Real estate trade publication GlobeSt has just named ICSC general counsel and corporate secretary Lesley Campbell a 2021 Retail Influencer. The publication’s annual list honors professionals who are making an impact on the business through their decisions and contributions. Campbell also recently was named to The National Black Lawyers Top 100.

Campbell has guided ICSC’s legal strategy through the pandemic, a period full of contract renegotiations, fluctuating legal relationships and novel legal issues that require deep legal knowledge and flexibility. Having a skilled attorney on the team has never been more important, she says. “When you have a skilled, experienced attorney on your team, you are able to ensure that the deals you enter best reflect and further the company’s strategic goals. More importantly, an experienced lawyer can foresee potential pitfalls, yet also develop creative solutions.”

She draws on a range of work experience from affordable housing developer L+M Development Partners to luxury retail brand Tiffany & Co. She joined ICSC in February 2020. After graduating magna cum laude from University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts and from New York University School of Law with a juris doctor, the Raleigh, North Carolina, native began her career at Paul Weiss.

Campbell serves on the board of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and serves as vice president of the Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. On May 18, she also will be sworn in to the New York City Bar Association’s board of directors. She co-chaired the association’s 2019 Corporate Counsel Symposium and previously chaired its Real Property Law Committee.

A graduate of Project REAP — which aims to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the commercial real estate industry — she also serves as a member of its board of directors. The program helps bring much-needed new blood into the industry, she says. “Increased diversity yields a diversity of ideas and experiences, which enable a company to better serve the communities wherein they operate and provide services. Studies have shown that companies with diverse leadership overwhelmingly outperform their less diverse organizations. Further, retail consumers are now demanding that the companies they support be diverse and inclusive. It is no longer optional for any company who wants to remain relevant.”

Campbell recommends retail real estate companies seeking to find new employees outside of traditional networks start with the ICSC Launch Academy. “ICSC has partnered with an extensive network of colleges and universities across the country to recruit diverse students for internships at industry leading retail real estate companies," she said. "In addition, for those looking for more experienced candidates, Project REAP is the go-to source for connecting with diverse candidates.”

Campbell’s awards and honors include the National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Trailblazer Award, New York City Bar Association Diversity Fellowship Program Alumni Honoree, MCCA Rising Star, Ms. JD’s Woman of Inspiration Award, National Bar Association’s 40 Lawyers Under 40, National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40, The Network Journal’s 40 Under Forty, Apex Society’s Power 30 Under 30 and New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel.