Senwan Akhtar, a lawyer with Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP (GRS&D), was elected to the Board of Consultors of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) on May 19, 2011 at the NJSBA Annual Conference in Atlantic City, NJ. The Board of Consultors discusses and advances developments in areas of law that concern the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. The Board also advocates for proposals and legislation affecting its Section’s members, and organizes educational programs and other informational initiatives. Very recently, Ms. Akhtar was also appointed to the Editorial Board of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine by the President of the NJSBA, Susan Feeney. The New Jersey Lawyer Magazine is published by the NJSBA on a bi-monthly basis and is sent to all members of the NJSBA.

Ms. Akhtar is an attorney in both the Corporate and Real Estate Departments at GRS&D and she is one of the few attorneys in the State of New Jersey who is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), a credential awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council to those professionals who have demonstrated an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices and in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. She is a strong believer that “Sustainable development and green building issues affect all aspects of real estate transactions.” That belief motivated her to become a LEED AP.

Multi-Faceted Law Practice

Ms. Akhtar is a practitioner in both the Corporate and Real Estate Departments of GRS&D. In addition, she is a member of three of the Firm’s Practice Groups: Banking, Business Financing & Creditors’ Rights; Technology; and Green Building. On the corporate side, Ms. Akhtar’s legal work includes the representation of companies in general corporate matters, private venture financings, employment agreements, distribution and licensing agreements, and the structuring of new business entities and joint ventures. She acts as outside general counsel to various companies, handling business issues across a number of areas such as employment matters, distribution agreements, brokerage agreements, equipment leasing, and sales representative agreements, among others. Ms. Akhtar has been involved in Merger & Acquisition work and was a key participant in last year’s combination of Amper, Politziner & Mattia LLP and Eisner LLP, forming the 14th largest public accounting firm in the U.S., EisnerAmper LLP.

On the banking and finance side, Ms. Akhtar represents lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of financing transactions, including construction and permanent loans, secured and unsecured credit facilities, the purchase and sale of loans, and the workout of distressed loans.

In real estate matters, Ms. Akhtar represents sellers and purchasers in all aspects of real estate acquisitions and dispositions, including office buildings, industrial facilities, shopping centers, and residential developments. She also represents landlords and tenants in the negotiation of leases for office, retail and industrial properties.

Ms. Akhtar received the Young Lawyer Award for 2011 on March 16th from the Middlesex County Bar Association (MCBA) at its Sixth Annual Practice Area Awards Dinner. She was recognized by Real Estate New Jersey magazine in 2009 as a Woman of Influence. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and co-chairs the Real Estate Committee of the MCBA. Outside of her daily practice, Ms. Akhtar also serves as Counsel to the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council.

Ms. Akhtar received her B.S. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. She is licensed in NJ, NY and CT.

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP has over 100 attorneys in four main practice departments, Litigation, Real Estate, Corporate, and Tax, Trusts and Estates, and 19 practice areas offering comprehensive legal services. The firm has offices located in Woodbridge and Roseland, New Jersey. For more information, call Erin P. Faltin at 732-549-5600 or visit the firm's web site at www.greenbaumlaw.com.  

# # #