Christopher J.Palmese
Partner
Real Estate
cpalmese@seyfarth.com
More About Christopher
Christopher’s practice focuses on the representation of purchasers, sellers, investors, developers, lenders, tenants, and landlords in all facets of their commercial real estate portfolios, including the acquisition and disposition of real estate, C-PACE, bridge, permanent and mezzanine financing, and solar, retail, and office leasing.
Christopher was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2024, 2025, and 2026). He was also selected to the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). Each year, no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor (Thomson Reuters).
Christopher was recognized as one of New York Real Estate Journal’s 2025 Innovators in Commercial Real Estate for his commitment to transforming legal service delivery through technology and innovation.
In 2025, Christopher was one of only 17 attorneys recognized as a Pro Bono Dean’s List honoree by Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) for his pro bono work supporting older adults and veterans with their critical life-planning documents through the VOLS Senior Law Project. Additionally, Christopher was named a Pro Bono All Star at Seyfarth for 10 years of pro bono contributions.
Christopher received the Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for New York in 2019 in recognition of his pro bono contributions throughout his career. He was one of 11 winners in 2019, selected from Lawyers Alliance’s network of over 2,000 volunteers.
Christopher has been a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on the intersection of climate risk and commercial real estate finance, since its inception in 2021. He is also a member of the firm’s Impact & ESG advisory group. In 2023, Christopher served as a curator on the Content Committee for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s BuildingEnergy NYC conference—a conference dedicated to sustainability in real estate and decarbonizing the built environment.
Christopher was named an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association for his 2017 and 2018 pro bono contributions.
While in law school, Christopher was an intern for the Honorable P. Kevin Castel, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
Christopher was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2024, 2025, and 2026). He was also selected to the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). Each year, no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor (Thomson Reuters).
Christopher was recognized as one of New York Real Estate Journal’s 2025 Innovators in Commercial Real Estate for his commitment to transforming legal service delivery through technology and innovation.
In 2025, Christopher was one of only 17 attorneys recognized as a Pro Bono Dean’s List honoree by Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) for his pro bono work supporting older adults and veterans with their critical life-planning documents through the VOLS Senior Law Project. Additionally, Christopher was named a Pro Bono All Star at Seyfarth for 10 years of pro bono contributions.
Christopher received the Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for New York in 2019 in recognition of his pro bono contributions throughout his career. He was one of 11 winners in 2019, selected from Lawyers Alliance’s network of over 2,000 volunteers.
Christopher has been a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on the intersection of climate risk and commercial real estate finance, since its inception in 2021. He is also a member of the firm’s Impact & ESG advisory group. In 2023, Christopher served as a curator on the Content Committee for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s BuildingEnergy NYC conference—a conference dedicated to sustainability in real estate and decarbonizing the built environment.
Christopher was named an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association for his 2017 and 2018 pro bono contributions.
While in law school, Christopher was an intern for the Honorable P. Kevin Castel, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
- JD, St. John's University School of Law
Dean's list
American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review senior staff member
Dean's Merit Scholarship recipient - BA, Muhlenberg College
Certifications
- Certified Health Care Institute (HCI) professional, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2022)
- New York
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
10/28/2025
Christopher Palmese Spotlighted as 2025 Innovator in Commercial Real Estate
-
Recognition
10/17/2025
Christopher Palmese Named to VOLS 2025 Pro Bono Dean’s List for Service to Senior Law Project
-
Speaking Engagement
Jul 24, 2025
Christopher Palmese to Speak at Strafford Webinar "Rooftop Solar Leases: Due Diligence, Negotiation, and Drafting Considerations for Landlords and Tenants"
-
Media Mentions
07/21/2025
Seyfarth Advises Storage Post on Largest NYC Real Estate Transaction of the Week, Featured in Law360
- Named to Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) Pro Bono Dean’s List for Service to Senior Law Project (2025)
- Recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Real Estate Law (2024, 2026)
- Received Cornerstone Award by Lawyers Alliance for New York (2019)
-
Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Animals and the Law - Resources Subcommittee former vice chair
