Introduction
Colette Dafoe focuses her practice on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, representing owners, investors and developers in acquisitions, sales, leasing, financing and development of commercial real estate. Her practice involves drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, leases and loan documents and performing due diligence and other site acquisition services. Colette is a member of the firm’s Management Committee, which works with firm leaders to execute the strategic plan and oversee day-to-day operations.
My focus
Multifamily and senior housing and care
I work on multifamily housing matters, particularly with respect to the senior housing and care industry. I represent clients in transactions ranging from single property matters to several of the most notable transactions in the industry involving publicly traded and privately held clients. My clients include investors, financiers, purchasers and providers and sellers of multifamily apartments, active adult communities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and CCRCs.
Restructuring and workouts
My restructuring and workout experience includes workouts of commercial loans, portfolio and securitized loans, distressed property sales and representation of lenders in debtor-in-possession financing transactions.
Representative experience
- Serves as outside general counsel to the largest continuing care retirement community in metropolitan Boston, handling its day-to-day legal affairs and mitigating operating risks.
- Represents a regional health care lender financing the acquisition, development and expansion of seniors housing campuses (independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities) throughout New England.
- Represented a foreign investor in two acquisitions and a disposition of a New England seniors housing portfolio valued at $890 million, and counseled client on a range of asset management matters throughout the ownership period.
- Counsel to a U.S. developer, owner and operator of a seniors housing portfolio situated throughout the Northeast in joint venture, development, regulatory and financing matters.
- Represented a special servicer in the workout of an approximately $100 million loan portfolio.
- Represented the special servicer in the sale of multiple REO hotel properties located throughout the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States.
/Insights
- “Assess Your Rights and Duties at Year 15,” IPED's Tax Credit Property Dispositions, Los Angeles, CA, February 29, 2024
- “Preservation Pointers,” Novogradac 2021 Tax Credit Housing Finance Conference, Webinar/Las Vegas, Nevada, December 3, 2021 (Co-presenter)
- “Restructuring Commercial Real Estate Loans 2021 – Key Considerations,” Practising Law Institute, Virtual presentation, May 26, 2021 (Co-presenter)
In the news
- Law360
Nixon Peabody appoints finance, tax partner as DC leader
May 2, 2025This article profiles Washington, DC Community Development Finance partner Sumeet Sharma for his selection as office managing partner in Washington, DC. In addition to capturing Sumeet’s thoughts on his new role, the article includes a quote from Managing Partner and CEO Steve Zubiago and mentions former OMP Colette Dafoe for transitioning to the new Industry Strategy Partner role on the Management Committee.
- Law360
Amazon HQ2 delay is unique opportunity for DC area
March 7, 2023Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner and Washington, DC Office Managing Partner Colette Dafoe is quoted in this article discussing how Amazon’s decision to pause construction of part of its planned second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia could impact the region. In addition to her thought leadership, the article notes Colette’s participation in the newly established DC Economic Partnership advisory council, which is working on bringing office tenants back to downtown.
