Vinson & Elkins has significantly expanded its Real Estate Practice as well as its New York presence with the addition of a nationally recognized Real Estate team that includes three partners, three counsel, nine associates and three paralegals.
Partners Wallace Schwartz, Adam Endick and Julia Sanabria bring to Vinson & Elkins a broad-based and sophisticated real estate and real estate finance practice that includes acquisitions, capital markets and leasing transactions. Each was previously a partner with Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP.
"Wally, Adam and Julia are among the leading real estate practitioners in the country and will be a strong extension of our existing practice," V&E chairman Mark Kelly said. "Moreover, the addition of this team is a natural complement to our broader transactional group and will be beneficial to the firm and our clients as we continue to grow in a variety of practice areas in New York."
V&E's Real Estate practice represents all facets of the real estate industry, on every side of the table—including banks, private equity firms and other financial institutions, public and private real estate investment trusts, developers, contractors, landlords, tenants, operating and services firms, design professionals and governmental entities—which makes the team uniquely suited to guide clients and devise strategic, creative solutions.
"We were attracted to V&E because of the broad support network of lawyers in other practice areas that are typically involved in real estate transactions," Schwartz said. "V&E's strength in areas such as REITs and private equity was really appealing to our team and will allow us to expand our work for our historical clients while helping the firm grow its New York footprint."
After adding five REIT industry veterans to the firm's practice in early 2016, V&E now boasts one of the largest teams of dedicated REIT practitioners in the industry. The firm's private equity group is among the nation's best, and has ranked among the top 10 in Private Equity Buyouts in The American Lawyer's Corporate Scorecard in each of the past two years.
Below is a brief overview of each new partner's practice.
Wallace Schwartz is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading real estate transaction lawyers with current inclusion in leading legal publications such as Chambers USA and The Legal 500. As head of Kasowitz's Real Estate Transactions Group, Schwartz's practice included all aspects of the firm's real estate practice, including real estate development, acquisitions, leasing, partnerships and joint ventures, capital markets and financings, gaming and lodging, workouts and restructurings and real estate funds. His clients include major real estate players in New York and nationwide, including The Related Companies, Boston Properties, JDS Development, Oxford Properties, Westbrook Partners, Fetner Properties and Rockpoint Group.
Adam Endick has significant experience in a wide range of real estate matters with a particular focus on commercial leasing and acquisitions and dispositions of real estate. He represents various institutional and non-institutional clients in the leasing and subleasing of office space throughout the United States, including WeWork Companies, Oxford Property Group, Extell Development Company, JEMB Realty, Boston Properties, Equity Office Properties, Joy Construction and Deerfield Management Company. He is currently recognized in The Legal 500 and Chambers USA, where he is described as "always willing to help and make himself available," and a lawyer who "immerses himself in his client's business and advocates to the utmost."
Julia Sanabria represents clients in a wide range of real estate matters with a particular emphasis on commercial leasing. She represents various institutional and non-institutional clients in the leasing and subleasing of office and retail space throughout the United States, including major real estate players Boston Properties, Oxford Properties, The Related Companies, Extell Development Company, Forest City Ratner and Joy Construction. Sanabria has been named a "Rising Star" by Law360 for 2018, which selected her as one of the top six real estate practitioners in the United Statesunder the age of 40.
Prior to joining Kasowitz, all three previously practiced together at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York.
"Expanding V&E's breadth of practice in New York is an important part of our overall growth plan, and we are committed to strategically expanding here and across the firm," said Cliff Thau, co-head of V&E's New York office. "The addition of this highly talented real estate team—Wally, Adam, Julia and the excellent team of lawyers joining with them—is a great example of our focus on growth. We're thrilled to welcome them to V&E and are confident they will enjoy continued success with us."
Vinson & Elkins LLP is an international law firm with approximately 700 lawyers across 13 offices worldwide. For more information, please contact Melissa Anderson
