About Scott M. Vetri

Scott Vetri serves as the chair of the Real Estate Investment and Finance practice. He has spent his career assembling and closing sophisticated commercial real estate transactions. In his national practice, he represents owners, funds and developers in financings, acquisitions, dispositions, leases and joint ventures.

Transactional counsel informed by client-side experience

Scott is in his element when working on a complex, time-sensitive transaction. Clients rely on his years of experience to drive their important deals from initial negotiations through to a successful closing. Having previously served as chief legal officer of Ark Investment Partners, an international, institutionally capitalized real estate fund and property management company, Scott views each matter from a client's perspective. He also has past lender-side experience.

In deals that present unusual challenges, Scott is an asset to his clients. They include operators and managers of multifamily, office, industrial and hotel properties; in one instance, he successfully completed the sale of a hotel while it was still under construction. Whatever the complications on a particular deal, Scott frequently anticipates the challenges ahead and finds creative solutions to them. His goal for every matter is to close the deal efficiently and within his client's time constraints.

Scott has also been published in JD Supra on the topic of New York State lawmakers considering proposals for nearly $7 billion in tax hikes that includes taxes on mezzanine and preferred equity financing and a tax on individuals with second homes in New York City (or a “pied-à-terre” tax).

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“My experience with Katten Real Estate partner, Scott Vetri, is excellent. He is insightful, well-versed, and knowledgeable in the commercial real estate area. He is detailed oriented yet has a practical, keen business judgment. He is extremely responsive and professional and will devote all the attention necessary in your deals. I highly recommend his expertise."

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2022 "Best Law Firms"
(Real Estate Law) survey response

Practice Focus

  • Equity-side representation in commercial real estate transactions
  • Financings
  • Acquisitions and dispositions of assets and equity interests
  • Joint ventures
  • Leasing
  • Development
  • Fund formation

Representative Experience

  • Acquisition/Disposition/Joint venture transactions
  • Represented Starrett City Associates in the $850 million sale of Spring Creek Towers (formerly called Starrett City) to Brooksville Company LLC and Rockpoint Group LLC.
  • Represent real estate fund in acquisition and financing of a 1.144 million-square-foot mixed-use complex in Minneapolis.
  • Represent real estate fund in acquisition and financing of a 1.6 million-square-foot mixed-use complex in Minneapolis.
  • Represented real estate fund in acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a 463,000-square-foot office building in Boston.
  • Represented real estate fund in acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a 1.4 million-square-foot office building in Chicago.
  • Represented real estate fund in acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a 250,000-square-foot office building in Washington, DC.
  • Represented real estate fund in acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a 253,000-square-foot office building in Washington, DC.
  • Represent international investor in $2.2 billion acquisition of an office and retail complex in New York City.
  • Represented international investor in joint venture acquisition of a 1.9 million-square-foot office building in New York City.
  • Represented international investor in joint venture acquisition of a 420,000-square-foot office building in New York City.
  • Represent real estate fund in the sale of a 4-star luxury, franchised hotel in New York City.
  • Represent real estate fund in acquisition of a joint venture interest in a 2.3 million-square-foot office building and a 250-stall parking garage in New York City.
  • Financing transactions
  • Represented European real estate bank in making an acquisition and construction loan secured by property in Nassau County, New York, including industrial development authority benefits.
  • Represent institutional lender in mortgage loan secured by a shopping mall in Pennsylvania.
  • Leasing transactions
  • Represent international banking and financial services institution in leasing 375,000 square feet of office space and retail space in a to-be-renovated office building in New York City.
  • Represent international banking and financial services institution in leasing 175,000 square feet of office space in an office building in New York City.
  • Represent international banking and financial services institution in leasing 230,000 square feet of office space and retail space in a to-be-constructed office building in Houston.
  • Represent international banking and financial services institution in leasing 60,000 square feet of office space and retail space in a to-be-constructed office building in Austin.
  • Represent financial services firm in headquarters lease of office space in New York City.
  • Represent real estate fund (landlord) in leasing 60,000 square feet of office space in a redevelopment project in Chicago.

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Syracuse University College of Law, JD, magna cum laude
  • Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, MCRP
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, BA, cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • District of Columbia
Community Involvements
  • Urban Land Institute, New York Mixed-Use Council
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Real Estate Law, 2018–2023
  • Super Lawyers
    New York, 2013 - 2018, 2021 - 2024
  • New York Real Estate Journal
    Ones to Watch — Industry Leaders, 2025
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2013–2015, 2017, 2020–2021, 2024–2025
Award Methodologies