Key Takeaways
- • Commercial Real Estate Women Miami (CREW Miami) convened 80+ real estate professionals on May 13, 2026, to discuss fund structuring, investment strategy, and capital deployment in the current commercial real estate market.
- • Panelists highlighted that sponsors are increasingly deploying layered capital structures—including preferred equity and mezzanine financing—as traditional lending conditions remain selective and restrictive.
- • Operational expertise, sponsor track record, and long-term asset management capabilities have become critical evaluation criteria for institutional investors assessing real estate fund opportunities.
- • Panel expertise spanned accounting, legal advisory, investment strategy, and sponsor operations, providing institutional perspectives on structuring mechanisms and risk management in real estate fund formation.
Summary
Commercial Real Estate Women Miami hosted "Navigating Real Estate Funds: From Structure to Sponsor Execution" on May 13, 2026, at Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, attracting more than 80 commercial real estate professionals for a breakfast discussion on fund formation and capital deployment strategies. The program brought together a cross-disciplinary panel addressing fund structuring, investment strategy, sponsor operations, legal frameworks, and capital deployment in the current commercial real estate environment.
The panel featured Karla Damas (Partner, Cherry Bekaert) as moderator, alongside Silvia Fernandes (Chief Legal and Operating Officer, ARCTRUST), Galina Churchill (Vice President, Investments, Pensam), and Danielle C. Price (Partner and Co-Head Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice–South Florida, Holland & Knight LLP). The composition ensured representation across accounting, legal advisory, investment strategy, and sponsor operations—disciplines essential to institutional investors evaluating real estate fund opportunities.
A central theme emerging from the discussion was the shift in capital structure methodology among sponsors navigating tightened lending conditions. Panelists noted that as traditional lending has become increasingly selective, real estate sponsors are relying more heavily on layered capital structures incorporating preferred equity and mezzanine financing. This approach allows sponsors to optimize capital deployment while managing debt constraints and risk allocation across investor classes.
The panel also emphasized that institutional investors are placing heightened weight on operational expertise, sponsor track record, and demonstrated asset management capabilities when evaluating real estate fund investments. This reflects a broader market shift toward due diligence centered on sponsor execution quality and long-term value creation potential rather than leverage-based return models alone.
The panel featured Karla Damas (Partner, Cherry Bekaert) as moderator, alongside Silvia Fernandes (Chief Legal and Operating Officer, ARCTRUST), Galina Churchill (Vice President, Investments, Pensam), and Danielle C. Price (Partner and Co-Head Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice–South Florida, Holland & Knight LLP). The composition ensured representation across accounting, legal advisory, investment strategy, and sponsor operations—disciplines essential to institutional investors evaluating real estate fund opportunities.
A central theme emerging from the discussion was the shift in capital structure methodology among sponsors navigating tightened lending conditions. Panelists noted that as traditional lending has become increasingly selective, real estate sponsors are relying more heavily on layered capital structures incorporating preferred equity and mezzanine financing. This approach allows sponsors to optimize capital deployment while managing debt constraints and risk allocation across investor classes.
The panel also emphasized that institutional investors are placing heightened weight on operational expertise, sponsor track record, and demonstrated asset management capabilities when evaluating real estate fund investments. This reflects a broader market shift toward due diligence centered on sponsor execution quality and long-term value creation potential rather than leverage-based return models alone.
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