Stuart Saft Did Not Want to End Up Selling Socks
New York Real Estate Practice Group Leader Stuart Saft was featured in a Commercial Observer profile tracing his career journey and highlighting his many accomplishments in the field of real estate law. From his first year of college, when he ran for freshman class president to overcome shyness, to his more recent work with some of the industry's most prolific developers, the article shared how persistence and preparation propelled him into high-profile deals and created connections with the who's who of development around the country.
It described pivotal moments in his career – the first time he handled a real estate transaction when a pension fund adviser wanted to make a second mortgage loan on an office building, and a closing in which he corrected a far more experienced lawyer's answer to a question from a lender (leading to a moment of panic in which he feared his career in law was finished and he would have to resort to selling socks), who later asked Mr. Saft to take over legal representation – before going on to highlight deals on which he's worked, a list that spans development, financing, leasing, acquisitions, sales, conversions, property exchanges and restructuring. From the Aman Resorts and Residences in the Crown Building to the Oosten, a residential building in Brooklyn, to the Williamsburg Wharf, Mr. Saft's decades of experience run the gamut of the sector.
Commercial Observer also interviewed Miki Naftali, chairman and CEO of a namesake development firm, about working alongside Mr. Saft on projects such as a waterfront residential complex and luxury condo buildings. Mr. Naftali pointed to Mr. Saft's work ethic, due diligence and ability to cooperate with both sides of a transaction as drivers behind the Naftali Group's success.
"Buying a unit in New York City is different than buying a unit in Los Angeles," he said. "So they might be nervous about getting into a different [buying] process. Stuart really walks them through the process, making sure they have every answer they need, and they are comfortable. He's methodical, patient, and he's very articulate. He knows how to explain and walk the other side through the process."
The feature also talked about Mr. Saft's accomplishments outside the office, including authoring multiple books and advocating for a workforce budget post-9/11. It concluded with his perspective on mentorship and family life. He said he "love[s] training young associates" and is filled with pride when reflecting on their career growth.
"The best part is seeing them grow into intelligent, loving, curious individuals and being able to answer their questions about life, the universe and everything," he shared about his own chilren and grandchildren, "and knowing that there is nothing they are unable to do."
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