Jeff heads our Real Estate and Communications practices in New York and has significant experience in general commercial real estate law. Jeff’s general real estate practice includes acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and borrower’s side financing. He also has a particular focus on real estate challenges facing communications, technology, and energy companies, and represents property owners and telecom companies in telecom real estate matters, such as data center leases. His clients include both large national companies and smaller, local clients. He is frequently invited to speak on real estate, data center, and telecom topics. He also writes for several industry publications, and he is regularly quoted in national media. Jeff was a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and led many of its major real estate and telecom transactions.
Jeff's experience includes over 40 years as a general commercial real estate attorney, he has worked with many large national companies — particularly in the high-tech, telecommunications, financial services, health care, energy, technology, supermarket, and oil and gas sectors — as well as numerous smaller local clients. His real estate practice is both national and local and includes representation of landlords and tenants in all types of leases; counseling owners and developers in the acquisition, sale, joint venture, development, and renovation of property as well as sale-leaseback transactions; advising lenders and borrowers in commercial loans; and the representation of all parties in real estate litigation. He is actively involved in settling real estate, partnership and inter-family disputes. He also represents many not-for-profit entities and is active in health care, senior living and educational real estate.
During the past 30 years, he has developed a unique specialty practice in the intersection of real estate with communications, technology and energy issues. He has extensive experience representing landlords, tenants, developers, and communications service providers in the leasing, purchase, sale, and financing of data centers, colocation facilities, radio and television broadcast antennas, distributed and in-building wireless systems, rooftop antennas, and fiber-optic transactions as well as the wiring of buildings for broadband communications access. Jeff has also negotiated thousands of data center leases, master services agreements and colocation agreements, rooftop and cellular antenna leases, inside wiring agreements, and antenna tower leases throughout the country – covering over 500 million square feet.
He has also devoted a considerable portion of his practice to power and energy issues related to real estate and other technology matters, including large solar and wind installations, battery storage facilities, and bulk power purchases. Jeff is also a member of the firm's Not for Profit Practice, Sports & Entertainment Practice and Israel Practice.
Jeff is a frequent speaker on real estate, data center and telecom topics around the country. He has been a member of the board of advisors and regular contributor to Commercial Lease Law Insider, Commercial Tenant’s Lease Insider, and Communications Environmental and Land Use Law Report. In addition, he has frequently contributed to Mortgage and Real Estate Executives Report and is regularly quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Commercial Property News, Real Estate Weekly, and other publications.
In the past, he has served in numerous governmental positions, including as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (including serving as the lead board member on many large public private partnerships and real estate transactions), a member of the New York State Banking Board, a member of the New York State Financial Control Board, a member of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee of the Appellate Division of the First Department of the New York State Supreme Court, Assistant to the First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York and assistant to the Deputy Borough President of the Borough of Manhattan. From 1981 to 1982, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Brieant, US District Judge, and later Chief Judge, for the Southern District of New York.
Jeff is also an emergency medical technician on his local volunteer ambulance and President of his local chapter, as well as being on the Board of Trustees of the umbrella organization which is the largest volunteer ambulance service in the United States.
viewpoints
Top Ten Data Center Legal Issues – For Leases and MSAs
April 13, 2022 | Video | By Jeffrey Moerdler
Jeff Moerdler breaks down the top 10 legal issues facing data centers today – including the shift from leases to MSAs, the rise of leaseback transactions, data privacy challenges and the impact of COVID-19 and new technologies.
Phase 1 Construction Guidelines: Guidance for Real Estate Developers in New York City
June 10, 2020 | Blog | By Jeffrey Moerdler
Price Gouging Laws — What Clients Need to Know
April 29, 2020 | Alert | By Jason P.W. Halperin, Jeffrey Moerdler , Scott Rader, Anthony J. Viola
Essential versus Nonessential Construction in the State of New York: Guidance to Real Estate Developers
April 8, 2020 | Blog | By Jeffrey Moerdler
Good News on “Bad Boy” Guarantees – IRS Reverts to Prior Position in Recent Legal Advice Memorandum
May 12, 2016 | Alert | By Jeffrey Moerdler , Daniel Gaquin
News & Press
Twenty-seven Mintz Attorneys Recognized as 2024 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 28, 2024
Mintz is pleased to announce that 15 attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and 12 attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2024.
