Blank Rome Adds Real Estate Partners in New York

Michael Peskowitz and Lauren Scarantino have joined Blank Rome LLP as partners in the Real Estate group in the firm’s New York office. Peskowitz and Scarantino focus their practice on commercial real estate lending, representing both lenders and borrowers in commercial transactions for all property types. The duo joins from Thompson & Knight LLP.

“We are thrilled to be continuing our Firm’s growth in 2019 with the addition of Michael and Lauren,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “Together, they bring exceptional real estate knowledge that will seamlessly integrate with our respected real estate practice and contribute to cross-practice collaboration, strengthening the core of our Firm.”

With more than 30 years of experience, Peskowitz has primarily represented institutional lenders in the origination of mortgage and mezzanine loans secured by commercial mortgage-backed securities. Peskowitz’s practice also focuses on the purchase and sale of mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, participation interests, and mortgage-backed securities, in addition to restructuring these various debt instruments. He represents real estate developers in the acquisition and financing of commercial properties, including hotels, golf resorts, office buildings, shopping malls, retail stores, and multifamily apartments both domestically and abroad.

Scarantino has experience in assisting with the representation of special services in connection with securitization, including the process of reviewing offering circulars, as well as preliminary and final employment agreements. Loan syndication, acquisition and disposition of mortgage and mezzanine loans, A/B notes, participation interests and mortgage-backed securities, acquisition and disposition of commercial properties, formation of real estate joint ventures and partnerships, debt restructurings, loan modifications, and work-outs are also central to her practice.

“Having Michael and Lauren join our team will have a tremendous impact on our practice,” said Samuel M. Walker, Co-Chair of Blank Rome’s Real Estate group. “Their comprehensive experience in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions substantiates our efforts to deepen the capabilities of our group and continue to offer our clients a full-service practice, and greatly adds to our New York office’s recent expansion efforts with the addition of new lateral hires.”

“Our decision to move to Blank Rome was largely in part a result of the success of the firm’s real estate practice. As a nationally recognized group, they are a full-service operation that receives tremendous support from other departments,” said Peskowitz . “We wanted to join a broad-based national real estate group that represents all aspects of real estate while maintaining a strong presence in the New York market.”

Peskowitz earned his B.A. from Colgate University, his M.A. from The New School for Social Research, and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Scarantino received her B.A., with honors, from Georgetown University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University where she was a member of the Hofstra Law Review.

Since January 1, Blank Rome has welcomed a number of lateral partners across its U.S. offices.
• Blank Rome Adds Prominent Family Law Team in Los Angeles, Led by Kristina Royce and Ashley Silberfeld
• Blank Rome Bolsters Corporate Practice with Addition of Terrence Everett in Los Angeles Office
• Blank Rome Welcomes Accomplished Corporate Partner Jeffrey Cohen in New York