Ilya Braz

***** *. *** ****

Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

212-***-****

ac782d@r.postjobfree.com

Accomplished and results-oriented corporate and real estate attorney with broad-based experience in handling business and legal matters associated with the ownership, operation, leasing, acquisition and sale, financing, management, marketing and litigation in respect of residential, retail, hotel, office and mixed use commercial real estate.

Skills

Real Estate Transactions

Joint Ventures

Construction Management

Fund Formation

Corporate Finance

Privacy / Security Compliance

Litigation Management

Government Investigations

C-Suite Diplomacy

Workforce Relations

Corporate Governance

Day-to-Day Operations

Experience

GFI Capital Resources Group, Inc., New York, NY January 2012 to Present

Managing Director & General Counsel

Member of the Executive Committee and Investment Committee

Responsible for all legal matters and business operations of a real estate investment and development firm that currently owns, operates and is developing over 5 million square feet of real estate nationally, across multiple asset classes, including retail, hotel, luxury residential condominiums, and multi-family housing.

Handle day-to-day legal affairs for six operating companies, providing comprehensive real estate, construction and insurance services to affiliates and third parties.

Supervise and manage internal legal staff, outside counsel and lobbyists for all of the company’s transactions and litigation, including Greenberg Traurig, Kramer Levin, Kasowitz Benson Torres, Kirkland & Ellis, Troutman Sanders and Windels Marx.

Represent developer and construction manager in all predevelopment and development activities, including negotiation of joint venture agreements, mortgage and mezzanine loans and loan restructuring, development management agreements, construction management agreements and union collective bargaining agreements.

Responsible for all M&A, corporate governance of over 200 affiliated entities, fund formation maters and compliance, including regulatory requirements set by the Israel Securities Authority.

Oversaw the acquisition and $350 million recapitalization of 5 Beekman, a development of a historic landmark in the Manhattan financial district into an award-winning 287-room hotel with 68 luxury condominium residences located in a new 51-story tower, two leased restaurants, a night club/lounge, a fitness room/spa and approximately 6,000 sf of meeting and function space.

Closed $170 million public offering and two subsequent series of the company’s bonds on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to raise debt for GFI’s real estate projects.

Ilya Braz resume (Page 2)

Negotiated and closed over $3.0B in debt and equity transactions for the company’s affiliates.

Represented mortgage lender in extensive negotiations with HUD and the U.S. Department of Justice and supervised implementation of compliance program.

Africa Israel, USA, New York, NY June 2008-December 2011

Director of Legal Services

In-house counsel to U.S. subsidiary of international real estate development company, responsible for providing support to Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel in all aspects of leasing acquisitions and sales, financings, marketing, and litigation, with respect to mixed-use properties.

Negotiated letters of intent, purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, permanent loans, loan modifications and refinancings, hotel and other management agreements, leases, development agreements, construction contracts, marketing, brokerage and employment agreements.

Played key role in negotiating the leasing and disposition of 850,000 square feet of Manhattan retail and office space.

Negotiated and closed sales of over $80 million of the company’s Florida real estate portfolio.

Supervised and managed litigation handled by outside counsel and conducted litigation in-house.

Responsible for all corporate governance and house-keeping matters.

Redema, Inc., Brooklyn, NY April 2006- June 2008

Vice President & Legal Counsel

Provided broad based in-house counsel and managerial support for a start up full service residential and commercial real estate brokerage, management and investment company.

Led development and leasing of mixed use properties.

Negotiated and closed disposition and leasing of residential properties and condominium units.

Supervised real estate brokers and negotiated commission agreements.

Conducted all commercial and landlord/ tenant litigation.

Peter Axelrod & Associates, P.C., New York, NY November 2004 – April 2006

Associate

Structured and closed deals, negotiated and drafted agreements and other documents, and conducted litigation.

Represented clients in all aspects of real estate transactions including negotiation

and drafting of leases and multi-family, single family, and co-operative apartment purchases and refinancings.

Represented clients in all stages of commercial and real estate litigation as well as landlord tenant disputes, including all pre-trial proceedings, hearings, EBT’s, discovery, and motions.

United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Asset Forfeiture Unit, New York, NY August 2003 – November 2004

Contract Attorney

Coordinated all phases of the asset seizure process with inter-governmental agencies for forfeiture of real and personal property, and provided litigation support.

Ilya Braz resume (Page 3)

Citigroup Private Bank, Long Island City, NY May 2003 – August 2003

Mortgage Closer

Managed all aspects of mortgage closings for high net worth clients, including satisfaction of underwriting requirements, resolution of title defects, and preparation of closing documents and disbursement of funds.

Ilya Braz resume (Page 3)

Hawkins, Delafield & Wood, New York, NY June 2001 – August 2001

Summer Associate

Assisted in closing deals, conducted legal research and prepared memoranda of law.

New York State Housing Finance Agency and

State of New York Mortgage Agency New York, NY June 2000 – August 2000

Law Clerk

Assisted in closing deals, conducted legal research and prepared memoranda of law.

Education

Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NY

J.D., June 2002

Clark University, Worcester, MA

B.A., cum laude with honors in Economics, May 1999

Honors Thesis: The Effects of Rent Control on Residential Real Estate Development in New York City

Bar Admissions, Foreign Languages and Interests

Admitted to practice in New York. Speak fluent Russian and Intermediate Hebrew. Interests include competitive swimming, weight lifting and mixed martial arts.

Honors And Awards

Recipient of 2018 First Chair Award for Top General Counsel

Named Smart CEO Magazine’s 2015 Executive Management Award Winner for General

Counsel.

Frequent panel speaker for IMN’s General Counsel Forum.

Panel speaker for The Harlem Hospitality & Culinary Conference, In-house Counsel Management Conference and International In-House Counsel Conference.

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