Dickinson Wright PLLC

183 Best Lawyers awards

Dickinson Wright PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Real Estate Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Troy.

Biography

Monica Labe is a senior member of the firm and was the Practice Department Manager of the firm's Real Estate, Environmental and Energy practices from 2008-2011. She is currently a member of the firm's Management Group, serving as Deputy CEO in Charge of Practice Management and Business Development and Marketing and the prior four years, she oversaw the Finance, Accounting and Human Resources departments for the firm.

Ms. Labe has extensive experience representing large multi-national corporations, developers, real estate private equity firms, lenders and real estate investment companies in multi-million dollar transactions involving the acquisition, development, leasing, financing (including complex, multi-state workouts and foreclosures), construction and disposition of office, retail, industrial, mixed-use and entertainment projects throughout Michigan and U.S. Some of her preeminent assignments include serving as lead real estate counsel to one of Detroit's Big 3 automakers and a major Tier-1 automotive supplier in their respective national leasing, acquisition, disposition, and development needs; she has previously represented the Detroit Land Bank Authority as outside general counsel and a $6 billion REIT in the leasing, acquisition, development and sale of its 4 million square-foot office and industrial portfolio in Southeast Michigan.

This year she was named by Michigan Lawyer's Weekly as a Leader in the Law and last year, she was named "One of the 50 People to know in Real Estate" by Crain's Detroit Business. Ms. Labe is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers since 2014. She has co-chaired multiple state-wide conferences for the State Bar of Michigan's Real Property Section. She is a published author and has spoken throughout Michigan and nationally for ALI-CLE as a presenter for two national audio casts for ALI-CLE on Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements: Making the Best Deal in Today's Market and Negotiation Commercial Purchase and Sale Transactions.

Dickinson Wright PLLC

183 Best Lawyers awards

Dickinson Wright PLLC logo

Overview

  • Northwestern University, J.D., graduated 1991

  • California, State Bar of California
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

  • CREW - Past Board Member
  • CREW-Detroit Advisory Board - Member
  • State Bar of Michigan - Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan - Council for the Real Property Section
  • California, State Bar of California
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
  • CREW - Past Board Member
  • CREW-Detroit Advisory Board - Member
  • State Bar of Michigan - Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan - Council for the Real Property Section
  • Northwestern University, J.D., graduated 1991

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Real Estate Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Real Estate Law, Troy (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Real Estate Law
Awards:
  • One of the Top 50 People to Know in Real Estate, Crain's Detroit Business
  • 2017 Leaders in the Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
  • Chambers USA
  • Dbusiness Top Lawyers
  • 2012 Women in the Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
  • Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
  • Top 100 Lawyers, Michigan Super Lawyers
  • Top 25 Women Business Lawyers, Michigan Super Lawyers

Case History

Transactions
  • Lead real estate counsel for an OEM
Serving as lead national real estate counsel (and supervising a team of 5 attorney) for an OEM in all corporate and dealership real estate transactions, totaling over 175 matters over the past year involving industrial, commercial/retail, and office leasing and multi-million dollar acquisitions and dispositions of commercial real estate and industrial properties.
  • Lead real estate counsel for Tier 1 Auto Supplier
Lead real estate counsel for one of the world's largest Tier 1 Automotive Suppliers and its numerous subsidiaries in the following deals: a multi million dollar lease transaction in the Middle East for a new distribution facility; a 200,000 square foot multi-million dollar lease expansion and new bond issuance; numerous lease transactions throughout Michigan, and various zoning and real estate litigation matters
  • Lead real estate counsel for Canadian REIT
Serving as lead real estate counsel to a Canadian REIT with properties around the World in numerous real estate matters within the last 12 months, including; a multi million dollar sale leaseback; multi-million dollar, long term triple net single tenant lease negotiations in various states and multi-million dispositions of facilities in various states.

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