Jim Carolan

About Jim Carolan

Jim Carolan is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Corporate group, based in New York. Jim specializes in real estate transactions, offering extensive expertise in acquisitions, sales, leasing, and financing. His practice encompasses the acquisition and disposition of single assets and portfolios, including in distressed situations, ground leases, space leases for office, retail, warehouse, and other uses, as well as asset-based and mezzanine financings and workouts. Jim also advises on development and investment joint ventures, construction and design arrangements, and complex easements for conservation, utilities, construction, and access. Jim\'s commercial experience across the United States is vast, and he has handled over $1 billion in luxury residential transactions both in and outside the United States. He advises on the real estate aspects of M&A and healthcare transactions. He also advises high net worth individuals on intergenerational real estate ownership challenges, threats of partition, and uncooperative partners. His clientele includes major corporations, investors and investment funds, developers, art galleries, luxury retailers, restauranteurs, universities, and other tax-exempt organizations and their endowments. Jim\'s professional background includes leading the US real estate group of two international law firms for over 15 years. Prior to that, he served as associate general counsel to Yale University for 14 years, advising on real estate investment and development for its endowment and facilities offices, and general business matters. Beyond his commercial practice, Jim has lectured on real estate law and practice at Yale Law School, the Yale School of the Environment, NYU, Columbia, and Cornell, as well as at bar and professional events. He has handled pro bono matters throughout his career, addressing commercial real estate and affordable housing issues and advising on the formation and governance of nonprofit organizations. Fluent in Italian, Jim regularly advises Italian-speaking clients on their US dealings and assists foreign investors dealing with Italy. In his spare time, he serves as the President of the US affiliate of the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) which protects and enhances Italy’s natural and cultural assets for public enjoyment.Attorney Advertising

Experience

1. Senior Counsel

   Crowell & Moring

   May 2025 — Present · NY, US

Education

• Cornell University

  AB, Italian

  1978 — 1982

• Stanford University

  MA, ABD, Comparative Literature

  1982 — 1985

• University of Connecticut School of Law

  JD, Law

  1986 — 1989

• Cornell University

  AB, Italian and Classics

Skills

• Due Diligence
• Cross-Border Transactions
• Legal Advice
• Contract Negotiation
• Property Law
• Charitable Organizations
• Italian Languages
• Negotiation
• Leadership
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dispute Resolution
• International Tax
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial Real Estate
• Real Estate
• Charities
• Civil Litigation
• Italian
• Investments
• Corporate Law
• Investment Properties
• Real Estate Law (Especially Foreign Investment)
• Foreign Investment
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing