Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Logo
  • Home
  • Lawyers
  • Practices
  • Insights
  • About
  • Careers
  • Alumni
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  •  icon
  • Podcasts icon
© 2025 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    • Home
    • Lawyers
    • Practices
    • Insights
    • About
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    Home /  Lawyers /  Joseph C. Shenker

    Joseph C. Shenker

    Senior Chair

    Joseph C. Shenker Headshot Photo Portrait backdrop

    New York

    +1-212-558-3768

    |

    shenkerj@sullcrom.com

    Email vCard

    At the end of 2012, The Financial Times stated that Joseph C. Shenker is “one of the rare lawyers who can turn his hand to many legal disciplines.” This observation highlights Mr. Shenker’s practice that includes experience in negotiated mergers and acquisitions (public and private); domestic and cross-border joint ventures; the representation of private equity investors and family investment offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia; securities offerings; private and public financings; commercial real estate; professional sports-related transactions; and tax and estate planning.

    A personal adviser to dozens of the world’s most active and influential business leaders and families, he has counseled clients on significant transactional matters across a number of practice areas and industry sectors.

    Mr. Shenker joined S&C in 1980, became a partner of the Firm in 1986, led the Firm’s global real estate practice for over 20 years and has been a member of the Firm’s Management Committee since 1996. He was named Vice Chair of the Firm in 2006, became Chair of the Firm in 2010 and was named Senior Chair of the Firm in 2022.

    Among his pro bono and community activities, Mr. Shenker is a member of the Dean’s Council of Columbia Law School, Chair Emeritus and Board Director of The Met Council on Jewish Poverty and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

    Mr. Shenker has been recognized in numerous publications, including Chambers, Euromoney, Mondaq, New York Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America.

    Read More

    Spotlight

    S&C Advises Khosla Family in San Francisco 49ers Investment

    Read More

    Senior Chair Joe Shenker Shares Experience in Israel during Hamas Attack with The American Lawyer; Pens Joint Letter to Law School Deans

    Read more

    New York Law Journal Features Joe Shenker’s ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Honor

    Read More

    Senior Chair Joe Shenker Discusses S&C’s Investment in AI Projects with The American Lawyer

    Read More
    • Rankings and Recognitions
    • News
    • Credentials
    • Related Practices
    Rankings and Recognitions

    Rankings and Recognitions

    • New York Law Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2023)
    • Named one of the “Top Ten Agents of Change” by The Financial Times’ U.S. Innovative Lawyers 2012 report (November 2012)
    • Recognized as “Dealmaker of the Week” by The Am Law Daily for his representation of the seller—Frank McCourt—in the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to Guggenheim Baseball Management (April 1, 2012)
    • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Commercial Real Estate, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022; REITS, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; Securities, 2010)

    • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (REITs, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Commercial Real Estate, 2002, 2003)
    • Sports Business Journal’s Power Players for Outside Counsel (2021)
    • Recognized as a 2018 Distinguished Leader by New York Law Journal (June 2018)
    • “‘You cannot talk about Sullivan & Cromwell without mentioning Joe Shenker,’ declare clients. Recognized mainly for his work for Goldman Sachs and Whitehall, he enjoys a broad practice covering M&A, cross-border joint ventures and securities.”
    • The Legal 500 United States (Commercial Real Estate, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; Hall of Fame, 2017, 2018)
    • New York Super Lawyers (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
    • Best Lawyers 2012 New York City Real Estate Lawyer of the Year
    • Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers: Best of the Best (Commercial Real Estate, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
    • PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook (Commercial Real Estate, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
    • PLC Cross-border Corporate Real Estate Handbook (2006–2007, 2007-2008, 2008–2009, 2009–2010, 2010–2011, 2012–2013)
    • The International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers (2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
    • The International Who’s Who of Sports and Entertainment Lawyers (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
    • Who’s Who Legal (Sports–& Gaming, 2022, 2023; Real Estate, 2021, 2022, 2023)
    • Who’s Who Legal’s Thought Leaders – USA – Real Estate (2023)
    • The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Real Estate, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025; Mergers, 2005)
    • Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America (2022, 2024, 2025) and Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (Hall of Fame, 2021; Mergers, Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Governance, Bankruptcy, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; Banking and Finance, 2006)
    Read More
    News

    News

    • S&C Advises Khosla Family in San Francisco 49ers Investment

      May 23, 2025
    • Senior Chair Joe Shenker Shares Experience in Israel During Hamas Attack with The American Lawyer; Pens Joint Letter to Law School Deans

      October 20, 2023
    • New York Law Journal Features Joe Shenker’s ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Honor

      October 9, 2023
    • Senior Chair Joe Shenker Discusses S&C’s Investment in AI Projects with The American Lawyer

      August 30, 2023
    • S&C Advises Bill Ackman in Launch of Professional Tennis Players Association’s Winners Alliance

      September 9, 2022
    • Condemning Anti-Semitism

      May 27, 2021
    Read More
    Read More
    Credentials

    Credentials

    Education

    • Columbia Law School, J.D., 1980
    • City University of New York, B.S., Accounting, 1977

    Bar Admissions

    • New York

    Languages

    • Hebrew
    Read More
    Related Practices

    Related Practices

    • General Practice
    • Capital Markets
    • Corporate Governance
    • Family Business Transition
    • Family Office and Business Advisory
    • Financial Services
    • Investment Management
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Private Equity
    • Real Estate
    • REITs
    • Restructuring and Special Situations
    • Sports & Entertainment
    • Tax
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Logo

    Sending an e-mail through this web site does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should not send us any information through this web site that you would want treated confidentially.

    Accept
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Logo
    • Twitter icon
    • LinkedIn icon
    • RSS Feed icon
    • Podcasts icon
    • Home
    • Contact Us
    • Information Policy Relating to Cookies
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Website Notice
    • Attorney Advertising Notice
    © 2025 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP