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Dear Friends,
When our newsletter was last published in December of last year, few would have predicted the changes in store for the real estate industry and the work of real estate lawyers. Real estate's recovery from the pandemic has been uneven, with many sectors (including residential, industrial and logistics) experiencing historic highs, and others (like office, hospitality and retail) still struggling. In addition, as moratoria on evictions and foreclosures expire, countless individuals and families find themselves at risk of dispossession, notwithstanding the availability of federal and state stimulus and rental assistance funding. Real estate lawyers, meanwhile, have been extraordinarily busy, reporting levels of activity that some call unprecedented.
The work of real estate lawyers has never been more important than during these tumultuous times as they renegotiate troubled leases and loans, arrange for new affordable housing developments, lease up empty office space, repurpose uneconomic hospitality properties, and protect clients from unjustified eviction – all matters of tremendous consequence to their clients and the places where people live, work and play.
The Mattone Institute is proud to play a role in training the next generation of real estate attorneys ready to help their clients respond to these challenges. Over the past 10 months, we have continued to focus on doing so through exceptional academic programs, unique career development opportunities, and extraordinary special events. I’m pleased to provide you with a window into what we’ve been up to through this newsletter.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Sein
Director
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SPECIAL EVENTS
During this period, we sponsored or co-sponsored many events which attracted, in the aggregate, hundreds of attendees. This summer, we unveiled the new Mattone Institute CLE Series, which is focused on delivering to our alumni base and the real estate law community at large high-quality continuing legal education taught by leading thinkers and practitioners on cutting-edge and timely topics, and the Mattone Institute Speaker Series, which is focused on giving our students interested in real estate the opportunity to advance their understanding of real estate law topics by bringing to campus (either virtually or actually) leading experts, academics and practitioners for guest lectures and seminars.
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January 6, 2021
Rob Sein presented on Building a Real Estate Focused Academic Center as part of a panel on The Changing Architecture of Legal Education: Real Estate Transactions as a Case Study the #AALS 2021 Annual Meeting.
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February 18, 2021
With the International Law Students Association (ILSA), we co-sponsored Sustainable Development Goals and the Law: The Environment, featuring panelists Lisa Kurbiel and Raymond Pomeroy II.
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February 24, 2021
As part of the as part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series, we presented The Legal Impact of the Pandemic on Condo/Coop Sales, Rentals, Construction and Resident Relations, featuring panelists Helene Hartig '84, Margery Weinstein and Jeffrey Lederman.
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February 26, 2021
We co-sponsored, together with the National Association for Consumer Advocates and the Real Property Law Society, Renter's Rights: Renting in the NYC Area.
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March 10, 2021
As part of the as part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series, we presented What Real Estate Lawyers Need to Know About the UCC and Mezzanine Loans, taught by David Wanetik '74.
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April 6, 2021
As part of the Law School-wide Day of Anti-Racism, Rob Sein moderated a panel focused on racial disparities in real estate featuring Fred Freiberg, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Justice Center, and New York Newsday Reporter Olivia Winslow. The Mattone Institute prepared a Real Estate Lawyer's Anti-Racism Toolkit for distribution to student attendees.
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April 7, 2021
We held the Seventh Semi-annual Recent Alumni in Real Estate Roundtable, featuring panelists Kristen Campos '18, Nandini Chowdhury '18, Kayla Laskin '19, Naldine Philistin '15, Corey Trail '17 and Robert W. Vogel '16.
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April 9, 2021
As part of the Mattone Institute Speaker Series, Meryl Diamond '99 and Fredric L. Altschuler '72 presented Commercial Real Estate Finance: Much More than Merely Mortgages to members of the Real Property Law Society.
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May 20, 2021
We sponsored the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) Diamond Sponsor Panel on Innovation & Sustainability.
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May 26, 2021
As part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series, we presented NYC's Climate Mobilization Act – Practical Implications and Updates Nearly One Month Away from the First Deadline, featuring Joseph Giminaro '83, Raymond Pomeroy II and Alexis Saba.
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June 9, 2021
As part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series, we presented Real Estate Joint Venture Agreements: Crucial Provisions and Issues, taught by Tom Maira '96.
