Karen J. Kepler

Karen has a general commercial real estate practice with a concentration in representing for-profit and non-profit organizations, financial institutions and quasi-public agencies in HUD and Fannie Mae-financed developments, federal and state low income housing tax credit, historic tax credit and tax-exempt bond financed projects, New Markets Tax Credit developments and "Comprehensive Permit" projects under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B. She also has extensive experience structuring complex, multi-tiered and multi-phased projects using creative land use tools such as condominiums, air-rights and ground leases.

Bar & Court Admissions

• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts 

Education

• J.D., Boston University School of Law
• B.A., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Community Engagement

• Boston Bar Association, Co-Chair Real Estate Section, 2020-2021
• American Bar Association, Forum on Affordable Housing, past Chair of Senior Housing Committee, 1997-present
• Boston Bar Association, Past Co-Chair of Affordable Housing Subcommittee of Real Estate Section
• CREW/Boston, Member of Housing & Community Development Group
• Lawyers' Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Board Member and Past President, 1997-2012, 2019
• Women's Bar Foundation of Massachusetts, Inc., Past President and Trustee, 2001-2005
• Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, Past President, 1989-1990
• Town of Brookline, Housing Advisory Board, 2012-2018
• LeadBoston Class of 2004-2005

Awards & Honors

• Best Lawyers in America® (2017, 2019-2021)
• The Legal 500 U.S. (2019)
• Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Top Women of Law (2016)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2004, 2014-2015)

• Sullivan Earns Top Rankings in the 2019 Edition of The Legal 500 United States
  Sullivan Press Release
  May 30, 2019
• Treasury Department Releases Investor-Friendly Proposed Opportunity Zones Regulations
  Opportunity Zones Alert
  October 22, 2018
• Sullivan Launches Opportunity Zone Practice Group
  Press Release
  June 26, 2018
• Legislation Creating Opportunity Zones Offers Significant Tax Benefits — An Overview
  Client Advisory
  April 18, 2018
• LIHTC Bulletin
  Client Advisory
  March 26, 2018
• Sullivan Adds Three Affordable Housing Partners to Growing Real Estate Group
  Press Release
  March 12, 2018

Seminars & Presentations

• Opportunity Zones: Where Are We After A Year?
  Boston Bar Association (January 22, 2019)
• Securing Massachusetts and Local Tax Incentives to Maximize Opportunity Zone Benefits for Developers and Investors
  Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, Boston, MA (November 29, 2018)