David J. Pfeffer is a partner, chair of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin’s Construction Practice, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Pfeffer serves as a business partner to his clients – including real estate owners and developers, educational institutions, high-net-worth individuals, healthcare organizations, and cultural centers – and advises on all aspects of their construction, development, real estate, and business needs. His work has helped reshape skylines through some of the most significant construction and development projects in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island City.
Mr. Pfeffer leverages his keen insight into the business climate to provide clients with sophisticated guidance in order to mitigate risks and manage their complex issues. Combining his understanding of business-focused solutions with a legal perspective, Mr. Pfeffer focuses his practice on project delivery strategies and the preparation and negotiation of design, construction, and related contracts for private and public real estate development projects. He handles matters such as contract preparation, development, continuing operation, leasing and dispute resolution, and also maintains an active practice in business negotiation.
David is a frequent speaker, published author, and quoted source who has been featured in Law360, The Real Deal, Crain’s New York Business, The New York Post, Architecture Landscape Magazine, Power Magazine, and Real Estate Weekly, among others. He has been ranked in The Chambers USA Guide as a leading construction lawyer in New York (2006–2026), notably elevated to Band 1 in 2025. In 2026, Chambers cited David as “consistently going above and beyond,” and being “thorough in his guidance.” David was also recognized as a 2022 Construction Law Trailblazer by National Law Journal and a 2020 New York Trailblazer by the New York Law Journal. Mr. Pfeffer has served on various boards including John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (B.A., cum laude)
- Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University (J.D.)
- with honors
- Associate Editor, Hofstra Law Review
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Board Member, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Aux Corporation
- Crain’s New York Business Notable Leader, 2026
- Best Lawyers in America®, 2023-2027
- Chambers and Partners USA, Leading Construction Lawyer in New York, 2006–2026
- New York Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation, 2016-2025
- New York Law Journal, Trailblazers, 2020
- National Law Journal, Construction Law Trailblazer, 2022
- Past Board Member and Chair of Legal Committee at Pine Hollow Country Club
- Currently spearheading the complex, top-to-bottom renovation of a major NFL franchise’s active training facility and headquarters including office space, imaging centers, locker rooms, nutrition and health facilities, and training spaces
- Represents manufacturer of competitive swim and athletic gear and exclusive outfitter of the USA Swimming National Team during the 2024 Olympics, in loan forbearances, real estate matters, and construction issues, helping the company expand in key locations
- Advising a cooperative housing complex on the reversal of a $25 million natural gas conversion project following a policy shift toward electrification, including negotiations with the publicly traded company responsible for the original conversion
- Advising a leading US think tank on the expansion of its unique, century-old Manhattan headquarters, originally designed by one of the leading architectural firms of the early 20th century, operating today as a destination for high-end events overlooking Park Avenue in New York City
- Actively representing a highly capitalized not-for-profit foundation in the complex, multifaceted redevelopment of a historic public school in the East Village, New York involving extensive coordination in real estate, bankruptcy, and tax matters
- Represents a Buddhist organization in the construction of new cultural centers in New York City as part of the client’s national expansion efforts. This work includes assisting in the purchase of the property and negotiating neighbor access agreements; drafting and negotiating all construction and design agreements; providing general counseling throughout construction; and conducting settlement discussions with one of the space’s landlords over material breach of the lease.
- Represents a charter school in the ground-up construction of new schools throughout New York City, including managing neighboring access for the projects.
- Represented owner of a luxury Manhattan hotel in a case of first impression concerning licensing fees and compensation for hotels affected by construction occurring on neighboring properties. The case awarded monthly license fees and economic damages to the hotel owner, resulting in a precedent-setting decision by the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
- Represents an exclusive landmark building in Manhattan adjacent to the site of a proposed 780-foot-high skyscraper under development. The team has engaged in detailed negotiations with the developer to secure a favorable licensing agreement to protect the client’s building during demolition.
- Represents a real estate investment group in the negotiation of construction, design, and consulting agreements for two multi-million projects.
- Represents an importer of French jeans on its real estate and construction matters. This includes the handling of licensing agreements for one of its properties that sits adjacent to a neighboring development project.
- Represents a client on its development matters, including the development of a 95-unit Marriott-brand luxury St. Regis residences in Rye, New York.
- Construction Broadsheet, ICE Enforcement and What Employers Need to Know, June 2026
- The Conundrum With Short-Term Rentals in NYC
- Deregulation of Rent-Stabilized Units: Protecting your real estate asset following the ruling in Roberts v. Tishman Speyer
- The Construction Contract: Lump Sum v. Cost Plus
- Foreign Investments Help Fund Commercial Development, Fall 2010
