Steven practices as a transactional real estate lawyer, with much of his
practice devoted to the purchase, sale, leasing and financing of all types
of commercial properties, along with related environmental and land use
matters. Steven also assists high net worth clients with residential real
estate matters. Steven’s clients include a leading high-end apartment
developer, an international retailer and many prominent real estate entrepreneurs
and developers in Connecticut.
Steven attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where he
received his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, in 1978, and was admitted to
Phi Beta Kappa. Steven received his J.D. degree from Columbia University
in 1982, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Following graduation
from law school, Steven was admitted to the New York Bar and worked as
a real estate associate at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. Steven was
subsequently admitted to the Connecticut Bar and worked as a real estate
associate at Day, Berry & Howard. Steven joined Levett Rockwood P.C.
in Westport, Connecticut in 1985, where he became a shareholder and continued
to work until 2002, when he became a Member of Berkowitz, Trager &
Trager, LLC.
Steven has been selected for “The Best Lawyers®” publication
in Real Estate Law since 2006, and was selected by Best Lawyers as the
“Lawyer of the Year” for 2013, 2017, and 2019 for Real Estate
Law – Stamford Area. Steven has also been included in the Connecticut
Super Lawyers® publication in Real Estate since 2009, and is Peer
Review Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell® for
Ethical Standards and Legal Ability™.
Education
- Columbia University, J.D., 1982
- Wesleyan University, B.A., 1978
Admissions
- State of Connecticut
- State of New York
Representative Transactions
- Seller’s counsel for the $120,000,000 portfolio sale of five shopping centers.
- Developer’s counsel for the assemblage and simultaneous purchase
of over 20 parcels for a 460-unit apartment project with retail and restaurant
facilities
- Seller's counsel for the $123,000,000 sale of an eight-office building
portfolio and seventy slip marina in Stamford, CT
- Purchaser's counsel in the $40,000,000 acquisition and subsequent sale
of a 261 unit apartment complex in Stamford, CT
- Landlord's counsel in the leasing of over 200,000 square feet of office
space in a two-building office complex in White Plains, NY
- Tenant's counsel for a leading high-end retailer in the leasing of
retail outlet and mall locations throughout the United States and overseas
- Developer's counsel for the ground leasing, financing and construction
of a new Whole Foods store in Darien, CT
- Borrower's counsel for construction, working capital and debt refinance
loans for a prominent Fairfield County country club.