Eileen Scherlen Sommer
Eileen Scherlen Sommer focuses her practice on commercial real estate, business transactions, contracts, and commercial financing transactions. She is licensed to practice law in Texas.
  
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ms. Sommer graduated from Incarnate Word High School and attended Trinity University for one year, then transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where she obtained her B.A. (with High Honors, 1978) under the liberal arts honors program, Plan II.  She obtained her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in December 1980 (with Honors), where she was a member of the Review of Litigation and participated in the annual student musical, Assault and Flattery.
Ms. Sommer co-founded the law firm of King & Sommer, PLLC in August of 2007 and is one of its five managers. Previously Ms. Sommer was a partner in the firm of Jackson Walker P.L.L.C. (San Antonio, 1991-2007; Dallas, 1981-1991).

Area of Practice and Expertise
Ms. Sommer represents clients in various commercial transactions and business matters, including the acquisition, sale, financing, development, and leasing of commercial real estate (office, industrial, multifamily, retail, convenience stores and energy properties) and other assets. She is skilled in the preparation and negotiation of various contracts incident to the operation of a business and the development and ownership of real estate. 
 
Ms. Sommer is Board Certified in the area of Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  She has been rated by her peers with the Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” rating, the highest rating for both skill and integrity.

Memberships, Community Involvement and Service

• State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section and Business Law Section
• College of the State Bar of Texas
• Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
• San Antonio Bar Association
• Bexar County Women’s Bar Association
• CREW-San Antonio (President, 2000)
• Real Estate Council of San Antonio
• Girls, Inc. of San Antonio (Secretary of the Board, 2009-2012)
• San Antonio Women’s Chamber (Board Member, 2000)
• 2021-2023 President, Alamo Mission Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas
• 2023-2025 President, Alamo Mission Foundation
• Member NSDAR - San Antonio de Bexar Chapter
• Member of National Society of United Daughters of 1812, David Crockett Chapter

Recognition and Awards

• “Distinguished Member” Award (2025), Alamo Mission Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas
• Named as one of the "Outstanding Women in Law" by Scene in SA magazine (2023)
• Named as one of San Antonio’s “Best Lawyers” by Scene in SA magazine in the practice areas of Real Estate Transactions since 2007, as selected by her peers
• Named as a “Top Attorney in San Antonio” 2021 by San Antonio Magazine, as selected by her peers
• Named as an “Outstanding Lawyer” in the  San Antonio Business Journal, 2015
• Featured as one of the "Wonder Women" among commercial real estate attorneys in San Antonio by San Antonio Business Journal, March 15, 2013 edition
• Community Service Award, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, 2010
• Eva Rosow Award of Excellence, CREW-San Antonio (2009)

 
Publications / Speaking Engagements

• “The Texas SAFE Act and Other Issues Affecting Commercial Investment in Residential Real Estate” (June 18, 2010, Bexar County Women’s Bar Association Annual Retreat) (State Bar CLE accredited)
• “Tips to Avoid Breach of Contract in Closing a Real Estate Transaction - Draft the Contract to Suit the Deal,” San Antonio Lawyer, November - December 2008.
• “The Legal Opinion in Loan Transactions – The Role of the Opinion Recipient and its Counsel - Working Within Customary Practice” (March 23, 2007, Financial Services Roundtable presented by the Association for Corporate Counsel (ACC)) (State Bar CLE accredited) (March 23, 2007) (State Bar CLE accredited)
• “Construction Financing and the Construction Contractor’s Consent and Subordination Agreement – Not Just Boilerplate … The Contractor’s Perspective” (October 6, 2006, presented to the in-house legal staff of Zachry Construction Company) (State Bar CLE accredited)
• “Mandatory Renter’s Insurance Worth Landlord’s Consideration,” published by the San Antonio Business Journal, July 28, 2006 (co-authored with Josh Davin Morton).
• “The Ground Lease – An Alternative to Purchase and Sale” (June, 2006, presented to the real estate department of Valero Energy Corporation) (State Bar CLE accredited)
• “Crime on Leased Premises – Responsibilities of the Landlord, the Landlord’s Property Manager and its Leasing Agents” (presented to CREW-San Antonio, August 2000)
• “The Attorney’s Role in Real Estate Transactions and Closings” (University of Houston Law Foundation seminar on Real Estate Documents, Workouts and Closing, held in Dallas and Houston, Texas in June, 2000) (State Bar CLE accredited)

Office (210) 547-7484
Fax (210) 547-7480
[email protected]