Sujata Yalamanchili

Sujata draws upon her extensive experience in business and commercial real estate development, commercial leasing, and real estate investment and financing to provide business-focused legal advice to help her clients reach their goals. Sujata's experience includes structuring acquisition and development projects for office, distribution, and manufacturing facilities; advising retail sector developers and operators in development, acquisition, leasing, financing, and 1031 exchange matters; and handling real estate financing matters, including nontraditional sale leaseback and ground-lease matters.

Highlights of Sujata’s work include:

• Acting as lead real estate counsel to a publicly traded financial institution, a nonprofit health care organization, and a UK-based retailer with more than 200 retail locations throughout North America
• Advising companies entering into contracts with airport authorities, including structuring joint venture arrangements to qualify for minority- and women-owned business status
• Assisting in the development of hospitality projects, including management contracts, leases, franchise agreements, and joint venture agreements 

Before attending law school, Sujata worked as a financial analyst for a Fortune 50 company, where her responsibilities included cost accounting, project analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.

At Hodgson Russ, Sujata previously served as a member of the firm's board of directors and is a former chair of its Committee for Attorney Recruitment, Development, and Diversity. 

Sujata writes a monthly column for Tax Notes State called “Real Assessment."

Sujata exclusively practices U.S. law and is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York. 

• Listed, Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year" (Real Estate Law) 2021, 2023
• Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law) 2013 - 2023
• Listed, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, (Real Estate) 2017 - 2022
• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Real Estate) 2013 - 2022
• Recipient, ATHENA Leadership Award, 2021 
• Listed, Buffalo Business First, Power 200 Women, 2021
• Listed, Buffalo Business First, Power 125 Women, 2018, 2019
• NFJC Community Leader, 2018
• Minority Bar Association Award, 2016
• University at Buffalo School of Management Alumni Achievement Award for Service to the School, 2010
• Buffalo Business First's 40 Under Forty Award, 2005
• Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1988
• University at Buffalo Outstanding Undergraduate Award
• Wall of Fame, Williamsville Central School District

• Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
• Member, Commercial Leasing Committee, ACREL

• Commercial Lease Law Insider board of advisors

• Member, Advisory Board of the Real Estate Development
  Program at the University at Buffalo (www.ap.buffalo.edu/real-estate-development)  

• Co-Chair, Leasing Committee of the Real Property Section, New York State Bar Association

• New York State Bar Association
• Bar Association of Erie County

• Board Member, University at Buffalo Foundation, 2021 - Present
• Board Member, the Williamsville Education Foundation, 2017 - Present
• Member and Former Chair, Dean's Advisory Council, University at Buffalo School of Management 2011 - Present
• Emerita Board Member, WNY Women's Foundation, 2008 - Present
• Emeritus Trustee, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation, 2021 - Present

• Former Vice Chair, Shea's Performing Arts Center, 2021 - 2022
• Former Chair, Amherst Youth Board, 2008
• Past Co-chair, "What She's Made Of," WNY Women's Foundation, 2012
• Former President & Board Member, University at Buffalo School of Management Alumni Association