Laurie, an accomplished deal maker, is co-chair of the firm’s global real estate practice. She takes a client-focused approach to her real estate practice, often acting as in-house counsel for her clients and becoming a trusted member of their businesses. Laurie has a long list of clients who have been with her since the beginning of her practice and appreciate her ability to adeptly and efficiently handle any type of real estate deal. She is recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA, noting that she is “a strong negotiator” and “she has a great business sense combined with legal knowledge.”

Laurie represents real estate private equity funds, companies, institutional REITs, lenders, investors and other property owners in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, developments, financings, portfolio transactions, preferred equity investments, work-outs, leasing and real estate joint ventures. Her work touches all asset classes, including office, multifamily, affordable housing, industrial workforce housing, mixed-use, build-to-rent, life sciences, hospitality, retail, condominium, and ground leases.

She also maintains an active capital markets and fund practice, representing investors in joint venture transactions and sophisticated fund and tax structures. Additionally, Laurie is well-versed in the Opportunity Zone program, helping numerous clients through the process of structuring and investing in qualified properties and vehicles. She is also active in the areas of ESG and real estate sustainability, including green loans, C-PACE loans and bonds.

Laurie is involved in a number of non-profit and charitable organizations focusing on real estate. She serves on the Advisory Board and spearheads the firm’s legal partnership with Project Destined, an organization dedicated to transforming minority youth into owners in the communities in which they live, work and play. She also serves as co-chair for Rebuilding New York’s “She Builds” program, where she organizes an annual renovation day, rehabilitating a New York City community center in need.

Laurie is a frequent speaker and is sought after by industry publications for her professional insights. While at her former firm, she distinguished herself by becoming one of the youngest partners in the firm’s history at age 33.

Commercial Observer has included her in their elite “Power 100” list for two years in a row, which recognizes the most powerful players in real estate and was one of only three practicing attorneys on the list. She has also been featured in Crain’s “Notable Women in Law” listing, as well as their listing of “Notable in Real Estate.” Real Estate Forum has also inducted Laurie into their “Women of Influence Hall of Fame,” recognizing her longtime contributions to the commercial real estate industry.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Brooklyn Law School, 1999

BS, University at Buffalo, 1995

• Represented Savanna, in a joint venture with KBS Capital Advisors, in the acquisition of 110 William Street.  The 32-story office tower, sold for $261 million, is located in Manhattan’s Financial District.
• Represented Savanna in the sale of 415 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, a development site uniquely located across from Penn Station, the newly renovated Madison Square Garden, and the Farley Post Office/future Moynihan Station.
• Represented a commercial real estate developer in a joint venture with a Saudi investor to purchase a development site in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. The site, currently a parking garage, will be redeveloped as a luxury condominium.
• Represented affiliates of RBH Group LLC in the redevelopment of 212 Rome Street, Newark, New Jersey, as an indoor aeroponic farm. The project, to be known as Makers Village, is a 69,000-square-foot building in the Ironbound District of Newark that will be completely renovated and enlarged specifically for its new tenant, AeroFarms.
• Represented Savanna in the acquisition of a 20,676 square foot retail condominium at 1107 Broadway/10 Madison Square West. The retail space, part of a 16-story building with 125 luxury residential condominiums, includes approximately 12,000 square feet of prime corner ground floor space and 4,800 square feet of basement selling space.
• Representation of a not-for-profit corporation and all-girls Catholic school, in connection with obtaining a bridge loan and its purchase of 115 East 97th Street in New York, where it will later construct a school. This representation also includes a bond financing.
• Represented the World-Wide Group on a $700 million mixed-use project on East 57th Street in Manhattan. World-Wide Group has already constructed two new schools and a Whole Foods at the site, and a 59 story residential tower is planned.  Also, handled the $450 million construction loan facility from Starwood to finance the residential tower.
• Represented Savanna Fund in a number of high-profile acquisitions and successful conversions of debt positions to equity.
• Represents Downtown Holdings in the $500 million redevelopment of 70 Pine Street, the former AIG building.
• Represents RBH Group in connection with the $150 million Teachers Village project, a mixed-use development that Mayor Cory Booker says will “transform downtown Newark.”
• Represented a large holdings company in a complex leasehold financing.
• Represented a real estate development group in various joint ventures for the acquisition of underdeveloped sites in Miami, Florida for redevelopment into residential condominiums.
• Represented a national hospitality REIT in a $50 million financing for the acquisition of a hotel property in Seattle, Washington.
• Represented a national hospitality REIT in extending and adding collateral to a $225 million corporate credit facility.
• Represented a New York City developer in the $30 million financing of a development site and related air rights in Manhattan.
• Represented a real estate development group in a joint venture for the $550 million development of a mixed-use building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, on land that is ground leased from the NYC Educational Construction Fund.
• Represented Savanna Partners in the sale of a 26-story office building located at 2 Rector Street in Lower Manhattan for $140 million.
• Represented World-Wide Group in its $110 million construction financing of a project in Long Island City, the project will contain several high-rise residential buildings as well as retail and a parking garage.

• Co-founder, Real Women of Real Estate

• Named among Women of Influence Hall of Fame, Real Estate Forum, 2017
• Named among Women of Influence, Real Estate Forum, 2016
• Named a NYC Power Woman in Real Estate, Bisnow, 2016
• Named among Women in Real Estate, New York Real Estate Journal, 2016
• Recognized as a Leader in Real Estate, New York, Chambers USA, 2016
• Named among Top 15 Women in Real Estate, Sokol Media, 2015
• Selected as a Top 50 Female Attorney for Real Estate Law, New York Super Lawyers magazine, 2015 – 2016. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ webpage.
• Selected as a Super Lawyer for Real Estate Law, New York Super Lawyers magazine, 2014 – 2015. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ webpage.
• Selected as a Rising Star for Real Estate Law, New York Super Lawyers magazine, 2012 – 2013. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ webpage.
• Three-time recipient of Most Ingenious Deal of the Year award, REBNY Named among Women of Influence, Real Estate New York, 2008, 2009, 2011
• Named among Women of Influence, Real Estate Forum, 2011
• Listed for Real Estate, Legal 500 United States, 2008, 2012, 2016
• Named among 35 under 35, Real Estate Forum, 2007

• Preferred Equity: the Preferred, Negotiable Financing, Commercial Observer
• Building Relationships: New York Real Estate Highlights, Fall 2015
• Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments: Overview, Practical Law
• Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments, Practical Law Journal
• Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments: Overview, Practical Law
• Building Relationships: New York Real Estate Highlights, Fall 2016