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Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park infographics: what's built/what's coming/what's missing, who's responsible, + project FAQ/timeline (pinned post)

Yes, the big law firms in real estate have intersected with Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park

From The Real Deal
The Real Deal's 10/1/19 article, NYC’s barrister brain trust, by Eddie Small, covers the universe of big law firms and ranks them on several metrics.

And while the article is keyed to recent issues, including changes in rent regulation, it's a useful reminder that some of the firms named have been involved in Atlantic Yards.

The number one firm in dollar volume of sales, Fried, Frank, long served as an outside counsel and lobbyist for Forest City Ratner/Forest City New York on zoning/planning issues. It has the single largest corps of real estate attorneys, ranked on another chart.

The number eight firm, Kramer Levin, represented Forest City in various legal cases, including those involving eminent domain, environmental review, and promises of construction jobs. 

It continues, (as far as I know) representing the Forest City entity within new parent company Brookfield, regarding the condemnation of the P.C. Richard site and the tussle with Skanska over blame for the B2 modular tower delays and flaws. It's tied for eighth in the number of attorneys.

The firm Greenberg Traurig, ranked third, represented Gramercy Capital, which lent Forest City $150 million (later revised) to finance real estate required for the first phase of the project, including the arena. It's fourth in the number of attorneys.

Another metric

Not ranked in the top 30 of sales, but tied for fifth in terms of largest real-estate practice, is the firm Bryan Cave, which has long represented Empire State Development as its outside counsel on the project, including issues of environmental review and eminent domain.

Ranked 12th in size of real-estate practice is the firm Skadden Arps, which early on represented Empire State Development in the eminent domain case, and more recently represented Brookfield in its acquisition of Forest City.

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