In-Person

National

State of Office Forum

Where Capital, Leasing & Workplace Strategy Converge

November 12, 2026 at 8:00AM – 12:30PM ET New York, NY

Keynote Spotlight

dino fusco

COO at Silverstein Properties

Building the Next Generation of Office: Hear how Silverstein Properties is positioning its portfolio today, the property and neighborhood amenities that matter most, and why the firm remains bullish on the long-term future of New York City’s office market.

Inside the Deal of the Year & What Amex’s 2 WTC Commitment Means for NYC: Join Dino Fusco as he discusses firsthand the importance, and symbolism, of Amex making the the final commercial property in the WTC campus its global home.

Winning in a Competitive Leasing Market: From the World Trade Center campus to the US Bank tower, Silverstein is making national headlines for winning new tenants. Join Dino as he discuss the new tenant playbook and how Silverstein Properties’ portfolio has become a magnet for both the FIRE and TAMI industries.

Speakers

MODERATOR

jonathan L. mechanic

Chairman, Real Estate

Fried Frank

As counsel to some of the best-known real estate developers, lenders, and owner-managers in the United States, Jon is often engaged on high-stakes matters at the intersection of law, finance, business, and policy. He operates as a navigator, translator, and guide — advising on overarching strategy, supervising deal development, framing core issues, and ushering high-stakes projects through to close.

Jon brings an unusual depth of experience to private practice, having served as chief legal officer to Silverstein Properties for 15 years and, prior to that, as general counsel at Fisher Brothers, a multibillion dollar real estate development company, and counsel at Related Companies, the largest privately owned real estate development company in New York. While in-house, Jon played a pivotal role in the planning, financing, development, and operation of some of the biggest development projects and public-private partnerships of the 21st century, including redevelopment of the World Trade Center site after 9/11 and completion of the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle.

In addition to client work, Jon serves as co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice. He helps lead a national team of more than 90 attorneys and is closely involved in efforts to both recruit and retain top real estate counsel.

Jon is an adjunct faculty member at New York Law School in Tribeca where he teaches a seminar on public and private real estate joint ventures, utilizing the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site and the redevelopment of Forest Hills Stadium as case studies. He also serves on the Selection Committee of the Alexandra Korry Scholarship Fund, awarded to first-generation college and law school students who want to pursue careers in law or public service. Jon currently serves on the executive committee of the Penn State Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies and the advisory board of the Penn State Cocoziello Institute for Real Estate Innovation.

Jon was instrumental in the revitalization of the historic Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, which had fallen into neglect and disrepair after 1978 when the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament was moved from Forest Hills to Flushing Meadows. As chair of the Ad Hoc Redevelopment Committee from 2013-2022, he dedicated enormous time and effort to negotiating an agreement among the key stakeholders to restore this unique urban resource, now a thriving concert venue.

MODERATOR

Nina Roket

Co-Managing Partner; Co-Chair, Real Estate Law Practice, Commercial Leasing Practice

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP

Meet the Top Office Developers, Investors & Tenants

New York City’s office market has entered a defining new chapter, marked by a wave of upcoming lease expirations reshaping tenant decision-making across the city. At the same time, office owners and developers are navigating refinancing pressures, selective capital deployment, and an increasingly pronounced divide between best-in-class assets and buildings requiring repositioning.

As demand patterns continue to shift, the industry’s focus has moved beyond market stabilization toward identifying the opportunities that will define the next office cycle.

Commercial Observer’s State of Office Forum convenes New York’s most influential owners, developers, investors, brokers, corporate occupiers, and other key sector stakeholders to discuss the driving forces advancing the city’s office market. Whether you’re developing or operating office space in New York City, deploying capital, negotiating leases, or shaping the future of workplace strategies, this forum delivers the market intelligence and executive connection needed to stay ahead.

Don’t miss your opportunity to:

Connect with decision-makers, including top owners, developers, brokers lenders, and corporate tenants
Get a timely market outlook and hear executive insights on where the office market is headed
Understand tenant demand and what corporate occupiers are looking for in site selection, office buildouts and value-driven amenities
Be on the forefront of leasing innovation as landlords and brokers share why flexible is paramount in today’s market
Master the art of navigating lease expirations as executives discuss what the biggest catalyst will be over the next two years