New York City State of the Market

Paul is a co-Founder and co-Chief Executive Officer of Taconic Partners who is known for his vision and integrity as an owner, developer and operator of innovative commercial and residential real estate. Paul and his partner Charlie Bendit are directly involved in all aspects of Taconic’s business, and have successfully directed the acquisition, repositioning, and/or redevelopment of key properties in both established and emerging markets. Prior to co-founding Taconic in 1997, Paul was president and Chief Executive Officer of Balfour Holdings, a national investment and development company focused on the acquisition and redevelopment of master planned communities. Balfour Holdings was ultimately sold to Blackstone. Paul has been immersed in the real estate industry since 1978, when he joined Jones Lang Wootton as one of the firm’s first employees in the United States, and where he first met business partner Charlie Bendit. During his tenure at JLW, Paul was named a co-managing partner of its nationwide operations. Paul is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, the Advisory Board of New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, the Advisory Board of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Program and its affiliated Real Estate Forum. Paul is also passionate about the arts, serving on the National Council of The Arts and Sciences School at Washington University in St. Louis and the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Art Museum. Paul is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

Joseph Sitt is President and CEO of Thor Equities, a global leader in urban real estate development, leasing and management of commercial, residential, retail, hotel and mixed-use assets. Mr. Sitt is also CEO of Thor Retail Advisors, a premier leasing agent and exclusive representative of global retailers in their search for prime locations; Chairman of Thor Urbana, which develops and acquires retail, office and mixed-use properties in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla and other large Mexican cities; and Chairman and Managing Principal of Thor Urban Property Funds, an investment vehicle serving pension funds, investment banks, top-tier college endowments and foundations. Mr. Sitt was awarded the 2014 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Harvard professor Michael Porter and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) have also honored him for his commitment to fostering healthy competitive business conditions and new opportunities in inner city neighborhoods. He has served on the board of the Real Estate Roundtable in Washington D.C., the Department of Real Estate at Baruch College, and is a member of the Partnership for New York City. Mr. Sitt founded women’s clothing retailer Ashley Stewart, expanding the company to 380 stores in over 100 cities. He is a graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Carl has been lead counsel on some of the highest-profile real estate deals around the country. He takes an incisive approach to structuring and closing complex transactions, combining creativity with a strong business perspective. As a result, his client roster contains the names of many people he once sat across from but now sits next to at the bargaining table. In Chambers USA, 2016, a client described him as “a great lawyer,” “a smart, no-nonsense guy who can come to sensible resolutions and get deals done.” “He is a deal maker, not a deal breaker,” the client added. Carl is an accomplished negotiator and skilled legal advocate with more than 35 years of experience. He is co-head of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s global real estate practice and advises a diverse, distinguished clientele: prominent owners and developers—including REITs and private equity funds—in their real estate acquisitions, dispositions, developments, financings, workouts, restructurings and joint ventures; major institutional lenders in mortgage, mezzanine and construction financings; and owners and tenants in significant commercial lease transactions. He also has served as counsel in several of the nation’s largest Historic Tax Credit transactions. An active presence in the field, Carl often moderates panel discussions on industry trends. Major media outlets—among them The Wall Street Journal, Crain’s New York Business, CNBC and The Real Deal—frequently seek his insights on real estate law and business. His professional acumen led to a profile in The New York Times article “Finding a True Passion in Real Estate Law.” In his spare time, Carl plays bass guitar in the rock band “Normal by Day.” Coupling his musical talent with charity work, he organizes the annual fundraising concert Real Estate Rockers in Relief, which features performances by leading real estate executives and their bands.

Mark Fawer is a partner in the Real Estate group, where he focuses on matters including the representation of real estate developers, funds, REITs, CDOs, investors, and lenders in the acquisition, financing, development, refinancing, recapitalizing and sale of single-asset and portfolios of multifamily, retail, industrial, office, and hotel properties and the origination, purchase, disposition and restructuring of senior and mezzanine real estate and corporate loans and loan participation interests.

