Gregory J. Ressa

Greg served as Head of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice from 2004 to 2023 and has an active practice involving all aspects of the real estate industry with particular emphasis on representation of real estate opportunity funds, real estate mergers and acquisitions, and real estate finance. He has handled deals involving Blackstone, Northwood Investors, Centerbridge, Hilton Worldwide, Invitation Homes, AIG, Sterling Investors and Dune Real Estate in a wide variety of both domestic and international transactions.

Transactions on which Greg has advised include:

• $39 billion acquisition of Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE: EOP) by Blackstone
• $26 billion acquisition of Hilton Hotels Corporation by Blackstone
• $6.8 billion sale of eight New York City office properties by Blackstone to Macklowe Properties
• $5.56 billion sale of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas by Blackstone 
• $4.25 billion acquisition and financing of the real estate assets of the Bellagio by Blackstone from MGM Resorts
• $1.95 billion sale of Waldorf Astoria New York by Hilton Worldwide to Anbang Insurance 
• Investment in Upward America Venture, Lennar’s $4 billion single family rental platform, by Centerbridge Partners
• $3.89 billion acquisition and financing of Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa (City Center – Las Vegas) by Blackstone from MGM Resorts International
• $2.9 billion joint venture to own Great Wolf Resorts and the sale of a 65% controlling interest in Great Wolf Resorts by affiliates of Centerbridge Partners L.P. and Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.
• $1.9 billion acquisition from Accor SA of its United States Economy Hotels Division, which includes Motel 6, by Blackstone
• $1.4 billion sale of The Savoy Group, owner of four of London’s most famous hotels; Claridges, The Berkeley, The Connaught and The Savoy 
• $1.3 billion acquisition of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) by Blackstone
• $1.2 billion acquisition of Simply Self Storage by Blackstone
• $805 million sale of New York Palace Hotel to LOTTE Hotels by Northwood Investors
• $500 million settlement and repayment of first mortgage financing secured by 7 World Trade Center following its destruction on 9/11
• Recapitalization of Suntex Marinas by Centerbridge Partners

Greg has been ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the categories of Real Estate (Nationwide) and Real Estate: Corporate (New York). He has also been ranked in the Hall of Fame by The Legal 500 United States.

Greg joined Simpson Thacher in 1987 and was elected to become a member of the Firm in November 1995. He has served as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. 

He received his B.A. from Tufts University in 1984 and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1987, where he was associate editor of the Fordham University Law Review.

Greg serves on the Board of Trustees of Historic Hudson Valley.