A Y STRAUSS - Key Persons
Aaron Y. Strauss is one of the leading legal advisors in the commercial real estate industry, providing insight and guidance for billions worth of transactions during his career. As the firm's founder and managing partner, he has positioned A.Y. Strauss as one of the region's most respected law firms for commercial real estate owners, lenders and sponsors, serving the needs of the firm's clients with the utmost in care, integrity and transparency.
Aaron is responsible for establishing the firm's long-term strategy and vision, overseeing a culture of excellence and respect that recruits, retains and supports a nationally-recognized team of attorneys and business professionals.
A dedicated dealmaker and connector, Aaron strives to identify and facilitate commercial real estate and other opportunities for clients and valued contacts. In 2021, Aaron launched The Dealmakers' Edge with A.Y. Strauss podcast highlighting the stories, successes, and struggles behind major commercial real estate investors.
Prior to founding A.Y. Strauss, Aaron practiced for several years at an international law firm in New York, and a prominent New Jersey-based law firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
- Promoted to Partner, Sharon Swanson Promoted to Executive Director
Adele Lee is a partner at A.Y. Strauss. She represents clients in connection with commercial real estate transactions, corporate finance and distressed debt transactions.
Adele began her career as a real estate finance associate at Dechert LLP, where she represented major institutional lenders in multi-state real estate debt financing. She worked extensively in originating mortgage and mezzanine loans for the development and financing of shopping centers, office complexes and other commercial properties. Most recently, Ms. Lee was an associate in the debt trading group of Richards, Kibbe & Orbe LLP. There, she represented investment banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions in connection with the purchase and sale of distressed assets, including, among other things, domestic and international syndicated bank loans, and claims in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings.
Adele has also undertaken numerous pro bono engagements. She assisted hurricane victims to file succession documents in order to establish heirship to claim federal aid to repair damaged homes owned by deceased relatives. In addition, she advised a low-income Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) in New York on the closing of a loan from a credit union, acting as liaison between the HDFC, the lender and the Urban Homestead Assistance Board.
Education
George Washington University Law School, (J.D., 2006)
Barnard College, (B.A., cum laude, 2003)
Job Titles:
- Operations Coordinator
- Operations Coordinator at a.Y. Strauss
Audra Grosso, Operations Coordinator at A.Y. Strauss, has over a decade of paralegal experience supporting a wide variety of transactional and litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation and franchising. Audra has extensive experience supporting our Franchise Group in preparing initial drafts of disclosure documents, coordinating renewal registrations and communicating with local and state agencies to ensure annual compliance. Audra also supports our Litigation Group in litigation matters across the United States.
Prior to joining the firm, Audra worked at national and international firms in New York and New Jersey, providing critical support to litigation teams - assisting at trial, managing critical deadlines, coordinating extensive discovery demands and general case management. Working closely with our Litigation Group attorneys, Audra ensures that document production is implemented and overseen in a cost-efficient manner. Audra has assisted in deposition preparation, management of critical case databases, e-discovery, and managing litigation support vendors. Dedicated to the success of our team, Audra proactively advises on best practices to manage large amounts of data and documents, often working with teams of technology experts.
Audra earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with Paralegal Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Counsel at a.Y. Strauss
David Salhanick is counsel at A.Y. Strauss. He focuses his practice on commercial and real estate litigation. David has guided some of New York's best known real estate developers, property managers, and business owners through complex, high-stakes legal disputes. As an experienced and dynamic litigator, David's strong research, writing, and courtroom skills are matched by a careful attention to detail. His solutions-driven approach to litigation has allowed him to consistently achieve favorable results for his clients before, during, and after trial. David is frequently called upon to handle appeals and motions in various appellate courts.
Outside of the litigation context, David is a trusted source of general counsel and practical legal guidance for his clients.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
Eric H. Horn is a partner at A.Y. Strauss with a wealth of experience navigating complex corporate restructuring issues, distressed M&A transactions and other general business transactions. Acting as both a business adviser and attorney, Eric proactively engages with clients to achieve solutions that further their business objectives. He represents debtors in various sectors including balance sheet restructuring, sale cases and out of court workouts. He provides transactional guidance to clients who invest in or trade distressed assets and debts in domestic and foreign jurisdictions. Also, he regularly appears in Bankruptcy Court, Federal District Court, and state court representing the interests of his clients.
Eric was recognized in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. He also frequently lectures on bankruptcy topics and was a member of the deal team awarded the M&A Advisor Deal of the Year for the sale of Annie Sez and Mandee.
