


"Women at the Top", Crew-LA 2009


Super Lawyer in Real Estate Law, Southern California Super Lawyers; selected by Law & Politics Media, Inc.; www.SuperLawyers.com (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006)


"Most Influential Women in Real Estate", Real Estate Southern California (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000)


Excellence in Writing Award from Probate & Property for "Letters of Credit in Lease Transactions, Part I and Part II" (2002)


Appointment to CREW-LA Advisory Board 2009


Appointment to Board of Advisors of the Commercial Lease Law Insider


Cambridge Who's Who Registry among Executives and Professionals 2009/2010


Continental Who's Who


Continental Who's Who Registry of National Business Leaders


Continental Who's Who of American Women


Who's Who Worldwide


Madison's Who's Who among Executives and Professionals


International Directory of Distinguished Leadership


Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America


International Leaders in Achievement


Who's Who in American Law


Who's Who in California


Notable American Women


North American Directory of Who's Who and International Leaders in Achievement


Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans


5000 Personalities of the World


Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement


Who's Who of Business Leaders


International Leaders in Achievement


America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals


American Biographical Institute's 2008 Women of the Year in Business


Bar Admissions:
California, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1982
Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association
Member; 1982-Present


American Bar Association
Member, Real Property, Probate & Trust Sections; 1982-Present


American Bar Association
Member, Group K Committee (Commercial Leasing); 1982-Present


American Bar Association, Vice-Chair
Subcommittee on Industrial Leases; 2002-2004


American Bar Association, Vice-Chair
Subcommittee on Commercial Leasing Emerging Issues; 1998-2002


American Bar Association, Chairperson
Subcommittee on Use and Exclusivity Clauses; 1992-1993


American Bar Association
Member, Business Law & Forum on Construction Industry; 1986-Present


Building Owners & Managers Association
Member; 1996-Present


California Bar Association
Member, Real Property and Business Law Sections; 1982-Present


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
Member; 1992-Present


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
General Counsel; 2006, 2000


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
Director; 2006, 2000


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
Member, Convention 2000 Planning Committee; 1999-2000


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
Co-Chair, Resources & Volunteers Committee; 1999-2000


Commercial Real Estate Women-Los Angeles
Chairperson, Membership Committee; 1993, 1994


Los Angeles County Bar Association
Member; 1982-1999, 2002-Present


Irish American Bar Association
Member; 1986-Present


American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), Region 19
Co-Commissioner B-U6; 1999


Church Council - Westchester United Methodist Church, 2007
Chairperson


Staff, Parish Relations Committee -- Westchester United Methodist Church
Vice-Chair & Secretary; 1998-2000


Classes/Seminars Taught:
Speaker, "Go Lean to Make Green" Santa Monica, California, November 12, 2009


Speaker, "Managing Troubled Real Estate Assets - An Insider's view of Today's Market", ULI Young Leader's Group, Los Angeles, California, February 19, 2009


Speaker, "Anatomy of a Mega Deal, Metro Studio at Lankershim", CREW Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, February 10, 2009, and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Real Estate and Hospitality Services, Glendale, California, August 27, 2008


Speaker, "Securing Lease Obligations - Lease Guarantees, Letters of Credit and Credit Enhancements", ICSC 2008 U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Hollywood, Florida, October 24, 2008


Speaker, "What Really Matters: Selected Commercial Lease Provisions", 25th Annual Real Property Retreat sponsored by the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, Huntington Beach, Califorinia, April 30, 2006


Speaker, "Women in Real Estate Night", UCLA Undergraduate Real Estate Association and Anderson Real Estate Association, Los Angeles, California, March 6, 2006


Speaker, "What's Hot and What's Not in Office Leases", CREW-California Regional Conference, Newport Beach, California, April 8, 2005


Speaker, "Film Permitting Issues for Movie Shoots", CREW- Los Angeles Legal Forum, Los Angeles, California, February 15, 2005


Adjunct Professor, "Commercial Lease Negotiation", University of Southern California Law School, Los Angeles, California, November 29, 2004


