Kelley Drye & Warren Appoint New Partners in the Real Estate Practice Group

New York—Kelley Drye & Warren LLP’s team expanded as two new professionals recently joined. Joseph Forte and Barbara Shachnow are the latest talents joining the firm as partners in the Real Estate Practice Group. Forte and Shachnow will focus their practices on commercial real estate finance representing portfolio lenders, CMBS lenders, banks, equity funds and mortgage loan servicers.

Joseph Forte

“We are thrilled to welcome Joe and Barbara to Kelley Drye.  Joe has consistently been recognized as a trusted innovator in the real estate finance industry who helps his clients anticipate and prepare for change in the industry,” said Paul Keenan, co-chair of Kelley Drye’s Real Estate Practice Group, in prepared remarks.  “Barbara, likewise brings a layer of acuity and depth that will enhance the existing finance side of our Real Estate Practice Group.”

Forte is a renowned lawyer in real estate finance with unparalleled breadth and depth across the industry, having been at the forefront of many major innovations in the real estate finance industry for more than 40 years. Previously, Forte worked at DLA Piper since January 2013.

Shachnow has 30 years of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate practice, with particular emphasis on real estate structured finance, mortgage and mezzanine lending, preferred equity investments and loan workouts. Shachnow represents investment banks, commercial banks, private equity funds, insurance companies and other institutional lenders, as well as institutional real estate investors and developers, in the acquisition, disposition and financing of, and investment in, commercial real estate in all asset classes. She also joins Kelley Drye from DLA Piper.