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On June 30, 2021
As part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series, we presented Things That Make You Go Hmmm…Points that Every Real Estate Attorney Needs to Know, taught by Vincent J. Gallo, Paul Malon '81, and Hon. Philip Strainiere.
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July 14, 2021
We sponsored the NYSBA Real Property Law Section Summer Meeting.
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July 20, 2021
Joe Forte '73 taught The Most Important Number in the World: The Endgame for LIBOR as part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series.
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August 26, 2021
Members of our RPLS recruited new 1L members at their table at the SBA Fall Fest.
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September 14, 2021
We held a "The (Listing) Price is Right"-Themed Open House. Congratulations to Grand Prize Winner Eileen Conaty '22!
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September 30, 2021
We held a Mattone Institute Information Session, which was followed by an RPLS General Body Meeting.
October 6, 2021
The Mattone Institute Advisory Board met virtually.
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October 7, 2021
As part of the Mattone Institute Speaker Series, Chris Jaskiewicz '96, President and CEO of ICON Orlando, is joining Rob Sein for a Fireside Chat.
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October 13, 2021
Scott Mollen '72, Andrew J. Wagner, Alan R. Lyons and Scott T. Tross, all partners at Herrick Feinstein LLP, presented Pandemic-Related Real Estate Litigation: Where Do We Stand?, as part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series.
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October 20, 2021
The Environmental Law Society and RPLS held a panel discussion, Careers in Environmental Law, for students. Panelists included Douglas Fischer '90, Gail Suchman and Bethany Noll.
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| - On Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-9:30 PM, the RPLS will hold a Movie Night featuring The Big Short. Open to St. John's students.
- On Saturday, October 30, Rob Sein and Meghan Paola '22 will co-teach a course on Commercial Lease Negotiations for entrepreneurs and small business owners at the Chinatown Manpower Project.
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- On Friday November 5, 5:00-6:30 PM, we will hold our Eighth Semiannual Recent Alumni in Real Estate Roundtable. Co-sponsored with the RPLS and NY Real Property Law Journal. Open to St. John's students, staff and faculty.
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| - On Tuesday, November 9, the RPLS will host a panel discussion, Student Internships in RE Law. Open to St. John's students, staff and faculty.
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- On Wednesday, November 10, Tom Gebert '86 will teach The End of the Shell (Company) Game: New Disclosure Requirements in NY Real Estate Transactions. Part of the Mattone Institute CLE Series. Open to the general public.
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| - On Fri, Jan 21, 2022, the Real Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association will hold its Annual Meeting at the Hilton Midtown, at which the student editors of the NY Real Property Law Journal will be honored.
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- In January, Rosalie DiFlora '22 was awarded a SAME New York City Post Scholarship Fund Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students with experience, background or a demonstrated interest in engineering or construction/design law.
- Federica Marini '21 was awarded the prestigious Lorraine Power Tharp Scholarship at the New York State Bar Association Real Property Law Section Annual Meeting in January. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to a second or third year law student who best exemplifies the core values of academic excellence, demonstrated interest in public service, high integrity and, if possible, interest in real property law.
- Fiona Hogan '21, Michael Ofori '21, Thomas Kane '21 and the other student editors of the New York Real Property Law Journal were honored for their contributions to the Journal and the Section at the New York State Bar Association Real Property Law Section Annual Meeting in January.
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- Michelle Artiles '21 and Natalie Borukhov '23 were selected to the prestigious WX Women Executives in Real Estate Scholarship Program in April.
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| - In April, Holly Constants '22 was selected as the winner of the 2021 Mattone Institute Law Student Writing Competition for her paper "Freedom to Contract Injunction Waivers in Commercial Leases".
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- In July, Meghan Paola '22 and Kristin Russo '22 were awarded the 2021 American Immobiliare Scholarships, recognizing their achievement, service and leadership consistent with the values of Italian-American influencers and innovators in the field of commercial real estate.
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- Each year, we designate the 3L Real Estate Fellow who has achieved the highest GPA in real estate coursework as the Timothy J. Meehan Fellow. In September, we selected Antonio Sciarrotta '22 as the 2021-22 Timothy J. Meehan Fellow.
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MEET OUR NEW REAL ESTATE FELLOWS!
