Leading law firm Seyfarth Shaw announced today the arrival of six new attorneys to its Real Estate department in New York, who join from three different laws firms across a variety of practice areas. Led by partner Adrian Zuckerman, partners Linda Bielik, Cynthia Mitchell and counsel Ralph Berman have joined from LeClair Ryan, alongside partner Mitchel Hill from Troutman Sanders and partner Juan Reyes from Reed Smith.
With broad-based experience throughout the commercial real estate industry, this group brings significant leadership experience to Seyfarth. Prior to joining Seyfarth, Zuckerman served as co-head of the National Real Estate practice group for LeClair Ryan and Hill served as practice group leader of the Real Estate Investments Group for Troutman Sanders. Before entering private practice, Reyes served as general counsel for the New York City Board of Standards & Appeals.
“This is a top-flight group of veteran real estate attorneys who are an excellent fit for us as we continue to strategically expand our Real Estate department across the country,” said Paul Mattingly, chair of Seyfarth’s Real Estate department. “We had a record-setting year in 2012 and this group further illustrates our commitment to growing what is one of the top real estate practices in the country.”
John Napoli, co-managing partner of Seyfarth’s New York office, added, “This is an impressive group who are well recognized for their respective practices in New York, as well as nationally, and we’re excited to welcome them to our New York office.”
The arrival of this group is the latest step in the continued growth of Seyfarth’s New York office, which is one of the firm’s largest offices and home to nearly 125 attorneys.
Seyfarth Continues Successful, Contrarian Expansion Strategy for Real Estate
While many law firm real estate departments across the country dramatically contracted in size during the past several years, Seyfarth embarked on a contrarian expansion strategy focused on opportunities that the firm identified in the institutional real estate and real estate finance markets. Led by this strategy and an influx of transactions from both new and existing clients, Seyfarth added 21 new attorneys to its Real Estate department and handled more than $15 billion in real estate transactions in 2012, including several of the industry’s largest, highest-profile and most complex transactions.
For example, Seyfarth played the lead role in one the largest U.S. industrial real estate portfolio sales of 2012, where the firm represented Australia’s Dexus Property Group in the $770 million sale of its U.S. Central Portfolio to affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII.
About the New Attorneys
Partner Adrian Zuckerman has more than 20 years of experience as a real estate practitioner with clients that range from local and national owner/developers to multinational Fortune 500 companies. His practice is focused on development, acquisitions and dispositions; commercial leasing and lending; co-op and condominium conversions; and healthcare real estate. Zuckerman also has extensive experience in complex real estate litigation, asset management, brokerage, and regulatory compliance, as well as divestiture, workouts and foreclosures. He received his S.B. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his J.D. from New York Law School.
Partner Mitchel A. Hill counsels clients in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development and leasing of various types of real property as well as joint ventures, with particular experience in the acquisition, disposition and enforcement of distressed debt and debt restructuring. He represents both lenders and borrowers in real estate financings and provides comprehensive guidance to clients in corporate sales, acquisitions and mergers. Hill earned his B.S. and J.D. from the University of North Carolina.
Partner Juan Reyes concentrates his practice in land use, development and permitting with particular experience in zoning, planning, landmark and building code matters and governmental approvals. He counsels an array of clients involving regulatory and discretionary governmental approvals. He works closely with legislative leaders, city agencies and administrative departments in New York City to obtain variances and rezonings. Reyes earned his B.A. from Emory University and J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
Partner Linda Bielik has extensive experience in a wide range of real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development, and financing of commercial, multifamily residential and industrial real estate. Bielik earned her B.A. from Syracuse University and her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law.
Partner Cynthia Mitchell focuses her practice on all aspects of commercial real estate and represents clients locally and nationally in the acquisition and disposition of various types of real property with significant experience representing healthcare clients in real estate transactions. Mitchell also represents landlords and tenants in commercial use and commercial lease transactions, and lenders and borrowers in real estate financings and re-financings. She received her B.A. from University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her J.D. from New York Law School.
Counsel Ralph Berman focuses his practice on commercial litigation involving real estate, corporate and partnership disputes, bankruptcy and securities, commodities and derivative products. Berman earned his B.S. from Cornell University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