Ralph Herzka is the chairman and CEO of Meridian Capital Group. Since co-founding the commercial real estate advisory firm in 1991, Mr. Herzka has remained the guiding force behind the company’s evolution from a small Brooklyn-based commercial mortgage brokerage to a national leader in real estate capital markets, having personally arranged over $100 billion in financing. Additionally, Mr. Herzka has led Meridian’s recent expansion into New York City investment sales and retail leasing in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Mr. Herzka demonstrates an exceptional ability to foster multi-generational relationships with real estate owners and investors and forms critical alliances with lenders to achieve success across the asset spectrum. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. In addition to his professional leadership, Mr. Herzka is a dedicated philanthropist, raising millions of dollars for various organizations over his career. Most notably, he is a passionate participant of Bike4Chai, an annual 180-mile cycling fundraiser for children fighting pediatric illnesses and disabilities. Mr. Herzka is a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, NY. He and his wife are proud parents and grandparents.

As Chairman, NY Investment Sales with JLL Capital Markets, Bob co-leads the investment sales division in New York City. Bob was Chairman and Founding Partner of Massey Knakal Realty Services, New York’s #1 building sales firm. He started his real estate career in 1984 at CB Richard Ellis where he met Paul J. Massey Jr. They both left CB in 1988 to form Massey Knakal. From 1988 through 2014, Massey Knakal closed over 6,000 transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $23 billion. To date, Bob has been personally responsible for the sale of 1,873 buildings (generally considered to be the highest total ever for a single broker in New York) and over $18 billion in sales. On December 31, 2014, Cushman & Wakefield acquired Massey Knakal. At Cushman & Wakefield, Bob acted as Chairman of New York Investment Sales. He was ranked the top originating investment sales broker at Cushman & Wakefield, globally, in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Since 2009, Bob has written a weekly column on the New York City Real Estate Market called Concrete Thoughts for the Commercial Observer.

Belinda Schwartz has chaired Herrick’s Real Estate Department since 2014, is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee since 2017 and is a 30+ year veteran of New York City’s commercial real estate market. She is a leader and mentor for 50+ attorneys and urban planners (23 of which are women) and one of the only women in the country to chair a major commercial real estate practice. One of the industry’s most creative real estate dealmakers, Belinda’s clients value her ability to find common ground in negotiations and achieve a desirable outcome as swiftly as possible. Her clients include prominent developers, owners, funds, investors and family-owned real estate businesses, whom she advises in complex debt and equity transactions including real estate restructurings and workouts; fund formation; property acquisitions and sales; joint ventures; development deals; construction matters; ground leases and commercial leases. Belinda frequently advises clients in single asset and portfolio transactions involving residential, hospitality, office and retail properties across the U.S. She has also advised on several of New York City’s largest development projects, including Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Empire Stores complex, Downtown Brooklyn’s 1.8 million square-foot City Point project, and one of the largest land swaps in Manhattan history, a deal which won REBNY’s coveted Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Award. Recently, Belinda has been leading her clients through the impact of COVID-19 on their real estate transactions, development projects, workouts and restructurings, loans and leases as a critical addition to her clients' business team. Belinda has consistently been ranked one of New York City’s leading real estate lawyers by Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, City & State and Real Estate Forum, which has twice named her a “woman of influence.” Belinda was named one of National Law Journal's Trailblazers in Real Estate/Construction Law in 2020. In 2019, Belinda was named one of Real Estate Weekly's, Real Estate Dealmakers, and in 2018, one of Real Estate Weekly’s Leading Ladies of Real Estate. In 2017, Belinda was named one of Crain’s New York Business’ top 100 women lawyers and for the past number of years she has been named one of Bisnow’s New York power women.