Eric began his legal career at Sidley Austin LLP and thereafter at Lowenstein Sandler LLP. Eric was also a senior trader at a hedge fund focused on acquisition of distressed debt. Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Eric served as a partner at Vogel, Bach and Horn.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at a.Y. Strauss
Eva M. Thomas is an associate at A.Y. Strauss in the firm's Litigation Group. Her experience includes matters involving breach of contract claims, products liability class actions, business torts, securities derivative actions, dissolution of LLCs, landlord tenant disputes, estate litigation, and labor and employment disputes. She also supports the Real Estate Group with legal research, due diligence, and litigation services. Her experience includes over 500 court appearances before judges in both civil and criminal matters.
Before joining A.Y. Strauss, Eva served as a public defender in Nassau County, New York . She was a member of the Civil Rights Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law wherein she handled several federal litigation matters.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Coordinator
- Accounting Coordinator at a.Y. Strauss
Gina Russomano is an accounting coordinator at A.Y. Strauss, providing accounting and billing support to the firm's attorneys and clients. Her previous experience includes founding a title agency and serving as the assistant vice-president and manager for global insurance providers. In those roles, Gina spearheaded finance transformation and led accounting divisions. She began her career with Ernst & Young where she served as a senior audit lead.
Gina is a licensed title producer and notary public. She holds a B.A. in accounting from the University of Connecticut.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / New York
Jordan M. Engelhardt is a partner in the firm's Litigation practice, with experience representing organizations and individuals in commercial litigation and intellectual property matters across a range of industries, including commercial real estate, financial services, healthcare, and technology. His commercial real estate clients include investors, landlords, and developers. In addition, he has handled high-stakes disputes for major pharmaceutical and medical device companies, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals.
A skilled and versatile attorney, Jordan has experience in federal and state courts, administrative agency matters, alternative dispute resolution, and strategic client counseling. He is also well versed in emergency court procedures, having secured expedited relief for both businesses and individuals in their most pressing and sensitive matters.
Jordan has written extensively on commercial litigation and intellectual property issues. His work has been featured in widely distributed legal and industry publications, such as New York Law Journal, Law360, Bloomberg Law, Commercial Observer, and Intellectual Property Magazine. Jordan has also co-authored several amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at a.Y. Strauss
Julian Pedini is an associate at A.Y. Strauss with substantial experience counseling clients on all stages of commercial real estate transactions including the purchase, sale, financing, leasing, and development of commercial property. Clients appreciate Julian's attention to detail and expertise in negotiating and drafting a wide variety of commercial real estate agreements and in navigating zoning, permitting, and other due diligence matters.
With a background representing large companies in the telecommunications industry, Julian has advised clients on many significant real estate and land use matters. He has served as outside real estate counsel to national and regional wireless service providers on the negotiation of ground and structural space leases and amendments as well as zoning of macro cell sites, new towers, and small cells. His experience outside of the traditional practice of law includes site development management and consulting at companies such as Wireless Facilities, Inc. (WFI), Sprint Nextel Corporation, and Network Building + Consulting (NB+C). Julian oversaw real estate, zoning, and construction teams who attended to obtaining property interests and land use entitlements for, and to the deployment of, many wireless antenna sites and towers.
Education
Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1999)
Wesleyan University (B.A., 1995)
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
Kristen J. Poe is a partner at A.Y. Strauss. Kristen has over two decades of experience representing clients across the country in complex commercial real estate transactions, including sales, acquisitions, financing, leasing and joint ventures.
Prior to joining the firm, Kristen was counsel at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP in New York, where she served as an integral part of the Commercial Real Estate Department. Among many other projects, during her tenure there she represented developers of high-end mixed-use condominium projects in New York City, and frequently represented borrowers in complex construction, mezzanine and permanent loans.
Over the past several years at A.Y. Strauss, Kristen has represented and continues to represent a wide variety of owners, investors and private equity groups on complex commercial real estate transactions. Clients appreciate Kristen's attention to detail, scope of knowledge, and proactive style of deal management.
Education
Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, (J.D., cum laude, 1998)
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, (B.S., 1992)
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Counsel at a.Y. Strauss
Lisa Virelli is counsel at A.Y. Strauss. Lisa represents clients in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing, property management and development. Throughout her career, Lisa has represented borrowers, institutional lenders, investment banks and private equity firms in connection with loan originations, workouts and modifications, and the acquisition and sale of all debt tranches.
Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Lisa served as counsel at Coventry Real Estate Advisors, and as an associate in the Real Estate department at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP.
