Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.
Two of my most substantial, recent wins in practice would have to be representing VICI Properties, Inc. on its $17.2 billion strategic acquisition of MGM Growth Properties LLC in 2021 and representing Duke Realty Corporation on its sale to Prologis Inc. for $23 billion in 2022—two of the largest REIT M&A transactions in history.
Both these transactions were transformational for my clients, and it was rewarding to be able to able to help guide them at such critical junctures, with one client (VICI Properties) becoming America’s largest owner of experiential real estate as a result of the transaction, while the other client (Duke Realty) made the difficult decision to sell itself. Being on the buy-side in one of the deals and the sell-side in the other was a great experience, as it is so helpful to have that perspective on both sides of the table.
I am also a project leader for a large, annual pro bono project that Hogan Lovells does for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). I first worked on this project back in 2009 when we were tasked with reviewing and updating four legal reference databases that summarize state laws relevant to victims of sexual assault crimes and counselors on their telephone and hotlines, and that project has now grown to eight legal reference databases. I’m proud to be part of such an impactful project.
What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! There were times early in my career when I was hesitant to ask a question and then someone more senior asked the same question.
Asking questions helps a lawyer develop a depth of knowledge regarding your client’s wants and needs, including with respect to any particular deal at hand. It is a critical part of advising your client to make sure you understand not only what they are trying to achieve, but why and how particular facts of a deal either help or hinder that goal. It may also help uncover any disconnects between the parties with respect to material terms of the transaction.
Asking questions allows the client to explore risk tolerance and priorities relative to other courses of action that may be available to them. Without a core understanding of these various matters, which in many cases can only be gained by posing questions or offering alternatives, it is difficult to effectively negotiate a transaction on behalf of your client.
How do you define success in your practice?
Success to me means my client is pleased with the outcome of the deal, which doesn’t always mean the deal gets done. On the one hand, success is when we are able to sign and close a transaction, particularly one where we had extensive negotiations in order to align the parties on mutually agreed-upon terms.
It is one of the reasons I love M&A —at the end of the day, the parties involved are all trying to get to the same place, so it is about solving the puzzle of meshing our interests and needs with the other side’s interests and needs to end up with a mutually beneficial outcome. On the other hand, success also means that we have done our job to identify risks in a transaction, which may mean the deal does not get done because the client determines it would not be in their best interest to proceed.
Ultimately, success means arming my client with information and advice in a way that helps them put their best foot forward in any transaction and end up with the right outcome for them.
What are you most proud of as a lawyer?
I am proud that I am part of a team of lawyers who value collaboration and teamwork and that I have been able to perpetuate that culture for our next generation. Being a lawyer is about more than just the work itself—it is about building relationships and trust with each other and our clients. I love being part of a firm and culture that embodies the values that my parents instilled in me—I can be kind and respectful and be a great lawyer successfully advocating for my client’s best interests at the same time.
Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?
I have been incredibly fortunate in my career to have many amazing mentors who have each, in different ways, taught me how to successfully approach the practice of law and carve out my role. David Bonser is one of those mentors. In addition to being a preeminent REIT lawyer, he has helped me challenge myself to see my potential beyond my comfort zone and gives me the space and opportunity to prove my abilities.
Liz Donley, Cristina Arumi, and Mahvesh Qureshi (among a number of other women) have also been key role models who have inspired me by demonstrating how it is possible to be an exceptional lawyer with an incredible legal career while also being an active and involved parent.
Tell us your two favorite songs your summer music playlist.
When I find songs I like, I can listen to them on repeat for a long time, and these two songs have been on my favorites list for quite some time and continue to make the cut: “It’s My Life” (Bon Jovi) and “Fearless,” (Taylor Swift). Both of these songs evoke certain positive memories from my different times in my life and just make me smile.
Stacey McEvoy has led or co-led on over US $55 billion in transactions involving REITs and real estate companies, on the sell and the buy sides, her firm says. In pro bono, McEvoy has been one of five leaders in Hogan Lovells’ partnership with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an annual project helping victims assess legal options, understand state laws, and connect with legal representation.
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