Joan Velazquez

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP
Partner & Chair of the Real Estate Department
Professional Services Advisors

As chair of the real estate practice at Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, Joan Velazquez is a respected dealmaker known for her strategic, solutions-driven approach to complex transactions. She guides clients through the full life cycle of projects, from acquisition and financing to development and sale. Velazquez’s background in tax law gives her a unique advantage in maximizing client returns in high-stakes matters. Her recent work includes a $168-million refinance of a multifamily property and the representation of a client in the sale of approximately 16,500 acres in Hawaii to the Trust for Public Land. Recognized as a Top 100 Lawyer by the Los Angeles Business Journal, she is a sought-after counselor for structuring sophisticated capital stacks involving mezzanine financing and subordinated lending, having closed over $1 billion in financing transactions during her career.