Real Estate Weekly’s 2020 Rising Stars
Herrick is proud to announce that real estate partner Joanna Slusarz Debski was featured in Real Estate Weekly's "2020 Rising Stars" Spotlight, which focuses on up-and-coming professionals across all areas of real estate. Real Estate Weekly states that they "recognize some of those up-and-comers who transcended the turbulence around them to solve problems, create solutions and drive their business forward during historic times."
Most recent achievement: In 2021, Herrick was proud to elevate Joanna to partner in the Real Estate Department. Joanna joined Herrick in 2014 and has established herself as a savvy and smart real estate lending attorney. By expanding existing relationships and doing excellent legal work for lenders such as Centennial Bank, G4 Capital Partners and others, Joanna quickly became a valuable member of the lending group working on multiple, sophisticated deals. Most recently, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Joanna represented Centennial Bank in a $54.8 million loan for the construction and development of 186 multifamily units, retail and industrial components and 131 parking spaces at the property in Astoria, NY. She also worked on the team that represented a private lender in a $20 million refinancing secured by a newly-constructed self-storage facility located in Staten Island, New York. She sometimes also finds herself on the borrower side, most recently in connection with the restructuring of a $101 million mezzanine loan secured by membership interests in the owner of a large residential development located on Park Avenue.
Joanna is also strongly committed to pro bono legal work. Most recently, after an almost five-year process, she was able to assist a Mexican national and her two foreign born children in securing a U Visa, a special visa available only to victims of specific crimes who cooperate with law enforcement.
This Rising Star list first appeared in Real Estate Weekly on February 17, 2020. The full list can be found here.