Karen E. Abrams

Karen Abrams is a senior attorney at Meislik & Meislik. Her practice includes a broad range of experience in leasing, banking, and commercial real estate transactions. She has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating commercial leases, representing local, regional, and national commercial landlords, tenants, and brokers with respect to both office and retail space. Her real estate practice includes the acquisition, sale, and financing of real property. Karen also is involved in all areas of lending, with particular emphasis on commercial banking, asset-based lending, and real-estate secured transactions. She has represented many of the leading institutional lenders in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, including major commercial banks.

Education

• B.A. with Honors, Economics, Washington University in St. Louis, 1992
• M.B.A., Finance and Investment, George Washington University, 1995
• J.D., George Washington University School of Law, 1995

Admitted to Practice

• New Jersey, 1995
• New York, 1996
• Washington, D.C., 1997
• U.S. District Court of New Jersey, 1995

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• International Council of Shopping Centers

Professional Leadership

• New Jersey State Chair, ICSC Next Generation Committee

Honors and Awards

• Highlighted as a “Retail Expert” - Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal, April, 2010
• Executive Women in Business Award Winner - 2009 by Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal

Selected Presentations

• “First Rights,” Breakfast Roundtable, International Council of Shopping Centers, Phoenix, Arizona, October, 2009
• “Nuts and Bolts of Retail Leases - Insurance and Indemnity Provisions,” American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section, Retail Leasing Commitee, Webinar, July, 2009
• “Retail Leasing for Small Tenants,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey, November, 2008
• “Negotiating Commercial Leases,” Sterling Educational Services, Parsippany, New Jersey, November, 2008
• “Rights of First Refusal and Similar Rights,” Breakfast Roundtable, International Council of Shopping Centers, Hollywood, Florida, October, 2008

Selected Publications

• “Eight Biggest Mistakes Made By Transactional Attorneys That Prevent The Deal Getting Done,” Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal, April 8, 2010
• “‘Memorandum of Lease’ Clause - More Than Just Boilerplate,” Probate & Property, November/December, 2009
• “Exclusive Use Clauses Are Intended To Protect a Tenant,” Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal, August 14, 2009
• “Checklist Of Items To Include In A Letter Of Intent For A Lease,” Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal, April 20, 2009

Activities

• Volunteer Wish Granter for The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey (2000-2008)
• Volunteer with Golden Hearts Dog Rescue (2006 - present)
• Volunteer with Wayne Animal Shelter (2008 - present)