New York, NY According to Venable LLP, Steven Weinberger, a veteran commercial real estate lawyer and an authority on commercial leasing, has joined the firm’s New York office as a lead leasing counsel. Weinberger has particular command of the commercial leasing market, having served as national leasing counsel for leading real estate investment and management firm Broadway Partners, which held assets with transaction value in excess of $15 billion.  At Broadway, he negotiated lease terms for the firm’s portfolio of over 20 million s/f of class A office buildings around the country, including retail space taken by leading tenants. Earlier, Weinberger was general counsel for Philips International Holding Corp., responsible for legal matters tied to the company’s real estate portfolio, which included shopping centers, boutique hotels, and prime office buildings with ground-level retail space. Marking its tenth year, Venable’s New York office is home to a team of real estate attorneys who represent owners, developers, private equity funds, pension funds, tenants, and operators of all types of real estate.  The group advises clients on property acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures; financings, design, and construction; zoning and land use, leasing and property management, and development and economic incentives.  In October, the firm brought aboard Daniel Bernstein, another well-known real estate attorney in New York, specializing in affordable housing and other New York tax benefit programs. “Steve Weinberger is a top-flight commercial leasing attorney who has command of all critical issues facing owners, developers, investors, and tenants in today’s market,” said Peter Koffler, chair of Venable’s New York Real Estate Group.  “Steven brings invaluable client-side experience to our New York practice, having spent a large part of his career in-house with several of the country’s premier investment and management firms.  He understands the business and legal issues involved with vast portfolios of high-impact rental space.  We are very fortunate to have him on our team.” “Venable has a strong national real estate platform, with a sophisticated CRE practice and a strong client base, and I’ve been aware of the firm’s growing prominence in the New York market for several years,” Mr. Weinberger said.  “I’ve worked on a number of transactions alongside attorneys at the firm – including Peter Koffler – and have been impressed by the quality of the work and client representations.  I am excited about combining my experience with Venable’s in further growing the firm’s CRE profile in New York, as well as helping on leasing and other transactions nationally.” Prior to attending law school, Mr. Weinberger served as Assistant Vice President at National Westminster Bank, where he managed a $500 million loan portfolio, comprising commercial real estate loans. Weinberger earned his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and his B.A. from Wesleyan University. Tags: