Steven C. Koppel

STEVE KOPPEL's practice focuses on all aspects of real estate private equity and real estate finance, including a national practice in community development law. Steve represents institutional equity investors throughout the United States and in Europe in the acquisition, development and financing of office buildings, hotels, multifamily housing, public storage facilities, student housing, assisted living, shopping malls and condominium projects. He also has extensive experience in real estate finance and development, including the financing and development of projects in opportunity zones. In addition, Steve represents major financial institutions and owners in real estate workouts, restructurings, foreclosures and deeds in lieu of foreclosure and has done so for more than 30 years.

Steve’s strong leadership on behalf of his clients has earned him recognition from numerous publications, including Chambers USA (2014–2020), The Legal 500 for Real Estate Finance (2012–2014), New York Super Lawyers (2010–2022) and Best Lawyers in America® (2009–2020, 2026). In Chambers USA (2019), one client comments that “he is a great lawyer and advisor; tenacious, thoughtful and deeply experienced.”

Steve represented:

• A major global investment bank as lender and equity investor for the development of a mixed-use project that will house the new headquarters for a national civil rights and urban advocacy organization in New York City.
• A major financial institution in connection with a US$220 million private equity investment for the acquisition of a 260 acre parcel of land in Baltimore for the development of a US$5 billion mixed-use development.
• A European private equity fund in connection with a “table-funding” loan facility in the UK.
• A hedge fund in a private equity investment to acquire a dozen assisted living facilities in the Northeast.
• A major financial institution in the financing, through debt and equity, of a 340,000 square foot retail project that will be New York City’s first outlet shopping center. 
• A real estate private equity fund in the acquisition of an office building in lower Manhattan.
• A major financial institution in the financing of the acquisition of over 500 non-performing loans in a pool from a GSE.
• A diversified financial services company in connection with a US$485 million refinance of a 1000+ unit multi-family development.
• A major financial institution in the private equity investment, New Markets Tax Credit investment and construction loan for the development of a mixed-use project in Salt Lake City.
• A REIT in connection with its partnership with the Austin Affordable Housing Corporation and subsequent acquisition by the partnership of four multi-family properties in Austin, Texas totaling over 1,000 units.
• A leading investor in residential land and homebuilding companies in the formation of a fund to invest in the acquisition of land and distressed debt.*
• A real estate private equity fund in the US$595 million sale of an office building on Fifth Avenue in New York City.*
• A diversified financial services company in the US$220 million credit enhancement of a tax-exempt bond financing to construct a 35-story residential apartment building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.* 
• A major financial institution in connection with the conversion of a seven-story multifamily apartment building into 338 for-sale condominium apartments, which building was part of a historic tax-credit structure, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.*
• A provider of loan due diligence, transaction management, risk-centric information and analytical services in connection with its US$80 million senior secured term and revolving credit facilities arranged by a major financial institution.* 
• A subsidiary of a telecommunications company in its purchase of the development business of a developer, builder and owner of solar farms in India.*
• An investment fund in a joint venture with a hotel operator regarding the US$162.1 million acquisition of a hotel in Manhattan.*

*The above matters were handled by Steve prior to joining Sidley.

Steve sits on the Board of Directors of The Doe Fund, Inc. and The New York City Convention Center Operating Committee. He also sits on the advisory board of the Rabbinical School at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the International Advisory Board for the Peres Center for Peace and serves as a board member at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun on the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.