Belinda G. Schwartz > Herrick, Feinstein LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile
Herrick, Feinstein LLP Offices
2 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10016
NEW YORK
United States
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Belinda G. Schwartz
Work Department
- Real Estate
- Acquisitions & Sales
- Real Estate Development
- Real Estate Joint Ventures
- Real Estate Hospitality
- Restructuring & Business Divorce
- Israel
- Turkey
- Not-for-Profits
- Industrial Property Transactions and Redevelopment
- COVID-19 Task Force and Resource Center
- Family Offices
- International
Position
Executive Chair; Co-Chair, Real Estate Department; Partner
Career
Belinda Schwartz was named Herrick’s Executive Chair in March 2023 and has been a member of the firm’s Executive Committee since 2017. With female leaders accounting for approximately 10 percent of Am Law 200 chairs and managing partners, Belinda has become one of the few women in the nation currently leading a major law firm. Additionally, she has led Herrick’s Real Estate Department since 2014 and is a 30+ year veteran of New York City’s commercial real estate market. She is a leader and mentor for 65+ attorneys and urban planners (23 of which are women) and one of the only women in the country to lead 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 financings, preferred equity and mezzanine lending; restructurings and workouts; fund formation; joint ventures; property acquisitions and sales; 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.
In 2023, Belinda was elected a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) which recognizes national preeminence in the practice of real estate law.
Memberships
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), Fellow
- Law360 New York Editorial Advisory Board, Member (2023 & 2024)
- Legal Outreach, Advisory Board
- Real Women of Real Estate, Founder
- Professional Real Estate Forum (PREF), Board Member
- Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Member
- TAGLaw®, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Education
- New York University School of Law (J.D., 1983)
- Barnard College
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Real estate > Real estate
Herrick, Feinstein LLP‘s real estate practice represents a variety of clients from developers, lenders, and investors to other stakeholders and owners in a diverse range of activities including developments, joint ventures, financings, leasing matters, and restructurings. The practice boasts a New York-focused land use and zoning group, as well as experience handling affordable housing and condominium developments. Belinda G. Schwartz is co-chair of the real estate practice, based in the New York office, and frequently advises clients on single asset and portfolio transactions involving residential, hospitality, office, and retail properties across the US. Fellow co-chair Jonathan Adelsberg is also based in New York and is also chair of the firm’s commercial leasing practice; he advises tenants and landlords in office and retail leases throughout the US.
United States > Real estate > Land use/zoning
Herrick, Feinstein LLP assists developers, owners, architects, engineers, and lenders with all aspects of land use and zoning. The department is headed in New York by Mitchell Korbey, who advises his clients on obtaining zoning variances, special permits, and other discretionary approvals; and Belinda G. Schwartz and Jonathan Adelsberg, who also act as co-chairs of the wider real estate practice. Brett Gottlieb assists owners, lessees, and developers in their applications for property tax incentives during large-scale developments, while associate Robert Huberman often furthers his clients’ interests before New York planning commissions. Unless stated otherwise, all the aforementioned attorneys are based in New York.