Leasing in NYC in the Time of COVID: A Review of Emerging Negotiation Trends

Mr. Rubin is an experienced real estate attorney with a depth and breadth of experience in real estate law co-extensive with the types of transactions that one confronts in a major real estate practice. His practice includes internal contract negotiations, representation of purchasers and sellers of commercial buildings, warehouse and office structures, shopping centers, and ground leases. He has negotiated the purchase of properties out of bankruptcy and negotiated extensive office, manufacturing, retail and restaurant leases, along with extensive ground leases. Mr. Rubin has, in the course of his practice, represented parties in a substantial real estate litigation involving lease and audit disputes, trespass and brokerage fees.

Representative matters

• Negotiation of offices leases varying in size from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of square feet in major cities across the United States, including a number of leases where client was the largest tenant in the facilities.

• Negotiation of four-party sublease of 100,000 square feet with two separate subtenants and independent agreements with the overlandlord so that sublandlord came out whole on the transaction.

• Sale of commercial property in Williamsburgh to development group with potential title and zoning issues and tenant removal issues.

• Recovery of possession of a portion of a residential apartment building for a not-for-profit organization through negotiation with each of the residential tenants, all without recourse to litigation.

• Action to quiet title on certain property in the City of New York arising from adverse possession and the purchase of air rights in connection therewith.

• Action to recover substantial down payment arising from breach of a contract to purchase property in conjunction with renegotiation of contract of sale.

• Litigation to recover and defend against brokerage claims pertaining to commercial real estate matters.

• Negotiation of employment and severance agreements and acting as general counsel to various closely held corporations, including guidance on a range of legal issues.

• Representation of developer in assemblage of property on the upper east side of Manhattan and purchase of property out of bankruptcy.

• Arbitration and mediation.

Professional Activities

• Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association

• Arbitrator, Small Claims Court, City of New York

• Member, Complaint Mediation Panel of the Committee on Professional Discipline of the Association of the Bar

• Former Member, Committee on Diversity of the New York Bar Association

• Member, Committee on Standards of Attorney Conduct of the New York State Bar Association

• Member, Lawyers Foreclosure Intervention Network

• Panel Chair & Member, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, First Judicial Department

Born and raised in Manhattan, Bert Rosenblatt is the co-founder of Vicus Partners, a commercial real estate firm dedicated exclusively to representing tenants. Bert and Vicus have proudly represented hundreds of firms in New York City ranging from start-ups and small businesses to Fortune 500 clients, including General Assembly, GE Capital, Assembled Brands, & Patek Philippe. 

Bert is on the Board of Leadership Enterprise For A Diverse America (LEDA), a member of Entrepreneurs Organization , United Jewish Association’s Tech Board, The Business Owners Council, & REBNY. He’s also a contributor to Eye to Eye, a non-profit organization focused on youth mentoring programs for dyslexic children.

Bert is an avid runner and squash player, and lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn with his wife Varsha, daughter Damini and son Dagan.