They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Peter Borock of Greenberg Traurig

Peter Borock

Age: 39

Law Firm: Greenberg Traurig

Practice Area: Real Estate

Title: Partner and Deputy Chair, New York Real Estate Practice

Location: New York

Law School: The University of Michigan Law School

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.

In fall of 2024 I led a nationwide team that advised Raith Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity sponsor, in the sale of a 33-property industrial and logistics portfolio across roughly a dozen states for more than $450 million. It was challenging yet rewarding to manage such a large team that worked together seamlessly. We tackled last-minute thorny issues that enabled our client to successfully close the sale, exit the portfolio and achieve its goals.

Since 2018, I have worked tirelessly to advise New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority in connection with a variety of real estate matters connected to East Side Access (Grand Central Madison), the $11 billion plus project that successfully opened in January, 2023. Grand Central Madison brought Long Island Rail Road service directly into Grand Central and has spurred private development in East Midtown while shortening commutes.

Our team has tackled complex multidisciplinary and multi-party issues such as Covid-related construction delays, public-private partnerships – including for JPMorgan Chase’s new world headquarters set to open in August 2025 on top of Grand Central, along with leasing, licensing, construction and land-use matters. It was exciting to attend the terminal’s opening day festivities and see our hard work come to life.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?

As a first-year associate, I learned, through a humbling experience, that it’s OK to not know everything about the law; what’s important is to be an eager learner. Eleven years ago, I was fresh out of law school, and I didn’t know the difference between a deed and a deed of trust – basic real estate documents that every lawyer should know – until a senior associate corrected me. I realized that while it’s OK to not know certain information, I need to always do my research and learn. Now as a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, I try to be patient when explaining a legal term or concept to a new associate. I also encourage our associates to take ownership of their own learning and to teach themselves new facets of the law to better serve clients. The law is constantly evolving, and to succeed in this profession, you need to be constantly learning, growing, and preparing for new challenges.

How do you define success in your practice?

I derive a lot of personal satisfaction from leading teams and fostering collaboration within my firm to serve clients in ways that exceed expectations. As my practice has grown over the years, I’ve learned that I can’t do it all myself – I need a strong team around me to help execute successfully on major client deals and projects. I also take great pride in providing my clients with strategic legal counsel that goes beyond technical legal matters. For me, success is understanding not only what a client wants from a particular deal or project, but also how that deal or project aligns with their overall business goals and objectives. Of course, there’s no better sign of success than when a client recommends you to someone else.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?

My work on behalf of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) resonates with me personally because I grew up in New York City, and now my wife and I are raising our two young daughters here. To me, there’s nothing more New York than the subway, which I take daily to and from my office in Midtown Manhattan. A good chunk of my work focuses on helping New York’s transit system grow and become fully ADA accessible.

Built over a century ago, the subway was not designed with accessibility in mind. By adding elevators, ramps, and other ADA features to stations across the city, the MTA is creating a world of new opportunities for people with disabilities. As outside counsel to the MTA, I also have been heavily involved in the $11-plus billion East Side Access project, which provides Long Island Railroad riders with direct access to the East Side of Manhattan via the new Grand Central Madison Terminal. One of my proudest moments was attending the terminal’s opening-day celebration two years ago. Having worked on the project now for seven years, it was rewarding to receive a golden train ticket that I still have on display in my office.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?

I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors throughout my career, including Meredith Kane, whom I worked with at my prior firm; Stephen Rabinowitz, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Real Estate Practice; and Andrea Ascher, deputy general counsel at the MTA. Meredith taught me to always understand what motivates our clients and our counterparties to help devise creative solutions that address everyone’s needs—the only way to get a deal done. Stephen has taught me to verify everything—when someone tells me the law says “X,” don’t just take their word for it; read the law myself and draw my own conclusions. And Andrea has taught me that when drafting documents, simplicity is often the best solution, and to always think critically about problems.

All three mentors have impressed upon me the importance of constantly evolving and developing new knowledge and skills to help clients capitalize on new opportunities. Earlier in my career, I worked on many projects in the office real estate space. Since the pandemic, my practice has greatly expanded to include office-to-residential conversions and the industrial sector. To paraphrase hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, you have to go to where the puck is going, not where it has been.

Please tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.
My summer playlist is dominated by our young daughters who toggle back and forth between the Cars soundtrack and Taylor Swift (currently “Fearless” is #1). When I get a spare moment alone, I will be listening to “Good Lovin’” as played by the Grateful Dead – we entered our wedding reception to this song!

Peter, his wife, Elana, and their two daughters watching the changing of the guard in London.

Photo Illustration: Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law; Photo courtesy of Peter Borock