Thomas Smith’s practice is at the forefront of “smart” commercial real estate development and urban retail redevelopment. In South Norwalk, Connecticut, Mr. Smith, acting as both developer and attorney, spearheaded the development of SoNo Corporate Center, a “smart” commercial office building which features an “incubator” program for start-up e-commerce businesses, state of the art telecommunications facilities and advanced broadband access. SoNo Corporate Center is also a major component of the revitalization of the downtown retail center of South Norwalk. In addition, Mr. Smith has advised numerous other real estate and e-commerce businesses on how to leverage and complement their business structures, and has provided the legal framework to further these developments.

Mr. Smith has successfully structured numerous financial workouts with institutional lenders and federal agencies on behalf of owners and lenders in Westchester and New York City. More recently, Mr. Smith has represented institutional and individual clients in connection with purchases, sales and financings of office, multi-family and shopping center properties in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. He also specializes in commercial leasing of office and retail space including rooftop antennae licenses, management and lease agreements and telecommunications access agreements.

Mr. Smith served as a member of the New York Attorney General’s Martin Act Task Force. He is a founder and the current secretary of the Council of Westchester Co-ops and Condominiums (CWCC) and has served on the Board of the Southern New York Chapter of the Community Associations Institute. He has been at the forefront of the movement to provide educational and advocacy resources to the Westchester cooperative and condominium community. Mr. Smith has represented sponsors and tenants’ associations in connection with the conversion of dozens of rental properties in New York City and Westchester to cooperative and condominium ownership.

As a former chairman of the Mount Kisco Zoning Board of Appeals, Mr. Smith has demonstrated expertise in land use procedures and has successfully represented property owners before municipal boards in connection with subdivision approvals, zoning changes, site plan approvals and variance applications.

Mr. Smith provides both the business acumen and legal expertise to assist clients in the formulation and implementation of development plans, in particular with respect to distressed or underutilized properties and income tax driven transactions.