Profile
Thomas Leslie is Founding Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Westchester County office. He focuses his practice on the areas of banking and finance and he represents some of the largest financial institutions in the United States. His practice concentrates on representing financial institutions and developers in connection with the purchase, sale and financing of real estate, as well as the financing of fine art, private aircraft and other forms of collateral.
Tom advises lenders specializing in real estate revolving credit and term financings. His real estate experience includes zoning and planning matters. He was formerly special counsel to, and a member of, the Village of Bronxville Planning Board in Westchester County, New York, as well as the Board of Assessment Review. In addition, his experience includes hedge fund lending, swaps and derivatives and other forms of secured lending.
Concentrations
- Land development
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented lenders in construction and permanent mortgage loan transactions.
- Represented developers in acquiring and financing multi-property office complexes, shopping centers and apartment buildings.
- Represented lenders in hedge fund secured lending.
- Represented developers in connection with leasing commercial buildings.
- Represented private wealth group of an institutional lender in origination of a $110 million term loan secured by a boutique hotel in New York, as well as office condominium units, townhomes and a resort and spa in Florida.
- Represented community bank in origination and participation of fee and leasehold first-priority mortgage loan and second-priority building loan secured by industrial property in New York subject to Industrial Development Agency benefits.
- Represented private equity fund in origination and workout of a $24 million bridge loan secured by hotel development site in midtown Manhattan, as well as a pledge of 100% of the membership interests in the borrower and certain air rights.
- Represented private equity fund in workout of a $34 million bridge loan secured by multiple commercial properties in Manhattan.
- Represented private equity fund in negotiation and preparation of settlement documents in connection with mechanics’ liens encumbering REO assets.
- Represented commercial bank in connection with the origination and workout of an approximately $32 million construction loan to multiple borrowers secured by a mixed-use development parcel in Pennsylvania, as well as a pledge of 100% of the equity interests in the co-borrowers.
- Represented community bank in origination of mortgage loan secured by industrial site, and modification and increase of business line of credit in favor of construction and equipment leasing company.
- Represented community bank in origination of a mortgage loan secured by two industrial sites in Brooklyn, New York and a revolving line of credit secured by a fleet of vehicles.
- Represented private wealth group of institutional lender in origination of an $85 million term loan secured by marketable securities and hedge fund interests.
- Represented private wealth group of an institutional lender in origination of a $30 million revolving credit facility secured by marketable securities and hedge fund interests.
- Represented private equity fund in negotiation and documentation of a settlement with the board of a residential condominium in New York upon said fund’s acquisition and foreclosure of the senior mortgage loan.
- Represented private wealth group of an institutional lender in origination of a $30 million term loan secured by artwork located throughout the world.
- Represented private equity fund in acquisition and disposition of a portfolio of 24 office assets located throughout United States valued at approximately $143 million.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, City & State
- Hudson Valley Power 100, 2024
- Westchester Power 100, 2019, and 2021-2023
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
- Land Use and Zoning Law, 2012-2023
- Real Estate Law, 2013-2023
- Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2010, 2013, 2017-2018, and 2022
- Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, "Law Firm of the Year" in Real Estate Law, 2015
- Team Member, Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2011-2013, 2015, and 2022-2023
- Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2013 and 2014
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Super Lawyers, 2010-2013
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- New York State Bar Association
- Westchester County Association Board of Directors
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 1974
- A.B., University of Notre Dame, 1970
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York