Norton Rose Fulbright expands in New York with eight-lawyer real estate team

Group led by partners David Szeker, Darwin Huang and Matt McElroy amplifies the firm’s national real estate capabilities across transactions, litigation and restructuring

New York, NY, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced that partners David Szeker, Darwin Huang and Matt McElroy have joined its New York office from Kasowitz, enhancing the firm’s highly regarded real estate practice amid renewed momentum in one of the country’s most active commercial property markets. They are joined by senior counsel Kathleen Maurer and Robert Novick, along with associates Jason Re, Christina Sim and Amanda Bradley as well as practice specialist Hyacinth Buckmore.

The group joins as an established and highly cohesive entrepreneurial team that has built a strong national practice together, advising private equity funds, developers, institutional investors, family offices and lenders on sophisticated matters across major US markets. Their work spans the full spectrum of commercial real estate legal issues, including acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and preferred equity investments, mortgage and mezzanine financings, development and leasing across multifamily, industrial, office, hospitality, retail and mixed-use properties.

The team extends Norton Rose Fulbright’s nationwide reach in real estate litigation, restructuring and workouts with their handling of distressed real estate matters, including workouts, restructurings, foreclosures and related disputes – complementary disciplines that carry real significance in a challenging capital landscape. This breadth complements Norton Rose Fulbright’s nationwide real estate capabilities and strengthens the connections among its transactional, litigation and restructuring practices.

“Real estate remains a critical area of focus for our clients,” said Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global and US Managing Partner. “David, Darwin, Matt and their team represent the next generation of real estate leaders. They are entrepreneurial, collaborative and highly accomplished. Their arrival reflects our continued commitment to further strengthen our national capabilities as deal activity accelerates.”

All three partners have earned widespread recognition as leading real estate practitioners. David has been ranked in Chambers USA since 2020 and recommended by The Legal 500 US since 2022. Darwin has received similar distinction, appearing in Chambers USA since 2022 and The Legal 500 US since 2020. Matt has been recommended by The Legal 500 US since 2024.

“Beyond their individual reputations, David, Darwin and Matt have a collaborative approach that reflects how our people like to operate,” said Judith Archer, Norton Rose Fulbright’s New York Co-Partner-in-Charge, alongside Vincent Dunn. “Client matters are increasingly complex and rarely stay in one lane, and these lawyers understand how to work across those lines. Their addition reinforces the connections between our transactions and litigation teams from coast to coast.”

The New York growth is the latest chapter in a deliberate national build. More than 50 lawyers comprise Norton Rose Fulbright’s US real estate practice, which provides comprehensive transactional and litigation support to clients engaged in virtually every corner of the industry. Led by John Jennings since 2019, the US real estate team has grown in recent years, welcoming transactions partner Bill Tate and litigator David Bournazian in Los Angeles as well as renewables real estate partners John Young and Christine Fernandez Owen in Chicago while promoting Ammad Waheed to partner in Houston.

“As our clients increasingly need counsel who can handle deals spanning the country, Norton Rose Fulbright’s real estate transactions and disputes strength and reach give us an exceptional platform to serve our clients and meaningfully grow our practice while still delivering the partner attention, responsiveness and strong value upon which we’ve successfully built our practice,” David said. “We are excited to help further grow the firm’s real estate practice in New York while maintaining the relationship-driven approach that has defined our team.”

The team joins at a time of renewed activity in New York commercial real estate, with leasing, investment sales and office-to-residential conversions generating opportunities for investors, owners and lenders across the market.

About the partners

David advises developers, institutional investors, private equity sponsors, family offices, lenders, landlords and tenants on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States. His practice spans the full lifecycle of a real estate investment, including acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and preferred equity investments, mortgage and mezzanine financings, development matters and leasing. He also advises clients on distressed real estate matters, including loan workouts, partnership disputes and foreclosures. Licensed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, David earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Darwin represents developers, investors, owners, family offices and institutional and private lenders in complex real estate transactions across the United States, with particular experience in mortgage and mezzanine financings, construction loans and joint ventures. He regularly advises clients on loan workouts, foreclosures and other distressed situations. Darwin also has substantial experience advising international investors, including clients based in Asia, and is fluent in Mandarin. Licensed in New York, he earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo.

Matt represents private funds, REITs, banks and other investors across the capital stack in real estate financing transactions. His practice focuses on sophisticated debt and equity financings, including mortgage and mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, loan syndications and participations, and intercreditor and co-lender arrangements. He regularly advises clients on loan workouts, restructurings and other distressed real estate matters. Licensed in New York, Matt earned his law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his bachelor’s degree from Boston College.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across locations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com.

Dan McKenna
Norton Rose Fulbright
dan.mckenna@nortonrosefulbright.com