- Co-Author, "Understanding Local Law 97 (LL 97): Frequently Asked Questions and Answers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 21, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Lender Perspectives on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loans," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 22, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Federal Agencies Issue Guidance on Loan Modifications Relating to COVID-19," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Difficult Leasing Decisions for Tenants During the Coronavirus Crisis," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 19, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Effects of the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act on Building Owners, Cash Flow, and Property Values," PREA Quarterly (October 8, 2019)
- Co-Author, "Climate Mobilization Act," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 30, 2019)
- Co-Author, "But My Dispensary Tenant is Cash Flow Positive, Why Can't I Get a Loan?" CRE Finance World (June 10, 2019)
- "RCRA Clean-Up Injunction is Not Dis-chargeable in Bankruptcy," ABI Bankruptcy Case Blog (May 9, 2010)
- "Citizen's Environmental Coalition Inc. v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation," The New York Environmental Lawyer, Vol. 29, No. 2 (2009)
- Co-Presenter, "Rooftop Solar Leases: Due Diligence, Negotiation, and Drafting Considerations for Landlords and Tenants," Webinar, Strafford (July 24, 2025)
- Co-Speaker, "The Property Line: Bright Deals: Rooftop Solar Leases," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2025)
- Co-Speaker, "The Property Line: Financing the Future of Clean Energy," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 22, 2024)
- Moderator, "Managing Retail, Site Selection & Creating Compliant Spaces," Bisnow's Tri-State Cannabis & Real Estate Conference, New York City, NY (December 14, 2023)
- Speaker, "NYC Local Law 97: Preparing for 2024 and Beyond: Strategies to Achieve and Finance Building Decarbonization," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 19, 2023)
- Speaker, "The Property Line: A Budding Future for Cannabis CRE with Curaleaf," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 14, 2022)
- Panelist, "Encore Presentation: Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance," Strafford Webinar (June 7, 2022)
- Panelist, "Encore Presentation: Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance with Live Q&A," Strafford Webinar (August 18, 2021)
- Panelist, "Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance," Strafford Webinar (May 27, 2021)
More About Christopher
Christopher’s practice focuses on the representation of purchasers, sellers, investors, developers, lenders, tenants, and landlords in all facets of their commercial real estate portfolios, including the acquisition and disposition of real estate, C-PACE, bridge, permanent and mezzanine financing, and solar, retail, and office leasing.
Christopher was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2024, 2025, and 2026). He was also selected to the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). Each year, no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor (Thomson Reuters).
Christopher was recognized as one of New York Real Estate Journal’s 2025 Innovators in Commercial Real Estate for his commitment to transforming legal service delivery through technology and innovation.
In 2025, Christopher was one of only 17 attorneys recognized as a Pro Bono Dean’s List honoree by Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) for his pro bono work supporting older adults and veterans with their critical life-planning documents through the VOLS Senior Law Project. Additionally, Christopher was named a Pro Bono All Star at Seyfarth for 10 years of pro bono contributions.
Christopher received the Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for New York in 2019 in recognition of his pro bono contributions throughout his career. He was one of 11 winners in 2019, selected from Lawyers Alliance’s network of over 2,000 volunteers.
Christopher has been a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on the intersection of climate risk and commercial real estate finance, since its inception in 2021. He is also a member of the firm’s Impact & ESG advisory group. In 2023, Christopher served as a curator on the Content Committee for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s BuildingEnergy NYC conference—a conference dedicated to sustainability in real estate and decarbonizing the built environment.
Christopher was named an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association for his 2017 and 2018 pro bono contributions.
While in law school, Christopher was an intern for the Honorable P. Kevin Castel, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
Christopher was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2024, 2025, and 2026). He was also selected to the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). Each year, no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor (Thomson Reuters).
Christopher was recognized as one of New York Real Estate Journal’s 2025 Innovators in Commercial Real Estate for his commitment to transforming legal service delivery through technology and innovation.
In 2025, Christopher was one of only 17 attorneys recognized as a Pro Bono Dean’s List honoree by Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) for his pro bono work supporting older adults and veterans with their critical life-planning documents through the VOLS Senior Law Project. Additionally, Christopher was named a Pro Bono All Star at Seyfarth for 10 years of pro bono contributions.
