David Szeker's practice involves all aspects of commercial real estate law, including the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate, acting on behalf of borrowers in the financing of commercial properties, the negotiation and formation of joint ventures, and acting for landlords and tenants in the leasing of office and retail space. He also handles defaulted mezzanine loans, UCC foreclosure actions and other complex defaulted financing transactions, real estate-related litigation, partnership disputes and bankruptcies.
David is recognized in Chambers USA, with clients describing him as “remarkably responsive, meticulous and smart” and note that “his dedication is unmatched and he provides very thoughtful answers and commentary,” as well as in The Legal 500 where clients describe him as "exceptional" and a "smart, practical and solution-oriented attorney who understands how to thoughtfully and strategically navigate both legal and business issues." He was also included on Lawdragon's 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list and was named a Rising Star by Real Estate Weekly.
David is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.
Work Highlights
Acquisitions and Dispositions
- iStar in its acquisition, financing and ground leasing of the 350,000-square-foot Newport Office Center 6 in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, from the LeFrak Organization.
- MRR Development in the $106 million acquisition of (and zoning issues for) a development site located at 56th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, which was one of the five largest land transactions in the United States in 2019, and the negotiation of a joint venture with Zahi Hagag, Israel’s largest developer.
- Turnbridge Equities in a joint venture agreement to acquire, develop and operate the property known as Burnet Gateway and Innovation Park in Austin, Texas.
- The Related Companies in the sale of various development properties, including the Viceroy hotel and a condominium project, in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
- Westbrook Partners in the sale of a 144,000-square-foot office building located at 31 W. 27th Street in Manhattan to Savanna.
- Westbrook Partners in the sale of a 95-unit rental property in Brooklyn, New York.
- MRP Realty and Deutsche Asset Management in an approximately $238 million purchase of an office and retail property located at 405 Park Avenue in Manhattan.
- Blackstone in its sale of multifamily properties in Manhattan, including the portfolio sale of seven properties.
- Fetner Associates in an assemblage on the Upper West Side in Manhattan for the development of a condominium.
- MRP Realty and Long Wharf in the $36 million acquisition of a commercial condominium in Midtown Manhattan.
- Starwood Property Trust in numerous sales and mortgage loan matters across the nation, including in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, California and New Jersey.
- U.S. Realty Advisors in the acquisition and financing of a 48-acre industrial facility in Massillon, Ohio, from Geis Companies.
- A leading real estate investment company in multiple transactions, including the sale of a Class-A office center in Scottsdale, Arizona to a California-based real estate investment group, a Class-A office center in Atlanta, Georgia to a Texas-based real estate fund, and a million-square-foot distribution center in Orlando, Florida to a prominent privately owned real estate firm.
Development and Financing
- JDS Development in the closing of a $664 million construction loan to build a 1,066-foot tower located at 9 DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. The mixed-use luxury tower is Brooklyn’s tallest skyscraper.
- RBC Real Estate Capital Partners in connection with the restructuring and UCC foreclosure as the senior mezzanine lender on a 500,000+ square foot trophy office tower in Arlington, VA.
- KT Capital Group in the closing of a $40 million EB-5 loan to Fortuitous Partners to fund the construction of the Tidewater Landing stadium, home to the Rhode Island FC, a professional soccer club in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship.
- Cottonwood Group in the closing of a $240 million senior mortgage financing to Cronin Development for the St. Regis Residences, a 114-unit luxury condominium tower in Boston’s Seaport District.
- Cottonwood Group in the closing of a $180 million construction loan to Five Points Development to build New York’s skinniest residential skyscraper at 262 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
- Quinlan Development Group in a $152 million senior loan to finance the recapitalization and lease-up of the iconic Pioneer Building located at 41 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, consisting of office and retail space and in providing a mezzanine loan as part of a $100 million construction financing to a major New York developer for a residential tower in downtown Manhattan.
- Land and Sea Development in negotiating a ground lease to affordable housing developers Phoenix Realty and Artimus Construction as ground tenant, which will include a new 25-story mixed-use building on the property with 408 units of affordable housing and 135 market-rate units.
- GFI Capital in various rounds of modifications of $100 million in senior and mezzanine construction financing for the development of the Ace Hotel Brooklyn, a 157,000-square-foot, 13-story hotel located at 61 Bond Street in Brooklyn, New York.
- JDS Development in one of the largest proposed mixed-use developments in Miami, Florida, consisting of more than 1,000 residential units plus office, retail, hotel and parking components with more than 2.5 million square feet.
- Delshah Capital in its joint venture with Start Treatment and Recovery Centers and OTL Enterprises to develop a mixed-use development in Brooklyn, and the $103 million mortgage and mezzanine construction financing provided by Bank OZK and EverWest Real Estate Partners.
- Steiner Studios in securing a $66 million construction loan from M&T Bank for the development of New York City’s first Hollywood-style production and support facility located at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard.
- Sugar Hill Capital Partners in securing a $97 million construction loan and $30 million senior mezzanine loan from Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies for a condominium redevelopment project located at 1 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn, New York.
- JDS Development in the closing of mortgage and mezzanine financing for a mixed-use development in Brooklyn, New York.
- Kalimian Family Trust in securing financing of multi-family rental buildings in Manhattan.
- Icon Realty Management in securing a $425 million mortgage loan from Bank of the Ozarks and a mezzanine loan from Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance for the construction of two condominium towers on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.
- Arbor Realty Trust in the organization of mortgage loans throughout the United States for the company's bridge lending platform.
Office, Industrial and Retail Leasing
Landlord Representations
- A private investment company in the lease of a newly developed 700,000 square foot industrial building, as part of a $300 million, 420-acre distribution center campus in Tennessee, to a third-party logistics company.
- East End Capital in office and retail leases in Manhattan and Miami, Florida.
- The Klein Group in a retail lease to La Pecora Bianca, an Italian café, on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.
- The Klein Group in a retail lease to PetSmart on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
- The landlord in a lease to Trader Joe’s in Manhattan.
- The Related Companies/Oxford Properties in the one million-square-foot retail project at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
Tenant Representations
- Susman Godfrey L.L.P. in its lease at One Manhattan West.
- Take-Two Interactive Software in its headquarters lease with the Durst Organization at 1133 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan.
- Cognizant in its headquarters lease at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
- Purolite Corporation in its headquarters lease in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Pro Bono
- The First Union Baptist Church of the Bronx in securing a favorable settlement that allows the Church to pay its debts and remain at its historic location after facing foreclosure, as well as provide for the development of 45 units of affordable housing.
Media