
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt
USA Guide 2026 : New York
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
For more information about Davis Polk’s practices, please visit https://www.davispolk.com/capabilities.
Chambers Review
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Work Highlights
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Davis Polk & Wardwell represented Sycamore Partners on its $23.7 billion acquisition of Walgreens Boots Alliance. This deal included approximately $610 million in CMBS financing.
Strengths
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Davis Polk is incredibly sharp and creative in approach to structuring and thinking through complicated deals.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSADavis Polk are extremely high quality and they offer a very bespoke, top-notch service.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSADavis Polk's bench strength, knowledge and common-sense approach to complex matters sets them apart.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSADavis Polk does a phenomenal job on large, complex, transaction-based projects.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSA
Notable Practitioners
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Band 2 
Band 2 
Michael J Rishty
Michael Rishty is a well-regarded practitioner with a noted real estate practice. His experience covers a broad range of matters, including acquisitions and sales, development and financing. Michael is extremely smart and practical. He has a very well balanced knowledge of real estate transactions as well.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSAMichael is reasonable, commercially-minded and capable of holding his own against difficult counterparties.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSAMichael is smart, personable and flexible when he needed to be.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSA
Band 3 
Band 3 
Brian Hirsch
Brian Hirsch represents REITs, developers and investors in an array of complex real estate transactions.
Brian is a terrific thought partner with excellent experience.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSABrian's control and command of the deal is outstanding.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSAHe works collaboratively with colleagues and truly understands our business.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSABrian is highly commercial and sophisticated. He mixes that with an ability to work on deals with all types of people.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSA
Band 4 
Band 4 
Brian S Lichter
Brian Lichter counsels major real estate firms on a range of commercial transactions, including joint ventures, development and financing. Brian has the experience and knowledge to guide clients through business issues and keep clients from getting involved in the legal minutiae of the documents.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSABrian is not fazed by complexity and he is able to be quite creative and think outside the box in how he addresses issues.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSAHe is super commercial and resolves issues quickly, clearly and without taking on additional or unnecessary risk.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSABrian Lichter is extremely smart and also a practical lawyer, he is someone who is a deal facilitator and he is very adept at finding a creative solution that works for both sides.
Real Estate: Mainly Dirt respondentUSA
Ranked Individuals at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (3)
Members
Provided by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Brian Hirsch
View profile of Brian Hirsch
Brian S Lichter
View profile of Brian S Lichter
Michael J Rishty
View profile of Michael J Rishty
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