Drew Fletcher is head of Greystone Capital Advisors where he oversees a team of professionals responsible for arranging creative debt and equity solutions for institutional and private commercial property owners and developers, and provides strategic advisory services for institutions, investors and borrowers. GCA also focuses on large loan mortgage origination across Greystone’s Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, CMBS, Bridge, balance-sheet and special situation lending platforms. Drew has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, having directly originated and executed on more than $10 billion of financing transactions. Prior to joining Greystone in 2013, Drew was the Chief Financial Officer of Edison Properties LLC, one of the largest private real estate owners in New York City, with a $5 billion diversified portfolio of self-storage, office, multifamily and substantial land holdings throughout the NY Metro Region. Drew received a B.A. in Economics and Communications from Wake Forest University; an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University; and a Master of Accountancy in Taxation from Rutgers University. He volunteers his time as a guest lecturer at the NYU Real Estate Institute and also is an active member of the Real Estate Board of New York and the Urban Land Institute. Drew also was named to the Commercial Observer’s 50 Most Powerful People in Commercial Real Estate Finance in 2018.

Matthew M. Baron is the President of Baron Property Group. Since 2005, Matthew has acquired and developed over $1.5 billion worth of property in NY and Los Angeles. Mr. Baron currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Long Island City BID, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Doorkee, which is a company he helped found. Mr. Baron was also an Adjunct Lecturer at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies where he taught a course on Real Estate Development. Mr. Baron holds a BS in Finance from NYU Stern and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Ronald A. Kaplan, CPA, is a partner with CohnReznick and is the Firm’s Commercial Real Estate Industry Leader. Ron has more than 20 years of experience providing assurance, due diligence, business advisory, and tax services to clients in the commercial, residential, retail, and hospitality sectors throughout the United States and internationally. Ron regularly provides assistance and advisory services to clients as they negotiate agreements with lenders, equity partners, and fund managers. In addition, he advises clients on accounting and tax matters throughout the agreement process, from initial drafting through completion. Ron’s clients are generally private companies with multi-state operations and include real estate opportunity funds, property management firms, partnerships, contractors, institutional lenders, REITs and joint ventures, as well as other corporate and family owners and investors. Ron has a particular focus on real estate opportunity funds, with clients ranging from start-ups to established funds. His clients benefit from his experience in critical areas, such as fair value reporting, compliance monitoring, investor relations, and fund performance. Prior to joining CohnReznick, Ron was in charge of the real estate practice for the New York office of a large national public accounting firm. In this role, he oversaw the practice’s client services, account management, and team development functions. He was also active in the firm’s training activities, leading presentations on the real estate business for professionals both within the firm and at national industry conferences.

David Greene is President of Brokerage Services at MHP Real Estate Services. Recently, Mr. Greene was honored again by The Commercial Observer as one of the 100 most powerful people in New York Real Estate. MHP is the New York affiliate of TCN Worldwide, an international association of leading commercial real estate firms with affiliates in more than 200 markets with more than $38.8 Billion dollars in annual transactions. Mr. Greene serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors. At MHP, Mr. Greene is responsible for business development, strategic services and public relations. He is a frequent contributor to real estate periodicals and has participated in numerous industry-wide panel discussions. He has been widely quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Commercial Observer, The Financial Times, The Real Deal and Real Estate Weekly. Prior to his current position, David was Executive Managing Director. Throughout his career at MHP he has sold nearly $1 Billion of real estate to his clients including the sale of 295 Madison Avenue, the partial interest sale of 180 Madison Avenue, the package of 256 West 38th Street and 252 West 37th Street, the sale of 485 Seventh Avenue and the sale of 177 Lafayette Street. Most recently Mr. Greene represented Luxottica, the leader in premium, luxury and sports eyewear in their purchase of 1 West 37th Street. Mr. Greene has leased more than 3 million square feet including transactions with Walt Disney for 45,000rsf, Northrop Grumman 60,000rsf, Scripps/HGTV 77,000rsf, BCBG/Max Azria 42,000rsf, Switch and Data 40,000rsf and Jordache 35,000rsf. As leasing agent he successfully represented buildings such as 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 485 Seventh Avenue, 1450 Broadway and 101 Fifth Avenue, among others. Mr. Greene got his start in New York real estate when he joined a family friend’s company. The firm managed a 13 building portfolio in Greenwich Village. His experience working with apartments, sponsor sublets, rent subsidized or controlled apartments along with retail space at the base of the buildings fascinated him. David’s experience continued to broaden as he began to work directly with the various lawyers, lenders, accountants, brokers and retail tenants, learning many facets of the business. Mr. Greene is an active member in real estate and charitable organizations including REBNY, ICSC and WIN. He is a member of the Jazz Leadership Society of WBGO Jazz 88.3FM and is a member of the National Arts Club. An avid traveler, David is a native New Yorker.