Education
St. John's University School of Law, (J.D., cum laude, 2005)
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
Michael P. Morrow is a partner at A.Y. Strauss with significant experience advising clients in complex commercial real estate transactions and commercial financings. Michael has represented clients in the purchase, sale, disposition, and development of hotels, solar farms, office buildings, warehouses, and retail centers.
Michael also has extensive experience in corporate bankruptcy. He has represented New Jersey, New York, and Delaware business entities and trustees throughout the bankruptcy process. He has also represented borrowers and lenders in commercial loan workouts.
Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Michael was a partner in the Princeton office of a mid-sized New Jersey-based firm where he primarily represented lenders in secured lending transactions. Prior to this role, Michael served as an associate handling bankruptcy matters at a boutique firm.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Counsel / New York
Richard J. Slavin is counsel in the firm's Real Estate practice and is based in the New York office. Rich has a broad-based commercial real estate practice and has led purchase, sale, financing, and leasing transactions of commercial property throughout the United States.
Rich counsels a diverse set of clients, from REITs and financial services companies to retailers and family offices. He is also a trusted advisor to a dozen real estate entrepreneurs. Notably, Rich maintains strong connections to his native Philadelphia. He represents multiple Philadelphia-based clients on a variety of commercial real estate matters as well as New York clients investing in the Philadelphia market.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
Robert L. Baker, Jr. is a partner at A.Y. Strauss with significant experience advising clients in sophisticated corporate and commercial real estate transactions including the purchase, sale, financing, leasing, and development of commercial property. Clients appreciate Rob's deep focus and expertise in negotiating and drafting a wide variety of commercial leases, ranging from large-scale retail and office leases to single-tenant industrial facilities on behalf of both landlords and tenants.
Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Sara was special counsel in the real estate practice at an Am Law 100 firm based in New York.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Business Operations
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at a.Y. Strauss
Stephanie J. Blumstein is a partner at A.Y. Strauss and Chair of the firm's Franchise Group.
Stephanie represents clients in multiple business sectors, and provides counsel to prospective franchisees, veteran franchise operators, and franchisors on a wide range of issues both in and out of court. Her franchise litigation experience includes matters involving breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, trademark and trade name infringement, fraud claims and business competition torts. As part of her practice, Stephanie advises clients through the franchise purchase process, including the review of franchise disclosure documents, the negotiation of franchise and area development agreements, lease negotiations, and sales and transfers. She also works with existing franchisees and franchisors to address issues that arise during the franchise relationship.
Stephanie has extensive experience representing clients in franchise and commercial litigation matters before state and federal courts across the country, as well as before arbitration tribunals, in alternative dispute resolution forums, and in private mediations. Clients look to Stephanie for effective, timely legal solutions in an ever-changing business landscape.
Stephanie was recognized in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of franchise law and has been named to the annual "Legal Eagles" list of the best lawyers in the franchise industry by Franchise Times magazine since 2020. An authority in the sector, Stephanie is a frequent speaker on issues facing U.S. based franchisees and a contributor to various franchise-focused publications on matters involving franchise ownership and franchise-related commercial litigation. She is also an active member of several state and national franchise law groups.
Honors and Awards
Recognized in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for franchise law
Named to the annual "Legal Eagles" list by Franchise Times magazine since 2020
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Executive Assistant at a.Y. Strauss
Sue is an Executive Assistant at A.Y. Strauss. She previously worked for an engineering firm as an Executive Assistant and Office Administrator. Sue also has prior legal secretarial experience supporting the Senior Partner at a boutique estate and pension planning law firm. She earned her Associate degree in Secretarial Science from Berkeley College.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at a.Y. Strauss
Vincent I. Ferrer is an associate at A.Y. Strauss in the Real Estate practice group. His experience includes representing companies and individuals in tax appeals, municipal defense of tax litigation, analyzing PILOT and abatement agreements, and supporting a due diligence team that provided counsel on over $1.2 billion in real estate transactions.
Previously, Vincent was a member of the property tax appeal team for a preeminent New Jersey-based firm. Prior to entering private practice, Vincent clerked for the Hon. Stacey D. Adams, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division in Monmouth County.
Before joining the legal profession, Vincent was a successful marketing professional for several branding agencies and start-ups in the Northeast. He was the first-ever Director of Marketing & Communications for a nationally acclaimed private school where he was responsible for overseeing the $27 million-endowed organization's paid, earned, and owned marketing campaigns. He proved instrumental in rebranding the organization, negotiating strategic partnerships with brands like Nike and Gatorade, and launching a multi-year, $14 million capital campaign.