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Rochelle E. Lento

Member

Rochelle Lento is a highly esteemed practitioner and authority on affordable housing transactions—locally and nationally. Like the conductor of an orchestra, she ensures the players involved in each development follow the score and work together to make each affordable housing and community development project a reality.

From commitment to closing, Rochelle understands the complexities and anticipates legal issues that can cause delays and drive up costs. At the onset, she addresses pre-development feasibility, title, zoning, and structural requirements. She brings developers, investors, and lenders together and leads them through the regulatory issues associated with various private and federal financing sources, such as low-income housing, historic tax credits, federal HOME and CDBG funding, neighborhood and community development programs, HUD loans, and rental assistance initiatives.

Because of the professional relationships Rochelle has forged with officials from the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, HUD, and other agencies, she quickly and harmoniously resolves concerns that arise.

The respect is mutual; one state housing authority official asked Rochelle to critique and recommend improvements to their agency's closing process.

There's a reason Rochelle works harder than most attorneys in her field, goes the extra distance to negotiate complex transactions, and is available to clients day and night.

More than the integral role she plays in affordable housing developments, she feels her contributions help society by creating affordable housing opportunities for low income families and seniors. Many of her clients share that same passion, which may be why she counts them among her closest friends.

Rochelle is nationally known for her thought leadership on affordable housing law and contributions to American Bar Association’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law publications.

She has been an editor-in-chief of the ABA Forum’s journal, a co-editor and chapter author of The Legal Guide to Affordable Housing Development (now in its third edition), and the author of several articles in the ABA Journal. She has also presented to many ABA Forum conferences and panels.

“ I don't always have to be the smartest person at the table, but clients rest easier knowing I'm in the room. ”
    • University of Detroit, J.D.
    • State University of New York at Potsdam, B.A., cum laude

  • Bar Admissions

    • Michigan, 1987

  • Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1987

    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law, 2020-Present

    • Dykema Women’s Business Initiative, National WBI Co-Leader

    • Dykema Diversity & Inclusion Board Member, 2015-present
    • American Bar Association/ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law
    • Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Women Lawyers Association of Michigan

    • Alternatives for Girls: Board of Directors President, 2023-2024; Board of Trustees, 2018-present; AFG Program Committee Member

    • ABA Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Leadership Advisory Board
    • Joe Louis Greenway Advisory Board – District 2 Representative

    • People for Palmer Park, Founding Board Member, 2011, Current President of the Board, 2014-present

    • University of Detroit Mercy Law School, Dean's Advisory Council, Moot Court Judge Annual Volunteer, First Year Student Orientation Annual Advisor, Mock Interview Annual Volunteer

    • Community Legal Resources, 1998-2018
    • Reinvestment Strategy Cluster 10 Board, 1997
    • Detroit Alliance for Fair Banking, past Board Member
    • Fair Housing Center, Volunteer
    • Friends School Board of Directors, 2002-2012
    • Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund Advisory Board, 2008-present
    • NAACP Member, 1992-present
    • National Lawyers Guild, Detroit Chapter, Member
    • Palmer Woods Neighborhood Association, past Board President and Member
    • Warren-Conner Development Coalition, past Task-Force Member

    • Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Legal Assistance for Urban Communities Clinical Program, University of Michigan Law School

Contact

Detroit313-568-5322

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Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 194 of its attorneys, in multiple practice…

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Speaking Engagements9.15.22

Rochelle Lento to Speak on Affordable Housing at PuLSE National Economic Conference

Rochelle Lento will speak at the National Conference on the Economy, Equity, and Energy in the…

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