Simone Development appoints Rubenstein as general counsel

Bronx, NY Simone Development Companies, a full-service real estate investment and development company, revealed the appointment of Sara Rubenstein as general counsel. Rubenstein, who has worked in the real estate and construction industries for 15 years, brings to Simone a broad range of legal and operations knowledge in real estate finance, complex development, sales and acquisitions, leasing and the construction process. Rubenstein was previously with Lend Lease, one of the world’s largest development, property, infrastructure and construction management firms. As Associate Counsel for the Americas region of Lend Lease, she advised senior officers and directors concerning the legal and business impact and implications of transactions, project issues and disputes. She was responsible for drafting and negotiating complex real estate contracts, construction agreements, leases, nondisclosure agreements, brokerage agreements, labor agreements, joint venture agreements, consulting agreements and administering other legal matters. She also served as Assistant Corporate Secretary for the company. Prior to joining Lend Lease, Ms. Rubenstein was an attorney in private practice. Her previous experience as an attorney included working as a Real Estate Associate for Herrick, Feinstein LLP, where she advised prominent owners, lenders and developers, including Real Estate Investment Trusts and private equity funds, in their real estate acquisitions, dispositions, developments, financings, workouts, restructurings and joint ventures. A resident of Manhattan, Ms. Rubenstein earned a J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with concentrations in Finance and Accounting, from the University of Miami. She was recently honored by ENR New York Magazine as one of the “Top 20 Under 40”; by Sokol Media, Inc. as one of the “Top 14 Women to Watch” in Real Estate in 2014; by Women Builder’s Council as one of the “Outstanding Women in Real Estate”; and by Real Estate Forum as one of “Metro New York’s Women of Influence”.