North America - United States • Real estate
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP
The New York City-based real estate practice at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP handles a series of real estate matters ranging from financing and loan matters including construction, mortgage, and mezzanine structures, through to workouts, lease work, acquisitions and dispositions. Also noted for their arbitration and disputes experience, the team advises clients that include REITs, large private equity and investment firms, trusts, and several large companies. The firm also continues to grow its international client base with a growing number of Asian insurance companies, banks, and Asian investors seeking the firm’s advice on US-bound ventures. David Szeker spearheads the team and is particularly active on the borrower side where he advises on financings and transactions, as well as joint venture formation, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and disputes. Also, central to the practice is Darwin Huang who covers much of the firm’s lender-side work; in doing so, he represents an array of developers, investors, and financial institutions on a range of real estate matters. At the associate level, Matthew McElroy and Miami-based Kathleen Maurer are also noted.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Kasowitz real estate team combines industry knowledge, legal expertise and responsiveness.’
‘Darwin Huang is our go-to attorney. He has an acute knowledge of the market and industry, combined with in-depth understanding of the legal issues that real estate investors face. He is strategic and effective as an attorney and an advisor.’
‘Very reactive, they know the market and players very well.’
‘David Szeker has been a great plus to our negotiation, Matthew McElroy always available and precise.’
‘I have experienced very professional yet personal approach to my issue when necessary. Team came up with proper advice and timely responses.’
‘Aside from being exceptional lawyers who are creative in being able to structure transactions, Kasowitz's real estate team have extremely strong connections in the industry which gives them a very good pulse on the market. The invaluable knowledge of the industry and different markets allows them to be more than lawyers, but rather they play the role of trusted advisors. This is what sets the Kasowitz team apart from other major firms we work with.’
‘Our firm relies on Darwin Huang and David Szeker to bring a balanced and effective approach to structuring and negotiating transactions. Their leadership and business acumen are something we don't come across often with partners at other major law firms. They also happen to be the hardest working lawyers we work with.’
‘Darwin Huang is a great business minded real estate attorney. He is hands on and is accessible when needed most. I don't have to call another attorney in order to get him on the phone and that is very important.’
Key clients
- Starwood Property Trust
- SL Green
- Relevant Group
- F&T Group
- iStar
- GFI Capital
- Cottonwood Group
- Quinlan Development Group
- Mollenhour Gross
- Korea Investments and Securities
- RBC Real Estate Capital Partners
- Take-Two Interactive
- Douglas Elliman
- Young Nian Group
- Carlyle Group
- Nostalgic Partners,
- Columbia Property Trust
- Steiner NYC
- Yellowstone Real Estate Investments
- Dwight Mortgage Trust
Work highlights
- Represented Cottonwood Group in connection with a hefty $180 million loan to Five Points Development to build a residential building at 262 Fifth Avenue in the Nomad neighborhood of New York City.
- Advised Starwood Property Trust in numerous sales and mortgage loan matters of approximately $200 million across the nation, including in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, California and New Jersey.
- Represented JDS Development in numerous transactional and litigation matters in New York City and Miami, including in connection with its ongoing 9 DeKalb development in Brooklyn, New York.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Szeker