Attorney Rich Chadakoff
Practice Areas

Richard L. Chadakoff

Partner

Recently recognized as one of the top 25 lawyers in Westchester County, Richard Chadakoff has broad-based experience in the business and legal aspects of real estate development, investment, financing and related transactions. Previously, Richard was a United States advisor to, and spoke before, the German Mortgage Bankers’ Association. 

As counsel to major national institutional lenders, as well as other lenders and developers, Richard has had vast experience in single and multiple-property real estate financings, including structured, “mezzanine” and securitized financings, and loan participations and syndications. He also has significant experience in sale-leaseback (including IDA projects) and other “off balance sheet” financing structures, as well as both conventional financings and publicly-assisted financings. In addition, Richard frequently represents lenders and borrowers in connection with troubled loans, involving structuring, negotiating and implementing workouts, including foreclosure litigations and bankruptcy proceedings (both adversarial and “prepackaged”).

Richard works closely with developers, investment banks, and funds in structuring and implementing real estate investments, acquisitions and dispositions, and leasing transactions. He has represented developers in countless landmark and “trophy” real estate developments throughout the United States and has worked on numerous developments which involve private/public sector “partnerships”. In addition to his development and financing background, Richard has had extensive experience in joint venture, partnership and limited liability company formation and representation. He has negotiated the terms of the agreements for such entities on behalf of both the developer or manager side and the investor or institutional side.

Richard has lectured at law schools and before real estate industry groups. He has been selected by numerous publications as a leading real estate attorney, locally, nationally and internationally.

Richard is the former global chair of the Latham & Watkins, LLP real estate practice group and prior to that had been a partner in the real estate departments of Shea & Gould and Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Education

  • Georgetown University Law School (J.D.)
  • Harvard University (M.B.A.)
  • Syracuse University (B.A.)

Admissions

  • New York

Honors & Awards

  • Honored numerous times by: “Who’s Who Legal – Real Estate”; New York Area’s Best Lawyers; Super Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; Legal 500; Chambers USA –America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Lawyers of Distinction; and Guide to the World’s Leading Real Estate Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers – Real Estate Law (2006-2026)
  • Best Lawyers in Westchester County 2026
  • Lexology Index, Real Estate 2025 (formerly Who’s Who Legal)
  • Lawyers of Distinction 2025

Recent Significant Transactions

  • Represented the borrower in the refinancing/securitization of a midtown Park Avenue office building - $750,000,000
  • Represented the borrower in the restructuring/workout of a loan secured by a Times Square office building - $247,000,000
  • Represented the borrower in the restructuring/extension of a loan secured by a Times Square office building - $241,000,000
  • Worked closely with the developer in the creation and coordination of the funding mechanisms and the loan documentation for $1,000,000,000 in private/public loans to be made “side by side” in connection with the development of the initial phase of a proposed $8,000,000,000 mixed-use project in upstate New York
  • Developed workout strategy for “pivotal” senior mezz lender in a $6,000,000,000 capital stack (with over 25 lenders), which resulted in the client being virtually the only lender which was paid off (and at par)
  • Part of lender team which initially structured and simultaneously attempted a loan workout, foreclosure and suit on guaranty, and ultimately structured a settlement (transfer of property to lender) through a “pre-packaged bankruptcy”, with respect to a midtown office building - $200,000,000
  • Represented the purchaser of the only “mega-yacht” marina located in North America
  • Represented the seller/purchaser in a 1031 sale of a midtown office building and the acquisition of 7 separate income producing properties
  • Worked with client to orchestrate and structure a substitution of a partner with respect to a partnership which owned four midtown office buildings, totaling over $2,500,000,000 in value, including the negotiation of the new joint venture agreement, so as to avoid a forced liquidation sale and the attendant adverse tax consequences
  • Worked with the owner to develop terms of, and drafted and negotiated documents for, a sale/master lease, involving over 1,100 gas station sites (involving a propco-opco structure and numerous environmental issues)
  • Represented the landlord for a lease at Rockefeller Center demising in excess of 1,000,000 sq. ft.

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