Awards:
Top Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell - 2015- 2022; Avvo - 2023
Top 100 Real Estate Lawyers in New York State,
American Society of Legal Advocates - 2014
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers,
Martindale-Hubbell - 2013, 2014
Legal Elite - Top Women Attorneys in New York
City, Avenue Magazine - 2011, 2012
AV Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated,
Martindale-Hubbell - last 23 years.
Speaking Engagements, Podcasts,
Papers & Publications:
"Wisconsin Construction Law: What Do You Do
When...?" (National Business Institute Lecture)
"Ten-Year Statute of Repose for Design and
Construction Defects" *
"Home Buyer Beware: Make the Fine Print Work
for You" *
"Remodeling Contractor Beware -- Liability Under
Wisconsin Home Improvement Trade Practices
Regulations" *
Guidelines for Office Relocation and Expansion
(co-author) **
Furniture Guidelines (co-author) **
-------------
* Michael, Best & Friedrich Construction / Real
Estate Newsletter
** McKinsey & Company internal publication
"Real Estate & Law" - tips on
buying or selling a home
(Boomers Rock radio talk show)
DEBRA H. ZARNE, Attorney at Law
Areas of Practice: Commercial and residential real estate law with an emphasis on commercial leasing and architectural/construction contracts.
Bar Admissions: New York and Wisconsin
Education:
A.B. English - Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa)
J.D. - Harvard Law School
M.F.A. Cinema/Television (Film Production Division) - University of Southern California
Work Experience:
Debra has handled nearly all types of real estate transactions, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial leases (corporate headquarters, office, retail, shopping center, industrial and antenna leases); construction contracts (general contractor and construction management agreements and subcontracts); architectural, engineering and consultant agreements; commercial and residential purchases and sales (office, apartment and industrial/warehouse buildings; houses, coops and condominiums); sale-leasebacks; mortgages and other financings; partnership agreements; brokerage agreements; and other real estate contracts.
Highlights have included drafting a headquarters lease in Manhattan for a global bank, drafting a construction management agreement for construction of a new New York Stock Exchange building, representing an art museum in its expansion, representing several hospitals on new construction projects, providing advice to corporate offices worldwide on the entire process of opening a new office or expanding an existing one, as well as a variety of real estate matters for real estate developers, a clothing designer, clothing stores, various small businesses, and individuals.
Debra received most of her training in real estate law as an Associate in the law firm of
Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler (New York office). She went on to become the Real Estate Counsel at the global management consulting firm of McKinsey & Company, Inc. (New York office); a Partner at the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP (Milwaukee office); and Counsel at the global law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (New York and Tokyo offices).
On the side, Debra has served as an Adminstrative Law Judge at the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (part-time), adjudicating cases relating to taxicabs, for-hire vehicles, commuter vans, paratransit vans, etc.; and as a Small Claims Arbitrator for the New York City Civil Court (pro bono).
Debra also is a notary public in New York and Wisconsin.
"AV Preeminent" and 5.0/5.0 Peer Review rating on Martindale.com
.png)