Crain's New York and The Real Deal Report on The Hotel at Roosevelt Island's New Lease with Cornell, Petition to Evict ex-Lessee AJ Capital
Crain’s New York Business reports that Cornell University signed a lease of up to 86 years with The Hotel at Roosevelt Island—a “dream team” of hospitality industry veterans—to open a brand-new urban boutique hotel in the 18-story, 224-room property on Roosevelt Island in New York City.
Crain’s reports that The Hotel at Roosevelt Island team, which includes senior executives from HEI Hotels + Resorts and other national operators, signed the lease with Cornell University on October 12.
The article also details The Hotel at Roosevelt Island team’s petition to evict AJ Capital, the former lessee that previously ran the property as a Graduate by Hilton before shuttering it in November 2025.
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors represents The Hotel at Roosevelt Island.
The Hotel at Roosevelt Island team filed suit in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on October 21. According to the filing, AJ Capital lost its lease in April but has not surrendered possession, has secured the property with an outside security company, and has admitted no guests since the closure.
“The hotel is phenomenally situated and has great views of the skyline, so the new team is very excited about the prospects for the long-term success of this asset,” William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, told Crain’s New York.
Crain’s notes that Cornell is separately pursuing AJ Capital for alleged unpaid rent. It also reports that lender ACRES Capital is pursuing AJ Capital over an alleged mortgage default on the site. Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors represents ACRES in that matter.
The Real Deal also reports on the eviction proceedings, examining the broader legal dispute involving the shuttered hotel, AJ Capital, Cornell University, and ACRES Capital. The outlet notes that the new hotel entity is affiliated with ACRES and negotiated its lease directly with Cornell rather than acquiring AJ Capital’s previous leasehold interest.
“They made a loan, they hoped the loan would be paid,” Mr. Brewer told The Real Deal of his client. “The building was empty, my client saw an opportunity to take an asset they were already familiar with and to apply for a lease.”
Crain’s: Read more here.
The Real Deal: Read more here.
Palm Beach Post Reports on Mounting Legal Scrutiny of Related Ross’ $26 Million Hotel Deal
The Palm Beach Post examines the escalating legal battle over Related Ross’ proposed 400-key convention center hotel in West Palm Beach, highlighting allegations that Palm Beach County rushed through a $26 million public financing arrangement without allowing residents adequate time to scrutinize the deal.
The report details a lawsuit filed by the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and the West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance, seeking to invalidate the County’s September 29 approval of the transaction. Under the agreement, the County would advance millions in public funds, acquire the completed 18-story hotel, and lease it back to a Related Ross affiliate for as long as 97 years.
At the center of the dispute is the County’s use of an emergency, last-minute “add-on” agenda procedure to approve an agreement negotiated over several months. The complete 715-page transaction file was made publicly available less than 24 hours before commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of the deal.
The financial implications of the arrangement were also explored by the Palm Beach Post, highlighting a potential property tax benefit estimated by the County’s own consultant at $2.5 million annually – more than twice the developer’s anticipated annual lease payments.
The neighborhood associations are seeking an injunction to prevent the deal from moving forward and to invalidate the County's September 29 approval.
“The West Palm Beach community should not have to fight to ensure its public servants follow the rules,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel to the neighborhood groups. “Residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful opportunity to understand how decisions affecting their community are made.”
Read more here.
Brewer Earns Chambers New York Spotlight Recognition for Second Consecutive Year
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has earned recognition in the 2027 Chambers and Partners New York Regional Spotlight guide for its Commercial Litigation practice. This marks the second consecutive year the firm’s New York office has received the distinction.
Chambers and Partners, a London-based global legal research company, annually identifies leading law firms through an independent research and review process. The Regional Spotlight guide recognizes distinguished boutique and midsize firms that demonstrate exceptional expertise and capabilities in their respective markets.
“We are proud of this recognition,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at the firm. “The credit belongs to our attorneys and other professionals who thrive in an environment built for high-stakes litigation. Their passion for excellence in advocacy defines the character of this firm and the results we achieve.”
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has a national reputation for managing complex commercial disputes. The firm’s model fully integrates its trial lawyers with a deep bench of in-house investigators, consultants, and public affairs experts to shape and achieve winning strategies.
