Harris joins Akerman

Manhattan, NY Top national law firm Akerman has expanded its New York office and real estate finance practice with the addition of partner Naheem Harris, who joins Akerman from Vinson & Elkins LLP.

“We remain focused on building our transactional depth in finance across multiple disciplines, including real estate finance, and Naheem is a great example of our commitment to that focus,” said Eric Rapkin, chair of Akerman’s real estate practice group. “With a keen understanding of the financing of complex real estate projects, Naheem will help us further expand upon the offerings we provide to our clients.”

Harris focuses his practice on representing domestic and international real estate companies, institutional lenders, real estate investment trusts (REITs), funds, and other real estate investors and operators on a wide range of real estate matters, including bespoke financings (mortgage, mezzanine and preferred equity investments, and both borrower and lender representations), dispositions and acquisitions, development, partnerships and joint ventures (as the operator and as equity), and complex commercial leasing matters.

He additionally advises owners and operators in connection with real estate-related operational, organizational, and structural issues across various asset classes, including office, multifamily, single family, build-to-rent, industrial, life sciences, and hospitality.

Harris is the third lateral to join the New York office in February, following the addition of real estate partner Joseph Brasile and corporate partner Ricardo Bernard. Led by co-office managing partners Alan Cohen and Matthew Steinberg, New York is Akerman’s largest office, with lawyers experienced in various client matters: financial services, land use and real estate, M&A and private equity, labor and employment, healthcare, hospitality, intellectual property, retail, restaurants, bankruptcy and reorganization, tax, and trusts and estates.

Akerman’s financing capabilities have expanded significantly in recent months with the addition of Thomas Maira, who serves as chair of Real Estate Private Equity (New York), and Brasile, who jointly possess leading experience in the financing of significant real estate transactions, specifically in the areas of institutional lending and equity for real estate transactions, having represented major financial institutions, mortgage REITs, and investment funds.

New York office co-managing partner Alan Cohen said “New York is a flagship to our real estate finance practice, with many complex projects in our own backyard and a large team of skilled Akerman lawyers with significant knowledge and experience in the market. Naheem is a valuable addition to our New York team, and he arrives during a time of growth, which we expect to continue.”