Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D.
University of Chicago, B.A.
Bar Admissions
State of New Jersey
State of New York
Memberships
American Bar Association
New Jersey Bar Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers
New York State Bar Association
Biography
Leah Sandbank concentrates her practice in the areas of Real Estate Finance and Development, Tax Credits and Incentives, Public Finance Law and Tax.
Her practice focuses on complex commercial real estate transactions for development projects throughout the State; financings utilizing State or local government lending programs and incentives; federal tax credit programs; representation of the State of New Jersey and its agencies and authorities; and issues involving Federal income taxation of municipal bonds and related tax areas. Leah is a member of the Firm's Executive Committee.
Leah has acted as developer’s counsel representing private entities and not-for-profit entities in connection with capital financings for redevelopment projects throughout the State and has acted as equity and lender’s counsel representing banks, community development lenders and other financial institutions in connection with commercial lending for projects and throughout and outside the State.
Her expertise includes: tax-exempt bond financing, conventional lending, senior and subordinate lending, government lending, mezzanine lending, equity investment and corporate structuring, New Markets Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and New Jersey state and local incentive programs. Leah focuses on non-profit commercial and mixed-use developmetn with multiple layers of conventional and subsidized financing sources and incentives.
She has also acted as bond counsel and tax counsel in numerous transactions (public finance and structured finance) involving State and local issuers, including the State of New Jersey, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Agency, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Building Authority and the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
In addition, Leah has represented numerous school, municipal and county entities in connection with their bond financings including, current and advance refundings, general obligation and revenue bond financings, conduit or pool loan financings, lease purchase transactions and investment contracts.
Leah graduated from the University of Chicago and from Fordham University School of Law. Leah was one of New Jersey Law Journal's Woman Attorneys of the Year, 2022 and received recognition in The Best Lawyers in America publication in the area of Public Finance law for 2024 and 2025. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.