Determining the Value of Data Center Sites Has Never Been Harder, Raising Risk Developers Can ‘Get Burned'
August 25, 2024
Member Jeff Moerdler was quoted by Bisnow in an article focused on determining the value of data center sites. Jeff notes that developers are beginning to structure land deals in ways that mitigate their risk.
Three Mintz Attorneys Recognized in Lawdragon’s 2024 “500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers”
August 20, 2024
Three Mintz members practicing in three different geographic areas have been recognized by Lawdragon in its 2024 “500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers” list.
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.
Power Struggles, Emerging Hubs And New Investors: Data Center Leaders Make 2024 Predictions
January 7, 2024
Member Jeffrey Moerdler spoke to BISNOW about his predictions for the trends, changes, and challenges that will shape the data center landscape in the year ahead. He specifically noted a growing share of new development that will happen outside of traditional data centers.
Mintz Represents Tonaquint Data Centers in Acquisition
December 01, 2023
Twenty-nine Mintz Attorneys Named to 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers List
September 22, 2023
NEW YORK – Mintz is pleased to announce that 18 attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and 11 attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2023.
Data Center Pay To Stay?
September 11, 2023
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
ChatGPT's Real Estate Potential Is Big, But Attys Urge Caution
February 3, 2023
Head of Mintz’s Real Estate and Communications practice, Jeffrey A. Moerdler spoke to Law360Pulse about how OpenAI's new natural language AI tool ChatGPT could make the real estate industry more efficient.
Data Center Real Estate 2023: Experts Predict Development Slowdown, More Power Problems
January 5, 2023
Member and Head of Mintz’s Real Estate and Communications practice Jeffrey A. Moerdler was quoted in Bisnow discussing his predictions for the trends, changes and challenges that will shape the data center landscape in the year ahead.
Twenty-six Mintz Attorneys Recognized as 2022 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
September 29, 2022
17 Mintz attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and nine Mintz attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2022.
Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
In Data Center Frontier, Mintz Member Jeffrey Moerdler Comments on the Rollout of 5G Wireless
July 3, 2019
Mintz Recognized by Chambers USA 2019
April 26, 2019
Chambers USA 2018 Ranks Mintz Attorneys & Practices
May 03, 2018
4 Things Lawyers Need To Know About Data Center Deals
April 25, 2018
Mintz’s Jeffrey Moerdler Joins Former New York Governor David Paterson at Global Leaders in Real Estate Summit
September 25, 2017
Mintz Member Jeffrey A. Moerdler to Speak at Bisnow Media Brooklyn New Frontiers Conference
August 16, 2016
5 Challenges Facing the NY-NJ Port Authority
February 1, 2016
Pinsky, Herzka Take Pulse of New York Market
January 20, 2016
Events & Speaking
Future of Class-A Spaces: Creating Vibrant Office Cultures for Occupiers Through Technology & Amenities
BISNOW
New York, NY
Data Center Financing and Capital Markets: How Cost Of Capital and Industry Demand Is Changing The Game
BISNOW
Chicago, IL
Data Center Financing and Capital Markets: How Cost of Capital and Industry Demand Is Changing The Game
BISNOW
Dallas, TX
State Of The Canadian Data Center Market: Trends, Opportunities And Challenges Ahead
BISNOW
Toronto, ON
Site Selection, Permitting and Lease Negotiation: Navigating the Early Phases of Development and Where to Build Next
BISNOW
Reston, VA
What will it take to deliver the data centre of the future today?
Metro Connect USA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Understanding Tenants Demands: Future Proofing Your Workplace Through Design & Technology
BISNOW
New York, NY
What You Need To Know: Biggest Trends That While Shape The Future of The Data Center Industry
BISNOW
Chicago, IL
State of the Rocky Mountain Market: Exploring the Dynamics of Denver’s Data Center Market And Surrounding Regions
BISNOW
Denver, CO
Making IT Rain: How Investors and Developers Are Navigating The Current Investment and Deal-Making Landscape
BISNOW
New York, NY
Edge Computing: The Current State Of The Edge In Today’s Digital Infrastructure Needs
BISNOW
McLean, Virginia
Cost Pressures, Interest Rates, Inflation: How are These Major Economic Factors Affecting the Data Center and Digital Infrastructure Industry?