The New York recognition follows the firm’s third consecutive inclusion in the Chambers and Partners Texas Regional Spotlight guide, underscoring the firm’s growing national litigation footprint and continued recognition in two of the country’s most competitive legal markets.
Texas Lawbook Reports on Appellate Victory in Pro Bono Case
The Texas Lawbook reports on a significant appellate victory in a pro bono case addressing the jurisdiction of Texas courts over out-of-state attorneys.
The article examines an October 8 ruling by the Fort Worth Court of Appeals, which revived a declaratory relief claim against a California attorney and his law firm following a dispute over alleged efforts to intimidate a witness in Texas litigation.
At the center of the dispute is a letter that sought to pressure a witness in a Texas action, Dawn Kane, into altering her testimony, giving her just two days to do so. Such letter was sent by lawyers that previously represented Kane in the same dispute. Such conduct prompted Kane to challenge the attorneys’ conduct in court.
The appellate court determined that the California attorney’s admission pro hac vice and participation in the underlying Texas litigation supported the exercise of personal jurisdiction. The ruling now allows Kane’s declaratory relief claim to proceed, while underscoring a consequential principle: attorneys who invoke the authority of Texas courts cannot retreat behind state lines when called to account for their litigation-related conduct.
“A lawyer cannot come into a Texas courtroom, invoke its authority, and then retreat across state lines when called to account for conduct tied to that litigation,” said William A. Brewer III, who, along with attorneys of the Dallas-based Brewer Storefront, the pro bono affiliate of Brewer Attorneys & Counselors, represented Kane. “Pro hac vice admission is a privilege, not a license to play by a different set of rules.”
Read more here: Fort Worth Appeals Court Rules Pro Hac Vice Admission Opens Door to Texas Lawsuit Against California Lawyer and Firm - The Texas Lawbook
Brewer Foundation Announces Record-Breaking Year: 506 Teams from 62 Countries Enter the 2026–27 International Public Policy Forum
NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2026 – The Brewer Foundation announces record-breaking participation in the 2026–27 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), marking a historic start to the competition’s 26th year. A record 506 teams from 62 countries and 25 U.S. states submitted qualifying round essays.
Of the 62 countries represented, this year’s record field includes teams from 17 countries competing for the first time, among them France, Mexico, Curaçao and Russia, reflecting growing global interest in civil discourse on the world’s most consequential policy questions.
This year’s resolution asks students to weigh the rights of women and girls against national sovereignty:
Resolved: The United Nations should prioritize protecting the rights of women and girls over respecting state sovereignty.
Each team submitted a qualifying essay of up to 3,000 words that will be evaluated by a panel. Judges include members of the IPPF Circle of Champions, the NYU Berkley Institute for Civil Discourse and Civic Solutions, and debaters from IPPF partner schools New York University, Howard University, Texas Southern University, and, for the first time this year, Cornell University.
“This year’s record turnout demonstrates that now, more than ever, students around the world want to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate,” said William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. “At a time when civil discourse among those with opposing views is increasingly rare, these students set an example for all of us.”
The Top 64 teams will advance to a single-elimination debate tournament: two written rounds narrow the field to 16, and a virtual oral round will determine the “Elite Eight.” These teams will travel to New York City for the 26th annual IPPF Finals, April 16–17, 2027, at NYU School of Law. The winner will be crowned the IPPF World Champion and receive the Brewer Cup and a $10,000 grand prize.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and jointly administered with New York University, the IPPF is the world’s only international high school debate competition combining written and oral advocacy on issues of public policy.
About The Brewer Foundation
The Brewer Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. The Foundation empowers students through education equity, mentorship, and global debate. It breaks barriers, amplifies voices, and champions the art of advocacy for lasting change. A 501(c)(3) private foundation, the Brewer Foundation supports a range of community initiatives, with a special emphasis on developing, overseeing, and funding education programs, including the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP) and the Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF).
Media Contact:
Jasmine McClure
jmcclure@brewerattorneys.com
212-527-2583
WPTV and WPBF Scrutinize Palm Beach County’s Rushed Approval as Residents File New Complaint
WPTV and WPBF report on a new complaint filed by two West Palm Beach neighborhood associations challenging Palm Beach County’s approval of a proposed 18-story convention center hotel in West Palm Beach. The articles and video interview spotlight allegations that County officials circumvented public notice requirements, rushed the transaction through an emergency agenda procedure, and denied residents a meaningful opportunity to scrutinize an agreement that could extend nearly a century.
