SolaREIT Expands Legal and Finance Teams as Clean Energy Financing Business Scales

SolaREIT™, a renewable energy real estate investment company, has expanded its legal and finance teams with the appointment of three professionals as the company continues to scale its capital solutions business.

The new appointments include Marisa McCurdy as General Counsel, Kevin Russo as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, and Daniel Leppert as Transaction Counsel. The company said the additions will strengthen its legal, financial planning and transaction capabilities as it expands its clean energy financing activities.

Since 2020, SolaREIT’s capital solutions business has financed the real estate associated with more than $7.5 billion in clean energy project value. Its financing solutions are designed to help renewable energy developers and landowners monetize land and lease value, unlock capital and reduce lease costs.

“Our team is our company. Marisa, Kevin, and Dan each strengthen a part of the business that our partners feel directly, including how quickly we can paper a deal, how disciplined we are with capital, and how reliably we close,” said Laura Pagliarulo, Founder and CEO of SolaREIT.

Marisa McCurdy Appointed General Counsel

Marisa McCurdy joins SolaREIT as General Counsel, bringing more than two decades of experience in energy and project finance law.

Her professional background includes the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Honors Law Program, energy and project finance practices at Kirkland & Ellis and Hogan Lovells, and an in-house role at SunEdison. She has also operated her own legal practice serving clients in solar, electric vehicle and battery storage markets.

Kevin Russo Joins as Director of FP&A

Kevin Russo has been appointed Director of Financial Planning and Analysis. He brings more than 12 years of financial experience to SolaREIT, including a decade at publicly traded multifamily REIT Elme Communities.

At Elme Communities, Russo worked across financial planning and analysis, treasury, capital markets and investor relations.

Daniel Leppert Named Transaction Counsel

Daniel Leppert joins SolaREIT as Transaction Counsel with nearly two decades of experience in renewable energy and real estate law.

Leppert has held in-house legal roles at Community Energy and SunShare, where he supported the development of hundreds of megawatts of solar projects. His experience also includes serving as real estate counsel for national homebuilder Richmond American and renewable energy and wireless lease aggregator Unison Infrastructure.

The expanded team is expected to support SolaREIT’s continued growth as it provides capital solutions to renewable energy developers and landowners and expands its role in financing the real estate component of clean energy projects.