NEW YORK CITY— Seven attorneys have left Venable to join Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton's real estate, land use and environmental practice group in New York beginning Monday, October 29.

The new hires were quite a coup for Sheppard Mullin as the team includes Peter G. Koffler, formerly chair of Venable's New York real estate practice group and vice chair of the firm's national practice, and two other partners Brian N. Gurtman and Ross A. Honig; special counsel Julia Geykhman, Robert J. Gorzelany and Lee Weiss; and associate Jared Wachtler. All of the attorneys came from the New York office. Venable still lists 78 real estate attorneys in the practice group, with 12 of them in the New York office.

Guy N. Halgren, chairman of Sheppard Mullin, states the group significantly enhances his firm's New York and national capabilities. “These highly accomplished attorneys have worked on numerous high-profile, multi-state deals and counsel some of the leading investment management firms in real estate matters,” he says.

“Sheppard Mullin's highly regarded real estate practice has an outstanding reputation and a deep bench of talent,” comments Koffler, who now leads the group in New York. “We were extremely excited by the opportunity of expanding the firm's real estate practice in New York.” Sheppard Mullin states it has more than 90 attorneys practicing real estate and land use law. There are 109 attorneys listed under the New York office.

In joining the firm, Koffler brings more than 30 years of transactional real estate experience, in New York City and nationally. He works in all areas of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, sales, leasing, sale/leaseback transactions, construction/development and financings. His clients include domestic and foreign commercial developers, owners, and operators, as well as several “non-real estate” companies with significant real estate holdings. Koffler received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA, magna cum laude, from Boston University.

For nearly 20 years, Gurtman's practice has focused on the New York City real estate market. He has advised his clients in varying economic situations regarding finance, development, acquisitions, sales, leasing and land use. His clients include investors, developers, lenders, owners, buyers and sellers. Gurtman received his JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and a BS, cum laude, from Yeshiva University.

For nearly three decades, Honig has advised clients on real estate transactions primarily focusing on real estate finance. He regularly represents financial institutions, public and private commercial lenders, sellers, and purchasers in real estate transactions, including financings, acquisitions and dispositions. He has particular experience representing commercial mortgage lenders intending to include loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions. Honig received his JD from the Boston University School of Law and a BA, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Albany.

Sheppard Mullin has more than 800 attorneys in 16 offices in the US, Europe and Asia. Venable has eight offices across the US, with more than 700 attorneys.

Instant Insights /

Sheppard Mullin Lures Seven-Attorney Real Estate Group from Venable

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