This year, we selected seven new Real Estate Fellows: David Aminov '22, Natalie Borukhov '23, Joseph DiOrio '22, Billy Michaca '23, Danny Mosayov '23, Olivia Piluso '22, and Antonio Sciarrotta '22. It now includes 12 Fellows, profiles of whom are available on the Mattone Institute webpage.
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David Aminov '22
At St. John's University School of Law, David is a Staff Member of the Moot Court Honor Society, as well as a board member of the Real Property Law Society. David graduated from the City University of New York at Queens College (CUNY Queens College) with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. During David's 1L summer, he worked at Jacobs PC, where we collaborated with supervising attorneys and partners involving complex litigation cases, commercial real estate transactions, and bankruptcy matters. In the Spring of 2021, David interned at The Yitzhak Law Group, where he worked on commercial business and corporate matters. This past Summer, David worked at Morris, Duffy, Alonso & Faley, where he focused on litigation issues ranging from medical malpractice to construction law. As a Mattone Institute Real Estate Fellow, David hopes to gain extensive legal knowledge in the New York commercial real estate realm.
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Natalie Borukhov '23
Natalie is a J.D./M.B.A. student at St. John's Law and serves as a Staff Member on St. John's Law Review. This past year, Natalie became a WX scholarship recipient, an organization that promotes the advancement of women in real estate. Currently, she is a member of the Dispute Resolution Society, Vice President of the Corporate and Securities Law Society, and Director of Alumni Relations of the Real Property Law Society. During her 1L summer, Natalie was an intern at the Queens District Attorney's Office in the Frauds Bureau. This semester, Natalie will be externing at Ladder Capital. Natalie hopes to continue exploring the real estate industry as a Real Estate fellow and network within the industry's NYC community.
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Joseph DiOrio '22
At St. John's Law, Joe is an Executive Articles Editor on the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review and is a member of the Real Property Law Society. Joe graduated cum laude from St. John's University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security. Prior to law school, Joe interned with the Law Offices of Erick K. Alahverdian. In Fall of 2020, Joe received the American Immobiliare Scholarship for commercial real estate. During the summer of 2021, Joe interned with Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg, LLP, where he will continue to work during his 3L academic year, while also working for his family’s meat market. During the fall semester, Joe will work at St. John's Securities Arbitration Clinic. As a Real Estate Fellow, Joe hopes to gain more exposure in the real estate law field and increase his network.
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Billy Michaca '23
At St. John's, Billy's positions include Staff Member of the St. John's Law Review, Teaching Assistant for Professor Mark L. Movsesian's Contracts course, and Director of Communications for the Real Property Law Society. During Billy's 1L year, he assisted foreclosure prevention attorneys as a volunteer research assistant with The Legal Aid Society and worked with the Manhattan-based wealth management firm, Bessemer Trust, compiling, analyzing, and updating the firm's business practices regarding, inter alia, consumer privacy, AI implementation, and derivatives transactions. Billy is a 2016 graduate of CUNY Brooklyn College, where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Other Fields and was inducted into The International Honor Society for Philosophers. He is also a graduate of Brooklyn Collegiate High School. Immediately prior to law school, Billy worked as a substitute teacher for the New York City Department of Education. Billy is currently a student intern for the Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic. He plans to implement his research skills, attention to detail, and passion for transactional law as a Corporate Attorney with a particular focus in Real Property investments and transactions. He looks forward to utilizing his position as a Real Estate Fellow to connect with St. John's Law students and alumni and gain insight into New York's preeminent Real Estate landscape.
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Daniel Mosayov '23
Danny is a member of the Executive Board of the Real Property Law Society and a staff member of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review. This summer, he is working as a Knowledge & Innovation Legal Intern with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. His previous experience includes work at Resource America an asset management firm that specializes in real estate investments, and at BankUnited in the residential lending department.
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Olivia Piluso '22
Olivia is a 3L from Long Island, New York. She graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut in 2019. She majored in Political Science and International Studies. During her 1L Summer she was a recipient of the Catalyst Fellowship and interned for the Honorable Deborah Kaplan at the Supreme Court of New York. In Olivia's second year, she was an active member in the Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute, competing internally and externally in competitions, a member of the Real Property Journal and the Solicitation Chair for the Annual Public Interest Auction. In her second year, she worked in the Tenants' Rights Clinic through Legal Aid. Olivia also worked at the Law Offices of March H. Supcoff as an extern. As a rising 3L Olivia worked at KI Legal, a boutique law firm in downtown Manhattan. She is now the Co-director of Fundraising for the Annual Public Interest Center, Associate Managing editor of the Real Property Journal and currently working towards publishing a paper on Certificate of Occupancies with Professor Sharfman. Olivia is now a law clerk for KI Legal and is eager to continue learning about Real Estate from an educational and professional angle.
