Stephanie Rhodes Hankins

LKC / Professionals / Stephanie Rhodes Hankins

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Real Estate
Corporate
Estate Planning

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Stephanie R. Hankins graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from McNeese State University in 2004 and received her Juris Doctor from University of Houston Law Center in 2007. While in law school, Stephanie served as the Executive Editor of the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, volunteered in the Transactional Law clinic, earned a Lex award and other academic scholarships.

From her first step onto the legal field stage in 2007, Stephanie has devoted her attention to practicing transactional law. Juxtaposing her legal expertise and entrepreneurial mindset, Stephanie founded and operated a very successful law firm and title company in Sulphur, Louisiana prior to joining the Boerne team of Leger, Ketchum & Cohoon, PLLC as “of counsel”. Whether representing investors on multimillion-dollar acquisitions, assisting clients with estate planning needs, or advising business owners on corporate strategies, she awards the same personalized service, tactical approach, and attention to detail that her clients have grown to love and appreciate. Stephanie’s ample experience representing clients on all transactional sides has given her unique insight and a broader archetype with which to approach each case. Her use of creative methodologies and recognizing potential pitfalls offers her clients a much-desired piece of mind. Stephanie relishes understanding the unique needs of each client and fearlessly advocates on their behalf to attain the best possible outcome.

Community engagement is very important to Stephanie. As a lifelong resident of Southwest Louisiana, Stephanie served her community through a broad range of professional, service, and youth organizations. Following the aftermath of two massive 2020 hurricanes which devastated her hometown, Stephanie and her family made the decision to relocate to the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Boerne has opened its welcoming arms and has become the Hankins’ new home. Stephanie has become an active member of the Boerne/Fair Oaks Ranch communities through organizations such as the Kendall County Bar Association, Commercial Real Estate Women of San Antonio (Crew), Hill Country Women in Business, 100 Women of the Hill Country, Inc., and Boerne Education Foundation.

Stephanie thrives at balancing her roles as an attorney, community volunteer, mom, wife, and travel extraordinaire.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Juris Doctorate – University of Houston Law Center – 2007
Executive Editor, Houston Business and Tax Law Journal
Transactional Law Clinic
Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany – 2005
International Negotiation and Mediation Certificate
Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication – McNeese State University – 2004
Summa Cum Laude
President’s List
President, Pre-Law & Politics Society
Senator, Student Government Association

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Kendall County Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
Louisiana Bar Association, Trusts, Estate, Probate, and Immovable Property Law Section
American Land Title Association
Southwest Louisiana Real Estate Round Table
Southwest Louisiana Bar Association- served on the Board for the Young Lawyers Section
Past-President, Southwest Louisiana Bar Foundation
Louisiana Title Insurance Agent for The Security Title Guaranty Corporation of Baltimore and First American Title Insurance of Louisiana

BAR ADMISSIONS

State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Louisiana

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Representative Real Estate and Financing Matters

Represented Lender in preparing financing documents for a $25 million industrial storage facility
Represented Purchaser for the acquisition of a Marina, Restaurant and Cabins on Toledo Bend Lake
Represented numerous Purchasers and Sellers on the acquisition and divestiture of farms and ranches encompassing tens of thousands of acres across Texas and Louisiana.
Represented Purchaser and Sellers for the acquisition and divestiture of numerous golf courses in Texas and Louisiana.
Represented Purchaser for the purchase of a former Casino Riverboat.
Represented Medical Professionals on sale of medical office space to a major hospital system.
Represented Developer for the formation of Homeowners Association corporate documents and bylaws, organized initial homeowners’ association meetings, established Architectural Control Standards and Committee.
Represented lenders in drafting owner financing documents of a variety of commercial and residential properties.
Represented landowners involving the purchase and sale of numerous properties involving 1031 exchanges.
Represented investors in acquisition and divestiture of Walmart Outparcels in numerous states.
Represented municipalities on purchase and sale of city properties.
Represented Investor on sale and owner financing to subdivision developer including cross-collateralization and other financing instruments.
Represented owner of a 80 unit apartment complex on refinancing, including negotiating financing terms and compliance with governmental housing regulations.

Representative Leasing Matters

Represented owners of Multi-Tenant Retail Centers in negotiating leases and tenant buildout.
Represented professionals on numerous medical, corporate, and professional office leases.
Represented a national Exercise Chain Franchisee as tenant in the negotiations of a commercial lease and build-out.
Represented Landlords on demand notices and eviction proceedings
Represented Residential landlords on drafting leases and uniform procedures for the management of multi-unit properties.
Represent Tenant on Long-Term Commercial lease for a grocery store.

Representative Corporate Matters

Formed Limited Liability Companies for a variety of businesses including medical, real estate, aviation, retail, and construction
Represented sellers in the asset purchase sale of a retail clothing business and an athletic retail business.
Represented clients on purchase of membership interest in Construction
Draft and amend by-laws for a variety of entities
Represent clients to dissolve corporate entities including restructuring financing and asset transfers.
Prepare written procedures, regulations and liability forms for a commercial ATV park.
Advise real estate investors with corporate formation, negotiation strategies and tax considerations.

Representative Estate Planning Matters

Draft Estate Plans for clients including wills, power of attorney, trusts and medical directives
File probate/succession proceedings
Review and revise trust agreements in accordance with current legislation.

COMMUNITY

Commercial Real Estate Women of San Antonio, UCREW Committee
Board of Directors, Kendall County Bar Association
Bexar County Women’s Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Real Estate, Probate & Trust Section, State Bar of Texas
Louisiana State Bar Association
Vice President of Marketing, Boerne Education Foundation
Vice President of Programs, Champion Charger Cheer Booster Club
Leadership Boerne Class of 2023
100 Women of the Hill Country, Inc.
Leadership SWLA Graduate
Sustaining Member, Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc.
Past President, Southwest Louisiana Bar Foundation