Christopher received the Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for New York in 2019 in recognition of his pro bono contributions throughout his career. He was one of 11 winners in 2019, selected from Lawyers Alliance’s network of over 2,000 volunteers.
Christopher has been a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on the intersection of climate risk and commercial real estate finance, since its inception in 2021. He is also a member of the firm’s Impact & ESG advisory group. In 2023, Christopher served as a curator on the Content Committee for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s BuildingEnergy NYC conference—a conference dedicated to sustainability in real estate and decarbonizing the built environment.
Christopher was named an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association for his 2017 and 2018 pro bono contributions.
While in law school, Christopher was an intern for the Honorable P. Kevin Castel, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
- JD, St. John's University School of Law
Dean's list
American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review senior staff member
Dean's Merit Scholarship recipient - BA, Muhlenberg College
Certifications
- Certified Health Care Institute (HCI) professional, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2022)
- New York
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
10/28/2025
Christopher Palmese Spotlighted as 2025 Innovator in Commercial Real Estate
-
Recognition
10/17/2025
Christopher Palmese Named to VOLS 2025 Pro Bono Dean’s List for Service to Senior Law Project
-
Speaking Engagement
Jul 24, 2025
Christopher Palmese to Speak at Strafford Webinar "Rooftop Solar Leases: Due Diligence, Negotiation, and Drafting Considerations for Landlords and Tenants"
-
Media Mentions
07/21/2025
Seyfarth Advises Storage Post on Largest NYC Real Estate Transaction of the Week, Featured in Law360
- Named to Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) Pro Bono Dean’s List for Service to Senior Law Project (2025)
- Recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Real Estate Law (2024, 2026)
- Received Cornerstone Award by Lawyers Alliance for New York (2019)
-
Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Sustainability Initiative
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Animals and the Law - Resources Subcommittee former vice chair
- Co-Author, "Understanding Local Law 97 (LL 97): Frequently Asked Questions and Answers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 21, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Lender Perspectives on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loans," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 22, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Federal Agencies Issue Guidance on Loan Modifications Relating to COVID-19," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Difficult Leasing Decisions for Tenants During the Coronavirus Crisis," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 19, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Effects of the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act on Building Owners, Cash Flow, and Property Values," PREA Quarterly (October 8, 2019)
- Co-Author, "Climate Mobilization Act," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 30, 2019)
- Co-Author, "But My Dispensary Tenant is Cash Flow Positive, Why Can't I Get a Loan?" CRE Finance World (June 10, 2019)
- "RCRA Clean-Up Injunction is Not Dis-chargeable in Bankruptcy," ABI Bankruptcy Case Blog (May 9, 2010)
- "Citizen's Environmental Coalition Inc. v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation," The New York Environmental Lawyer, Vol. 29, No. 2 (2009)
- Co-Presenter, "Rooftop Solar Leases: Due Diligence, Negotiation, and Drafting Considerations for Landlords and Tenants," Webinar, Strafford (July 24, 2025)
- Co-Speaker, "The Property Line: Bright Deals: Rooftop Solar Leases," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2025)
- Co-Speaker, "The Property Line: Financing the Future of Clean Energy," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 22, 2024)
- Moderator, "Managing Retail, Site Selection & Creating Compliant Spaces," Bisnow's Tri-State Cannabis & Real Estate Conference, New York City, NY (December 14, 2023)
- Speaker, "NYC Local Law 97: Preparing for 2024 and Beyond: Strategies to Achieve and Finance Building Decarbonization," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 19, 2023)
- Speaker, "The Property Line: A Budding Future for Cannabis CRE with Curaleaf," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 14, 2022)
- Panelist, "Encore Presentation: Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance," Strafford Webinar (June 7, 2022)
- Panelist, "Encore Presentation: Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance with Live Q&A," Strafford Webinar (August 18, 2021)
- Panelist, "Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance," Strafford Webinar (May 27, 2021)