Speaker, "If Disaster Strikes...How Ready Are You?", Southern California Real Estate Conference, IREM OC, Anaheim, California, June 11, 2004


Speaker, "Real Estate Purchase and Sale Transactions How to do them Right", Sterling Education Services, Santa Monica, California, April 28, 2004 - Present


Speaker, "Disaster Proofing Your Lease", International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate (AECRE), Scottsdale, Arizona, April 19, 2002 - April 20, 2002


Speaker, "How to Structure Leases to Minimize the Risk of Tenant Bankruptcy", Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, April 9, 2002


Speaker, "How to Structure a Lease to Protect Against the Risk of Bankruptcy of the Tenant", American Bar Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois, August 6, 2001


Speaker, "Structuring Leases to Protect Against Tenant Bankruptcy", CREW-Los Angeles, Park Hyatt Hotel, Los Angeles, California, May 8, 2001, Bailes & Associates, Los Angeles, California, December 6, 2001, CREW-Los Angeles, Olympic Collection, Los Angeles, California, May 14, 2002


Speaker, "Top 10 Issues in Work Letters", Crocker Symposium, Los Angeles, California, April 27, 2001


Speaker, "Technology in Leases: The Brave New World", American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Spring CLE Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida, March 24, 2000


Speaker, "Navigating the FDCPA Minefield in Preparing Three-Day Notices", Orange County Bar Association, Newport Beach, California, October 26, 1999


Speaker, "Leasing Issues", CREW-Los Angeles Meeting, Regency Club, Los Angeles, California, August 10, 1999


Speaker, "Y2K Issues", Gilchrist & Rutter Forum, Regency Club, Los Angeles, California, May 5, 1999


Speaker, "From Titanic to El Nino - How to Protect Yourself from the Next Disaster", Annual NNCREW Convention, San Diego, California, October 8, 1998


Speaker, "From the Titanic to Northridge: Insurance Clauses - How to Negotiate Them and How to Litigate Them When Disasters Strike", Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles, California, April 29, 1998


Speaker, "Judicial Decisions that Defy Common Sense", Annual Convention, American Bar Association, San Francisco, California, August 5, 1997


Speaker, "Why Is This (Industrial) Lease Different From All Others?", Spring CLE Meeting, American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Washington, DC, May 16, 1997


Speaker, "Covenants, Contingencies and Disclosures", CCIM, Los Angeles Chapter, Los Angeles, California, January 21, 1997


Speaker, "Real Estate Sales - Saving the Deal", The Rutter Group Seminar, Los Angeles, California, June 13, 1996


Speaker, "Letters of Intent: Why Enter Into Them?", CREW-Los Angeles Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, June 11, 1996, CCIM, Los Angeles Chapter, Los Angeles, CA, August 20, 1996, Real Estate Division of Northern Trust Bank, Los Angeles, CA, February 5, 1997 and CREW-Los Angeles Meeting, Los Angeles, California, May 13, 1997


Speaker, "Negotiating Letters of Intent to Lease", Spring CLE Meeting, American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, San Diego, California, May 16, 1996


Speaker, "Real Estate Development and Management Issues Facing the Entertainment Industry", NNCREW Regional Conference, Santa Monica, California, February 3, 1995


Speaker, "Enforceability of Use and Exclusivity Clauses", American Bar Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, August 9, 1994


Speaker, "The Tenant Work Letter and the Games People Play", CB Commercial Real Estate Group, Los Angeles, California, November 23, 1993


Speaker, "Issues Near and Dear to the Hearts of Brokers and Their Clients", Bailes & Associates, Los Angeles, California, December 8, 1992


Speaker, "Managing Risks in the 90's", Risk Management and Employee Conference, Anaheim, California, March 31, 1992


Pro Bono Activities:
Urban Recovery Los Angeles, 1992
Westchester United Methodist Church - Assisted in negotiating and documenting telecommunications and property management agreements, 2008 - 2009

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