Edward Mermelstein

{{Short description|Real estate attorney}}

{{Promotional|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Edward A. Mermelstein

| image = Edward Mermelstein at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Croatia hosted by eric adams.jpg

| imagesize =

| office = Commissioner of the New York City
Mayor’s Office of International Affairs

| term_start = January 5, 2022

| term_end =

| predecessor = Penny Abeywardena

| successor =

| party =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|10|22}}

| birth_place = Ukraine

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Rose Caiola

| children = 2

| alma_mater = New York University and Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley School of Law (J.D.)

| website = [https://www1.nyc.gov/site/international/about/edward-mermelstein.page Official website]

| 1blankname = Mayor

| 1namedata = Eric Adams

| residence = New York, New York, U.S.

| birth_name = Edward Alexander Mermelstein

}}

Edward Alexander Mermelstein (born October 22, 1967) is New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs. He is also an attorney, financial investment advisor, media pundit and real estate developer.

Mermelstein is the founder of several companies, including the One & Only Realty, its investment arm One & Only Holdings, and the corporate and international real estate law firm Rheem Bell & Mermelstein.{{Cite web |title=One & Only Realty {{!}} New York Real Estate Agent: Houses, Condos and Homes |url=https://www.oneandonlyrealty.com/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=www.oneandonlyrealty.com}}{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Rheem Bell & Freeman LLP - Multi-lingual, Transactional & Litigation Law Firm |url=https://rbfllp.com/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Rheem Bell & Freeman LLP |language=en-US}}

Early life

Mermelstein was born to a Jewish family in 1967.{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/news/features/66287/index1.html|title=Klub Prokhorov|work=New York|date=May 30, 2010|first=Michael|last=Idov}} In 1976, he emigrated to the United States,{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/news/features/66289/|title=The Russian Invasion|work=New York|date=May 30, 2010|first=Michael|last=Idov}} where he attended the Bronx High School of Science. He joined the US Army while still in high school{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}. After his Army training, Mermelstein attended NYU and graduated in 1991 with a B.A. in psychology. Mermelstein studied law at the Thomas Cooley Law School{{Cite web |title=WMU-Cooley Law School |url=https://www.cooley.edu/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.cooley.edu}} in the 1990s.

Career

On January 3, 2022, Mermelstein joined the Eric Adams administration as the Commissioner of International Affairs in the Mayor's Office. Mermelstein has been a foreign investment advisor for more than 20 years, and assists wealthy foreigners with investments and acquisitions in the United States.{{cite news|url=http://www.mosnews.com/money/2009/07/15/2765/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802203101/http://www.mosnews.com/money/2009/07/15/2765/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 2, 2009|title=Russian oligarchs storm property market in US – report|date=July 15, 2010|publisher=MosNews.com}}

Mermelstein's business endeavors are operated through One & Only Realty and One & Only Holdings,{{Cite web|url=http://www.oneandonlyrealty.com/|title=One & Only Realty - Truly Exceptional Luxury Real Estate {{!}} Элитная недвижимость в США|website=www.oneandonlyrealty.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-28}} which specialize in the representation of foreign buyers in the acquisition of Real Estate worldwide, and provide family office planning services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardmermelstein/|title=Edward A. Mermelstein|last=Mermelstein|first=Edward|date=|website=linkedin.com |access-date=}}

Mermelstein is also the founding partner of Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, a boutique New York City law firm specializing in complex real estate transactions and the resolution of international matters.{{cite press release|url=http://rbmllp.com/includes/rbm-pressrelease-04262010.pdf|title=Edward A. Mermelstein Announces Partnership With Uel Rheem and Christine Bell to Form Rheem Bell & Mermelstein LLP|date=April 26, 2010|publisher=Rheem Bell & Mermelstein LLP}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[http://therealdeal.com/blog/2010/10/07/5-questions-for-attorney-edward-mermelstein/ The Real Deal: "5 questions for attorney Edward Mermelstein"] October 07, 2010

=Mayor’s Office of International Affairs=

On January 5, 2022, Mermelstein was named the commissioner of the Mayor's Office of International Affairs by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.{{cite web|url=https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/003-22/mayor-adams-members-his-senior-team|title=Mayor Adams Announces Members of his Senior Team|date=January 5, 2022|website=www1.nyc.go|access-date=January 5, 2022|quote=Eric Ulrich joins the Adams administration as senior advisor to the mayor.}}

