Real Estate Forum

Adir Levitas is the founder and chief executive officer of Hoboken, NJ-based Faropoint, a leading real estate investment firm focused on last-mile industrial properties in high population growth markets. In his role, Adir has focused on building Faropoint into a tech-enabled real estate investment manager, which uses proprietary software for real estate underwriting, due diligence, and portfolio management. Faropoint’s technology platform allows the company to target inefficiencies in the marketplace and identify unique, often overlooked investment
opportunities. Since 2018, Faropoint has acquired over $2 billion worth of industrial real estate assets. The company’s portfolio is comprised of over 300 buildings, or the equivalent of 20 million square feet of last-mile industrial real estate. As of 2022, Faropoint’s team consists of 100 real estate and technology professionals located throughout the U.S., with an R&D department in Israel. Adir received a BA in Law from the IDC University in Israel, and is a Major
in the Israeli Air Force (reserves).

Edward Blumenfeld is President, Founder, and the creative force behind Blumenfeld Development Group (“BDG”). Under Mr. Blumenfeld’s direction, BDG has become an industry leading Development firm that specializes in converting underutilized real estate into vibrant, innovative, progressive space that meets the economic and social needs of the community.

Mr. Blumenfeld has sought to improve the quality of life within his community by bringing his energy, insight and personal commitment to a broad range of charitable efforts. He is a founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI). He remains a strong and effective advocate on issues relating to education, the environment, child healthcare, responsible government and sustainable development.

As a founding member of the Schneider (now Cohen) Children’s Hospital, Mr. Blumenfeld has worked over three decades to sponsor a unique brand of care based on the special needs of young patients, care that has won international recognition. He has been an ardent supporter of the hospital since its inception and further confirmed his commitment to its continued success by spearheading the expansion of the Hospital campus to include the Blumenfeld Center for Pediatric Medicine.

Mr. Blumenfeld has also taken a leadership role in honoring the region’s veterans and active duty military personnel through his philanthropic support of the award winning American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport.

Through his many undertakings, Ed Blumenfeld has literally and figuratively built a better Long Island.

Mr. Blumenfeld created BDG in 1978, when he undertook the redevelopment of the North Shore Atrium, a 300,000 square foot building that BDG converted from a Grumman aircraft manufacturing plant to the first office facility on Long Island to incorporate a restaurant, conference area, fitness center, and retail shops on premises. Mr. Blumenfeld has carried the same innovative and pioneering vision to every BDG project since.

A dramatic example of this approach toward redevelopment involved the expansion and conversion of Bulova Watch Corporation’s 250,000 square foot manufacturing plant into a 480,000 square foot Class A office facility, anchored by British Airways’ corporate headquarters. Renamed Bulova Corporate Center, this project won numerous design awards and with its art deco details rescued and restored by Mr. Blumenfeld, it is considered BDG’s flagship project.

In the early 1990’s, BDG expanded into the retail sector, largely in historically disadvantaged communities such as east Harlem that had long been ignored by his development peers. These projects have been satisfying financially and sociologically, as the increased choice and lowered costs that these operations generate have raised standards of living in neighboring communities. Gotham Plaza and East River Plaza are two examples of BDG projects that helped energize and revitalize communities. Mr. Blumenfeld feels a moral obligation to improve BDG’s communities, and does so by supporting local charities, donating playing fields, and producing artistic, cultural, and educational events. Mr. Blumenfeld continues to bring his expertise and creativity to new neighborhoods through an array of Sustainable Projects such as The Arches in Deer Park, that remain sensitive to the communities they serve while strengthening local economies.

Mr. Blumenfeld attended Hofstra University, Uniondale, New York

Laurent Morali is the Chief Executive Officer of Kushner. He joined Kushner in 2008 where he has held several positions, starting with Managing Director of Finance, transitioning to Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets in 2011, then President of the company in 2016, before being named CEO in October 2021. Laurent has closed several billions worth of real estate transactions, from construction and development to acquisitions, financings and recapitalizations. Prior to Kushner, Laurent spent 10 years
working at Credit Lyonnais (now part of Credit Agricole Bank) focusing on complex debt capital market solutions for several billion dollars’ worth of real estate projects. Laurent obtained his MBA degree from Ecole Superieure de Commerce of Toulouse, France.

Roy Stillman is a third generation real estate developer who began his education in the field long before this tenth birthday. From that time on, he acquired extensive experience in various construction trades and practices implemented on his projects today. From pushing a wheel barrel to operating a tower crane, Roy not only executes his vision, but understands the construction process thanks to his experience.

Jonathan Mechanic routinely counsels developers, owners, investors, REITs, and lenders in all aspects of major commercial
real estate transactions throughout the country.
Chair of our Real Estate Department, Jon represents his clients on some of the largest and most complex transactions,
including: JPMorgan in connection with its redevelopment of 270 Park Avenue into a new 2.5-million-square-foot
headquarters building, CWCapital Asset Management in its sale of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village to Blackstone
Group and Ivanhoé Cambridge, Citadel and Ken Griffin, Citadel’s founder and CEO, in connection with numerous
transactions to facilitate the development of a new 1.7-million-square-foot office tower at 350 Park Avenue that will serve as
Citadel’s New York headquarters; Brookfield Asset Management’s real estate fund in a $3.8 billion acquisition of Watermark
Lodging Trust and its portfolio of hotels and resorts located in 14 states; JP Morgan in a $2.2 billion construction loan to
complete the Fontainebleau Las Vegas and a $325 million construction loan to Jamestown for the redevelopment of One
Times Square in New York City; Bally’s Corporation in connection with its designation as the developer of the first casino in
the City of Chicago; and Metro Loft, GFP Real Estate (the Gural family) and Rockwood Capital on the financing and
redevelopment of 25 Water Street in Lower Manhattan, the largest office-to-residential conversion in US history.
Jon became a partner in 1987, when he rejoined the firm after serving for five years as general counsel and a managing
director of HRO International Ltd., a real estate development organization responsible for the development of more than 2.5
million square feet of office space in Manhattan.
Jon has taught a real estate transactions course at Harvard Law School for more than 12 years. He also lectures regularly for
NYU Law School, the Real Estate Board of New York, and the Practising Law Institute. He is a co-author of The Commercial
Office Lease Handbook: Second Edition published by the American Bar Association.
In 2016, Jon was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from New York University and the Chambers USA Outstanding
Contribution to the Legal Profession Award. For a decade, Jon has been recognized by Chambers USA as a "Star Individual"
in real estate. He is consistently included on Commercial Observer's “Power 100” list.
Over the years, Jon has been honored for his numerous philanthropic activities. In 2019, he was honored at The Metropolitan
Museum of Art’s 24th Annual Real Estate Council Benefit, which raises funds to support the museum's educational
programs and in 2018, he was honored at the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center Annual Gala.
Jon earned a BA, magna cum laude, from Brandeis University and a JD, (Order of the Coif; Editor, Law Review), from New
York University School of Law.