Category: Spotlight Content

Recent goal and impact: The global aspects of our real estate practice are especially enjoyable for me. We were recently engaged by a great client on a joint venture hospitality transaction involving an asset in the Caribbean. We put an excellent cross-border team together that quickly gained the trust of the client and the counterparties.

Sharing knowledge and expertise:  To give back to the industry, I became a REBNY downtown committee co-chairman last year and actively participated in REBNY events.

Recent goal and impact: Leading the department through the unprecedented commercial real estate cycles caused by COVID reshaped my management approach. From the shutdowns to a boom driven by low interest rates, followed by a downturn due to rate hikes and the work-from-home trend, the demand for legal services fluctuated rapidly.

Turning problems into opportunities:  I have been fortunate to be a third-generation real estate entrepreneur, drawing inspiration from both my grandfather and father, who each developed distinct but complementary investment strategies. When I launched CL, I merged these two strategies, leveraging my multi-generational foundation to create a hybrid approach.

Sharing knowledge and expertise:  After 33 years as a commissioned U.S. Army officer, and now an IMEG principal, I mentor and encourage open communication. Leadership is caring for your team and their families. I involve my team in decision-making, considering their well-being, and ask them to do so too. I help my team understand the importance of empathy,

Recent goal and impact:  For several years, it was a goal of Kara’s to expand our firm’s affordable housing practice to incorporate lawyers with a particular expertise in tax exemptions and zoning incentives. This goal finally came to fruition in late March of 2025, with Belkin Burden Goldman’s (BBG) hiring

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

Recent goal and impact: Since joining Kasirer more than 20 years ago, I’ve always had one overarching goal: Keep NYC thriving despite any political, social or economic headwinds. I’ve supported the hospitality industry with outdoor dining requirements during the pandemic, worked with the Fifth Avenue Association to make NYC a global retail destination, and I’ve helped Stony Brook University win the bid to serve as the anchor institution

Recent goal and impact: Growing the firm’s commercial leasing business using more client-friendly fee structures. This created a lot of growth opportunities and increased new client inquires.

Recent goal and impact:  One recent goal I achieved was refining our Economic Inclusion Plan, which I originally created in 2020 to support minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. By enhancing the program’s structure and expanding access to resources, we’ve helped over fifty businesses get certified, access capital, and secure affordable office space. The impact has been substantial—not only for the businesses we’ve supported but also for our firm.

Recent goal and impact:  After surpassing the $2 billion threshold of closed transactions we set another goal to close another $1 billion by year end 2024. By January 2025 despite the volatility of the real estate market we reached our goal. This was even more significant because 2025 marked the 10^th year anniversary of our firm.

Recent goal and impact: At REAL New York, one of my primary objectives was to establish a comprehensive, full-service brokerage that caters to the evolving needs of landlords and developers. Initially, our focus was on leasing for landlords with existing properties. However, as our firm expanded,