2016 Women in Real Estate: Nina Roket

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP" width="150" height="150" /> Nina Roket, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP

Name: Nina Roket

Title: Co-administrative Partner and Partner in Real Estate Practice Group

Email: [email protected]

Twitter @NinaRoket

LinkedIn Profile @Nina Roket

Years in real estate: 18

Company Name: Olshan Frome Woloksy LLP

Year Founded: 1963

URL: http://www.olshanlaw.com

Tel: 212-451-2300

Twitter @OlshanLaw

LinkedIn @https://www.linkedin.com/company/olshan

How did you get your start in real estate?

I joined Olshan as a second year associate in the real estate group in 1998, and was named a partner in 2005. As a junior associate, I worked on a broad range of matters in the real estate group gaining experience in areas including acquisitions, financing and leasing. I quickly developed a niche in leasing, and my first big break came when I was asked to represent the owner of an office building in downtown New York in leasing matters as a third year associate. This early on experience, along with representing the buyer of a shopping center in Las Vegas, Nevada and subsequently handling the leasing of the entire shopping center spearheaded my interest and specialty in both retail and office leasing.

What real estate associations or organizations are you a member of?

I serve as a member of WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate, an invitation-only association of executive-level women actively engaged in the commercial real estate industry in New York. I’m also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). I’m the founder and chair of the Women’s Committee at Olshan, which serves as a networking, business development and mentoring platform for the firm’s women lawyers and their clients and colleagues

What recent project or transaction are you most proud of?

I have been the lead counsel for Columbus Turnstyle LLC in the leasing, financing and development of TurnStyle, an underground marketplace in the 59th Street Columbus Circle concourse, envisioned as an exciting, unique retail destination featuring 30 retailers from food/beverage to apparel, set across a 27,000-square-foot boulevard-style retail concourse. In this role I negotiated a master lease with the MTA, leases with individual retailers, financing and joint venture agreements, construction agreements and advertising agreements.

I also represented the owner of 8 Times Square in a lease to Foot Locker for its prime Times Square location, the owner of a building on West 125th Street in a lease to Bed Bath and Beyond and the owner of Herald Center, in a lease to H&M for its largest store worldwide. I also continued representation of Resorts Casino Hotel in lease and licensing transactions for Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville casino-entertainment complex in Atlantic City, built as part of and in addition to the new Resorts Casino Hotel.

What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why?

I was named to the New York Super Lawyers list, a Thomson Reuters lawyer rating service, for 2014 and 2015 and have also been acknowledged as a leading player in the New York real estate market by the New York Real Estate Journal, “Women in Real Estate,” May 2012-2015. I value these accolades as I work hard on behalf of my clients and also take seriously my position as a member of the legal profession. I am grateful for the recognition that my work has brought.

What have been some of the benefits of being a mentor or having a mentor?

As a young associate I have a clear memory of the difference it made in my daily practice and in my career to have a mentor to available to ask the sometimes difficult questions around how to handle a client or particular matter, how to negotiate life in a law firm, and sometimes just to share a laugh. As the founder and chair of the Women’s Committee at Olshan, I can appreciate how difficult it is to balance the increasing demands on a young lawyer’s time and am grateful to have the opportunity to give back as a mentor.

Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why?

My upbringing. I saw first hand the meaning of hard work and perserverance. As a result, I have developed a strong work ethic and drive to succeed.

What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you?

My clients are always my primary concern and I establish priorities for what I need to accomplish each day based on their particular needs. I try to avoid distractions and stay on task with my list, otherwise the day will disappear. I triage as necessary, as even with the best of time management intentions, there are the inevitable unexpected emergencies or the potential new client who wants to meet for lunch.

What is the best advice you have received and who was it from?

“Never be afraid to ask – what’s the worst anyone can say – No?” Attributed to one of my partners when he was my boss.