Real Estate Investment & Development Panel

As Chief Investment Officer, David Hochfelder oversees Naftali Group’s equity, credit and non-real estate investments, and is responsible for sourcing, structuring and execution of the firm’s acquisitions and loan originations. Since joining Naftali in 2016, Mr. Hochfelder has spearheaded the execution of more than $3.5 billion in new investments spanning more than 5.5 million square feet, more than quadrupling the firm’s cumulative assets under management since inception. Additionally, Mr. Hochfelder also co-founded and co-heads Naftali Credit Partners—a commingled fund that invests in real estate subordinate
debt.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Hochfelder has played a pivotal role in the acquisition and execution of more than $10 billion of real estate investments across the residential, office, retail, hotel and specialty use sectors. Prior to joining Naftali Group, he served as a Director of Acquisitions at RFR Holding overseeing property acquisitions and credit investments. Prior to RFR, he worked in acquisitions at The City Investment Fund, a real estate private equity fund subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Mr. Hochfelder began his career at The Lightstone Group as a Financial Analyst supporting the firm’s nationwide property and
credit investments.
David graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Philosophy, and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School as well as an MS in Real Estate at New York University. He serves in leadership or Board roles at various non-profit and industry organizations.

Dean J. Shapiro is Global Head of Development for Oxford Properties. In this capacity, Dean is responsible for leading Oxford’s development business (including Oxford’si nvestment in Hudson Yards), which spans 3 continents and represents approximately 15% of Oxford’s global portfolio.
Formerly, Dean served in numerous capacities at Oxford including Head of Strategic Partnerships, member of the North American Executive Leadership Team, and as the Head of US Development for Oxford - where he was responsible for over 30 development projects around the US in the office, residential, and life sciences asset classes. Notable projects included Hudson Yards and St. John’s Terminal, the latter of which was Oxford-led and sold to Google for over $2 Billion.
Dean has over 34 years’ experience in the real estate industry including as COO and Partner in Building and Land Technology in Stamford, CT where he was involved in the re-development of South Stamford, CT into a vibrant mixed-use destination, and at CBRE where he held various positions, ultimately as leader of its NYC business.

In his role as Vice Chair of Greenberg Traurig, Senior Chairman of the Global Real Estate Practice, and Co-Chair of the Real Estate Investment Trusts Practice, Robert J. Ivanhoe actively engages with real estate industry current affairs. He focuses his practice specifically on sophisticated real estate structures, financings, workouts, restructurings, acquisitions and dispositions and regularly writes and lectures on industry topics.

Throughout his distinguished career, Robert has been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA, The Legal 500, The New York Observer and Real Estate New York as one of the leading real estate attorneys in New York City and throughout the United States. For more than 30 years, he has also represented numerous nationally-recognized and offshore owner/developer and institutional lender/investor clients domestically and internationally.

Robert holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. As an active member of the community, he currently serves as a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and Urban Land Institute. Within Greenberg Traurig, Robert serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors

Michael Werner represents owners, developers, funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and other financial institutions in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions.

Mike has worked on many of the industry’s highest-profile transactions. Clients seek his innovative representation in the acquisition, development, and disposition of office, hotel, retail, and multifamily properties; joint ventures; commercial mortgage, mezzanine, and construction financings; preferred equity investments and debt restructurings; ground leases; and commercial space leasing.

Mike is actively involved in real estate industry current affairs and is regularly asked to speak on industry topics. Most recently, he moderated the panel “The Mega Trends & Asset Classes Paving the Road to Stabilization” at Commercial Observer’s Spring State of CRE Forum. He has also moderated the panels “Betting on New York: Where and How to Approach 2022 Development Locations” at Bisnow’s NYC State of the Market and “Expanding The Footprint For Life Science Real Estate in NYC” at the Symposium for Life Science Real Estate Development in New York City. He also appeared as a panelist at the 2018 CREtech New York Venture Conference titled, “Tech Savvy Landlords” and discussed “Breaking Down NYC’s Mega Deals” at the Realshare: New York Growth State of Mind conference. He has lectured at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

Mike is recognized by Chambers and Partners in Band 3 of the Real Estate section, where clients note that his “ability to help solve issues and get to the finish line make him invaluable to our firm.” He is also recognized by Legal 500 in Real Estate, and Crain’s New York Business named him a 2021 Notable in Real Estate, which honors individuals with a major impact on the New York City real estate industry.

Dedicated to a sense of collaboration and inclusivity regarding the next generation of our colleagues, Michael is a member of our Attorney Development Committee.

Mike received his JD, cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law in 2005 and his BA, cum laude, from Binghamton University in 2002. He is admitted to the bar in New York.