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Antonio Sciarrotta '22
Antonio is a 3L from Chicago, IL. He graduated from Boston College in 2018 with a B.S. in Chemistry. At St. John's Law, Antonio is the Associate Managing Editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, the President of the Real Property Law Society, the Co-Director of Events for the Intellectual Property Law Society, and a Student Mentor for the 1L Mentorship Program. The summer after 1L, Antonio worked with the Child Advocacy Clinic at St. John's Law, where he helped represent children in their Family Court guardianship proceedings, USCIS Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions, and EOIR removal proceedings. In his 2L spring semester, Antonio externed at Mahon & Berger, where he researched legal issues and drafted memoranda regarding federal agents' scope of employment. This past summer, Antonio externed at Koutsoudakis & Iakovou, PLLC, where he built upon his professional legal skills through various research and drafting assignments. Antonio has taken many of the real estate law electives offered at St. John's, including Real Estate Transactions, Residential Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Development. As a Fellow, he has assisted with a CLE on the pandemic's impact on Condo/Coop, as well as put together highlights on St. John's alumni in the real estate law field. This semester, Antonio will be taking Commercial Real Estate Finance. He hopes to further explore his interest in Real Estate Law as part of the fellowship program, and forge relationships within this part of the St. John's Law community.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021!
Congratulations to all of our 2021 graduates, including our graduating RE Fellows: Norah Alimonos, Brandon Auerbach, Ed Belotte, Heather Lewin, Federica Marini, Drew Stanko and Ashley Williams! We're eager to witness all of your future achievements!
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TENANT ADVOCACY INITIATIVES
In September, law school deans across the country committed to draw on their schools' resources to ensure that families get the assistance they need to remain at home through the pandemic. The Tenant Defense Collective is a coalition of law students, social work students, and legal aid attorneys who are committed to helping New Yorkers access the state's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and avoid eviction. St. John's Law School is part of this coalition. Volunteers with of Tenant Defense Collective will work directly with tenants and are trained and supervised by attorneys at the Legal Aid Society. A significant number of our students are participating in this initiative and helping tenants right now. This is in addition to the important work being done by students in our Tenants' Rights Advocacy Clinic to help protect tenants from unjustified eviction.
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MATTONE INSTITUTE WRITING COMPETITION
In March, we announced the Mattone Institute Writing Competition, which is intended to encourage and reward writing on the subject of real property law by St. John's University School of Law students, and to foster additional scholarship and interest in this area. The winning paper receives a $500 cash award as well as other benefits. The competition is limited to currently enrolled St. John's University School of Law JD and LLM students. The Official Rules are available on the Mattone Institute website.
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MATTONE INSTITUTE SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP
The Mattone Institute Summer Public Interest Fellowship was offered for the first time this year in coordination with the St. John's Law Public Interest Center. The fellowship is awarded to qualified first or second year St. John's University School of Law students for summer positions with non-profit organizations representing traditionally underrepresented clients, groups, or interests relevant to real estate law, including housing, land use, development, landlord-tenant and/or community redevelopment.
Congratulations to Sara Leston '22, the inaugural recipient of the Summer Public Interest Fellowship! This summer, Sara worked at the Queens County Housing Court.
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NY REAL PROPERTY LAW JOURNAL
This summer, under the leadership of its new Editor in Chief, Isabel Arustamyan '22, the NY Real Property Law Journal chose its staff for the 2021-22 academic year. Journal members include Executive Managing Editors William Bird '22 and Olivia Piluso '22, Associate Managing Editor Tiara Desire-Brisard '22, and Articles and Notes Editors Rosalie DiFlora '22, Christopher Diodato '22 and Taylor Klein '22. Congratulations to all the new members!
