Construction of Commercial and Residential Buildings

Our construction team assists owners/developers, tenants and lenders in projects involving new construction, renovation, rehabilitation, historic preservation and master planning. We believe that careful planning in the initial phases of a project – before the architect and construction contracts are signed, and before construction begins – is critical to the success of a project. We assist clients in evaluating development opportunities, providing pre-transaction counseling to structure deals, preparing requests for proposals, analyzing responses by developers, financial institutions, tenants and others, identifying appropriate contract structures and negotiating agreements.

We have negotiated agreements on behalf of, and for clients engaging, world-famous architects, among them Frank Gehry, Morphosis, Rafael Viñoly, Enrique Norten, Davis Brody Bond, Snohetta, Polshek Partnership, Cooper Robertson & Partners, Beyer Blinder Bell, Butler Rogers Baskett and Hardy Holtzman Pfeiffer. We have extensive experience in negotiating contracts with many of the largest construction companies, among them Turner Construction Company, Tishman Construction Corporation, Bovis Lend Lease, F.J. Sciame Construction Company, Inc., Suffolk Construction Company and Gilbane Building Company.

Our experience representing clients in connection with the construction of commercial and residential buildings includes advising:

  • Rothschild in the prestigious redevelopment of its headquarters, located in the heart of the City of London.
  • The owner of an office building in New York City in the historically sensitive renovation of the building, which resulted in the listing of the building on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The developer of a high-end hotel and villa complex in Almaty, Kazakhstan in the negotiation of various construction and consulting agreements.
  • The owner of a historic loft building in New York City in the conversion of the building to luxury condominiums.
  • The owners of a 70,000 square foot commercial condominium in the negotiation of architect, contractor and consultant contracts for the development of a LEED-compliant office facility in lower Manhattan.
  • A major US corporation on the acquisition of development rights, compliance with land use and zoning requirements, construction permits and licenses, and negotiation of a land lease agreement for the construction of a manufacturing facility in the Moscow region.
  • The owner in the redevelopment of two and a half vacant city blocks into a LEED gold certified mixed-use complex in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • A US-based company regarding approvals and consents required under Russian law for construction of a manufacturing facility in one of Russia’s special economic zones.
  • The developer in the preparation and negotiation of construction agreements for a LEED gold certified affordable housing apartment complex in Stamford, Connecticut and in improvements to surrounding public roads, utilities and amenities.
  • The developer in the preparation of design and construction agreements for an 85 unit “green” apartment building in Manhattan.
  • A leading UAE-based real estate developer in connection with a large real estate residential development in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.