Jamie Lipman Named 2025 Ones to Watch Rising Star by New York Real Estate Journal

The firm is pleased to announce that associate Jamie Lipman has been named a 2025 Ones to Watch Rising Star by the New York Real Estate Journal. This recognition is given to professionals who are making a strong impact within their firms and across the New York commercial real estate industry. The NYREJ is only able to publish a limited bio of each candidate, so we are taking this opportunity to share our full nomination for James and his full responses to questions posed by the NYREJ.

Why We Nominated Jamie Lipman for Rising Star Recognition

HSE Associate Jamie Lipman

Jamie Lipman is a rapidly Rising Star. He joined Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP to focus on complex commercial real estate projects including mixed-use and multifamily affordable residential developments after a career as a title insurance attorney. From the beginning of his time with our firm it was clear that impactful real estate development was a mission and not just a job. Jamie has contributed many hours outside of work to developing a deep understanding of real estate law to close any possible gaps in knowledge. He has quickly attained a level of knowledge that rivals that of attorneys who have only ever practiced real estate law. He is not content to rest on this, though, and continually strives to be a cutting-edge resource for his clients.

Jamie’s prior experience in different legal disciplines informs his thinking and his holistic, multi-faceted approach to problem-solving. He understands the competing needs of commercial and mixed-use projects and how to create possibilities that benefit everyone involved. Jamie also advocates for the “unseen parties” to every deal: the people who will work and live in and among these spaces. He is not afraid to ask questions or raise concerns that, were they in the room, end-users would have. This is invaluable to ensuring that a development is successful and achieves its stated purposes.

Jamie is an effective attorney in a new practice area and a new firm, after shifting his area of focus from insurance to real estate. His ability to choose and successfully navigate this transition serves as a great example for other attorneys. We each can shape our own futures, and if there is an area of law that would give your career more meaning or purpose, go for it. It takes diligence and hard work, but it is never too late.

Jamie Lipman Q&A

Q. What is your top advice for someone just starting out in your field? 

A. My advice to anyone starting out in the legal field is to pursue work you are passionate about, take calculated risks with patience and persistence, and stay focused on constantly learning and fostering relationships which will ultimately lead to success. With regards to commercial real estate transactions and more specifically affordable housing, it is a dynamic field that encompasses many other areas of the law, from real property, contracts, finance, corporate, you name it. Learning the ropes is a process and takes time, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to try to figure everything out at once. Focus on mastering the smaller details, and the bigger picture will become clear with time and experience.

We all know that work takes up a significant part of our lives, and commercial real estate transactions can be very demanding during busy closing seasons. Therefore, it is important to do something that you care about and to work in a field where you can find meaning in your day-to-day work. One of the great things about working on affordable housing transactions is that not only is the work extremely interesting and complex, but it is also impactful and makes a tangible difference in communities and peoples’ lives.

Every professional role I have held has shaped my path as an attorney, but I have learned that careers rarely follow a straight line. You might start out in one field you thought you were interested in, only to become disinterested or bored, and that’s totally fine. Not everyone will find their fit on the first try; I certainly didn’t. Sometimes it takes detours and setbacks to find the right field or job, so stay persistent, grow your network and take risks when the right opportunities present themselves. I was almost ten years into my legal career when I decided to take a risk and pursue my current role in affordable housing, a field I have long been passionate about.

Be the type of person that others want to work with, and show up each day with a positive, team-oriented mindset. Work product is important but so is how you engage and get along with others. The partners and senior attorneys you work with will all have different styles and preferences, so it is important to be able to adapt accordingly. Observe how other successful attorneys solve problems, see what works for them, and incorporate different approaches into your own work. It is easy to forget that we are only as good as the people around us.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a career in law — it’s okay to try different things and even fail along the way. Just remember why you decided to become an attorney in the first place and stay the course.

Q. What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? 

A. A recent project I am very proud to have worked on involved the development and construction of an approximately $250,000,000 mixed-use project consisting of over 300 mixed-income apartments, including federal low-income housing tax credit units, and retail space and commercial space, which closed at the end of 2024. The development also involved significant infrastructure improvements, a new private street network and open public spaces. Our firm had the pleasure of representing the talented and dynamic developer team. Aside from the sheer size and scope of the deal, the project had many layers of complexity – it involved a complicated land scheme including a land condominium, sub-condominium and ground lease structures, and financing through tax-exempt bonds, low-income housing tax credits, New Jersey ASPIRE tax credits, bridge financing, and traditional construction financing and investor equity. This was one of the first major transactions I worked on after joining Hirschen Singer & Epstein (HSE) in early 2024 and seeing this project through from start to finish was a major milestone for me and the firm.

In addition to the professional growth and experience I gained during my time working on this transaction, what made this project particularly meaningful is the fact that it will bring real public benefit and contribute enormously to the ongoing revitalization of the area. It is incredibly rewarding to see the transformation of underutilized land into a development that will provide much needed housing and enjoyment for the community. The project is currently in the construction phase and will take a few years to complete, and I am very much looking forward to attending the ribbon cutting and seeing the finished product.

Prior to joining HSE my previous position was as an in-house attorney in the title insurance industry. In that role, I was accustomed to working on a small aspect of each transaction, a piece of the process, usually toward the end. My experience at HSE and working on this project has completely changed that. It felt like I was part of the journey from the ground up, and I take great pride in all the work our team put into this deal (and all of our other deals) to help make it a success. There is something uniquely powerful about seeing an idea evolve into a real, physical project, one that will have a lasting impact.

Throughout my time working on this project, I took the opportunity to ask questions, take on new responsibilities and challenges, and actively learn as I went. It was also a valuable opportunity to build my relationship with the client, and to gain a deeper understanding of their mission and how it aligns with our firm’s broader commitment to affordable housing and community development. Being part of such a complex and meaningful transaction so early in my time at the firm not only accelerated my growth but also reaffirmed why I’m passionate about real estate development and affordable housing.