Practice areas: Real Estate
Licensed in New York since: 1997
Education: New York Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2016, 2018 - 2026 Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
1325 Avenue of the Americas15th Floor
New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-451-2335 Email: Nina Roket Visit website
Details 
Nina Roket is a nationally recognized commercial real estate attorney and an accomplished and strategic deal maker. Nina is a trusted legal advisor to her clients and leads her clients’ teams in any type of commercial real estate deal. Nina is recognized and sought after for her legal and business acumen and strong negotiating skills. She adopts a practical, solution-oriented and client-focused approach, tailoring strategies to align with her clients’ goals and priorities. She is co-managing partner of the firm, co-chair of the firm’s real estate practice and chair of the firm’s commercial leasing practice.
Nina represents family offices, property owners, developers, companies and investors in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financings, leasing, real estate joint ventures, preferred equity deals, leasehold condominiums, work-outs and data center and colocation transactions. She structures and executes sophisticated and industry leading deals involving all asset classes, including office, retail, multifamily, hospitality, event and conference spaces, co-working and flexible workspaces, entertainment venues, food and beverage and restaurant spaces, sports and fitness clubs, mixed-use, life sciences and ground leases.
A skilled and effective negotiator, Nina leverages her deep market knowledge and practical guidance to craft innovative solutions that overcome obstacles and achieve her clients’ objectives. Her ability to understand and balance the perspectives of all parties involved enables her to close deals efficiently and effectively, ensuring successful outcomes for her clients.
Nina is a frequent speaker and a sought-after authority to industry publications for her professional insights. She has been consistently recognized for her excellence and leadership in real estate law. Nina has been named a Leading Lawyer in Real Estate: Mainly Dirt by Chambers USA and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law. Additionally, Crain’s New York Business named her to its “Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law” list, as well as the “Notable Diverse Leaders in Law” and multiple times to the “Notable Women in Law” list. She was also named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list. Furthermore, GlobeSt. included her among “CRE’s Women of Influence.” These recognitions underscore her consistent leadership and contributions to the legal and real estate industries.
From JEMB Realty Corp.’s $300 million financing at Herald Center to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets corporate headquarters lease, as well as Foot Locker’s flagship megastore lease deal, which won “Retail Deal of the Year” recognition from The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Nina brings exceptional skill in negotiating and closing large-scale, complex commercial property deals across the nation.
First Admitted: 1997, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.olshanlaw.com/attorneys-Nina-Roket.html
Bar / Professional Activity
- New York
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) - Mentor Program
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate
Transactions
- Represented Convene Hospitality Group in its lease for a 50,000 square-foot space in the historic Terminal Warehouse in West Chelsea, marking its first location under its new brand, The Mallory.
- Representing New York Liberty in the lease of their state-of-the-art training facility in Brooklyn.
- Representing JEMB Realty Corp. and leading its complex $300 million refinancing and preferred equity deal for the iconic Herald Center.
- Represented JEMB Realty Corp. in the lease at 150 Broadway at Liberty Street in Manhattan’s Financial District by Chinese lifestyle and consumer goods chain Miniso.
- Representing Williams Equities in the $147.5 million purchase of a historic Midtown South boutique office building.
- Representing Kushner Companies in the acquisition of the ground lease and joint ventures for The Glover House in Washington, D.C.
- Representing Kushner Companies in the sale of multiple portfolios of multifamily buildings in New York City.
- Represented The Row in its headquarters lease in New York City and retail leases in Amagansett, NY, Paris and Milan.
- Representing a New York City-based owner and developer of a site in Brooklyn in a large-scale lease to Tesla.
- Representing a New York City-based family-owned real estate company in the sale of multiple portfolios of multifamily buildings in New York City and the acquisition of a multifamily building in Washington DC.
- Representing JEMB Realty Corp. in its leasing matters in New York City including its new development located in Downtown Brooklyn known as One Willoughby Square.
- Representing a renowned hospitality group in a hotel acquisition and related food and beverage leases.
- Represented JEMB Realty Corp. in an acquisition loan from AIG for a Wyndham Grand branded hotel in Florida.
- Representing Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City in all leasing and licensing transactions involving Margaritaville Atlantic City Entertainment Complex, including a lease for a live entertainment venue.
- Represent luxury brand in its leasing program in the US and internationally.
- Represented real estate developer David Edelstein in a lease and collaboration with renowned restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Keith McNally bringing New York City Meatpacking District hotspot Pastis to the trendy Wynwood arts area in Miami.
- Representing HELM Equities in the acquisition, financing, development and leasing of its first Miami ground-up development project in the Design District including office, retail and the largest offering of outdoor space in the Design District.
- Representing Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in significant long-term net leases of development sites, creation of leasehold condominiums, and leases of data centers.
- Representing the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets in a lease for its corporate headquarters in Industry City, in Sunset Park in downtown Brooklyn.
- Representing myriad well-known and celebrity restaurant operators and a prolific fast-casual restaurant franchisee in various leasing projects.
- Representing Columbus Turnstyle LLC in the leasing, financing and development of Turnstyle, an underground marketplace in the 59th Street Columbus Circle concourse, including negotiating a master lease with the MTA, leases with individual retailers, financing and joint venture agreements, construction agreements, and advertising agreements. The Turnstyle project was one of the 13 retail deals nominated by The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) as “The Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year” (2016).
- Represented the owner of 8 Times Square in a lease to Foot Locker for its prime Times Square location, which was recognized by The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) as “The Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year” (2016).
- Represented the owner and developer of Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in all leasing matters including a lease for a theater and live entertainment venue.
- Represented a landlord in downtown Manhattan in a lease to Cipriani for a catering venue.
- Representing/advising landlords and tenants across the country in lease restructuring situations.
- Representing/advising borrowers in commercial loan restructuring situations.
- Representing co-working space and flexible space providers in leases and partnership and management agreements.
- Representing the owner of various sites on Lincoln Road, Miami in retail leases to various national and local retailers and restaurateurs.
- Representing owners in office leases to New York State and New York City agencies.
- Represented the owner of a site in Times Square in a lease to Yardhouse for its flagship New York City restaurant/brewery/tap room.
- Representing Himmel + Meringoff Properties in its leasing matters in New York City.
- Representing Himmel + Meringoff Properties in the acquisition and financing of an office and warehouse building in Long Island City.
- Represented the borrower in a $100M mortgage financing from Bank of the Ozarks and $100M mezzanine financing from a foreign lender for its development site on the Upper East Side.
- Represented the owner of a New York City midtown luxury building in a lease to the Core Club, a high-end spa, fitness club, and restaurant.
- Represented the owner of a building on West 125th Street in a lease to Bed Bath and Beyond.
- Represented multiple landlords across the country in leases to H&M, including a lease in New York City for its largest store worldwide.
- Represented Forest City Ratner in its leasing matters at The Bridge at Cornell Tech.
- Represented a New York-based real estate company in the acquisition of development sites in the New York metropolitan area and in the leasing of those sites to Trader Joe’s, Walgreens and TD Bank.
- Represented a New York-based real estate company in the purchase, out of foreclosure, and financing of a multifamily property in Annapolis, MD.
- Represented the owner of a downtown New York City office building in a significant lease to Millennium High School.
Educational Background
- J.D., cum laude, New York Law School Articles Editor, Journal of International and Comparative Law
- B.A., cum laude, Fordham University
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Olshan Real Estate partners Nina Roket and Thomas Kearns published an article in Best Lawyers entitled “Big Updates in the Big Apple.” The article focuses on the New York City commercial real estate market for landlords, investors, and developers post-COVID-19. “Office leasing is showing signs of activity,” Nina and Tom write, “but office building valuations remain in flux as investors question lease renewals in the short term and the recent interest rate increase’s impact on prices. Between the rise of remote work and a surge in e-commerce, the overall trajectory of commercial markets poses both new opportunities and challenges.” They explain that, while many employers are not altering their part-time pandemic office attendance schedules, they still generally want employees together on certain days, thus necessitating the same office space they required before the pandemic, leaving office investors awaiting further clarity. Retail rentals, too, have experienced similar uncertainty. At the same time, residential rentals in New York remain strong: “New York remains very popular with tech, finance, legal, media and other workers, particularly young workers.” Commercial properties that are industrial, they point out, will likely also continue to grow given the proliferation of e-commerce. “Perhaps the most fascinating development in New York,” Nina and Tom write, “is the current political dance between regulations, politicians and the industry about re-positioning older properties, particularly office and outmoded hotels, to purely residential use to help with affordable housing and reinvigorate business districts.” They conclude that not-for-profit affordable housing developers may see increased availability in development sites, writing, “City, State and federal affordable housing financings have become more accessible since there is less of a ‘sign here now with a big non-refundable deposit’ market.”, Co-Author, Big Updates in the Big Apple, Best Lawyers®, 2023
- The New York Real Estate Journal published an expert opinion article by real estate attorneys Nina Roket and Jessica Stanton, with contribution from corporate associate Cindy Zhang, entitled “Considerations for landlords and tenants in leasing data center space”. The article featured in the front section explores the evolving factors both landlords and tenants must consider when entering into a lease for data center space. Ultimately, the pandemic intensified the already increasing demand for data center space and economics remains important for both landlords and tenants when discussing lease agreements. “There are various factors that both tenants and landlords should consider when entering into a lease for data center space. As the market for data center spaces continues to grow, we expect that these considerations and related issues will continue to evolve.”, Co-Author, Considerations for landlords and tenants in leasing data center space, New York Real Estate Journal, 2022
- Served as a panelist on Turnstyle: Main Street Just Went Underground which was hosted by ULI New York’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and held on August 2nd. The panel discussed and hosted a tour of TurnStyle, the first privately financed retail marketplace within the NYC subway system. Nina served as the lead project counsel for TurnStyle. This event is open to ULI New York Members only., Panelist, Turnstyle: Main Street Just Went Underground
- Served as a panelist on Turnstyle: Main Street Just Went Underground which is hosted by WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate and was held on June 7th. The panel discussed and give an inside look into TurnStyle, the first privately financed retail marketplace within the NYC subway system. Nina served as the lead project counsel for TurnStyle. , Panelist, Turnstyle: Main Street Just Went Underground, 2016
- Moderated the panel A Handshake and a Smile: Women Making Deals and Making Headlines which discussed the newest and most newsworthy projects in New York at the 2016 Real Estate Weekly Women's Forum which was held in New York City on February 25, 2016., Moderator, A Handshake and a Smile: Women Making Deals and Making Headlines, 2016
- Presented a class on "Commercial Real Estate Leasing Transactions 101" at Town Residential, LLC which was held in New York City on March 3, 2015, Presenter, Commercial Real Estate Leasing Transactions 101, 2015
- Moderated Shopping for Shops: Retail MVP’s discussing the future of retail and what’s next for developers, tenants and consumers at the 2014 Massey Knakal CRE Investment Summit which was held in New York City on April 1, 2014., Moderator, Shopping for Shops: Retail MVP’s, 2015
- Moderated Women Who Deal: Head Honchos and Headline Makers addressing deal making strategies at the 2014 Real Estate Weekly Women's Forum which was held in New York City on February 27, 2014., Moderator, Women Who Deal: Head Honchos and Headline Makers, 2014
- Served as a panelist on Retail Power Players: Successful Retail Expansion and Innovation addressing how the retail market is changing at the 2013 Massey Knakal CRE Investment Summit which was held in New York City., Panelist, Retail Power Players: Successful Retail Expansion and Innovation, 2013
- Nina Roket appeared as a panelist on Women Who Deal: Today’s Headline Makers addressing recent deal making strategies at the 2013 Real Estate Weekly Women's Forum which was held in New York City on February 27, 2013., Panelist, Women Who Deal: Today’s Headline Makers, 2013
Honors
- Named a “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate: Mainly Dirt by Chambers USA, 2023-2025, “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate: Mainly Dirt, Chambers USA, 2025
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law since 2021, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Named to the “New York Business’ Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law” by Crain’s New York Business, 2024, “New York Business’ Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law”, Crain’s New York Business, 2024
- Named to the “Notable Diverse Leaders in Law” by Crain’s New York Business, 2022, “Notable Diverse Leaders in Law”, Crain’s New York Business, 2022
- Named to the “Notable Women in Law” list by Crain’s New York Business, 2018-2020, 2022-2023, “Notable Women in Law”, Crain’s New York Business
- Named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers list, Lawdragon 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2025
- Named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list, Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2025
- New York Real Estate Journal, "Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders," 2025, "Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders", New York Real Estate Journal, 2025
- Named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list annually since 2014, New York Metro Super Lawyers
- Real Estate New York, “Women of Influence,” 2008-2009, “Women of Influence”, Real Estate New York
- New York Real Estate Journal, “2002-2012: 10 Years of Women in Real Estate,” May 2012, “2002-2012: 10 Years of Women in Real Estate”, New York Real Estate Journal, 2012
- New York Real Estate Journal, “2015 Year in Review” Spotlight, December 2015, “2015 Year in Review” Spotlight, New York Real Estate Journal, 2015
- New York Real Estate Journal, “Women in Real Estate,” 2013-2023, “Women in Real Estate”, New York Real Estate Journal
- Real Estate Weekly, “Real Estate Weekly Leading Ladies Spotlight,” 2014-2021, “Real Estate Weekly Leading Ladies Spotlight”, Real Estate Weekly
- “The Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year” awarded by The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) to Foot Locker’s flagship megastore at 8 Times Square, 2016 (represented building owner), “The Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year”, The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)
- Real Estate Forum, “Women of Influence – Hall of Fame,” 2018, “Women of Influence – Hall of Fame”, Real Estate Forum, 2018
- Real Estate Forum, “Women of Influence,” 2019, “Women of Influence”, Real Estate Forum, 2019
- Honored as a Leading Lady at the Third Annual Mann Charitable Foundation Event, May 2019, Leading Lady, Mann Charitable Foundation, 2019
Industry Groups
- Hospitality
- Multi Family
- Office
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Warehouse
Office location for Nina Roket
1325 Avenue of the Americas
15th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Selections
12 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2016, 2018 - 2026