Spotlights

Year in Review 2018: Alexander Sutherland, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? My most notable deal of 2018 was closing the construction loan on Brooklyn Point for Extell. I had worked on the project for years, and the loan was a huge milestone for one of the most exciting projects in Brooklyn, and the culmination of years of thoughtful work by Extell with the city and other stakeholders. 

Year in Review 2018: Jerry Siegelman, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek

What market trend(s) will impact your industry in 2019? The better part of my commercial law practice has involved the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of retail properties, including regional malls, power centers, lifestyle centers and strip centers.

Year in Review 2018: Karen Rodgers, Garfunkel Wild, PC

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? The acquisition closing of portfolios consisting of 24 skilled nursing facilities spanning 7 states in excess of $270 million dollars.  All financed in a bridge to HUD format with a multitude of unique zoning, subdivision and title/survey issues. 

Year in Review 2018: Sarah Jones-Maturo, RM Friedland LLC

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? Starting an investment sales division at RM Friedland. We hired John Barrett at the beginning of the year and in September the dynamic Team Lala with Marco Lala at its helm joined. We expect that we will have more investment sales professionals starting at the beginning of the year.

Year in Review 2018: Michael Korine, Berko & Associates/Astor Realty Capital

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? In 2018, we at Berko & Associates have significantly enhanced our brokerage business model.  After launching a new debt platform in 2017, we expanded our focus in our new company, Astor Realty Capital, to equity investments in major markets across the US. 

Year in Review 2018: Brian Sahn, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

What market trend(s) will impact your industry in 2019? The road ahead for real estate in 2019 is shaping up to be unlike any in recent memory.  There are a number of global and local factors that point to growing concern and uncertainty that stand to significantly impact commercial and residential real estate. 

Year in Review 2018: William O’Brien, M.C. O’Brien, Inc.

What was the best decision that you made in 2018 and how did it impact your business? I think, unequivocally, hiring my new partner, Davon Peters, a 10-year veteran of the CRE market in Brooklyn and Queens, who right after joining M.C. O’Brien, Inc., assisted in the disposition of four properties in Brooklyn with an aggregate value of over $36 million.

Year in Review 2018: Carrie Villani, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? We were awarded numerous projects in Philadelphia including large developments, cultural and healthcare projects.  We are also making an impact on outer boroughs and the metro region of New York City, we have new developer projects in Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey. 

Year in Review 2018: Jay Sonhraj, Zara Realty

What was the best decision that you made in 2018 and how did it impact your business? We made a $173 million investment in 15 buildings in Queens to modernize and improve infrastructure and amenities. This includes new boilers and HVAC systems, new elevators, new roofs and facades, new hallways and new kitchens and bathrooms.

Year in Review 2018: Chuck Merritt, Merritt Environmental

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018? Assisting in the removal of two large buried oil tanks that were leaking. The tanks were excavated and disposed of and the impacted soil remediated.  Had the tanks continued to leak, groundwater would have been impacted causing a larger more expensive situation to correct.