Overview
Sara Hansen Wilson, a leader in the firm’s real estate group, advises clients on legal matters involving acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, and financing of commercial real estate properties. With practical, goal-oriented counsel, Sara helps investors, developers, landlords, tenants and other clients efficiently achieve their real estate and business goals on a national basis.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
Sara represents commercial real estate investors and developers in joint ventures and in a range of acquisitions and dispositions. She has extensive experience in the acquisition and disposition of office buildings, shopping centers and warehouses for large corporations with a national presence, local developers, and national institutional investors. Sara also represents clients in connection with the acquisition of land for ground-up development.
Leasing
Retail landlords and tenants across the country seek Sara’s representation in the leasing of regional shopping centers, “lifestyle” centers, mixed-use centers and urban street locations. She guides retail developers through the leasing of new developments and major redevelopments and retail tenants through both the rollout of stores and the disposal of excess real estate. Sara regularly also represents owners and tenants in leasing office, warehouse and industrial properties. She frequently speaks on leasing topics to industry and legal groups.
Financing
To secure commercial real estate transactions, Sara represents borrowers and lenders in loan originations secured by real property in various asset classes, personal property and mixed collateral financings. Sara represents lenders in California in local and multijurisdictional loans and represents borrowers across the country.
Personal Interests
Sara enjoys international travel, hiking and arts. She is an avid fan of San Francisco sports teams.
Related Legal Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
California
Education
UCLA School of Law
J.D. Order of the Coif (1992)
Williams College
B.A. in Economics, cum laude, with honors (1988)
Insights & Events
Insights
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Friends of San Francisco City Planning — supporting the Planning Department of the City of San Francisco
Professional Associations
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) — Fellow, 8 years; Chair of Leasing Committee, 3 years
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) — Law Conference Planning Committee, 6 years
- CREW of San Francisco
- San Francisco Bar Association
Civic Activities
- Calvary Foundation — Trustee, 2 years
- Friends of San Francisco City Planning — Board, 20 years
- San Francisco Achievers — Mentor, 1 year
Firm Leadership
- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP — Vice-Chair, Real Estate Group, 3 years; Hiring Partner, San Francisco Office, 5 years; Women’s Leadership Council, 7 years; Chair, Mentorship Program (San Francisco Office), 5 years
Honors
- Best Lawyers® — Real Estate Law, 2024-25
- Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com — Northern California “Women of Influence”
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.