Belonging to American Mensa, whose members score in the top 2% of the general population in intelligence, Leo G. Aubel knows a thing or two about negotiating and closing a wide variety of deals for commercial investors and high-end residential buyers and sellers. In addition to representing clients in real estate transactions and related litigation for more than 30 years, Aubel is a licensed broker, landlord, developer and investor. “My clients know that I’m there for them to respond to their needs and that 9-to-5 does not work in this industry,” Aubel says. “I love my work and freely admit to having no work-life balance, and I pride myself on being accessible and ready to answer the tough questions and provide good counsel.”

Aubel, whose mother was a broker on the North Shore who managed several offices, was thrust into the real estate industry at an early age. He began his legal career in real estate financing by working for investors and developers, then segued into handling the underlying transactions. Throughout his career, Aubel has taken on real estate transactions in 17 states and several countries. “My legal career and my real estate career have been indistinguishable,” he says. “I’ve invested in and developed real estate and have helped dozens of others do the same.”

Designated by Leading Lawyers magazine as a top lawyer for five consecutive years, Aubel has hit quite a few records with his firm in the last year, including sales volume and number of closings. “My biggest professional accomplishment was adding new attorneys and staff to our law firm,” he says. “Bringing young people into the business of real estate is exciting. I have the best colleagues, and they have my back.”

Aubel and his husband just celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary and are active volunteers with the cancer charity Betty’s Buddies and food delivery program Meals on Wheels.