Amy B. Carbins

Partner
Chair, Washington, DC Real Estate Practice
She has a terrific ability to negotiate firmly while keeping all parties engaged and moving forward.
— Chambers USA
Washington, DC
About

Amy Carbins structures, negotiates, and executes complex commercial transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and financing. Amy is known for finding practical solutions for her clients' complex problems while providing careful analysis and emphasis on risk mitigation tailored to her clients' investment strategies. Amy knows how to deliver successful results in real estate transactions and development projects, including complex workout and restructuring matters.

Amy's experience includes transactions involving data centers, multi-family, industrial, research & development (R&D) facilities, medical office, independent and assisted living senior communities, mixed-use projects, shopping centers, hotels and resorts, and office buildings.

She also advises clients on leasing and asset management matters, including working with landlords and tenants on headquarters leases, single-tenant buildings, new construction leasing and representation of landlords owning large, multi-state portfolios.

Areas of FocusReal Estate
Bar admissionsCaliforniaDistrict of Columbia
She has a no-nonsense approach. She likes to cut through and get a deal, which is much appreciated in transaction mode.
— Chambers USA

REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS

Amy's Experience Includes:
  • Represented a real estate investment fund in acquisition and financing of a 132,000 SF data center leased to two investment-grade tenants in Ashburn, VA
  • Represented a data center company in the private offering of US$850 million notes secured by a portfolio of data centers in Oregon, Texas, Georgia, Illinois and California
  • Represented purchaser/landlord in sale/leaseback of a broadcasting headquarters in Los Angeles, CA for US$211 million with a 35-year lease
  • On-going representation of private real estate company in acquisition, joint venture, mortgage and preferred equity financings and sale of US$1.3 billion multi-family portfolio
  • Represented purchaser in acquisition of US$220 million portfolio of five single-tenant defense contractor office buildings in Northern Virginia
  • On-going representation of major national retailer in financing, dispositions, and portfolio management of over 1,000 retail sites nationwide
  • Represented international non-profit think-tank as tenant in a 90,000 SF lease for its new headquarters in Washington, DC
  • Represented Am Law 100 firm as tenant in a 185,000 SF lease in a to-be-constructed trophy office building in Washington, DC
  • Represented international oil company in disposition of real estate and other assets including more than 800 individual retail properties in the Southwest to a single purchaser
  • Represented lender in foreclosure, leasing, and disposition of a two-building office project, including single-tenant leases for each building

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 2, District of Columbia Real Estate, (2024 – 2025)
  • Band 3, District of Columbia Real Estate, (2022 – 2023)
  • Band 4, District of Columbia Real Estate, (2021)
    Chambers comments, "Amy Carbins is co-chair of the practice, and offers expertise in matters including acquisitions, leases and complex structuring financings." Clients say, "She has a no-nonsense approach. She likes to cut through and get a deal, which is much appreciated in transaction mode." "She's learned from the best and has a terrific ability to negotiate firmly while keeping all parties engaged and moving forward."

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Real Estate, (2020 – 2024)
  • Up and Coming, District of Columbia Real Estate, (2020)
Additional Recognitions
  • Recognized, 2025 Women in Real Estate, Connect CRE, (2025)
  • Recognized, MVPs of the Year in Real Estate, Law360, (2020)
  • Honored in the Women of Influence Awards, CRE Legal Counsel category by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, (2020)

Pro Bono

Amy received DLA Piper's National Pro Bono Award, recognizing her outstanding pro bono service, including launching a collaboration with community legal service organizations to provide emergency legal services to survivors of domestic violence in San Francisco. 

Education
  • J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, 2004
    cum laude
  • B.A., University of Oregon, 2000

Bylines

Seminars

Media Mentions

Latest insights

News

Three DLA Piper Partners receive Connect CRE’s 2025 Women in Real Estate recognition

31 October 2025

News

Multifamily investors: Buying time?

29 May 2025 .1 minute read

News

Three DLA Piper lawyers named to Washingtonian magazine’s list of top real estate lawyers...

7 January 2025 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 202 799 4518
(Work, Washington, DC)