Rob Sein and Spencer Compton co-authored "The First Quarter of 2021 is Over: Where are We", which provides a brief overview of some legislative and judicial developments since the onset of the pandemic that NY commercial real estate lawyers should be aware of. It appeared in the NY Real Property Law Journal (Vol. 49 No. 1).
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REAL PROPERTY LAW SOCIETY
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Our student-run RPLS has grown increasingly active under the leadership of its President, Antonio Sciarrotta '22, and the rest of the Executive Board: VP William Bird, Treasurer Anna Poulakas, Director of Communications Billy Michaca, Director of Alumni Relations Natalie Borukhov, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Kimberly Moyal, Director of Social Media David Aminov, and Co-Directors of Events: Daniel Mosayov and Giancarlo Conte.
In addition, the Environmental Law Society has been reanimated under the leadership of Nadia Balkaran '22. The organization now boasts in excess of 70 members, and is planning a series of events, some jointly with the Real Property Law Society. Rob Sein serves as faculty advisor to both the RPLS and the ELS.
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SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
This summer, our Research Assistants Anthony Crasto '23 and Boris Myers '23 assisted the Director with event planning, alumni outreach, curriculum development, and legal and industry research. We thank them for their important contributions!
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ADVISORY BOARD
Over the past 10 months, we have welcomed three new members to our Advisory Board and the Emerging Leaders Committee thereof. Each of these new Board members embodies the St. John's Law spirit of "paying it forward" to the next generation. We thank them all for their contributions to date and look forward to working with them as we continue to expand and refine our programming. From left to right: Joseph Giminaro '83, Partner at Stroock, J.J. Sherman '00, Founding Attorney at Law Offices of J.J. Sherman, P.C., and Corey Trail '17, Associate at Lester Bleckner & Shaw LLP.
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IN MEMORIAM:
PROF. ROBERT E. PARELLA '11HON
On May 18, 2021, we lost Professor Robert E. Parella '11HON, a great scholar, gentleman and teacher who inspired generations of students. Professor Parella served on the Law School's full-time faculty for 50 years, teaching Property, Real Estate Drafting, Trusts and Estates, and other courses with warmth, wit, and compassion as the George F. Keenan Professor of Real Property Law. He is sorely missed by countless friends, colleagues at the Law School, and former students.
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GET INVOLVED!
Our work is fueled by our ever-expanding connections with students, alumni and others in the real estate industry. If you have not already been involved with our programs and activities, we invite you to do so!
Prospective students, please consider attending an open house. In addition, the Admissions Office offers open houses monthly and tours daily. Check the schedule and reserve your space at https://www.stjohns.edu/visit-campus, or call 718-990-6474 to schedule an individual appointment with our admissions team. Rob Sein would also be delighted to meet or speak with you to discuss our real estate law programs in more detail. Please feel free to email him at seinr@stjohns.edu to schedule a time to meet or speak.
Students interested in real estate law are encouraged to join the Real Property Law Society. As a member of the Real Property Law Society, you will be notified of real estate-focused events and will have access to the resources posted to the RPLS TWEN site. Please contact any member of the Executive Committee or Rob Sein in order to sign up. In addition, if you are contemplating real estate law as a career path, Rob Sein is happy to meet with you to discuss your academic planning and pre-professional development. In order to schedule a meeting, please email him at seinr@stjohns.edu.
Alumni and friends, please consider helping advance our mission by attending our programs; hiring a St. John's Law student or graduate; hosting a site visit, meeting with students, or collaborating on our programming. Please contact Rob Sein at 718-990-7372 or seinr@stjohns.edu to learn more about how you can get involved. Please also consider a financial donation to help support our programming. To learn more about how you, or your firm, can financially support us, please contact Brian Woods, Associate Dean for Alumni Advancement at 718-990-5792 or woodsb1@stjohns.edu. Or make an online donation (select "Centers" and "Mattone Family Institute for Real Estate Law" from the dropdown menus).
STAY UP-TO-DATE / MORE INFORMATION
Follow us online and on social media!
Website: https://www.stjohns.edu/law/mattone-family-institute-real-estate-law
Linkedin: Linkedin.com/showcase/mattone-institute
Twitter: @mattoneinst
For more information, contact:
Robert J. Sein
Director, Mattone Family Institute for Real Estate Law
St. John's University School of Law
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Email: seinr@stjohns.edu
Telephone: 718-990-7372
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