Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, has expanded the national footprint of its Real Estate Finance Practice with the addition of Samuel Zylberberg in New York. He brings with him over 30 years of national experience in a broad range of real estate transactions and related areas including lending, acquisitions, sales, private equity, joint ventures, restructurings and leasing. Zylberberg joins the firm from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
“Growing our real estate finance capabilities in New York has been a strategic priority for our practice for some time now,” said Eric Rapkin, chair of Akerman’s Real Estate Practice Group. “He is a creative lawyer with a critical understanding of financing for complex real estate projects. His years of national experience representing institutional lenders and private firms will help us better service our clients.”
“Sam’s practice adds to our existing finance and real estate offerings, and he will strengthen our bench in New York and nationally,” said Alan Cohen, real estate finance partner and co-chair of Akerman’s New York office.
With more than three decades of national experience in a broad range of real estate transactions, Zylberberg is a leading authority in the representation of financial institutions, private equity funds and real estate investors in real estate financing transactions (including balance sheet, CMBS, mezzanine, preferred equity, construction, multi-asset and multi-state loans), debt restructurings, and joint ventures. He also regularly advises purchasers and sellers in single-asset and multi-asset acquisitions and dispositions of a wide range of commercial properties. Zylberberg’s leasing experience includes the representation of landlords and tenants in the leasing of office, retail, hotel, sports arena, and other commercial properties.
Zylberberg’s loan experience includes the representation of borrowers and lenders in the origination of loans secured by hotels, offices, residential and mixed-use properties, including balance sheet, securitized, syndicated, bridge, mortgage, mezzanine, preferred equity, construction, multi-asset and multi-state loans and loan restructurings and acquisition and sale of loans. He also regularly advises purchasers and sellers in single-asset and multi-asset acquisition and disposition of a wide range of commercial properties. Zylberberg’s extensive leasing experience includes representation of landlords and tenants in the leasing of office, retail, hotel, sports arena and other commercial properties.
Zylberberg follows just days after the arrival of Bruce Wiener and Bedford Wilder to the Real Estate Practice Group in Tallahassee. Together they bring with them a broad range of experience in transactional real estate law, including commercial lending, documenting loan transactions, and closing and title services.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.
Akerman’s national Real Estate Finance Practice represents lenders and borrowers in a broad range of complex real estate financing transactions. The team, which includes former in-house counsel from major multinational banks, is consistently recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers, The Legal 500, and Law360 as a national leader in the real estate sector. Akerman represents a number of the nation’s largest financial institutions, institutional investors, investment banks, banking associations, life insurance companies, and developers in a variety of domestic and international matters, from the most sophisticated capital market transactions, to workouts and bankruptcies, to more traditional conventional financings.
