Clifford Chance

Leading Investment Banker Steven J. Mastrovich Joins Clifford Chance in New York

Clifford Chance today announced that Steven J. Mastrovich has joined the Firm in New York. A former managing director of three major investment banks, Mastrovich is a highly regarded senior executive in the real estate capital markets space.

Mastrovich adds an important strategic dimension to the Firm's market-leading REIT, real estate, hospitality, private equity, fintech and specialty finance practices. He will be supporting clients in private capital raising, joint venture and capital formation, enterprise reorganizations, complex transactions and in developing next step strategies to support enterprise growth and success. Mastrovich is well-versed on the impact of demographics and technology on real estate and can be an extremely valuable resource to clients looking to navigate through the important changes occurring in these areas.

"Steve's qualifications and longstanding relationships with leading global capital providers, real estate lenders and developers, public REITs and their boards are a distinct value-add for our clients," said Jay Bernstein, who chairs the Firm’s US REIT and Specialty Finance Groups. "His experience as an investment banker on complex transactions combines extensive market knowledge with strong negotiating skills and a decidedly hands-on approach, making him a highly effective advisor and a strong addition to our Clifford Chance team. I am delighted to welcome him to the Firm."

Mastrovich brings significant international and cross-border business and advisory experience, having held senior investment banking and asset management positions at JPMorgan, UBS and HSBC. Prior to joining the Firm, he was managing director and head of Real Estate, UBS Investment Bank – Private Funds Group, with global responsibility for the real estate private capital markets business. In one landmark deal, he sourced, negotiated and structured a joint venture for UBS Wealth Management clients with Fortress, Softbank and L&L Holdings on a US$2.5 billion development in Manhattan's Times Square, called TSX Broadway.

Previously, Mastrovich served for 14 years as managing director and head of Private Capital Markets, JPMorgan Investment Bank – Global Real Estate and Lodging Investment Banking Group (REALIB) and at JPMorgan Asset Management – Global Real Assets, where he was responsible for the build-out of the non-US Real Assets business and worked extensively with non-US clients and investors on cross-border investments, fund creation, tax planning, regulatory and structuring. Before that, he was a managing director and head of Specialized Investments for HSBC Investment Banking and Markets and, earlier, worked for 18 years as a commercial real estate and tax lawyer in private practice, most recently with Squire Patton Boggs.

"Adding Steve provides clients with a powerful combination of investment banking and legal experience," said Americas Regional Managing Partner Evan Cohen. "This is an exciting development, not just for our clients but for our Firm."

"I am thrilled to join a preeminent global law firm and work with clients and colleagues from around the world on cutting-edge projects," said Mastrovich. "I worked closely with CC lawyers during my 20 years in banking and have an appreciation for the depth and breadth of our practice areas and the Firm's unrivaled ability to offer creative advice to help clients grow their companies. I'm very excited to be a part of an organization that champions cultural diversity and cross-border business."