Seyfarth announced today that Jay H. Levinton and Michael J. Waters have joined the firm’s Real Estate department in New York. Levinton, who joins as partner, and Waters, who joins as senior counsel, bring sophisticated transactional experience to the practice. With these additions, Seyfarth has added six lateral attorneys in the firm’s New York office in 2020 and more than 100 since 2005. Waters joins the firm from Wachtel Missry LLP, while Levinton joins the firm from Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, LLP.
“We are continuing to add top talent to our New York office and firm wide,” the co-managing partners of the firm’s New York office, Lorie Almon and John Napoli, said in a joint statement. “Bringing on Jay and Michael reinforces our commitment to our Real Estate practice and to the continued growth of our New York office.”
Levinton and Waters are the latest arrivals to join Seyfarth’s growing New York office this year. In February, the firm welcomed a team of high-stakes securities litigators in New York, led by nationally recognized partners Vincent Sama, Catherine Schumacher, and Daphne Morduchowitz. Last week, Corporate and Tax partner Rotem Bar-Kokhva joined the firm in New York.
In more than two decades of practice, Levinton has represented some of New York’s most active developers in the acquisition, construction, and financing of multi-family and commercial properties. He also handles commercial lending transactions and retail and offices leases. Levinton represents clients focused on the New York metropolitan area, as well as regional and national entities. He received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School and has practiced in New York for his entire career.
“Jay is an exceptional real estate lawyer whose practical and results-oriented approach makes him an ideal fit with our firm,” said Paul Mattingly, chair of Seyfarth’s Real Estate department. “Those same qualities have been central to the success of the New York office and our national real estate group.” Seyfarth operates one of the five largest commercial real estate practices in the country, with 30 lawyers in New York.
“Seyfarth’s real estate practice is well known for its excellence, and I’m proud to become part of it,” said Levinton. “The firm’s geographic reach and strong complementary practices—in tax, joint venture transactions, construction and other areas—add greatly to the value I can offer my clients.”
Seyfarth has also added Michael Waters to the Real Estate practice in New York. Waters joins as senior counsel, bringing vast experience structuring complex acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, and leasing deals. Waters has advised on many nine-figure transactions involving office, retail and residential properties in New York and beyond. He has written and spoken frequently on complex inter-creditor agreements arising in distressed real estate projects. He received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law and has also spent his entire career in New York.
“Michael is a highly respected practitioner with a proven ability to design and close the most challenging real estate transactions,” said Mattingly. “His addition adds greatly to our depth and to the momentum we have built in New York.”
