Veteran real estate lawyer Stuart Saft has been tapped to chair the New York real estate practice at Holland & Knight, only 13 months after joining the firm, Law360 reported.
While at Holland & Knight, Saft — who was formerly at Dewey & LeBoeuf and has been involved in many of the city’s largest deals over the past two decades – worked on Starwood Capital Group’s Baccarat Hotel deal as well as a 34-story hotel that Starwood is developing in conjunction with the Moinian Group. He has also been advising Ziel Feldman’s HFZ Capital Group on its Halcyon project in Turtle Bay.
Saft’s new responsibilities will include co-chairing the firm’s global hospitality group.
“We reached a level of really solid strength and now the focus will be on growing the practice,” Saft told Law360, adding that recruiting top talent is a priority.
“Stuart Saft has represented many of the city’s most important owners and developers, helping to transform the landscape of New York real estate,” Joe Guay, Holland & Knight’s real estate section leader, said in a statement. [Law360] – Hiten Samtani