2025 Ones To Watch - Industry Leaders: Cyril Touchard, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Recent goal and impact:

My role in advising the UNDC on their long-term leases with the UN and the UNDP for over 650,000 s/f at One and Two United Nations Plaza. This complex transaction took several years to finalize but we were able to achieve a great result for our client and the city. The transaction will include a $500,000,000 capital improvement project at One and Two UN Plaza and is estimated to create over 1,800 jobs along with significant long-term economic benefits to the city from the UN related tourism.

Turning problems into opportunities: 

Since COVID we have been working hard to have attorneys return to the office on a regular basis. Being in the office is critical to the development and growth of our firm and each individual attorney. Being together in person on a more regular basis again has made it easier to develop close relationships with peers and to continue to foster a close, collaborative environment that every attorney deserves.

Who was/is your role model and/or leadership mentor? 

Jon Mechanic, chair of Fried Frank’s Real Estate Department; Rob Sorin, senior partner in Fried Frank’s Real Estate Department. 

Sharing knowledge and expertise:

Fried Frank understands the critical importance of teaching and sharing knowledge in order to properly develop associates. This is an important skill that ultimately requires spending time sitting with associates and going through mark-ups and answering their questions. I was incredibly fortunate to have great mentors who are smart and well respected in the real estate community. They not only invested their time in teaching me, but cared about my success, both professionally and personally. I strive to emulate those characteristics and I make it a priority to do the same with our associates.