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Terai Griffith-Spence

Prior to establishing this firm, attorney Terai Griffith-Spence was lead division counsel for a Fortune 300 company where she managed large scale facility development projects and advised on complex commercial contracts, real estate leasing, land use, business licensing, and regulatory compliance matters, and she advised various Fortune 100 corporations in major commercial real estate transactions at an AmLaw 100 firm. Earlier in her career, Terai represented various home owner associations, small businesses, and individuals in real estate and business matters at a boutique real estate law firm.

In addition to practicing law, Terai enjoys racing her sailboat in the local regatta circuit, fishing, and hiking the National Parks.

Experience you can trust.

  • J.D., Ave Maria School of Law

    B.A., The University of Alabama

  • Florida

    Ohio

  • Ohio Notary Public

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

    Lake County Bar Association

    Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce

    The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Diversity & Inclusion

  • The Hertz Corporation’s Annual Facilities and Operations Conference, Speaker, “Commercial Leasing Terms and Pitfalls,” August 2019

    Ave Maria School of Law’s Annual Career Fair, Speaker, “Non-Traditional Legal Careers and In-House Counsel,” November 2016

    Ave Maria School of Law Board of Visitors, Panelist, “The In-House Perspective,” October 2015

Notable Work

  • Corporate Bankruptcy Reorganization

    Successfully led major division of a Fortune 500 company through one of the largest and most complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations in U.S. history from 2020-2021, which included the rejection, assumption, and restructuring of hundreds of real estate leases, facility service agreements, storage licenses, and commercial contracts.

  • Commercial Property Development

    Represented Fortune 300 mulltinational energy company in construction of a 1,000,000+ sf manufacturing facility, including site preparation contracts, obtaining land entitlements, state and municipal development agreements, construction contracts for utility infrastructure, and power purchase agreements to support the facility.

  • Facility Renovation & Buildouts

    Represented large public company with renovation and buildout of multiple floors of its U.S. headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

  • Industrial Facility Development

    Led large national automobile dealer through a rapid portfolio expansion from approximately 70 retail dealership facilities across North America to more than 90 dealerships over an 18-month period, including construction and design contracts and project managment.

  • Ground Leases & Construction

    Represent institutional buyers in the acquisition of commercial properties and assumption of long-term ground leases. Represent commercial tenants in negotiation of ground leases and construction and development of large industrial and retail facilities.

  • Global Headquarters Sale & Leaseback

    Represented large public company in the sale of its former global headquarters facility and leaseback of a portion of the building and parking facilities.

  • Land Use & Environmental

    Represented international automotive company in obtaining zoning variances for car wash facilities and automobile dealerships throughout North America. Managed sales and transfers of underground fuel storage tanks and other industrial equipment.

  • Healthcare Real Estate

    Represented Fortune 50 healthcare company in leasing, subleasing, and buildouts of ambulatory and urgent care centers, hospitals, and retail medical space throughout the United States.

  • REIT Management

    Represented public artificial intelligence (AI) company in its management of real estate investment trust (REIT) assets, including warehouse loan facilities for funding and asset backed securitization (ABS) agreements.

  • Mergers & Acquisitions

    Represented public AI company in acquisition and integration of multi-state property management company. Represented Fortune 100 healthcare company in the acquisition of private healthcare clinic facilities and leaseback of office space to physician owners.

  • Commercial Real Estate Leasing

    Represent commercial landlords and tenants in leasing and subleasing of offices, retail space, healthcare facilities, parking lots and garages, and industrial properties.

  • Hospitality

    Represented international automobile rental company in drafting and negotiation of concession agreements at hotels and resorts across North America and the Caribbean.