David C. Djaha

A capable attorney with deep real estate experience

I engaged David Djaha of Ropes & Gray for a complex commercial lease renegotiation for my business, a process heavily impacted by the pandemic-era clauses. His 36 years of experience and recognition in real estate law were immediately apparent; his analysis of force majeure and operational contingency terms was exceptionally thorough. He clearly knows the New York market inside and out. However, my experience was a mix of high-level expertise and practical frustrations. While the final work product was solid, communication was sometimes slower than I would have liked. As a senior partner, he was often in meetings, and responses to my non-urgent emails could take several days. The billing, while commensurate with a firm of this caliber, felt steep for the amount of direct interaction. He successfully navigated the deal, and I appreciate his guidance, but the process required more patience on my end than I anticipated. He is undoubtedly a knowledgeable lawyer, but client management aspects felt just adequate.