Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the continued expansion of its New York office with experienced land use lawyer Joshua Rinesmith in the Real Estate Practice Group.
"Joshua is widely regarded for his experience in New York City's land use and zoning system, and he effectively advocates for clients to ensure they maximize the development potential for their properties and investments," said Richard Bezold, chair of Akerman's national Real Estate Practice Group. "He will add immediate value to our economic development team and to clients seeking to obtain 'as of right' tax incentives."
Rinesmith focuses his practice on real estate development, with a concentration in land use and zoning law and related transactional matters. He advises property owners, developers, architects and engineers on New York City zoning compliance and the development potential of property throughout the city. He regularly appears before a variety of agencies having jurisdiction over development in New York City including the Department of Buildings, Board of Standards and Appeals, Department of City Planning and City Planning Commission, the Department of Housing Development and Preservation and the Environmental Control Board.
Rinesmith also has extensive experience in New York's zoning-lot mergers and transfer of development rights transactions, including the drafting of purchase and sale agreements, zoning lot development and easement agreements, and light and air easement agreements. He also assists clients in securing the required approvals under the city's Inclusionary Housing Program. Rinesmith also has experience representing clients in obtaining "as of right" tax incentives for residential and commercial development projects under New York's 421-a development subsidies, as well as the city's Industrial & Commercial Incentive and Industrial & Commercial Abatement programs.
He is the latest partner to join Akerman's Real Estate Practice Group, recently ranked by Law360 as the sixth largest real estate team globally. Other notable additions include Richard Leland and Ian Tattenbaum in New York; Lawrence Eiben in Chicago; Jane Hinton in Los Angeles; Andres Mendoza in Miami; and Howard Gelt in Denver.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2015). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).
The Akerman Real Estate Practice Group offers comprehensive and fully integrated project counsel services to clients across the United States and in Latin America. With substantial industry experience and local market insights, Akerman represents clients in complex real estate transactions and financings, development and redevelopment projects, public private initiatives and litigation. Recognized as a national tier one law firm for Real Estate and Construction Law by U.S. News - Best Lawyers (2015), the group advises investors, developers, builders, lenders, retailers, owners and corporate end users, often in high profile matters.