Karla M. Rogers

Karla enjoys getting to know her clients and their businesses in order to provide practical and creative solutions to their real estate, commercial, finance, and corporate law needs.

She counsels clients in all aspects of real estate acquisitions and divestitures, including structuring transactions land assemblage, land use, zoning, and permitting compliance. Karla works extensively on all real estate components of corporate acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures. She counsels clients on purchase and sale agreements title, survey, and other real estate matters in connection with individual and multi-site acquisitions and sales.

Karla is experienced in negotiating and drafting commercial, industrial, and retail leases on behalf of both landlords and tenants.

She also represents institutional lenders and public and privately held borrowers in connection with structuring, negotiating, and drafting real estate financing agreements and facilitating secured financing transactions.

Karla has extensive experience in representing public mining company clients in all aspects of mineral leasing and mineral acquisitions and divestitures.

Karla has been recognized for her work in Real Estate by Chambers USA for 10 years, most recently ranked in Real Estate, Band 3 in Ohio (2023). Chambers USA researchers commented, "Karla Rogers is noted for her proficiency across the full spectrum of real estate transactions. She regularly advises clients on the acquisition and divestiture of real estate assets, as well as lease negotiations and amendments."

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA researchers stated, "Karla is my go-to real estate counsel. She is practical and efficient. Karla is knowledgeable, accessible, and practical. She understands our company and always provides sound advice. Karla is a fantastic attorney who listens to her clients and comes up with practical and commercial solutions while making sure there aren't any landmines. She's an expert in the field and is well respected in the industry. She applies business points and practical arguments to transactions so that agreements can be found in negotiations."

Karla has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^® list for Real Estate (2021-2024) and Corporate Law (2022-2024).

Karla serves as a member of Calfee’s Hiring Committee and is involved in Calfee’s mentoring program.

Previously serving as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Building Industry Association of Cleveland & Suburban Counties, Karla also served as an Associate with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister. Karla joined Calfee in 1998, was elected Partner in 2009. She began serving as Vice Chair of the Real Estate practice group in 2020, and is a member of Calfee’s Practice, Planning and Growth Committee.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA, Real Estate, Band 3, Ohio (2012-2018, 2021-2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Real Estate Law (2021-2024) and Corporate Law (2022-2024)

Education

J.D., cum laude, Cleveland State University College of Law, 1996

B.S., cum laude, The University of Akron, 1992

Experience

• Represented mining company on a 3,000-acre mining lease in West Texas involving lease negotiations, site due diligence and project management.
• Represented numerous clients in connection with sale/leaseback transactions involving institutional investor purchasers/landlords and properties located throughout the U.S.
• Represented joint venture for the purchase of former automotive plants for large-scale industrial redevelopments in Northeast Ohio.
• Represented joint venture in connection with entering into a development agreement with a local Ohio municipality and community improvement district for the remediation and development of a former governmental facility to a 100-acre mixed-use development.
• Represented joint venture in connection with the sale of property to a Fortune 500 company for the development of its research and development worldwide headquarters.
• Represented joint venture in connection with the acquisition and redevelopment of lakefront property into a proposed marina, hotel and residential development.
• Represents mining company in connection with the acquisition and divestiture of multiple real estate holdings, mineral leases, transloading leases and day-to-day real estate operations throughout the U.S and Canada.
• Represents several Northeast Ohio private equity funds in connection with multiple corporate acquisitions, divestitures and leasing involving real estate holdings throughout the U.S.
• Represents public manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, coatings and sealants in the acquisition and leasing of its real property holdings throughout the U.S. and Canada.
• Represented privately held company in connection with assemblage, acquisition and leasing of real properties in Northeast Ohio for a mixed-use student housing and retail project.
• Represented joint venture involved in the acquisition, financing and development of a historic Cleveland downtown mixed-use apartment project.
• Represented Northeast Ohio joint venture involved with the acquisition of property for large-scale mixed use redevelopment project.
• Represented joint venture involved in the acquisition, financing and development of a large-scale, mixed-use development (retail, office, hotel and apartment) in Northeast Ohio.
• Represented public food and hospitality company in its divestiture of properties throughout the U.S.

Professional & Community

• Ohio State Bar Association, Member
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Volunteer Mentor
• Shoes and Clothes For Kids, Former Board Member
• Chicago Title Insurance Company Advisory Board, Former Member

Presentations

Karla is often a featured speaker at various legal seminars. She has been a featured speaker at the National Business Institute seminars titled "Handling Real Estate Transactions from Start to Finish."

She has also spoken at numerous Ohio State Bar Association seminars involving commercial real estate law topics. 

Client Feedback

• "Karla is experienced and smart. She understands the intricacies of transactions." – Chambers USA 2023
• "Karla is a pleasure to work with. She is responsive, knowledgeable, and understands the business side of every deal." – Chambers USA 2023
• "Karla is my go-to real estate counsel. She is practical and efficient. Karla is knowledgeable, accessible, and practical. She understands our company and always provides sound advice. Karla is a fantastic attorney who listens to her clients and comes up with a practical and commercial solution while making sure there aren't any landmines." – Chambers USA 2022
• "Karla Rogers is our primary Real Estate attorney. She is extremely knowledgeable, a skilled negotiator, and a pleasure to work with." – Calfee client, as reported by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® in the 2019 “Best Law Firms” report