Bronte Prins – SomeraRoad

At just 28 years old, Bronte Prins took on the role of general counsel for the first time. Now, five years later, she is a seasoned veteran in the same role for SomeraRoad, a rapidly growing opportunistic real estate investment and development firm based in Nashville and NYC. Her appointment marked a significant achievement in a field where more senior professionals often dominate such leadership positions. Prins, however, has never shied away from a challenge.

Bronte Prins | SomeraRoad | General Counsel

Born and raised in Toronto, Prins excelled academically and set her sights on California for college, earning a broadcast and digital journalism degree from the University of Southern California. She then pivoted to law, earning her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. After over four years in private practice and nearly five years at Southern Land Company—where she rose to the position of general counsel and chief legal officer—Prins boldly decided to take on a new challenge and joined SomeraRoad in May 2024.

Reflecting on her rapid ascent, she admits that while the journey required immense dedication, she has confidently grown into the role.

“It took me several years to feel comfortable and confident,” she says. “I had to work twice as hard to reach that level, but putting in the work has allowed me to hold my own.”

In stepping into her role at SomeraRoad, Prins inherited a legal framework already in great shape, thanks to her predecessors. Nevertheless, she approached her first 90 days with a meticulous checklist.

“I assumed I’d have to overhaul a lot,” she recalls. “But instead, it was more about verifying that things were in place—a good gut check for someone stepping into a GC role.”

Beyond legal oversight, she has also taken on responsibilities in HR and operations, recognizing that alignment across business units is crucial to the firm’s continued success. By fostering collaboration and connectivity, she has positioned herself as a horizontal leader, helping different teams work together cross-functionally and achieve optimal success. She believes that when legal, HR, and operations function seamlessly together, they can drive efficiency and innovation, helping the company remain agile in an ever-evolving industry.

Paseo South Gulch and beyond

SomeraRoad has built a reputation for identifying off-market real estate opportunities often overlooked by larger institutional investors. With a focus on aggressive value-add strategies, the firm has transacted on  over $3 billion in investments, spanning 70 markets. While headquartered in New York and Nashville, the company also has offices in Austin, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Pittsburg, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

A rendering of SomeraRoad’s Pendry Nashville Hotel & Residences in Paseo South Gulch.

One of the most significant projects currently underway is the billion-dollar Paseo South Gulch microneighborhood development in Tennessee’s capital city. The first tower, Prima, completed in 2024, is a mixed-use residential property featuring office, retail, and 278 residences. The next phase is a luxury hotel/condo tower, Paseo Tower Two, which will be home to the Pendry Nashville Hotel & Pendry Residences Nashville. The project was announced and broke ground in March 2025 with plans to deliver in 2027. The financing for this project represents the largest equity raise in the company’s history, underscoring the firm’s ambition, impact, and high-powered trajectory. Pendry Nashville Hotel & Residences is positioned to transform yet another corner of Nashville, bringing to life a live-work-play-stay destination handcrafted for locals, neighbors, and visitors alike.

Momentum in the Paseo South Gulch continues across all aspects of the mixed-use project. The Tennessean also recently announced that leading global lifestyle brand Equinox will open its first location in Tennessee within the neighborhood’s adaptive reuse project, Voorhees. Prins played an integral role in building a relationship with the tenant and negotiating the lease agreement’s details.  This is a pivotal moment for the Nashville real estate market, as SomeraRoad has ushered in one of the world’s biggest wellness brands.

“The Paseo Tower Two project is complex, high-value, and visually transformative for the Nashville skyline,” Prins explains. “It’s a fascinating time for us.”

Beyond Nashville, SomeraRoad is making strides with a $500 million redevelopment of the historic West Bottoms district in Kansas City. A former hub for trading, stockyards and industry, the West Bottoms is where Kansas City began. The district will be transformed into a vibrant neighborhood commemorating the past and setting the framework for a promising future. The ambitious public-private partnership with the city of Kansas City puts SomeraRoad’s thoughtful and intentional approach to new development, adaptive reuse, and asset management at center stage.

The firm is also expanding into new sectors, launching SR Aviation Infrastructure (SRAI), an investment platform focused on acquiring, developing, and leasing aviation-related real estate. After identifying a unique supply-demand imbalance, the SomeraRoad team moved into the sector with a seed acquisition of the Quail Air Center in Las Vegas.

Prins played a unique role in the transaction, which involved onboarding several new employees. She leveraged her knowledge of employment law and met in person with the new hires to ensure a seamless onboarding process. SRAI continues to expand with a robust pipeline of future acquisitions. The investment platform represents SomeraRoad’s innovative approach to asset diversification.

More recently, SomeraRoad’s SR Aviation Infrastructure continues to expand rapidly with its second acquisition. On the heels of the successful Las Vegas deal, SRAI acquired the seven-hangar, 125,000-square-foot San Antonio International Airport private hangar complex.

With such a high volume of deals and strategic projects, Prins juggles multiple priorities daily.

“I touch at least 10 deals a day,” she says. “Balancing what’s truly urgent versus what can take a backseat is key. There are not enough hours in the day, but time management has always been one of my strengths.”

She describes the workflow at SomeraRoad as “organized chaos”—a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment where agility and decisiveness are crucial. The spirited, hardworking, and highly skilled team thrives in this energy. Jumping at opportunity and working together to make big things happen.

A new approach

As a one-person legal team, Prins embraces both autonomy and collaboration.

Bronte Prins at SomeraRoad’s Prima in Paseo South Gulch.

“While I’m technically a legal team of one, I never feel alone,” she says. “We work so closely together that I feel part of a much larger team.”

One of her key initiatives has been restructuring the investor relations team to broaden its focus and enhance the provision of key investor services while maintaining high attention and care for investors. She has also modernized HR processes, updated employee handbooks and streamlined legal forms to ensure efficiency and compliance. Ensuring corporate policies remain current and effective is a priority, particularly as employment laws evolve.

“You have to be proactive, not reactive,” she says. “Having the right policies in place keeps the company protected and allows employees to operate with clarity.”

Prins is also at the forefront of legal technology, leveraging AI to improve efficiency.

“AI can be a great tool for legal professionals, whether it’s generating basic templates, such as tenant default letters, or keeping up with changes in the law,” she says. “You can’t rely entirely on it, but it can help with fact-checking and streamlining tasks.”

Prins encourages other in-house attorneys to adopt a forward-thinking mindset, recognizing that technology will play an increasingly significant role in legal and business operations.

Despite the demands of her role, Prins remains committed to mentorship, paying forward the guidance she has received throughout her career. She has identified younger employees within the firm to mentor, helping them navigate their career paths and recognize their potential.

“I’ve been fortunate to have phenomenal mentors throughout my career,” she says. “Now, I’m committed to paying that forward. I want to help others see a clear career path and show them that the sky is the limit. If they work hard and stay focused, they can achieve anything.”

Looking ahead, Prins envisions a long tenure at SomeraRoad.

“I’m not someone who likes to bounce around. I was with my last company for nearly five years, and coming here was a big decision. But I see so much opportunity for growth and success here—I hope to be part of this journey for a long time.”

For Prins, the reward of working in real estate goes beyond the deals. It’s about seeing tangible results from her work. Working with the SomeraRoad team has presented significant opportunities for growth alongside incredibly rewarding outcomes.

“With real estate, you can see, touch, and feel your projects,” she says. “One day, I’ll sit at the bar at the Pendry, have a martini, and reflect on all the challenges and victories that went into making it a reality.”

Prins thrives on the dynamic nature of her role, embracing the challenges of navigating complex transactions and ensuring that the company’s legal and business strategies align for long-term success.