- Connect Media
Jair Lynch, Nuveen acquire 587-unit multifamily in Langley Park
This article covering Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners and Nuveen Real Estate’s acquisition of a 587-unit affordable housing community in Langley Park, Maryland mentions NP as transaction counsel for the purchaser. The NP deal team includes Washington, DC partner Colette Dafoe and associate Jamie Flesch, and Rochester senior paralegal Stephanie Navarro-Smith, all from the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.June 1, 2022 - Washington Business Journal
Jair Lynch continues acquisition spree with first Loudoun apartment buy
This article on client Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners’ $105.5M acquisition of a Loudon County, Virginia apartment complex mentions NP for serving as Jair Lynch’s legal counsel. The deal team includes Washington, DC Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Colette Dafoe and Dara Newman Histed and associate Jamie Greenfield. Washington, DC Complex Commercial Disputes partner Le Dolan has played an integral role in developing the client relationship.Jan 20, 2022 - Washington Business Journal
Exclusive-The Meridian Group lands notable new tenant for 1333 New Hampshire
This article mentions NP for advising the American Bankers Association on the lease of its new 87,000-square-foot headquarters. Washington, DC office managing partner Colette Dafoe and Chicago associate Emily Schwebke, both of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group, negotiated the lease on behalf of ABA while Rochester Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Darren Miller led negotiations on construction and architect agreements for the build-out.June 1, 2021 - Washington Lawyer
Higher Ambition: Moving the Needle on Law Firm Diversity
This feature article on the Move the Needle Fund and law firm diversity spotlights Nixon Peabody’s MTN participation and quotes Washington, D.C. office managing partner Colette Dafoe, of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group, and director of Diversity & Inclusion Rekha Chiruvolu on why it’s vitally important to increase diversity in the legal profession.June 5, 2020 - Bisnow
Senior housing looks more like luxury apartments today, but it can be harder to build
Washington, DC managing partner Colette Dafoe is highlighted in this article for her role as moderator of Bisnow’s Greater DC State of Senior Housing event.March 29, 2019 - Bisnow
D.C. CRE leaders on the lending environment, architecture trends, PropTech and more
Washington DC Office Managing Partner Colette Dafoe and Community Development Finance partner Jeff Lesk are mentioned in this story about the DCSolar project, which began on Nixon Peabody’s rooftop and has expanded throughout the District.Oct 1, 2018 - Big Sky Business Journal
Montana Highlights
Nixon Peabody is mentioned in this roundup of major Montana business news for its representation of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc., in its acquisition of Ruby Valley Bank in Twin Bridges, Montana. Nixon Peabody’s deal team was led by Public Company Transactions partner Lloyd Spencer and senior counsel Ray Gustini and included Public Company Transactions partner Sean Clancy, Real Estate partner Colette Dafoe, Energy & Environmental Group partner Jean McCreary, and Labor & Employment partners Jeff Gilbreth, Yelena Gray and Tom McCord.April 9, 2018 - The Washington Post
Appointments and promotions
Real estate partner Colette Dafoe’s role as Washington DC office managing partner is included in this news brief.July 17, 2017 - Bloomberg BNA
Round up: The latest hires and promotions in big law
The following articles highlight Colette Dafoe’s role as Washington DC office managing partner.July 17, 2017 - National Law Journal
New Nixon Peabody leader
The following articles highlight Colette Dafoe’s role as Washington DC office managing partner.July 17, 2017 - Law360
3 Firms Steer $1B Real Estate Portfolio Deals Through Feb.
Boston M&A and corporate transactions partners Linda Ji and Jack Fainberg were noted as representing Chinese companies Cindat Capital Management Ltd. and Union Life Insurance Co. in a joint venture to invest $930 million in a real estate portfolio held by U.S. health care company Welltower Inc. The full deal team included partners Allen Lynch, Colette Dafoe, and Sean Clancy, and associates Dustin Hawks, Julia Walcott, and Alexander Rosso.March 9, 2017 - Law360
Over A Dozen Firms Guided Largest Q1 Real Estate Deals
The $390M purchase of a premier site within New York’s South Street Seaport Subdistrict by Oceanwide Center NY LLC, a subsidiary of Oceanwide Holdings Co., is among the 10 largest Q1 real estate deals. Nixon Peabody advised Oceanwide on the transaction. The coverage notes the deal team was led by partners Denise Pursley, Colette Dafoe and David Cheng.May 4, 2016
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
District of Columbia
Education
Northeastern University School of Law, J.D.
St. Lawrence University, B.S., summa cum laude
Tufts University School of Medicine, M.P.H.
Professional activities
- National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care Industry’s (NIC) Future Leaders Council (FLC), Founding member and former vice chair
- Washington DC Economic Partnership, Board member
Recognition
Colette was selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 in the field of Real Estate Law. Colette has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2018.
Colette has been designated a “Recognized Practitioner” in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2019 for Real Estate (District of Columbia). She has also been recognized in Chambers in previous years. She was also recognized in the 2014 edition of The Legal 500: USA as a Leading Lawyer in the Real Estate category.
Insights And Happenings
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Professionals in the Practice Area
View AllChristopher R. Froeb
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Real Estate & Affordable Housing- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1137
- cfroeb@nixonpeabody.com
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Ian T. O'Banion
Partner / AIA / LEED®AP- San Francisco
- Office:+1 415.984.8313
- iobanion@nixonpeabody.com
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David B. Allswang
Partner / Head of National Leasing Team- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.9242
- dallswang@nixonpeabody.com
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