Difede Ramsdell Bender Opens New York City Office
Difede Ramsdell Bender (DRB) is expanding its platform with the opening of a New York City office. The office is spearheaded by veteran attorney Lawrence J. “Larry” Hass who joins the firm as a member and will lead DRB’s New York-based real estate investment funds practice. He joins the firm from Paul Hastings, where he was a senior partner in the firm’s global private investment funds practice for more than 30 years.
“For nearly a decade DRB has served national sponsors and institutional investors in commercial real estate transactions and helped clients create, structure and negotiate private investment funds from our Washington, DC office,” said James R. Difede, managing principal of DRB. “Establishing a presence in New York will allow us to better serve those clients from a major financial market and look to additional growth opportunities. We are thrilled to have Larry leading that effort for the firm.”
At DRB, Larry will concentrate his practice on assisting clients in the structuring, formation and offering of investment funds, and the management, operation and regulatory compliance of those funds. Prior to private practice, Larry served in several federal government positions. He was an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, assistant counsel for Fiduciary Responsibility in the Solicitors Office of the U.S. Department of Labor and special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor.
“With strong roots in DC and New York and an outstanding national reputation, Larry is the ideal lawyer to launch our entrance into the New York market,” said Catherine Groves Ramsdell, member of DRB. “Larry’s significant experience in private real estate investment fund formation, as well as his in-depth knowledge of pension fund regulation and securities laws, will be especially valued by our clients.”
“We have worked with Larry for a number of years, and I welcome both his technical expertise and his practical approach that will be a fitting addition to the Firm,” added Joseph Bender, member of DRB.
“I have co-counseled with DRB on numerous matters over the years and have always been impressed with the quality and sophistication of their work. DRB is a hidden gem combining real estate transactional and investment fund practices on par with the largest law firms with the high-touch client service of a boutique,” Larry said. “When considering how best to continue to serve my clients and to carry my practice into the future, DRB was a natural fit.”
Committed to growing, developing and diversifying the real estate investment community, Larry serves as legal counsel of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and is a past member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a founding member and legal counsel for the PREA Foundation.
About Difede Ramsdell Bender
DRB is a boutique law firm representing institutional clients in complex commercial real estate transactions, private fund formation, tax structuring, compliance and general corporate matters.
DRB attorneys hail from highly regarded national firms with the goal of delivering excellent counsel and representation to a select group of clients. We pride ourselves on the decades-long relationships that stem from providing representation that protects and advances clients’ interests in an effective and efficient manner.