News Media & Accomplishments

Mermelstein has appeared on various television networks such as CNBC,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2013/02/26/from-russia-with-cash.html|title = From Russia with Cash|website = CNBC|date = 26 February 2013}} Fox Business Network,{{Cite web|url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2277724928001/?#sp=show-clips|title=Why are Russians Buying up NYC Real Estate?|date=3 February 2017 }} and Reuters{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/8RDJJYOrRPw| archive-date = 2021-12-09| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RDJJYOrRPw| title = Edward Mermelstein on Reuters - Foreign Interest in US Real Estate | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} discussing foreign investments in the U.S. marketplace. He has been quoted in articles published by the New York Times,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/nyregion/giving-foreign-clients-a-piece-of-new-yorks-luxury-real-estate.html|title=Giving Foreign Clients a Piece of New York's Luxury Real Estate|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 November 2013|last1=Kaminer|first1=Ariel}} the Wall Street Journal{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204632204577129012698830968|title=Penthouse Near Carnegie hall Gets Ever-Higher Asking Price|last=Barbanel|first=Josh|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=30 December 2011|website=|access-date=}} the Financial Times,{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d017c690-465f-11e7-8519-9f94ee97d996|title=Trump's legal pugilism faces heavyweight challenge|newspaper=Financial Times|date=June 2017|last1=Weaver|first1=Courtney}} Reuters,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-companies-analysis/chinas-latest-conglomerate-crackdown-casts-dealmaking-shadow-idUSKCN1GE18D|title = China's latest conglomerate crackdown casts dealmaking shadow|newspaper = Reuters|date = 2 March 2018|last1 = Miller|first1 = Sumeet Chatterjee}} and the New York Observer{{Cite web|url=http://observer.com/author/edward-mermelstein/|title = Edward Mermelstein|website = The New York Observer}} on topics spanning from price stabilization in the NYC luxury real estate market, to the status of foreign direct investment into the U.S. marketplace. He has also contributed as a guest columnist with Forbes magazine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/outofasia/2017/07/26/chinese-billionaires-have-yuan-concern-preserving-their-wealth/#6defe35b278c|title=Chinese Billionaires Have Yuan Concern: Preserving Their Wealth|website=Forbes}}

The New York Observer named Mermelstein as one of the top ten "Lawyers You Call" in New York.{{cite news|url=http://commercialobserver.com/2009/11/the-lawyers-you-call/#slide8|title=The Lawyers You Call|first=Jotham|last=Sederstrom|date=December 1, 2009|work=The New York Observer}} He has been described as an "All Star attorney",{{Cite web |url=http://www.observer.com/term/edward-mermelstein |title=Edward Mermelstein | the New York Observer |website=The New York Observer |access-date=2011-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215203137/http://www.observer.com/term/edward-mermelstein/ |archive-date=2012-02-15 |url-status=dead}} and his abilities as a lawyer, consultant and developer have led to him being called a "power attorney"{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/heres-who-is-set-to-cash-in-on-a-trump-real-estate-surge/74281|title = Here's Who is Set to Cash in on a Trump Real Estate Surge|date = 5 December 2016}} and a "certified triple threat in the real estate world."

Philanthropy

Mermelstein is the Chairman Emeritus{{Cite web|url=https://www.cojeco.org/who-we-are/staff-and-board-of-directors/#:~:text=Edward%20Mermelstein,Chairman%20Emeritus|title = Staff & Board of Directors - COJECO | COJECO|date = 2 January 2015}} of the Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations (COJECO).{{Cite web|url=https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/589b4ed1e5d545bd94d869b1488c6b27-cojeco-the-council-of-jewish-emigre-community-organizations-new-york?|title = COJECO - the Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations}}

Mermelstein is a member of the Board of Overseers for the New York University Department of Arts & Sciences.{{Cite web|url=http://as.nyu.edu/about/board-of-overseers/ed-mermelstein.html|title=Edward A. Mermelstein|last=Mermelstein|first=Edward|date=|website=as.nyu.edu |access-date=}} Mermelstein also served as a mentor to the Young Jewish Professionals Real Estate Network based in New York City.[http://www.theresn.com/profiles/blogs/young-jewish-professionals Young Jewish Professionals Real Estate Network: "Young Jewish Professionals Real Estate Network Holds All Star Panel" by Marc Becker] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201215736/http://www.theresn.com/profiles/blogs/young-jewish-professionals|date=2014-02-01}} November 13, 2009

Mermelstein also served as President of the international search and rescue organization, ZAKA.{{Cite web|url=http://thejewishvoice.com/2018/10/17/edward-mermelstein-appointed-president-zaka-search-rescue-us/|title = Edward Mermelstein Appointed President of ZAKA Search & Rescue in the US|date = 17 October 2018}}

In June 2019, Mermelstein was appointed to Grand Marshal of the 2019 Celebrate Israel Parade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkled.com/grand-marshal-others-announced-for-the-2019-celebrate-israel-parade/|title = Grand Marshal + Others Announced for the 2019 Celebrate Israel Parade|date = 25 May 2019}} Mermelstein stated his support for Israel.https://celebrateisraelny.org//wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Celebrate-Israel-Parade-2019-Pre-Press-Release.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

Mermelstein is also a board member for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jdc.org/about/officers-board-members/|title = Officers & Board Members | JDC|date = 24 January 2021}}

Personal life

Mermelstein is married to former ballet dancer Rose Caiola.[http://www.ujafedny.org/press-releases-2/view/uja-federation-of-new-york-presents-lifetime-achievement-award-to-alex-shchegol/ UJA Federation of new York: "UJA-Federation of New York Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Alex Shchegol - Toby and Ron Hersh receive the Lydia Vareljan Humanitarian Award and Rose Caiola and Edward A. Mermelstein receive the Young Leadership Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201151537/http://www.ujafedny.org/press-releases-2/view/uja-federation-of-new-york-presents-lifetime-achievement-award-to-alex-shchegol/ |date=2014-02-01 }} June 23, 2011

References

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:American Jews

Category:American lawyers

Category:Western Michigan University Cooley Law School alumni

Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States

Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent

Category:American businesspeople in real estate