Cole Schotz Strengthens National Real Estate Practice with Veteran Hire in New York

Cole Schotz P.C. is pleased to announce Robert Augusto Riva has joined the firm’s New York office as a member of its nationally recognized Real Estate practice. Mr. Riva, an accomplished real estate lawyer who has more than two decades of experience, served as head of the real estate finance practice at his prior firm.

“We are thrilled that Robert is joining the real estate team at Cole Schotz,” said Gary M. Albrecht, co-chairman of the Real Estate Department. “His extensive experience representing commercial real estate lenders in a variety of transactions, including mezzanine, bridge, construction and permanent loans, as well as in preferred equity investments, intercreditor and co-lender transactions, will further bolster the sophisticated legal representation we offer to our clients.”

Throughout his legal career, Mr. Riva has represented institutional lenders, banks, and other financial institutions, as well as owners and developers, in the financing, purchase, sale, and leasing of commercial real estate. His primary focus lies in financing both the construction and development of projects, including hotels and resorts, condominium and multi-family projects, and office, retail, and mixed-use developments throughout North America.

“Cole Schotz provides me with an ideal platform and its national presence offers further opportunities to grow my practice and better serve my clients,” said Mr. Riva. “I am looking forward to working with a team that has a built a strong reputation through its excellence in client service and counsel.”

Prior to entering the field of law, Mr. Riva was an economist in Washington, D.C., where he worked for Congress, the National Academy of Sciences, the Office of Technology Assessment, as well as a public-private think tank.

Mr. Riva has taught continuing legal education courses covering a range of commercial real estate topics from title and survey matters to advanced financing structures. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and Illinois, and earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School.

Cole Schotz’ Real Estate practice has earned a national reputation for providing practical and strategic solutions for real estate developers and investors and is regularly cited in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.