Matthew J. Leeds has been ahead of the curve of development in real estate law in New York City for more than three decades. He handles all manners of sophisticated real estate transactions involving development, construction, ownership and financing of commercial, residential and mixed-use properties, and commercial condominiums.  Mr. Leeds’s experience representing New York City real estate developers has led him to concentrate on cooperatives and condominiums, and he is a recognized authority in all aspects of cooperative and condominium law.

Mr. Leeds frequently represents developers, sponsors, purchasers, sellers, owners and lenders with respect to significant commercial properties and exclusive residential properties, including work with investors in packages of “unsold shares” and “unsold units.” He is active in the area of cooperatives and residential and commercial condominiums, as well as in the sophisticated area of commercial leasehold condominiums. He also frequently works with condominium associations and cooperative apartment corporations in all aspects of their operation and management, including sophisticated issues of corporate governance.

Mr. Leeds also represents developers and sponsors of offering plans.  He counsels major lenders in construction loans for the development of new construction condominiums and in the conversion of existing rental properties to the condominium form of ownership.  He works with private commercial real estate owners, hospitality companies, major retailers, medical centers, and nonprofit entities on the conversions of existing commercial properties to commercial condominiums, and on the creation of commercial leasehold condominiums.

Highly respected in his areas of practice, Mr. Leeds has held leadership positions with the New York State Bar Association, including Chair of the Real Property Section and Co-Chair of that Section’s Condominiums and Cooperatives Committee.  He speaks and writes on real estate subjects and for many years taught law as an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School. In 1999, he was honored with selection as a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Education

New York University School of Law, LL.M.
State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, J.D.
New York University College, A.B.

Recognitions

2023-New York Super Lawyers®
20 years-Best Lawyers in America®

Representative Matters

• Representation of developers of high-end new construction condominium projects in New York City.
• Representation of numerous condominium associations and cooperative apartment corporations in New York City.
• Represented the owner of a commercial unit (independent of the sponsor) in a large new construction mixed-use property in the division and sale of its commercial space to purchasers.
• “Workouts” of troubled condominium developments, for lenders and for owners.
• Work with Boards of iconic apartment-hotels in Midtown Manhattan.
• Creation of commercial condominium regimes in significant office, medical and educational facilities with tenants in place.
• Representation of a leasehold cooperative apartment building in the acquisition of fee title to the property.
• Counseled “twin” luxury cooperative apartment corporations established on a “fee above a plane” over a six-story commercial structure.
• Representation of condominium associations after the “turnover” of control to independent unit owners in disputes with the original sponsor over construction and mismanagement.
• Representation of cooperative apartment corporations in dealing with disruptive individual owners, including termination and ejectment in litigated terminations based on “objectionable conduct.”