Joseph C. Shenker
Senior ChairJoseph C. Shenker
Senior ChairAt 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 commercial 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.
RANKINGS & RECOGNITION
- Recognized as a 2018 Distinguished Leader by New York Law Journal (June 2018)
- 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)
- “‘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, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- The International Who’s Who of Sports and Entertainment Lawyers (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Who’s Who Legal (Sports & Gaming, 2022)
- 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; Mergers, 2005)
- 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)