Carol E. Rosenthal

Developers, businesses, and non-profit institutions turn to Carol Rosenthal for counsel in connection with land use, zoning, and development in some of New York City’s most significant development projects.

Our clients benefit from Carol’s substantial and broad-based experience and she has guided them in overall project development, particularly in City and State public-private initiatives, housing, transportation, and other development. Carol regularly represents clients in the transfer of development rights, government acquisitions, and turnkey developments. She has successfully prosecuted applications for zoning amendments, special permits, variances, state and city environment quality reviews, landmarked site approvals, and other governmental approvals for multi-block to single lot developments.

Carol was lead counsel on land regulatory matters for the development and private financing of high-speed train maintenance facilities along Amtrak’s northeast corridor, and counsel to many New York City educational and healthcare institutions in expanding their housing and other facilities.

Carol is recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate: Land Use, Zoning and Development by the Legal 500 which notes she is “by far one of the best and most qualified zoning lawyers in New York.” She is noted in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (New York) section, which praises her “holistic view of any land use or zoning issue” and her understanding of “the nuances of government and politics.” Carol was named to Crain’s New York Business’s inaugural list of “Leading Women Lawyers in New York City” in 2017 and Real Estate Forum’s “Women of Influence Hall of Fame” in 2015.

In 2019, The Commercial Observer honored Carol with a Top Women in Real Estate Innovation Award, which recognizes women with a vision for real estate, design, or engineering who have made a significant mark on their industry. In 2003, she received the Pratt Area Community Council Leader of the PACC Award, and in 1999 she was honored by the American Planning Association with the Floyd Lapp Service Award. The New York City Council proclaimed June 6, 1998 “Carol Rosenthal Day” in the City of New York.

A former associate counsel to the New York City Department of Planning, Carol also brought her industry-leading experience to bear as an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where she taught land use law. She frequently teaches at conferences and seminars for clients and professional organizations and has contributed numerous articles and papers for publication.

In keeping with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Carol is a member of our Women’s Forum Planning Committee, a representative group directing our firmwide women’s affinity group. Carol also has served on the firm’s Nominating Committee and the Associate-Partner committee.

Work Highlights

• The Durst Organization in securing rezonings, text amendments and special permits for its award winning “tetrahedan” VIA 57 WEST building in Manhattan.
   
• Alloy Development for the rezoning and approximately 1.03 million-square-foot development, in partnership with the New York City Educational Construction Fund, of a full block located at 80 Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, which will include housing, office, retail, and new schools.
   
• TF Cornerstone in connection with rezoning a 2-acre site and zoning text change and special permits to allow the construction of a 1,200-unit mixed-use building at West 57th Street and 11th Avenue.
   
• Counsel to the purchasers in connection with a $1.4 billion acquisition of the former Sony Building at 550 Madison Avenue and approvals for repositioning the site.
   
• Whitney Museum in its acquisitions, land use, and multiparty development agreements for its new museum in the meatpacking district and its latest art instillation.
   
• The Durst Organization in the development of a 2.4 million-square-foot project, including development rights and other agreements with NYCHA, and located on the waterfront of Astoria, Queens.
   
• Development, transaction and land use counsel to the Hospital for Special Surgery in the expansion of its facilities in New York and elsewhere.
   
• Transaction and land use counsel in the assembly of option rights, zoning lot mergers, high line transfers and inclusionary rights for a 19-story tower in West Chelsea.
   
• Land use counsel for the approvals and transactions for a 63-story mixed-use building in Lower Manhattan using zoning changes to create and transfer development rights from the City.
   
• Land use counsel for a 15-acre housing and assisted living facility in Staten Island.