Belkin Burden Goldman, LLP (BBG) Sponsors REBNY Event Featuring MaryAnne Gilmartin (MAG Partners); Introduction Provided by Partner David Shamshovich
Belkin Burden Goldman, LLP (BBG) was proud to sponsor the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Commercial Development Committee Fireside Chat on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The program brought together a cross-section of New York City’s development community, including developers, brokers, investors and attorneys, for an in-depth conversation with MaryAnne Gilmartin, CEO of MAG Partners LP, and Bob Knakal.
Partner David Shamshovich, Co-Chair of BBG’s Tax Exemptions and Zoning Incentives Practice, opened the event by welcoming attendees and introducing the speakers. In his remarks, David highlighted BBG’s work across the real estate lifecycle, including helping clients navigate complex zoning and tax incentive programs that make challenging projects feasible in today’s market.
During the fireside chat, MaryAnne shared candid stories about her humble beginnings and how she found her way into a real estate career she had never initially envisioned. She described how a New York City Urban Fellows placement in the Koch administration first drew her into public-sector development work at the city’s Public Development Corporation (now the New York City Economic Development Corporation), setting her on a path toward large-scale urban projects.
MaryAnne then spoke about her two decades at Forest City Ratner, her close working relationship with founder Bruce Ratner, and the leadership lessons she drew from taking on ambitious, high-profile developments. At Forest City Ratner, she led the development of Barclays Center in Brooklyn and The New York Times Building in Manhattan and played a central role in creating the 42nd Street retail and entertainment complex that houses Madame Tussauds New York and an AMC theatre. She closed by discussing the next chapter of her career, founding and growing MAG Partners, a New York–based, women-owned urban real estate development firm.
The conversation was both enlightening and engaging, offering attendees a rare mix of behind-the-scenes insight, practical wisdom, and humor from one of the industry’s most accomplished builders.
BBG extends its thanks to the REBNY team and Commercial Development Committee co-chairs Rubin Isak and Bob Knakal for convening such a strong group of industry leaders and for the opportunity to support this outstanding program. BBG is also grateful to MaryAnne Gilmartin for sharing such candid reflections on her career and projects, stories that were a pleasure to hear and that offered lessons the entire development community can learn from.
To learn more about BBG’s Tax Exemptions and Zoning Incentives Practice and how we assist clients with complex development and housing incentive matters, please visit our practice page or contact Partner David Shamshovich.
