NEW YORK CITY-One year after joining Holland & Knight, the firm announced on Tuesday that real estate attorney Stuart Saft has been named practice leader for the firm's New York real estate practice and co-chair of its global hospitality, resort and time share group. Drawing on his decades of experience in the industry, Saft now is tasked with expanding Holland & Knight's presence in the city.
“Stuart Saft has represented many of the city's most important owners and developers, helping to transform the landscape of New York real estate,” says Joe Guay, real estate section leader at the firm, in the announcement. “His knowledge and experience make him a natural to lead our NY real estate practice and co-chair the hospitality group, where he will continue to provide great value to all of the firm's real estate clients.”
In the past year, he's increased the firm's profile by representing of a number of high-profile hotel and residential projects around New York City, including the first Baccarat Hotel, developed by Starwood Capital and Tribeca Associates, which will also feature luxury condominium residences; the new 34-story hotel development by Starwood Capital and the Moinian Group's at 237 W 54th St.; Marriott Hotels and the Ritz Carlton on a number of pending deals in New York and across the country; HFZ Capital in the development of the Halcyon, on 51st Street and the firm's newest projects, the conversion at 11 East 68th St. and 11 Beach St.; the representation of Harry Macklowe in his conversion of two Upper East Side properties, located at 737 Park Ave. and 150 E. 72nd St; construction lenders in the development of two mixed-use condominium towers; two developers in assemblages; and three property owners in the sale of their development rights.
In addition to the deals Saft structures, he also works on behalf of lending institutions in mortgage lending and workouts, and has provided counsel to clients on dealings with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. He has also developed a subspecialty in privatizing public housing to provide home ownership and equity to its residents, and has worked with the Chinese and Russian governments in changing their forms of property ownership.
"Stuart is one of the best legal minds in the industry,” says Guay in the announcement. “His professional and intellectual contributions have been numerous, and raised the profile of the firm's already strong national real estate practice, which was recently recognized by US News as the '2013 Law Firm of the Year' in real estate.”
In addition to his legal and publishing work, he serves in leadership roles for many industry organizations. He was formerly chairman of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank and chairman emeritus of New York City's Workforce Investment Board.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
