BOSTON- Representing Bain Capital Real Estate (BCRE), one of the world’s leading private investment firms with $183 billion in assets under management, Alison Rundlett has spearheaded both the legal undertakings of the firm’s complex transactions and the implementation of continuous process improvements bolstering BCRE’s legal/risk functions.
“What I enjoy most about my work in real estate is, hands-down, the people,” said Rundlett to the Boston Real Estate Times. Rundlett is a passionate champion for women in the legal field and has been a valuable mentor to many of her female associates in both private practice and in her current position at BCRE.
On March 12, 2025, Alison Rundlett will be honored with the Outstanding Women of 2025 award at the annual Women of the Year awards gala at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA.
To buy a ticket, please click here.
Joining Bain Capital in 2021, Rundlett brought significant impact to the firm during a period of remarkable growth, spearheading the legal components of complex transactions and implementing process improvements to bolster the legal and risk functions of Bain Capital Real Estate (BCRE). Before her tenure at Bain Capital, Rundlett was a partner at Ropes & Gray LLP, where she led intricate joint ventures, transactions, and financings for institutional clients, including BCRE. Her journey in law began as an associate at Hogan Lovells LLP, working in their New York and Washington D.C. offices.
At BCRE, Rundlett has continued this work from “the inside” at a time of explosive growth for the firm, including leading the legal side of transactions for BCRE as well as undertaking continuous process improvement to ensure consistent approach of the legal/risk function for BCRE both internally and externally.
Rundlett earned her JD, cum laude, from Boston College Law School, where she also served as a Lecturer of Law. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Bowdoin College, where she double majored in both government and legal studies, and physics, with a minor in mathematics. During her time at Bowdoin, she was actively involved in student government, her social house, various musical groups, highlighting her diverse talents and leadership skills.
Rundlett’s work at BCRE has ranged from funds, co-investment, and other strategic capital initiatives, to risk management and compliance efforts, and (of course) deal making. Everything from very large M&A transactions to building portfolios of integrity in the old fashioned one-by-one-by-one way. In relatively recent news are two transactions Rundlett has worked on: one of BCRE’s JV partners, Bungalow Projects, is working on developing two media production studios in Brooklyn, New York that were previously acquired in 2024. When complete, these assets will have over 500,000 SF in purpose-built soundstages in one of the most dynamic content creation cities in the world.
Beyond her professional achievements, Rundlett is deeply committed to mentoring women in the legal field, ensuring that her female associates thrived under her guidance while in private practice and she continues mentorship now that she is at BCRE. She also currently serves as a trustee of her alma mater, Bowdoin College, chairing key committees and generally contributing to various alumni initiatives.
BCRE was formed in 2018 and pursues investments in often hard-to-access sectors underpinned by enduring secular trends that drive long-term demand growth for real estate assets and services. The BCRE team has been executing its strategy since 2010 (formerly as a part of Harvard Management Company), having invested and committed over $9.2 billion of equity in over 600 assets across multiple sectors. BCRE focuses on assets where the team applies its deep industry expertise to accelerate impact and drive operational improvements; its strategy aligns with the value-added investment approach that Bain Capital pioneered and leverages the firm’s global platform and significant experience across asset classes to further bolster its insights and sourcing capabilities.
Read our full Q&A with Allison Rundlett below.
Boston Real Estate Times: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Alison Rundlett: What I enjoy most about my work in real estate is hands-down the people. That has been true since my first legal job at Hogan & Hartson in New York City, where my team was largely representing real estate joint venture operating partners– who are some of the most interesting and entrepreneurial people you’ll ever meet – and where my Hogan team members were like family. And when I changed firms to join Ropes & Gray, the people were the reason I chose to go there. From my first interview with David Djaha to the late nights working alongside my mentor, Rich Gordet, the Ropes & Gray people are not only brilliant – but they are also some of the most authentic folks on the planet.
This remains the theme for why I love my work at Bain Capital Real Estate. Our team embodies a unique blend of tenacity and curiosity, consistently rolling up our sleeves to tackle complex challenges head-on. Each day, we come to work driven by a shared commitment to achieving better outcomes, approaching every task with a relentless pursuit of excellence. BCRE has a culture of rigorous, objective inquiry that allows us to uncover the full potential in every opportunity. But we are able to capitalize on all that brain power and effort because personal integrity, humility, and a sense of citizenship define our interactions with one another and the partners we work with and the investments we make.
BRET: What is the one thing you attribute your success to?
AR: There is one recipe for my success, but it has two indivisible ingredients: education and mentorship.
I grew up a poor kid in a small, modest town in rural Maine. My parents had us young- and the demands of a large family meant that their schooling had to be flexible. So, my parents worked multiple jobs, raised four kids, and took college courses at night. One of my earliest childhood memories was watching my parents graduate from University of Maine, from the folding chairs at the Civic Center. My dad was one of six and my mom is one of seven – and they were the first in their families to get a degree. From that first bachelor’s, Mom got a job as a teacher to match the kids’ schedule and Dad had multiple jobs (even after his big accounting position at Central Maine Power came through). I remember going with my dad on weekend odd jobs to lay carpet, or to stack feed bags coming off the cargo trains. Through it all they were taking night course work and when I was half-way through high school we had another graduation: both of my parents finished their MBAs. Growing up with this role modeling, I knew that education was the key to every door in the world. I was remarkably lucky to be a scholarship student at Bowdoin College. Bowdoin was the pivotal moment for me, and the doors it opened included going on to Boston College Law, another amazing educational experience.
The great mentors in my life are too plentiful to list here, but they range from high school teachers, to my college professors and thesis supervisors, and continue through each job I’ve ever had. Standouts are Mitchell Lubart and Maureen Hanlon (my partner mentors at Hogan & Hartson), Rich Gordet (Ropes & Gray) and Michael Epstein (General Counsel for BCRE). With a solid education as my base, and supportive mentors, I found my own voice and style in professional practice. A voice and style that helps me support my team at BCRE as we weigh complicated transaction pros and cons, risks and rewards, and make exciting investment decisions.
BRET: What are your hobbies and interests?
AR: As a mom to a 7 year old girl, 5 year old boy and 9 year old rescue mutt, most of my hobbies and interests are focused on our family, and our kids’ school, sports and activities. We spend weekends managing dance, gymnastics, cheer, and hockey schedules… and I’m on the cusp of losing all of my early morning productive hours to hockey (if you are a New England parent, you know what I’m in for!) When I square time for myself, I love cooking, spectating all things Boston sports, and hosting get-togethers at our home for family and friends from near and far (I just love being a people connector).
BRET: Your favorite books?
AR: All time ever: Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
BRET: Your favorite quotes?
AR: I am torn between three quotes. Two of which have been passed around in my family – attributed to generations and generations before mine: “Cream always rises.” and “You have one good name; and when it is gone, it is gone forever.” These are deeply meaningful to me because they speak to the hard-work, honesty and integrity that you have to bring to every day, every relationship, every interaction, every word that you send out into the world.
The third is a Moby Dick quote: “It’s a mutual, joint-stock world in all meridians. We cannibals must help these Christians.” The last one sounds tongue and cheek, but I’m happy to share my interpretation to anyone who can tell me in which chapter it appears.
BRET: The one person you would like to meet and why?
AR: I’m going to twist your question a bit to ‘who is the one person I’d like to meet up with tomorrow?’ The answer is my late father. We lost him to brain cancer almost 5 years ago, and I’d give anything to talk to him about the goings-on in my life and for him to get to know his incredible grandchildren, my daughter Natalie and my son Cooper.
