Sonia A. Nayak
Partner / Office Managing Partner, Los Angeles
Introduction
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.
My focus
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.
Looking ahead
As we continue to invent new ways to address the shortage of affordable and transitional housing and work to infuse our communities with the capital needed to create jobs and spur economic growth, we will need to expand the intersection of public and private collaboration to effectively address these issues.
/Insights
- “Hot Topics in Event Security Risk Management,” The Sports & Entertainment Risk Conference, Hollywood, CA, April 3, 2025
- “Joining the Club: Legal Implications of Introducing AI tools into Sports,” Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review Symposium, Los Angeles, CA, February 21, 2025
- “Resyndication and Financing strategies, plus a California Update,” IPED's Tax Credit Property Dispositions, Los Angeles, CA, March 1, 2024
- “Investing in Diversity,” Novogradac 24th Annual New Markets Tax Credit Conference, Carlsbad, CA, January 25, 2024
- “Building positive impact in our communities,” Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2023
- “Closing NMTC Transactions in Tough Economic Times,” Novogradac 23rd Annual New Markets Tax Credit Conference, San Diego, CA, January 20, 2023
- “Creating Solutions, Taking Action,” Novogradac Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit, January 18, 2023
- “Avoiding a Messy Unwind,” Novogradac 2022 New Markets Tax Credit Conference, January 21, 2022
- “Investor Outlook,” Novogradac 2020 New Markets Tax Credit Fall Virtual Conference, October 29, 2020
- “Issues for CDEs: Roundtable Discussions,” Novogradac 2020 New Markets Tax Credit Conference, San Diego, CA, January 30, 2020
- “Wind Downs,” New Markets Tax Credit Spring Conference, Washington, DC, June 6, 2019
- “New Strategies for Funding Capital Projects,” Government Finance Officers Association 113th Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, May 20, 2019
- Novogradac NMTC Conference, San Diego, January 24-25, 2019
- “Opportunity Zones—What’s New in Community Development,” Nixon Peabody MCLE Marathon, Los Angeles, January 17, 2019
- “Academic & Professional Skills for US Law Studies,” Guest Lecturer, USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, October 12, 2018
- “Leveraging Opportunity Zones to Finance Rental Housing,” 27th Annual Affordable Housing and Community Development Conference, San Diego, CA, October 4, 2018
- “Recent tax law changes that affect investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones,” Family Office Association Conference - Los Angeles, October 2, 2018
- “Leverage Sources,” Novogradac 2018 New Markets Tax Credit Conference, January 25, 2018
- “44 Years Later: The 1984 and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—A Discussion of the Developmental Landscape in Los Angeles, Then and Now,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, Los Angeles, January 18, 2018
- “New Markets Tax Credit 202 Workshop,” CohnReznick New Markets Tax Credit Conference, Pre-Conference Workshop, Miami, May 2017
- “Community Development Finance,” UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Guest Lecture, Los Angeles, April 2017
- “Affordable Housing: Compliance and Occupancy,” IPED, Learning the Basics: Housing Tax Credits 101, IPED, Boston, MA, March 2017
- “Adjusting to Recent Changes from Dept of Treasury: CDFI Fund,” Novogradac New Markets Tax Credit Conference, San Diego, January 2017
- “Hot Topics in Land Use, Affordable Housing and Tax Credit Finance,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, Los Angeles, January 2017
In the news
- Los Angeles Times
Nixon Peabody leads in legal representation for an innovative, creative Los Angeles
Nov 17, 2024This advertorial highlights NP Los Angeles for its innovative client work across intellectual property, media and entertainment, and community development finance. Intellectual Property practice group leader Seth Levy, Corporate partner and Entertainment team leader Ellie Heisler, and Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak, of the Community Development Finance practice, are mentioned in the content.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody lands real estate pros in Los Angeles
Oct 31, 2024The following article covers the NP arrivals of Los Angeles Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Dave Barksdale and counsel Joe Bini. Dave and Joe are quoted in the coverage, discussing their moves to NP as well as market trends related to workouts and the real estate finance origination space. Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak is also quoted from NP’s press release.
