David J. Rabinowitz
Director
New York
drabinowitz@goulstonstorrs.com+1 212 878 5134David J. Rabinowitz
Director, New York
drabinowitz@goulstonstorrs.com+1 212 878 5134Related Expertise
David Rabinowitz counsels property owners and tenants in complex commercial real estate transactions. With over forty years of experience, David excels in guiding clients through every phase of their deals, from initial negotiations, to finalizing agreements and facilitating closings and lease signings. David brings a pragmatic, results-driven approach to commercial real estate. Known for his sound judgment and ability to see the big picture, clients value his strategic counsel as a critical asset in achieving their business objectives.
David’s practice spans both transactional and leasing work. As a trusted deal lawyer, he represents clients in acquisitions and dispositions, whether on a one-off or portfolio basis. His development/redevelopment work often involves the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, ground leases and ancillary agreements such as reciprocal easement agreements and site development agreements.
In his robust leasing practice, David represents landlords and tenants in sophisticated commercial leases and subleases across all asset classes, including retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use. His leasing work includes high-profile headquarters leases, flagship retail stores (domestic and international), restaurant leases, and ground leases.
Recognized Retail Industry Expertise
A recognized resource to the retail industry, David’s clients are some of the nation's largest “big box” retailers and shopping center owners/developers. As a result, David counsels all kinds of retailers and owners in acquiring, selling and leasing retail and mixed-use properties, as well as lease restructurings, condominium developments (retail and mixed-use), the acquisition and sale of real estate assets (fee estates and leasehold interests in retail properties) out of bankruptcy, and counseling clients on lease issues (such as exclusives, radius restrictions, assignment/subletting and “going dark”) in anticipation of and during a lease dispute. His reputation is strong, prompting Chambers USA to laud him as New York retail's "key contact”.
David started the firm’s cross-border business initiative, focusing on representing foreign retailers who are entering (or expanding) in the United States. David is also the first American lawyer, along with his firm colleagues, to become an annual participant in MAPIC, a well-recognized, annual international retail property trade show in Cannes, France.
Related Representative Matters
A global retailer in connection with the acquisition and ground leasing of hundreds of properties throughout the United States, including its first store in Manhattan, Washington, D.C. and Maine, a ground lease of a former department store anchor’s parcel abutting an enclosed mall in California, the acquisition of land in two redevelopment projects in the northeast, the acquisition of 400 acres of land in the northeast for the development of a distribution/logistics campus, the sale of an existing facility in Florida, a ground sublease for a new facility in a new mixed-use project on 200 acres in Florida, and the acquisition of 85 acres of land for the development of a 300,000 square-foot distribution facility in Maryland.
A publicly traded REIT in connection with the acquisition of 10 buildings in NYC, primarily retail in nature, and joint venture agreements for properties in Washington, DC and Dallas, Texas.
A publicly traded REIT in connection with the de-malling and redevelopment of an older mall located on Long Island, New York.
A global art gallery based in Zurich and London in connection with its real estate in the United States, including the leasing of space for its art galleries.
A global intergovernmental organization in connection with its headquarters office lease consisting of approximately 250,000 square feet in a Manhattan office building.
A major law firm in the leasing of a full floor (approximately 30,000 sq. ft.) in a Manhattan office building.
A major developer in the preparation of a credit tenant/financeable ground lease to be used at various properties throughout its US portfolio.
North America’s largest publicly traded owner and operator of open-air shopping centers in connection with leasing of the 1 million square-foot retail component of a mixed-use project being developed on 100 acres in Florida.
An Atlanta based retail developer in connection with the formation of its first real estate opportunity fund for the acquisition, development and operation of retail or retail-related properties throughout the United States.
A wide range of retailers in connection with their retail rollouts across the country.
A wide range of foreign retailers and hospitality companies in connection with their entry into, and expansion in, the United States.
A real estate developer in connection with the acquisition of 16 malls located in the Southeast.
Related InsightsSee all
Perspective
Estates Gazette
October 6, 2025
Accolades
- Lexology Index Thought Leader 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, 2024
- Best Lawyers in America® (2006-2020, 2022-2026): Real Estate Law
- Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of real estate law
- Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent™
- New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2005-2011, 2013-2025
- Who's Who Legal, Global Leader, Real Estate, 2022
- Who's Who Legal, Thought Leader, USA, Real Estate, 2025
- Named by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of real estate law
Affiliations
- Chair of the 2021 ICSC Law Conference
- Chair of 2019 ICSC New York Deal Making Conference
- Member, U.S. Law Conference Program Committee, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Member, New York Deal Making Conference Program Committee, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
- District of Columbia
Education
Washington College of Law, American University ( J.D. , 1983 )
Rutgers College ( B.A. , with distinction , 1979 )—Phi Beta Kappa