Karen Scanna has worked on several of the most complex and high-profile real estate transactions in New York City’s history. Private developers acquiring City-owned property for redevelopment, by deed or ground lease, often seek her guidance in navigating the City’s competitive bid process. With a focus on acquisition, development, and financing—including mortgage, mezzanine and preferred equity, and construction-to-permanent loans—several of Karen’s transactions have involved high-profile public-private partnerships. For example, she represented Delancey Street Associates LLC in its winning bid for the Essex Crossing development, a delicate and complex negotiation that leveraged Karen’s considerable clout and experience.
Karen has deep experience with various “alternative” property types, including hotels, assisted/senior living and student housing, in addition to more traditional types, such as office, retail and multifamily. The vast majority of her clients have elected to operate their properties in joint venture with others, and a significant part of her practice has involved the negotiation of partnership and limited liability company agreements, representing the developer/operator partner as well as the capital partner and/or preferred equity holder.
Described in Chambers USA as “a very strong lawyer with a very good developer representation practice,” Karen has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her work, including being named to the “Notable Women in Law” list by Crain’s New York Business and by Globe St. - Real Estate Forum as one of its Women of Influence in the commercial real estate industry for 2008, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2022. Chambers says, “Her knowledge of commercial real estate, both legal and practical aspects is unparalleled. Her advice has been invaluable.”
New York; New Jersey
J.D., New York University School of Law, 1995
B.S., Yale University, 1990
Karen Scanna has worked on several of the most complex and high-profile real estate transactions in New York City’s history. Private developers acquiring City-owned property for redevelopment, by deed or ground lease, often seek her guidance in navigating the City’s competitive bid process. With a focus on acquisition, development, and financing—including mortgage, mezzanine and preferred equity, and construction-to-permanent loans—several of Karen’s transactions have involved high-profile public-private partnerships. For example, she represented Delancey Street Associates LLC in its winning bid for the Essex Crossing development, a delicate and complex negotiation that leveraged Karen’s considerable clout and experience.
Karen has deep experience with various “alternative” property types, including hotels, assisted/senior living and student housing, in addition to more traditional types, such as office, retail and multifamily. The vast majority of her clients have elected to operate their properties in joint venture with others, and a significant part of her practice has involved the negotiation of partnership and limited liability company agreements, representing the developer/operator partner as well as the capital partner and/or preferred equity holder.
Described in Chambers USA as “a very strong lawyer with a very good developer representation practice,” Karen has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her work, including being named to the “Notable Women in Law” list by Crain’s New York Business and by Globe St. - Real Estate Forum as one of its Women of Influence in the commercial real estate industry for 2008, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2022. Chambers says, “Her knowledge of commercial real estate, both legal and practical aspects is unparalleled. Her advice has been invaluable.”
New York; New Jersey
J.D., New York University School of Law, 1995
B.S., Yale University, 1990