Joseph Cessario Joins Cummings & Lockwood as a Residential and Commercial Real Estate Principal

Cummings & Lockwood is pleased to announce that Joseph Cessario, a residential and commercial real estate attorney, has joined the firm as a Principal in its Private Clients Group and Commercial Real Estate Group.  He is based in the Stamford office. 

“Joseph comes to us with strong legal skills and extensive experience in the real estate industry,” noted Jonathan B. Mills, Managing Director and Chairman of Cummings & Lockwood.  “He will be a valuable member of our team working with our individual private clients as well as with numerous owners and investors in the commercial real estate space.”

Joseph is a real estate/construction attorney with prior professional experience as an architectural designer and development consultant, whose practice consists of the representation of individuals and businesses throughout Connecticut, with a focus on communities within Fairfield County, including:  Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Trumbull.

He handles a wide variety of residential and commercial real estate legal matters, including real estate closing services, refinancings, 1031 Exchanges, condominium conversions, title issues, easements and contract drafting, negotiation and review of related documents for the purchase, sale and financing of real estate.

His experience also includes:

• Representing homeowners, contractors, architects and engineers with respect to residential and commercial construction engagements/disputes.
• Representing landlords and tenants with the rental and/or leasing of residential and commercial properties, including related eviction/collection proceedings.
• Representing homeowners, lenders and various other parties in connection with financing, debt workout/restructuring and foreclosure matters, and deed in lieu/short sale transfers.
• Representing a large number of condominium and cooperative associations throughout Connecticut on a variety of legal matters.

Prior to joining Cummings & Lockwood, Joseph was a Partner at Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, P.C. for nearly 11 years.  Earlier in his career, Joseph worked for one of the Northeast’s leading residential real estate developers in a position that managed the development, organization and administration of multi-million dollar projects in the New York metropolitan area.  Additionally, as an architectural designer, Joseph’s experience has also included the planning and design of numerous residential, commercial and mixed-use projects.

Joseph received his Masters of Architecture from Tulane University, and his J.D. from Pace University School of Law.  He is admitted to the Connecticut and Washington, D.C. bars.

He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, Fairfield County Bar Association, American Institute of Architects and Urban Land Institute.