Leading Through Change: Chairing ICSC’s Legal Advisory Council
September 30, 2025 • I’m honored to step into the role of Chair of the ICSC Legal Advisory Council (LAC) at this year’s ICSC Law Conference on October 8.
LAC’s 16 attorneys harken from all sectors of retail real estate — developers, retailers, and public agencies that bring a diverse range of talent and experience. Our work helps shape the legal and regulatory landscape that ICSC members navigate on a daily basis.
In the past year, we’ve weighed in on litigation involving attorney disbarment for cross-border work, negligence standards in tort law, and federal tax proposals that could have reshaped commercial real estate investment. These are not academic exercises; they affect how leases are drafted, how risk is allocated, and how deals get done.
Chairing the LAC is a continuation of my long-standing commitment to work collaboratively on the complex issues that impact our community, one that focuses on advocacy, innovation, and shaping change!
Why It Matters
We’re in a time of disruption and opportunity. Developers and retailers are being forced to rethink everything from acquisition strategies and leasing models to data analytics and risk management.
New legal questions are emerging daily:
Who bears the cleanup costs for PFAS contamination?
How should AI be integrated into lease negotiations or site selection?
How do evolving ESG regulations reshape liability?
The answers matter — not just in courtrooms, but at the negotiating table, in boardrooms, and on the ground in our shopping centers. These aren’t future problems; they’re here now.
My Goals for the LAC
Action-Oriented Advocacy. I’d like to see the LAC take a proactive role in modernizing cross-border practice rules. To do this, and more, I propose launching a subcommittee focused on identifying high-impact legal challenges where LAC can provide leadership and drive change.
Insight that Moves the Needle. We can provide spaces, formal and informal, for real-time, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, dynamic issue-driven dialogue, and practical learning, from contracts to compliance.
See You in San Diego
I’ll be kicking off this role at the ICSC Law Conference next month — one of the industry’s most vital forums for legal thought leadership.
Let’s connect, share ideas, and shape the change that will impact our industry.