Ali Sylvia chairs the firm’s Real Estate Group and concentrates her practice in commercial real estate and business transactions, environmental counseling, health care/life sciences and corporate finance. Her practice covers a range of complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, commercial loan transactions and leasing of office, retail, industrial and mixed-use properties. She frequently serves as lead counsel to various regional and local gasoline station and convenience store owners, operators and franchisees. She regularly assists clients with environmental compliance issues, including cleanups and cost-recovery actions. Ali works with established and emerging businesses on corporate formation matters, general business issues, including contract negotiations, corporate governance and other strategic growth transactions. Ali also represents municipalities, real estate developers, industrial/manufacturing operations, dry cleaners, and petroleum and agricultural companies with their business, real estate and environmental matters.
Ali has experience representing small business owners, including dentists, physicians and restaurateurs in connection with entity formation, the acquisition and disposition of dental and physician practices, restaurants and other family-owned businesses.
Awards
- 2015-present, Listed in Best Lawyers in America® – Real Estate
- 2015-2021, 2023-2024, Selected for inclusion in Indiana Super Lawyers – Real Estate
- 2015, IndyCREW Donna M. Hovey Award
- 2014-present, Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- 2013, Selected into the CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network’s Executive Level Mentoring Program
- 2013, Elected to The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
- 2011, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana OPTIONS Class 11
- 2009-2011, Named in Indiana Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Real Estate
- 2009, Selected as one of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc.’s Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists in Law
- 2008, Selected as Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Association Foundation
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Indiana University – Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- B.A., (Chemistry and Psychology), Indiana University, Bloomington
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Kentucky
- State of Indiana
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Professional Affiliations
- Board of Directors, IndyCREW (President (2015); 2013 CREW Network Delegate (2013-2014); Member, Events Committee 2010-2012 (Chair 2011); Member, UCREW Committee (2014-201); Member, Mentor Committee (2016-2018); CREW Network Chapter Champion(2018); Member, Nominations Committee (2019); IndyCREW 20th Anniversary Planning Committee (2020); Member, IndyCREW CREW Network Spring Leadership Planning Committee (2021-2022)
- CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network Member Education Committee 2015-2017
- Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors (ICBR) Board of Directors – organization representative for IndyCREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) 2015
- Member, Indiana State Bar Association, Chair of the Articles & Bylaws Committee (2013-2016), Annual Meeting Chair (2013), Board of Governors (Secretary and Executive Committee 2011-2012), Environmental Law Section (Chair 2006-2007, Vice Chair 2005-2006, Treasurer 2004-2005, Vice Chair 2005-2006) and Standing Committee for Women in the Law (2004-present)(Chair 2009-2010) and (Vice Chair 2008-2009)
- Member, Indianapolis Bar Association, Environmental Law and Business and Real Estate Sections
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Kentucky Bar Association
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation (Member, Development Committee 2012- 2016)
Community Affiliations
- Member, Board of Directors, Next Farm Initiative, Inc. (2020-2022)
- Member, Immaculate Heart of Mary School Commission (2016-2019)
- Advisory Board, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, 2012-2018 (Co-Chair, Partners Committee; Member, Grants Committee; Member, Community Engagement Committee)
- Member, Junior League of Indianapolis
- Member, Board of Directors, Heritage Place, 2003-2009 (Secretary 2004-2006)
2023 | Speaking Engagement
Moderator, IndyCREW, 2023 State of #CRE Panel
2022 | Speaking Engagement
Moderator, IndyCREW, “State of Indiana Real Estate: Bringing it all Together!”
2020 | Speaking Engagement
Speaker, ISBA Women in the Law Bench Bar Conference, Napa, CA, “Navigating a Successful Real Estate Transaction in Indiana”
2014 | Speaking Engagement
Speaker, ABA Women Rainmakers Mid-Career Workshop, San Diego, CA, “Progressing into Partner – Road Rules for a New Role.”
2014 | Speaking Engagement
Speaker, “Commercial & Residential Landlord-Tenant Law,” Sterling Education Services
2012 | Speaking Engagement
Author and Speaker, “Environmental Issues in Real Estate Transactions,” National Business Institute, Inc.
2012 | Speaking Engagement
Speaker, “Lender Liability and Related Environmental Due Diligence,” Risk Management Association, Central Indiana Chapter
2012 | Speaking Engagement
Speaker and Moderator, “Commercial Due Diligence,” Indiana Board of Commercial Realtors, 2012 Commercial Real Estate Conference