Kelly Metz
Kelly Depew Metz
+1.512.647.4396

Overview

Kelly Depew Metz is a real estate attorney in Holland & Knight's Austin office. Ms. Metz handles a wide range of commercial real estate matters as counsel for landlords, tenants, institutional investors, insurance companies, asset managers, lenders, financial institutions and developers in connection with sophisticated and voluminous real estate leasing and acquisition transactions. Ms. Metz prides herself on assisting her clients with a wealth of knowledge, efficiency and organization to address their matters.

Ms. Metz represents global, national and regional owners and tenants acquiring, financing, developing, managing and leasing projects across the United States, including retail centers (luxury, enclosed malls, urban, neighborhood, big box, restaurants and outparcels), hotels and resorts, office buildings, apartment and condo communities, mixed-use developments, warehouses, industrial parks and healthcare facilities. In addition, she assists these clients on a diverse range of other projects, including build-to-suit properties, and farms and ranches.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Metz was an attorney in the San Antonio office of a prominent national law firm focusing on complex real estate transactions.

Representative Experience

  • Represented various global special servicers in the leasing (and related matters) of more than 20 million square feet of Class A and B office buildings in multiple states, including almost 5 million square feet of a prominent Class A office project in Houston having a market value of nearly $500 million; many of the tenants are noteworthy Fortune 500 and international companies
  • Represented a global special servicer in the leasing (and related matters) of more than 1 million square feet of retail space in an enclosed shopping mall in the Southwest with national and regional retailers
  • Represented a global institutional landlord for the leasing and property management of high-end office and retail projects in several states in excess of 2 million square feet in some of the most desirable properties in the U.S.
  • Represented a national receiver in the leasing and property management of millions of square feet of office and retail space in major and secondary markets throughout the country
  • Represented a national brokerage firm with retail, office and industrial leases throughout the U.S.
  • Represented a national fast food restaurant in connection with acquisitions and ground leasing in the Southwest and Midwest
  • Represented a developer in connection with ground leasing a 275,000-square-foot warehouse property in Miami for development as a music festival and entertainment venue, with high-end hotel, restaurant and retail spaces
  • Represented an institutional landlord in negotiating leases for two Class A industrial parks in New Jersey with two transportation and logistics companies leasing approximately 35,000 square feet and 114,000 square feet, respectively
  • Represented an institutional landlord in leasing approximately 150,000 square feet to a last-mile delivery logistics and technology company at a Class A industrial park in Philadelphia

Credentials

Education
  • Baylor Law School, J.D., cum laude
  • The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Government, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Texas
Memberships
  • Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Austin, 2023
  • San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA), Volunteer, 2017-2022
  • State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section (REPTL), 2017-Present
  • Baylor Law Review, Managing Executive Editor, 2016-2017
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Austin Ones to Watch, Real Estate Law, 2025
  • Influencer in Retail Real Estate - Holland & Knight's Retail Development and Leasing Team, GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, 2023
  • Pro Bono Leader for Extraordinary Pro Bono Services, American Bar Association (ABA), 2021-2022
  • Excellence in Appellate Advocacy Award, State Bar of Texas, 2017
  • Order of Barristers
  • Finalist, ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC), Spring 2016
  • Champion Team Member and Best Oralist, Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition, Fall 2015

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