Portrait of Mary Forbes Lovett

Mary Forbes Lovett

Of Counsel

Mary focuses her practice on real estate and business law and has significant experience handling the acquisition, financing (including new markets, low income, and historic tax credit financing) and all development matters related to real property. She specializes in the development and financing of urban properties and was recognized by CREW for her work related to the largest HUD-financed project in Ohio. Mary is a frequent speaker on business and real estate topics including alternative financing techniques, historic tax credits (state and federal), new markets tax credits, urban development, negotiating acquisitions and leases, strategies for like-kind exchanges, preservation easements, urban sprawl and eminent domain. Mary has achieved the highest rating, AV Preeminent®, from Martindale-Hubbell®.

    Education

    • The Ohio State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1974)
    • Cleveland State University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1985)
      • The Cleveland State Law Review (Editor)
      • Journal of Law and Health (Managing Editor)

    Bar Admissions

    • Ohio

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association (former Member)
    • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Real Estate Section; former Chair; Environmental Law Section)
    • Greater Cleveland Real Estate Organization (former President)
    • CREW (Member; former President and national delegate)
    • Cuyahoga County Improvement Corporation (former Board Member)
    • Cuyahoga County Economic Development Loan Review Committee
    • Neighborhood Housing CDC (former Board Member)
    • OSBA Certified Specialist in Business, Commercial and Industrial Real Property Law
    • Arthritis Foundation (former Board Member)
    • Heritage Ohio (President, Board of Advisors)

    Awards & Honors

    • Ranked as one of Ohio’s “Leaders in Their Field” in Real Estate by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2015-2022)
    • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ – Martindale-Hubbell®
    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2009-2024)
    • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2008-2023)
    • Named to Cleveland’s Top 25 Women Lawyers (2021) and Ohio’s Top 50 Women Lawyers (2021) by Super Lawyers
    • “Notable Women in Law,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (2018)
    • Named to the 2016 Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame by Midwest Real Estate News
    • CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) National Deal of the Year Award (2003)
    • CREW Klausner Leadership Award
    • Cleveland Restoration Society Award
    • YWCA Women of Professional Excellence (2009)

    Certifications

    • Certified Specialist in Business, Commercial and Industrial Real Property Law, Ohio State Bar Association

Mary Forbes Lovett

Mary focuses her practice on real estate and business law and has significant experience handling the acquisition, financing (including new markets, low income, and historic tax credit financing) and all development matters related to real property. She specializes in the development and financing of urban properties and was recognized by CREW for her work related to the largest HUD-financed project in Ohio. Mary is a frequent speaker on business and real estate topics including alternative financing techniques, historic tax credits (state and federal), new markets tax credits, urban development, negotiating acquisitions and leases, strategies for like-kind exchanges, preservation easements, urban sprawl and eminent domain. Mary has achieved the highest rating, AV Preeminent®, from Martindale-Hubbell®.