About

Terri L. Adler is a founding member of Adler & Stachenfeld LLP, the Managing Partner of the Firm, a member of the Management Committee, and the founding member of the Firm’s women’s initiative.  Ms. Adler is also the co-chair of the Ground Lease Practice Group, Real Estate Platform Investment Group, and Distressed Real Estate Practice Group, chair of the Fund Formation Practice Group, Crowdfunding Practice Group, and International Practice Group, and former chair of the Real Estate Department.

Ms. Adler is one of the most talented, creative, and innovative attorneys in real estate and an unmatched powerhouse in corporate real estate transactions requiring complicated bespoke structuring.  Her success can be traced in part to her ability to evolve as the real estate industry has evolved as well as her expertise in guiding clients through the various economic and industry crises throughout her career.  As a result, Ms. Adler has developed a wide range of expertise in all areas of national and international real estate practice with a particular focus on platform creation and investment, GP capital funds, complex joint ventures, ground leases, and corporate real estate transactions.  As a result of almost three decades of experience, Ms. Adler can address not only the real estate and corporate aspects of a particular transaction but also the unique needs of clients in their national and international transactions and relationships.

Ms. Adler’s clients include private equity funds, family offices, property owners, fund managers, developers, REITs, CPACE lenders, real estate platforms, founders of real estate platforms, ground lessors, ground lessees, and foreign investors.

As the founder of Adler & Stachenfeld’s women’s initiative, Ms. Adler is actively involved in mentoring and assisting women inside and outside the Firm.  She regularly speaks on women’s issues both in the legal industry and the real estate industry and is passionate about issues concerning gender inclusion and parity. 

In addition to others, Ms. Adler is individually ranked by Chambers and Partners as well as named as a Distinguished Leader by the New York Law Journal in 2023, and a Notable Women in Law by Crain’s New York Business in 2023, recognizing women for distinguished careers and exceptional civic and philanthropic activities.  She is consistently named as one of New York's Super Lawyers in real estate, and one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in New York. 

Ms. Adler is an advisory board member of Law 360's Real Estate Authority and a board member of the Urban Green Council.  

Ms. Adler loves the New York Mets, the New York Islanders, and begrudgingly supports the New York Jets because her husband likes them.  Ms. Adler also watches Premier League soccer every weekend during soccer season, knits, gardens, and is surprisingly crafty. 

Notable Transaction Expertise:

Throughout her career, Ms. Adler has been involved in many deals that have transformed neighborhoods and companies, and led the way to new trends and transactions in the real estate industry.  Some examples spanning her career include:

Two of Ms. Adler’s favorite deals that changed the neighborhoods in which they were located were (a) the acquisition, financing, and redevelopment, and sale of The Chelsea Market in Manhattan and (b) the acquisition, financing, redevelopment, and sale of 31 acres of land that transformed the River North neighborhood of Chicago.  

Ms. Adler believes that real state and responsible neighborhood building can transform our cities and significantly impact the lives of residents in those cities and loves partnering with her clients in those transactions.

Notable Speaking Engagements: 

  • Interview by Elyse Holtzman on The Lawyer's Edge Podcast (October 2024)
  • Speaker, Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference, "Real Estate Construction Financing" (July 2024)
  • Interview by Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker of Jackson Lucas on Impact Real Estate Podcast (June 2024)
  • Speaker, Toigo Foundation, Toigo Real Estate Intensive (Webinar), “Distressed Real Estate Investments: Assessments, Workouts, and Opportunities” (March 2024)
  • Moderator, IMN Distressed Real Estate Forum, “The Owner Perspective – Working with your Lender:  Workouts, Negotiations, Foreclosures & Bankruptcy” (September 2023)
  • Keynote Interview of Alicia Glen, Founder & Managing Principal of MSquared, GreenPearl Real Estate Women’s Forum (March 2023)
  • Keynote Conversation, Real Estate Women’s Forum, “Life in the Boardroom:  Viewpoints from Female Power Players” (March 2023)
  • Panelist, New York University Stern School of Business Innovate ESG Conference, “C-PACE Financing” (February 2023)
  • Panelist, Bisnow New York Future Forum, “Developing Buildings to Satisfy Key Demand:  Key Locations and Asset Classes” (January 2023)
  • Speaker, Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference, “Real Estate JVs and Development" (July 2023)
  • Panelist, New York Law Firm Leaders, Fall Conference (2024, 2023, & 2022)
  • Panelist, iGlobal ESG & DEI in Commercial Real Estate Summit, “Advancing Women in Commercial Real Estate” (October 2022)
  • Panelist, New York Law School Center for Real Estate Studies Fall Event, “Creative Capital Raising in Post-COVID Era” (October 2021)
  • Moderator, Commercial Observer’s Women’s Forum, “Investment & Lending Trends:  Meet the Women Setting Major Deal Terms” (June 2021)
  • Panelist, CenterForce Inclusion, Diversity & Change Virtual Summit, “A Few Good Men:  Moving Beyond #MeToo” (June 2021)
  • Moderator, Project REAP Spring Academy, “Opportunity Zones Panel Discussion” (May 2021)
  • Panelist, GreenPearl Real Estate Women’s Forum, “New York Emerging Trends” (March 2021)
  • Panelist, GreenPearl Real Estate Women’s Forum, “Finance & Investment” (March 2021)
  • Interview Thomas Shapiro of GTIS Partners, Young Jewish Professionals Network (September 2020)
  • Panelist, CenterForce Woman in Corporate Leadership Summit, “Diversity & Inclusion in Law Firms & Corporations:  Disrupting Old Models & Lowering Attrition” (November 2019)
  • Panelist, GreenPearl Real Estate Women’s Forum, “Life in the Boardroom:  Viewpoints from Female Power Players” (February 2018)

Notable Recognitions: