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.
“I don't always have to be the smartest person at the table, but clients rest easier knowing I'm in the room.”
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- University of Detroit, J.D.
- State University of New York at Potsdam, B.A., cum laude
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Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 1987
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Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1987
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Named to Lawdragon's List of 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, 2024
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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law, 2020-Present
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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
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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
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People for Palmer Park, Founding Board Member, 2011, Current President of the Board, 2014-present
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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
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Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Legal Assistance for Urban Communities Clinical Program, University of Michigan Law School
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216 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”
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