WPTV examines the lawsuit filed by the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance, alleging Palm Beach County violated Florida's open meetings law when commissioners approved the $26 million transaction with inadequate public notice. The report highlights the County's decision to place the agreement on an emergency “add-on” agenda, despite the hotel having been planned for years. The complete 715-page transaction file was not made publicly available until just 90 minutes before commissioners voted 6–1, approving the deal.
“The West Palm Beach community should not have to fight to ensure its public servants follow the rules,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel to the neighborhood groups. “Residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful opportunity to understand how decisions affecting their community are made—and that is precisely what we intend to fight for.”
“A 700-page, double-sided document was released just 72 hours before the meeting. That isn’t enough time for residents, or even the commissioners themselves, to review it properly on its merits,” said Margaret Frazzini, president of the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and the West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance. “Stephen Ross has a special gift: he can turn private ambition into public necessity.”
WPBF 25 News featured an on-camera interview with Margaret Frazzini during its 5 p.m., newscast. Reporting from Grandview Heights, correspondent Caleb Califano highlighted residents’ concerns over traffic, parking, and construction impacts, as well as their frustration with the County’s approval process.
“I think that development is good. I think it’s good for West Palm Beach,” Frazzini told Califano while standing outside Grandview Heights. “I think what’s not good is the city’s lack of transparency and lack of developer accountability,” she added.
Frazzini also explained why residents pursued litigation after years of raising concerns about the project.
“Residents are tired of going to the meeting, standing up, and speaking their three minutes into the record and being told, ‘Thank you for your concern’…” she said. “So at this point, we felt we didn’t have any other recourse.”
WPTV: Read more here.
WPBF: Read more here.
WPTV’s story was also syndicated to WFLX.
The Real Deal Reports on New Lawsuit Challenging Related Ross’ $26 Million Hotel Deal
The Real Deal reports on a new lawsuit challenging Related Ross’ planned $290 million convention center hotel in West Palm Beach, examining the allegations that local officials prioritized the interests of a powerful developer over neighboring residents – rushing through a $26 million sale-leaseback agreement.
The article details the complaint filed by the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance, which seeks to halt the project after Palm Beach County approved the transaction without providing sufficient public notice or adequate time to review the terms of the deal.
Under the agreement, Palm Beach County would purchase the Related Ross-owned property for $26 million and lease it back to the developer for an initial 33 years, with extensions potentially stretching to 97 years. Related Ross would pay approximately $1.1 million annually in rent once the hotel is completed, while dodging property taxes under the County’s ownership.
The Real Deal also highlights the circumstances surrounding the September 29 approval, when commissioners voted on the agreement just six days after it appeared on an emergency “add-on” agenda. According to the complaint, the County did not release more than 700 pages of transaction documents until the morning of the vote.
Beyond the financial and procedural questions, the article explores the mounting pressures on Grandview Heights, a historic neighborhood residents describe as a “neighborhood under siege” by unchecked development. Residents detail concerns over construction noise, dust, traffic, and parking shortages, including overflow from Related Ross’ existing convention center hotel.
The article also notes that the coalition of residents – represented by William A. Brewer III – have separately challenged the City’s authorization of the proposed 18-story, 400-room hotel.
Read more here.
West Palm Beach Residents Oppose Downtown Master Plan Update Over Unanswered Infrastructure Questions
West Palm Beach residents are mobilizing against the City’s proposed Downtown Master Plan Update, warning that officials are moving to allow more development without first determining whether the City’s roads, water, sewer, and drainage systems can support it.
In a letter to the City, the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance say they will not allow a repeat of the same approach residents have seen before with the recently approved Related Ross convention-center hotel. There, the City deferred the hotel’s infrastructure-capacity/burden analysis until after permitting. Under the proposed downtown plan, the City would again leave those questions until after the development process begins.
“The City repeatedly treats infrastructure analysis as something that can wait until after the decisions are made,” says counsel William A. Brewer III, attorney for the neighborhood groups. “Clearly, ‘we’ll study it later’ isn't planning .”
The groups are asking the City to conduct the infrastructure and other analysis before advancing the plan and to retain safeguards that measure how much development downtown can support. Unless those concerns are addressed, they recommend denial of the Downtown Master Plan Update.