With formative professional experience in both transactional and litigation work, Cheryl brings a competitive edge to each deal she handles. Unlike most transactional attorneys, Cheryl honed her legal skills as a litigator at a top law firm in New York City, gaining unique experience for the demanding world of commercial real estate.
Focused and persevering, Cheryl represents developers, property owners, homebuilders, businesses, and institutional investors in complex transactional real estate and corporate matters. Her practice concentrates on retail, office, and industrial leasing, as well as purchase and sale transactions, debt and equity financing, construction, and development. Having represented both institutional landlords and sophisticated tenants in leasing for commercial space, Cheryl has an in-depth understanding of both sides of a commercial lease transaction.
Prior to joining Harvest, Cheryl was an associate at Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3) and at a boutique real estate law firm in Los Angeles, California. Earlier in her career, she was an associate with Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in New York City, litigating high-profile cases in various areas of law including real estate, contracts, securities, products liability, antitrust, defamation, civil RICO, and conspiracy.
Notable Deals
- Negotiated numerous commercial lease agreements for one of California's largest privately held REITs, serving as master planner for a portfolio of high-end shopping centers in Southern California.
- Represented a Major League Soccer (MLS) team in lease negotiations.
- Represented the buyer of a 142,000-square-foot, single-tenant industrial building leased to a major tech company in Rancho Bernardo, California.
- Represented a publicly traded REIT in all aspects of its commercial leasing activities.
- Represented an institutional investment fund in all aspects of its retail leasing.
- Represented a landlord in long-term net lease of an adult entertainment complex.
- Represented a leading medical spa in California in commercial leasing activities and the acquisition of a competitor.
- Represented a retail developer in the acquisition and financing of a 315,000-square-foot shopping center in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California.
- Represented an institutional-grade investment company in the financing of multifamily assets in connection with multiple acquisitions along the West Coast.
- Represented a buyer in connection with the acquisition and financing of a historic retail plaza in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Recent News
Cheryl Nieman Brechlin Named Among 2025 Women of Influence
Three Harvest Attorneys Named to “San Diego’s Top Attorneys” for 2025
California’s New Commercial Tenant Protection Act (SB 1103): What Landlords Should Know
Accolades
- "Women of Influence - CRE Legal Counsel" ALM/GlobeSt. (2025)
- "San Diego's Top Attorneys," San Diego Metro Magazine (2025)
- "Inspirational Women Forum and Leadership Awards," Nominee, LA Times B2B Publishing (2022, 2024)
- "Next Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40," San Diego Business Journal (2021, 2024)
- "Women of Influence in Law," San Diego Business Journal (2024)
- "40 Under 40," San Diego Metro Magazine (2021, 2024)
- "Women of Influence," San Diego Metro Magazine (2024)
- "Ones to Watch: Real Estate Law - San Diego," Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2022-2023)
- "Women of Accomplishment," San Diego Metro Magazine (2022)
Education
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Moot Court Honor Society
- B.A., Business Administration, The George Washington University, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
- California
- New York
Involvements
- CREW San Diego, Membership Committee Member
- NAIOP, San Diego Chapter, Member
- A New Life Charitable Foundation (Animal Rescue), Volunteer