People•Leeza Evensen, P.C.
Leeza Evensen, P.C.
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Leeza Evensen, P.C.

Partner
People•Leeza Evensen, P.C.

Leeza Evensen is based in Snell & Wilmer's Salt Lake City office where she serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. Leeza's practice is concentrated in real estate law, focusing on hotel, resort, retail, condominium, office, and other commercial real estate development and disposition; office/retail leasing; zoning and land use; partnerships and joint ventures; construction; real estate workouts; real estate financing; and general commercial and corporate transactions. She advises clients on complex real estate matters that arise in connection with the development of utility-scale wind and solar projects. Leeza has a special expertise in the acquisition, development, construction and financing of public charter and private school facilities. Her experience includes representing real estate developers, ski resorts, landowners, real estate investment trusts (REITs), financial institutions and governmental agencies.

  • University of Utah College of Law (J.D., 2000)
    • William H. Leary Scholar
    • Outstanding Achievement Award in Corporate Finance
    • Outstanding Achievement Award in Business Planning
    • CALI in Excellence for the Future Award
    • Note and Comment Editor, Journal of Land, Resources and Environmental Law
  • Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia (B.A., Journalism, highest honors)
    • Varsity Swimming Team

  • State Bar of Utah
    • Real Property Section
    • Business Law Section
    • Construction Law Section
  • Women's Energy Network (WEN Utah), Board Member, Secretary 
  • Commercial Real Estate Women Network, Utah Chapter (CREW Utah)
    • Board Member
    • President (2018)
  • Women Lawyers of Utah
  • Snell & Wilmer Real Estate Practice Group, Co-Chair

  • Distinguished Leaders Panel, Panelist, CREW Utah (May 9th, 2023)
  • "Renewable Energy Development, Issues and Challenges Panel Discussion," Co-Presenter, Women's Energy Network, Utah Chapter (April 27, 2023)
  • "The Future of Advanced Renewables", Moderator, Utah Chapter of Women's Energy Network. Panelists included Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Alyssa Kay from the Utah Governor's Office of Energy Development among other prominent women leaders in the energy industry (March 10, 2022)
  • "The Making of a Deal," Panelist, CREW Utah (September 14, 2021)
  • "Utah Energy Legislation Update - Lunch 'n Learn," Co-Presenter, Women's Energy Network, Utah Chapter (May 19, 2021)
  • "Commercial Real Estate Roundtable," Participant, Utah Business (May 2018)
  • "Women in the C-Suite: How Do They Do That?" Moderator, CREW Utah (January 2017)
  • "Partner Spotlight," Author, The Highmark Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 4 (June 2016)
  • "Up for Grabs, Monetizing Utah Retail Liquor Licenses," Co-Author, Utah Business (July 2014)
  • "Retail, Office and Restaurant Leases: Key Provisions and Warranties," Presenter of Topics "The Use Clause" and "Re-Negotiating the Lease," Live Seminar organized by National Business Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah (April 2014)
  • "Legal Issues in the Complex Leasing Transaction Part II," Continuing Education Instructor, State of Utah Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate (2011)
  • "Getting the Best Results Cost Efficiently - Billable Hour Alternatives," Presenter, Utah Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (August 2010)
  • "Top Landlord Mistakes in Commercial Leasing," Co-Author, The Enterprise (April 13-19, 2009)
  • "The Erosion of the Parol Evidence Rule: More Holes in the Dike," Defense Counsel Journal (April 2000)
  • "Fifth Circuit Rejects EPA Rule Requiring State and Federal Agency Consultation as a Precondition for State Permitting Programs," 19 J. Land Resources & Envtl. L. 129 (1999)
  • "Open Space Preservation in Utah, Techniques, Tools, and First 'Quality Growth' Steps," 19 J. Land, Resources & Envtl. L. 267, 270 (1999)

  • The Best Lawyers in America®,
    • Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law (2024)
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Real Estate (2017-2023)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Real Estate (2022)
  • Utah's Legal Elite: Real Estate, Utah Business Magazine (2008, 2011, 2015-2022)
  • Team Member, "National Tier 1" in Real Estate Law, U.S. New Media Group and Best Lawyers (2018)
  • 30 Women to Watch, Utah Business Magazine (2017)
  • Real Estate Attorney of the Year, CCIM Utah Excellence Award (2017)
    • Finalist (2016)
  • Team Member, "National Tier 1" in Real Estate Law, U.S. New Media Group and Best Lawyers (2017)
  • CCIM Excellence Top Performer Award (2015)
  • Team Member, "Tier 1" in Metropolitan Rankings, Utah, Real Estate Law (2014, 2015)

  • ArtSpace, Board Member (2022)
  • Downtown Farmers Market/Utah Public Market Board, Past Board Member
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Success in Law School Mentoring Program, Past Mentor
  • Utah State Bar, New Lawyer Training Program, Past Mentor
  • Snell & Wilmer Community Involvement Committee, Salt Lake City office, Past Chair
  • Utah Tennis Association, Past Board Member
  • Utah Junior Tennis Foundation, Past Board Member
  • Utah Tennis Association, Executive Committee, Past Secretary

  • Russian
  • French

  • Utah

  • Supreme Court of Utah
  • United States District Court, District of Utah