Mr. Cohen is President of the Tri-Slate Region. When the firm operated as GVA Williams. Mr Cohen was the third generation of his family to head the firm. which was founded in 1926. He chaired GVA Williams' Executive Committee and was the founding partner and Chairman of GVA Worldwide Ltd.. GVA strategic partnership of leading real estate firms serving 120 business capitals on Uwe continents. An expert real estate advisor. Mr. Cohen has represented an elite clientele of the nation's lop companies, including American Express, ADP and General Motors. He specializes in representing corporations in the acquisition and disposition of office space nationwide. He has extensive experience representing law firms including, Moses 8 Singer. Holland and Knight. Smith Gantrell Russell. Mr. Cohen currently represents a wide range of clients regionally and nationally and globally including, Wells Fargo Advisors. American Lawyer Media. Signature Bank. Russell Reynolds Associates. SS&C and Marks Paneth In 2012. Mr. Cohen was ranked as one of New York City's lop 20 brokers by the Real Deal. That year. among others. he represented Parsons Brinkerhoff in the renewal of their 200.000-square toot world headquarters at 1 Penn Plaza in 2017 Mr. Cohen was ranked 66 among Commercial Observer's Power 100 nationwide. Mr. Cohen graduated from llw University of Pennsylvania. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Mr. Cohen is on the Board of Directors of several or ganizalions. He serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Flatiron/21J Street Partnership and also serves on the Boards of. The Roundabout Theatre Company, the Jewish National Fund of Greater New York and YPO Metro NY/YPO Gold Big Apple. He is also a past Chairman of the Board of Housing and Services Inc. and past President of Young Presidents' Organization NY Metro Chapter. Mr Cohen is also a Tony Award winning Producer of -A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

An avid entrepreneur, Rich has launched and run numerous businesses including an international arbitrage textbook company, a college marketing network, and an offshore technology outfit. Most recently, Rich was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company specializing in Financial Services.

As Co-Founder, Managing Principal, and Investment Committee officer of Onyx Equities, LLC, Jonathan Schultz oversees the organization’s investor capital raising initiatives, strategic planning, portfolio management, and business development, as well as formulating overall investment strategy. In addition, Jonathan has shepherded the Receivership Services platform of Onyx Equities which, since its commencement, has fast become the largest of its kind in the tri-state area. Jonathan has been responsible for initiating and closing billions of dollars in leasing and commercial real estate sales and acquisitions during his career to date. Prior to forming Onyx Equities, Jonathan was Founder and President of The Schultz Organization. The Schultz Organization and its affiliates provided commercial real estate brokerage and advisory services to institutions, lenders, private owners, and tenants. The Schultz Organization provided third party clients with leasing and/or management services for over 200 commercial properties totaling over 15 million square feet in the tri-state area. Jonathan is a member of the Metro NY chapter of YPO. He is a Founding Board Member of the “Award Of Courage” Foundation, raising significant funds for Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center, and is a past recipient of their Humanitarian Award. Jonathan has been recognized as one of the “Commercial Brokerage All-Stars,” by Real Estate New York, he was twice named one of “New Jersey’s Most Successful Business Executives under 40” by Business News New Jersey, one of the country’s “Hottest Real Estate Brokers” by Commercial Property News, and one of the “Power Players of the Next Generation” by Real Estate NJ