BISNOW DICE WEST 2022
San Jose Marriott
Investing in the South: Are Data Centers Still a High Conviction Investment?
BISNOW
Westin Dallas Downtown 1201 Main Street Dallas, TX 75202
DICE Canada 2022: The Future Of Data Centres and Digital Infrastructure in Toronto, Montreal and Surrounding Markets
BISNOW
Toronto, ON, CA
DICE Southwest 2022: Data Center Demand, Drivers and Sustainable Solutions in the Southwest
BISNOW
Phoenix, AZ
DICE West: How the Tech Forward Region Cloud Infrastructure is Driving Data Center Colocation
BISNOW
San Jose, CA
BISNOW’s Dice East: Expansions, End User Requirements and Growth Strategy for Data Center Alley
BISNOW
Virginia
The Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities Conference
Technology Trends in Facilities
San Diego, CA
Workplace of The Future - Navigating The Hybrid Office: Transformative Technologies
BISNOW
One Manhattan Place, New York
Found Money and Customer Amenities — Ancillary Agreements for Shopping Centers
ICSC Law Conference
Online Event
Data Center Capital & Finance Series: M&A Activity & Sale Leaseback Strategy
Presented by BISNOW
Online Event
BISNOW's New Jersey Data Centers Event
Leading the Curve: The State of the Data Center Market
Orangeburg, NY
The Fourth Annual Washington, D.C. & Mid-Atlantic Data Center Summit
Embassy Suites by Hilton, Dulles North Loudoun, Dulles, VA
The Provider Forum on Financing & Investing in Data Centers & Cloud Services Infrastructure (West)
Information Management Network
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay One Miramontes Point Road Half Moon Bay, CA Topics
The Provider Forum on Financing & Investing in Data Centers & Cloud Services Infrastructure
Information Management Network (IMN)
New York, NY
Jeff heads our Real Estate and Communications practices in New York and has significant experience in general commercial real estate law. Jeff’s general real estate practice includes acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and borrower’s side financing. He also has a particular focus on real estate challenges facing communications, technology, and energy companies, and represents property owners and telecom companies in telecom real estate matters, such as data center leases. His clients include both large national companies and smaller, local clients. He is frequently invited to speak on real estate, data center, and telecom topics. He also writes for several industry publications, and he is regularly quoted in national media. Jeff was a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and led many of its major real estate and telecom transactions.
Recognition & Awards
Featured in Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law (2013 – 2025)
Included on the New York Super Lawyers: Real Estate list (2006 – 2024)
Chambers USA: New York – Real Estate (2011 – 2019, 2024)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Jeff heads our Real Estate and Communications practices in New York and has significant experience in general commercial real estate law. Jeff’s general real estate practice includes acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and borrower’s side financing. He also has a particular focus on real estate challenges facing communications, technology, and energy companies, and represents property owners and telecom companies in telecom real estate matters, such as data center leases. His clients include both large national companies and smaller, local clients. He is frequently invited to speak on real estate, data center, and telecom topics. He also writes for several industry publications, and he is regularly quoted in national media. Jeff was a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and led many of its major real estate and telecom transactions.
Involvement
- Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
- Faculty, Georgetown Law Center Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute
- Advisory Board, IMN Data Center Private Equity Dealmakers' Forum
- Former Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Former Vice Chair, Audit Committee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Former Vice Chair, Governance and Ethics Committee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Former Vice Chair, Security Committee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Former Co-Chair, Working Group on Insurance of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Former Member, Executive Committee of New York State Bar Association, Real Property Section
- Member, Regional Plan Association New York Committee
- Past member, New York State Financial Control Board representing President Pro Tem of the New York State Senate
- Past member, New York State Banking Board
- Past member, Departmental Disciplinary Committee of New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division First Judicial Department