Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, an international law firm founded in 1836, expands its real estate practice with the addition of leading real estate finance lawyers, Joseph Philip Forte and Barbara J. Shachnow, to their Real Estate Practice Group.
"We are thrilled to welcome Joe and Barbara to Kelley Drye. Joe has consistently been recognized as a trusted innovator in the real estate finance industry who helps his clients anticipate and prepare for change in the industry," said Paul A. Keenan, co-chair of Kelley Drye's Real Estate Practice Group. "Barbara, likewise brings a layer of acuity and depth that will enhance the existing finance side of our Real Estate Practice Group."
According to their press release in PR NewsWire, Forte and Shachnow will join the firm as partners in their Real Estate Practice Group. The two real estate finance lawyers focus their practice on commercial real estate finance representing banks, portfolio lenders, equity funds, mortgage loan servicers, and CMBS lenders.
Joseph Philip Forte has substantial experience in commercial real estate capital markets and finance with a particular emphasis on the origination, structuring, workout and enforcement of commercial mortgage loans. He has also received various awards and recognitions for his excellent and dedicated work as a real estate finance lawyer.
"Kelley Drye's Real Estate Practice Group offers an extraordinary team of attorneys in the key real estate markets across the US," said Forte. "I have always been impressed with the firm's creativity and commitment to its clients and its breadth of experience. I'm pleased to join such a strong team."
Barbara J. Shachnow has 30 years of experience representing investment banks, commercial banks, private equity funds, insurance companies and other institutional lenders, as well as institutional real estate investors and developers, in the acquisition, disposition and financing of, and investment in, commercial real estate in all asset classes.
"I am delighted to join Kelley Drye," said Shachnow. "The firm's real estate practice has a top-notch reputation and I look forward to collaborating with the team and contributing to the firm's continued success."
Both real estate finance lawyers will serve as partners in the New York office of the firm.
