Samantha Wallack

Biography

CO-CHAIR, REAL ESTATE PRACTICE GROUP

Samantha Wallack is an accomplished deal maker and co-chair of the firm’s national real estate practice. Samantha is often asked to act as in-house counsel for her clients due to her deep understanding of their business and a strong commitment to their success. Samantha is a trusted adviser to a diverse clientele, including private equity funds, developers, private REITs, family businesses, insurance companies, and realty advisers, with respect to:

  • Sales and acquisitions
  • Joint venture agreements and equity investments
  • Financings
  • Portfolio transactions
  • Workouts and restructuring
  • Leasing

Samantha’s practice involves all assets classes and types of real estate including industrial, multifamily, mixed-use, retail, and office.

Samantha is a mentor to the many talented and diverse real estate associates at Blank Rome and is proud to help train the next generation of real estate attorneys that will advise Blank Rome’s clients as the real estate industry and real estate markets continue to grow and evolve.

Outside the Firm

Outside of the office, Samantha spends time volunteering with Best Friends of NY, a not-for-profit animal rescue, as well as participating on the gala committee for Friends of the Children NY, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring.

Experience

  • A real estate investment company, in the purchase of a multifamily portfolio of properties located in 17 states and the associated joint venture agreement and portfolio financing.
  • A real estate investment and management services company, in the sale of its 85 percent interest in a publicly traded REIT. The retail portfolio had an approximate value of $835 million and consisted of 21 shopping center properties located in seven states.
  • A public company, in the sale of a shopping mall located in Massachusetts as well as the related lease terminations and redevelopment.
  • A real estate management and development company, in the sale of a multifamily portfolio of over 3,000 units located in Texas and the Southeast. The deal involved complex defeasance issues and labor arrangements. 
  • A real estate investment company, in the purchase of a Note, the release of the accompanying liens, the closing of acquisition financing, and a joint venture agreement with the company’s operating partner.
  • A tenancy-in-common, in the sale of their interest in a renowned New York City office building.
  • A leading real estate investment company, in the purchase of its partner’s interest in an office portfolio.
  • A leading real estate investment company, in the lease of retail space at a power center to a national retail tenant.

News & Views

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Recognitions

  • 2023, "2023 Lawyer in Real Estate," by Connect CRE
  • 2023, listed in The Legal 500 United States
  • 2022, Woman of Influence, by New York Business Journal
  • 2021, Women of Influence Awards: Women to Watch, by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum

Affiliations

Professional Activities

Samantha graduated cum laude from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., where she was the Notes Editor for the Women’s Law Journal.

Samantha is an active member of Commercial Real Estate Women (“CREW”), CREW New York, Urban Land Institute, and New York Women Executives in Real Estate.

Samantha serves as a member of Blank Rome’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is very involved in women’s initiatives at the firm. She is a founding member of the firm’s Women Who Lead, a member of the Women’s Forum (formerly the Co-Chair), and an active participant in the planning committee for Blank Rome’s Annual Women’s Leadership Summit. She is very involved in multiple pro bono initiatives including with 866-Our Vote and NYAGRA (New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy).

Credentials

Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York

Education

  • University of Wisconsin, BA
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, JD, cum laude