Ranking tables

Real Estate: Corporate | USA

New York

This section covers corporate matters related to real estate, including M&A of large real estate holding companies, complex fund and REIT transactions, private equity and public securities. These real estate lawyers are distinct from pure corporate lawyers in that they typically come from a real estate background, have an understanding of the underlying asset and do aspects of `dirt law` real estate for their clients. The structuring and transactional advice provided to REITs (real estate investment trusts) impacts on our real estate tables.

Rankings overview for Lawyers

All Lawyers profiles

S

Senior Statespeople

  1. Steven L Wilner
    S
    Steven L Wilner
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Senior Statespeople | 20 Years Ranked

    Steven Wilner frequently represents investors in significant portfolio transactions and offers notable experience acting on cases involving major international elements.

E

Eminent Practitioners

  1. Joseph C Shenker
    E
    Joseph C Shenker
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Eminent Practitioners | 24 Years Ranked
    Senior chair Joseph Shenker has experience of a range of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions and developments.
1

Band 1

  1. Sasan Mehrara
    1
    Sasan Mehrara
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 1 | 14 Years Ranked

    Sasan Mehrara counsels major investor clients on substantial acquisitions and dispositions of property. He offers additional expertise in joint venture formation and high value financings.

2

Band 2

  1. Edward M Rishty
    2
    Edward M Rishty
    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    Edward Rishty is noted for his sophisticated representation of clients in a range of complex commercial real estate matters, including developments, joint ventures and sales and acquisitions.
  2. Jennifer M Morgan
    2
    Jennifer M Morgan
    King & Spalding LLP
    King & Spalding LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 14 Years Ranked

    Jennifer Morgan is co-chair of the firm's real estate and funds group and routinely handles high value corporate transactions, including joint ventures and financings, on behalf of major investors.

  3. Jonathan A Schechter
    2
    Jonathan A Schechter
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    Jonathan Schechter maintains a broad commercial real estate practice and regularly handles joint venture concerns, development projects and acquisitions.
  4. Michael J Haas
    2
    Michael J Haas
    Latham & Watkins LLP
    Latham & Watkins LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 14 Years Ranked
    Michael Haas is held in high regard throughout the market for his ability to advise clients on a wide spectrum of issues in the real estate space, including acquisitions, joint ventures and financings.
  5. Michelle Kelban
    2
    Michelle Kelban
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked

    Michelle Kelban regularly assists investors with complex transactions and financings. She is noted for her expertise in the hospitality sector.

  6. Nicole Levin Mesard
    2
    Nicole Levin Mesard
    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 18 Years Ranked
    Nicole Levin Mesard advises real estate firms and commercial clients on sophisticated corporate transactions. Her expertise includes joint ventures, restructuring and acquisitions.
  7. Scott M Kobak
    2
    Scott M Kobak
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 22 Years Ranked

    Scott Kobak frequently advises on high value acquisitions as well as complex financing matters. He counts numerous leading investors among his clients and has expertise in data centers.

  8. Vered Rabia
    2
    Vered Rabia
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    Vered Rabia practices across a range of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, development and financing, often acting for leading developers and investors.
3

Band 3

  1. Audrey L Sokoloff
    3
    Audrey L Sokoloff
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Audrey Sokoloff represents major commercial clients in the real estate aspects of significant transactions, and offers notable expertise across a range of real estate financing matters.
  2. Brian Hirsch
    3
    Brian Hirsch
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked

    Brian Hirsch represents REITs, developers and investors in an array of complex real estate transactions.

  3. Christopher Hartmann
    3
    Christopher Hartmann
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked

    Christopher Hartmann of Kirkland and Ellis focuses his practice on complex commercial real estate matters. He is sought out for his expertise in joint ventures, acquisitions and various financing structures.

  4. David Herman
    3
    David Herman
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 10 Years Ranked
    David Herman is regularly engaged by clients on a range of corporate transactions. He offers substantial expertise in matters including financings, joint ventures and acquisitions and sales.
  5. Fiona Kelly
    3
    Fiona Kelly
    Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
    Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked

    Fiona Kelly heads the firm's corporate real estate transactions practice. She advises investors and private equity firms on a range of transactions including joint ventures, acquisitions and development.

  6. Lisa Brill
    3
    Lisa Brill
    A&O Shearman
    A&O Shearman | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Lisa Brill handles financing transactions as both borrower's and lender's counsel, and offers particular expertise in the hospitality and leisure sector.
  7. Robin Panovka
    3
    Robin Panovka
    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 24 Years Ranked

    Robin Panovka co-chairs the real estate and REIT M&A practices at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and is highly regarded for his work on corporate real estate transactions.

  8. Samantha Wallack
    3
    Samantha Wallack
    Blank Rome LLP
    Blank Rome LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked

    Samantha Wallack is co-chair of Blank Rome's national real estate practice. She is noted for her experience in a variety of acquisitions, joint ventures and financings.

  9. Steven L Lichtenfeld
    3
    Steven L Lichtenfeld
    Proskauer Rose LLP
    Proskauer Rose LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 20 Years Ranked

    Steven Lichtenfeld is a well-regarded practitioner in the capital markets space who regularly assists major REITs and investment firms with high value corporate transactions.

  10. Steven Moskowitz
    3
    Steven Moskowitz
    Hogan Lovells US LLP
    Hogan Lovells US LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 21 Years Ranked

    Steven Moskowitz offers particular expertise in joint venture transactions as part of a broader real estate practice that regularly sees him counsel major investors and developers.

  11. Steven Rudgayzer
    3
    Steven Rudgayzer
    Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
    Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked

    Steven Rudgayzer is a real estate partner, who focuses his practice on the corporate side of transactions. He is adept at complex joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions for major clients in the industry.

  12. Terri Adler
    3
    Terri Adler
    Adler & Stachenfeld LLP
    Adler & Stachenfeld LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Terri Adler is managing partner of Adler & Stachenfeld. She is recognized for her expertise in complex real estate transactions and joint ventures.
U

Up and Coming

  1. Whitney W Salinas
    U
    Whitney W Salinas
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | Real Estate: Corporate
    2026 | Up and Coming | 3 Years Ranked
    Whitney Salinas advises clients on a broad range of corporate and real estate finance matters concerning a variety of asset types, including data centers, retail and industrial sites.