Donald E. Sonnenborn

Donald E. Sonnenborn

Real Estate Law

4.0 (1 reviews)
New York, New York
7+ years experience
Davis+Gilbert LLP
Updated:

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Bio

Donald Sonnenborn is co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. He advises major U.S. developers as well as landlords and lessees on office, commercial and retail properties, from acquisition, finance, management and leasing through disposition.With clients that include some of the largest commercial landlords, property owners, best-known developers, national and international retailers, and financial services companies, Donald excels at negotiating large-scale leases for both landlords and tenants, helping his clients secure properties, manage risks and restructure troubled leases. He has handled many of New York City’s biggest leasing deals involving iconic office buildings and complexes such as Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, the Chrysler Center and many others. In addition, he has handled the lease-ups of major new developments including Hudson Yards and Jackson Park.Donald is well versed in the unique issues involved in leasing to international tenants and those with sovereign immunity, and experienced in resolving the financial and corporate real estate collateral issues that arise in commercial and retail acquisitions and dispositions. Major developers also turn to him to represent them in forming joint ventures for the acquisition and development of real estate.Practical and realistic in his approach, Donald applies his deep market knowledge, attention to detail, negotiating acumen, and common sense to ensure his clients have the information they need to close the best deals. From initial discussions through preparing and reviewing final legal documents, Donald helps his clients realize their objectives. Donald Sonnenborn is co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. He advises major U.S. developers as well as landlords and lessees on office, commercial and retail properties, from acquisition, finance, management and leasing through disposition.With clients that include some of the largest commercial landlords, property owners, best-known developers, national and international retailers, and financial services companies, Donald excels at negotiating large-scale leases for both landlords and tenants, helping his clients secure properties, manage risks and restructure troubled leases. He has handled many of New York City’s biggest leasing deals involving iconic office buildings and complexes such as Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, the Chrysler Center and many others. In addition, he has handled the lease-ups of major new developments including Hudson Yards and Jackson Park.Donald is well versed in the unique issues involved in leasing to international tenants and those with sovereign immunity, and experienced in resolving the financial and corporate real estate collateral issues that arise in commercial and retail acquisitions and dispositions. Major developers also turn to him to represent them in forming joint ventures for the acquisition and development of real estate.Practical and realistic in his approach, Donald applies his deep market knowledge, attention to detail, negotiating acumen, and common sense to ensure his clients have the information they need to close the best deals. From initial discussions through preparing and reviewing final legal documents, Donald helps his clients realize their objectives. Donald Sonnenborn is co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. He has handled many of New York City’s biggest leasing deals involving iconic office buildings and complexes such as Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, the Chrysler Center and many others. In addition, he has handled the lease-ups of major new developments including Hudson Yards and Jackson Park. Donald is well versed in the unique issues involved in leasing to international tenants and those with sovereign immunity, and experienced in resolving the financial and corporate real estate collateral issues that arise in commercial and retail acquisitions and dispositions.

Practice Areas

Real Estate Law

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized: Real Estate Law
  • Special Focus: COVID-19

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018

Education

  • Haverford College, B.A.

Reviews

N

Nicole Brown

2 weeks ago

Expert real estate counsel for a complex lease renegotiation

We engaged Donald Sonnenborn at Davis+Gilbert to navigate a significant renegotiation of our company's flagship retail lease in Manhattan. The landlord was seeking substantial changes post-COVID, and we needed counsel who understood both the legal intricacies and the current market realities. Donald was exactly that. His background advising major developers and his specific focus on COVID-19-related issues were immediately apparent. He provided a clear, strategic framework for our negotiations, identifying leverage points we had overlooked. His guidance on force majeure clauses and operational flexibility was particularly invaluable, directly reflecting the recognition he's received in real estate law. The outcome protected our interests far better than we anticipated. The one area for slight improvement would be initial response times during peak periods; emails sometimes took a day for an acknowledgment, though follow-up was always thorough. Overall, Donald’s seven years of focused experience and practical, client-centered approach made a critical difference in a high-stakes situation.

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