Mark Levine has joined Akerman Senterfitt’s Real Estate Practice Group and will be based in New York as a member of the firm’s Land Use and Development team. He joins from Herrick, Feinstein LLP, where he previously served as chair of the Land Use and Environmental Group.
Levine is a seasoned real estate attorney with vast experience in New York land use, zoning, and urban development projects. He concentrates his practice in land use, planning, zoning, Section 421-a program consultation and applications, inclusionary housing, variances, special permits, and landmark and historic preservation. He has extensive experience counseling clients in the public review of large scale development projects, including the redevelopment of the 11.5 acre Domino Sugar facility in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Metrotech project in Downtown Brooklyn; 900-unit Oceana residential development project in Brighton Beach; and the New York Marriott hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge in Downtown Brooklyn.
“Mark’s many years of experience leading teams in sizable and complex matters involving land use and zoning law make him an especially valuable resource to Akerman clients,” said Steve Polivy, managing shareholder of the Akerman New York office. “We welcome the additional layer of depth and capability he brings to our already robust real estate team.”
Levine is the past chief of New York City Office of the Corporation Counsel, Housing and Real Estate Division, which represented the city in all of its housing and real estate transactions. Levine is chair of the Committee on Zoning and Land Use for the New York City Bar Association and previously served as the chair of its Committee on Housing and Urban Development. He is member of the board and executive committee of the Citizen’s Housing and Planning Council and is a past chair of the not-for-profit Fund for the Borough of Brooklyn. He also is a member of the New York Regional District Council of the Urban Land Institute and a board member of the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute.
Levine is admitted to the New York Bar.
The Akerman Real Estate Practice Group represents clients in complex real estate transactions, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives, loan recovery and litigation matters. Recognized nationally by The Legal 500, the group offers substantial industry experience and prominent local presence, advising corporations, developers, investors and governmental entities, often in high profile matters.