- Bloomberg Law
Nixon Peabody adds David Barksdale, Joe Bini to real estate team
Oct 30, 2024The following article covers the NP arrivals of Los Angeles Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Dave Barksdale and counsel Joe Bini. Dave and Joe are quoted in the coverage, discussing their moves to NP as well as market trends related to workouts and the real estate finance origination space. Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak is also quoted from NP’s press release.
- Los Angeles Times
Building positive impact in our communities
June 25, 2023Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak, of the Community Development Finance practice, contributed this article highlighting how NP LA is working with community groups, public agencies, and private organizations to create positive impact. The article focuses on the firm’s work with client Genesis LA and the Los Angeles Development Fund to help finance generational change among underserved communities in Southern California.
- Bloomberg Law
How Nixon Peabody’s Los Angeles office reached its DEI goals
April 12, 2023Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak contributed this article discussing how the Los Angeles office has developed a diverse and inclusive workplace, and has deployed metrics and technology to shape a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Los Angeles region.
- Los Angeles Times
Staying the course: Nixon Peabody is building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
Dec 18, 2022In this article, Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak, of the Community Development Finance group, discusses several ways that organizations can effectively create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces, using NP LA’s office story and their DEI progress as an example.
- HITS Daily Double
Mitchell returns to Nixon Peabody
This article covers Los Angeles Corporate partner Carron Mitchell’s return to NP as a member of the Entertainment team, detailing her practice and community involvement. The article includes quotes from Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Sonia Nayak and Entertainment team leader Ellie Heisler on the unique background that Carron brings to the firm.April 1, 2022 - The Recorder
Building Community: Nixon Peabody's new California leaders on growth for a younger partnership
This article on the recent appointments of Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak to Los Angeles office managing partner and Complex Disputes partner Robert Weikert to San Francisco office managing partner focuses on their new roles and goals for their respective offices, and how the California team is continuing to build on momentum to increase NP’s presence on the West Coast.Feb 15, 2022 - Bisnow
This weeks LA deal sheet
This roundup of notable industry news features Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak for her appointment to Los Angeles office managing partner.Feb 7, 2022 - Bloomberg Law
Wake up call
This roundup of notable legal moves features Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak for her appointment to Los Angeles office managing partner.Feb 3, 2022 - Affordable Housing Finance
People on the Move
This roundup of personnel moves in the affordable housing space highlights the promotions of Los Angeles Community Development partner Sonia Nayak, Washington, DC, Affordable Housing and Real Estate partner Dara Newman Histed, and New York City Affordable Housing and Real Estate partner Dana Roper, all of whom officially joined the NP partnership this month.Feb 10, 2020 - Law.com – The Recorder
On the Move: Tracking the ins and outs of California lawyers
This round-up of personnel moves in the legal industry mentions Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak, who officially joined the NP partnership as of Feb. 1.Feb 7, 2020 - Bisnow
The LA Deal Sheet
This round-up of executive and transactional news in Southern California notes the promotion of Los Angeles Community Development Finance attorney Sonia Nayak to partner.Feb 4, 2020 - The Deal
Movers & Shakers
This column of notable executive moves in the legal industry included a write-up on the promotion of Nixon Peabody’s 2020 new partner class: Laura Bacon, Shariff Barakat, Katie Baynes, Robert Fisher, Kimberly Harding, Brian Mahoney, Sonia Nayak, Dara Newman Histed, Morgan Nighan, Chris Porzio, Rachel Pugliese, Dana Roper, and Peter Trimarchi.Feb 4, 2020 - Reuters Legal
Career Tracker: Lawyers on the Move
This roundup of personnel moves in the legal industry highlights the 13 members of Nixon Peabody’s 2020 new partner class: Laura Bacon, Shariff Barakat, Katie Baynes, Robert Fisher, Kimberly Harding, Brian Mahoney, Sonia Nayak, Dara Newman Histed, Morgan Nighan, Chris Porzio, Rachel Pugliese, Dana Roper and Peter Trimarchi.Feb 3, 2020 - Los Angeles Business Journal
LA’s Most Influential Women Lawyers
Nixon Peabody Community Development Finance counsel Sonia Nayak has been recognized as one of the top women lawyers in the city on Los Angeles Business Journal’s annual list.April 8, 2019
Admitted to practice
California
Education
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
University of California, Irvine, B.A., Political Science
Professional activities
- Los Angeles and San Francisco County bar associations
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