Sonia Nayak is the managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Her practice centers on real estate development, including tax credit finance, affordable housing, and commercial lending, and she also leads the firm’s Sports & Stadiums team.
Real Estate Financing and Development
My practice covers a comprehensive area of real estate, including finance, corporate, tax, acquisitions, dispositions, and workouts. With well over fifteen years of experience, my clients view me as a trusted member of their team. At times, I am called upon to act as outside general counsel for my clients, providing objective and pragmatic advice and access to a deep bench of legal advisors at Nixon Peabody LLP to help them navigate their expanded business needs.
A significant part of my work involves bringing private capital to community and affordable housing development projects in California and nationwide. For example, I help investors (large financial institutions, regional banks, and funds), lenders, and developers leverage unique financing structures to finance developments with the capital needed to bring critical services to underserved neighborhoods and communities. These developments use financing programs, such as the federal low-income housing tax credit and new markets tax credit, and include affordable multifamily housing complexes, healthcare facilities, charter schools, cultural and community centers, and research and technology incubator facilities.
Sports Industry
In addition to real estate financing and development, I represent sports teams and host committees on a wide range of matters across the sports industry. I have extensive experience negotiating complex agreements for high-profile sports events, professional leagues, and public and private organizations. I also provide comprehensive legal guidance on key considerations essential to the successful execution of large-scale national and international sports events.
My advisory services include:
- Public-Private Partnerships: Managing legal risks in public-private partnerships and negotiating among government agencies and interests.
- Real Estate: Ensuring venue agreements and land use comply with local and international regulations.
- Security: Advising about physical security protocols and procedures, risk assessment, crowd control measures, and legal considerations to protect participants and spectators.
- Sponsorships: Negotiating sponsorship agreements in connection with mega events, including fees, VIK, activation rights, and exclusivity.
- Compliance: Ensuring full adherence to relevant laws and regulations, including labor, immigration, and environmental standards.
