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Robert M.
DiPisa

Member

Office 201.525.6225
Email rdipisa@coleschotz.com
Evelyn Cruz |Legal Practice Assistant
201.489.3000 ext. x5102
ecruz@coleschotz.com
Evelyn Cruz |Legal Practice Assistant
201.489.3000 ext. x5102
ecruz@coleschotz.com
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Robert is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Department and chair of the firm’s Cannabis Law Group.

 

Experience

Known for his high level of personal commitment to his clients, Robert has the skill, knowledge and creativity necessary to solve problems and identify opportunities for them. As a member of the firm’s Real Estate practice, Robert counsels developers, real estate equity and opportunity funds, real estate investment trusts, investors, owners and tenants in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. His practice is national in scope and encompasses a broad range of transactions, with particular emphasis on acquisitions, dispositions, development and retail leasing. His professional focus also includes the management, financing and construction of commercial, retail, industrial and multi-unit residential properties.

Robert is also chair of the firm’s Cannabis Group and counsels clients regarding regulatory compliance, risk management, governmental affairs, licensing and the leasing and acquisition of real property in connection with cannabis related uses. He employs a grass-roots approach that is pivotal in breaking the stigma associated with cannabis and its derivatives.

Representative matters include:
  • Representing cannabis entrepreneurs in connection with applications for vertically integrated medicinal cannabis licenses in the State of New Jersey.
  • Representing New York and New Jersey based real estate investment and property services firm in connection with the acquisition of a 10.4 acre site formerly occupied by a Bon Ton Department Store at Westgate Mall in Bethlehem, PA for $30,000,000.
  • Representing publicly traded REIT in connection with the concurrent leasing of 17 sites across 10 states to a national value based gym totaling approximately 220,000 square feet.
  • Representing landlords and tenants in connection with the leasing of real estate for cannabis related businesses.
  • Representing redeveloper and urban renewal entity in connection with the acquisition of a 2.73-acre former manufacturing facility site in Jersey City, NJ for $17,000,000 for the purposes of developing a mixed use multi-unit residential and retail development.
  • Representing a prominent New Jersey commercial real estate owner and developer in the sale of four supermarket and pharmacy anchored shopping centers for $124,550,000 to a REIT in an “off market” transaction deemed “the largest strip center portfolio trade in Northern New Jersey over the last decade” by Northeast Real Estate Business Magazine. The representation included the creation and administration of an on-line due diligence document database containing over 500 files for bidders’ review, establishing bidding procedures for prospective purchasers, evaluating the bids received with the client, closing on the sale, and negotiating post-closing environmental obligations and related financial assurances.
  • Representing a post-bankruptcy entity in the disposition of over 343 acres of land throughout the United States in connection with an asset sale in the amount of $146,749,000. The representation included establishing bidding procedures for prospective purchasers, evaluating the bids received with the client, closing on the sale, and negotiating post-closing environmental obligation.
  • Representing the owner of the Rosedale Center, a multi-level mall in Roseville, Minnesota containing over 1,000,000 square feet of floor area with approximately 171 stores and 18 restaurants, in the negotiation of numerous leases and amendments with national and regional tenants.
  • Representing private REIT concerning offering in connection with the acquisition of commercial property located in Chattanooga, TN.
  • Representing prominent national developers in connection with obtaining funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Agency Incentive Program for the development of three mixed use high-rise towers in Jersey City, NJ.
  • Representing client in connection with the potential buyout of an existing vertically integrated medicinal cannabis license in the State of New Jersey.
  • Representing prominent New Jersey developer concerning the development of a mixed-use residential commercial property located in Harrison, NJ.
  • Representing Walgreens Co. and McDonald’s USA, LLC before planning and zoning boards throughout Hudson and Essex County, NJ.
  • Representing startups in the areas of information technology, real estate and the sale of consumer goods and services.
Networks & Affiliations

He is a frequent presenter on the economic benefits of the cannabis industry, lectures courses on cannabis law and is a member of several organizations including New Jersey CannaBusiness Association and REVEL. In addition, Robert is a contributor to national publications on this topic such as MarketWatch, Bloomberg Law, POLITICO, Marijuana Business Daily and The Wall Street Journal.

Honors & Awards

Recently recognized as a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal, a “New Leader of the Bar” honoree by New Jersey Law Journal, a “Leader in the Law” by NJBIZ, and the recipient of a Band ranking from the prestigious Chambers USA, Robert DiPisa has gained a reputation for his steadfast ability to guide clients from across the cannabis industry. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court in any state. 

See Award Methodology.

Areas of Practice

Corporate Transactions

Commercial Contracts Entity Formation & Governance Franchising & Licensing

Real Estate

Acquisitions & Sales Development & Repurposing Leasing Zoning & Land Use

HIGHLIGHTED INDUSTRIES

Cannabis

Cannabis Overview Applications & Licensing Social Equity Applicants Hemp & CBD Real Estate Tax Corporate Litigation Regulatory Compliance

Life Sciences

Life Sciences Overview

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D.
Fordham University, B.S.

Bar & Court Admissions

New York
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Honors & Awards

Cannabis Law Trailblazer, National Law Journal
Chambers USA
New Leader of the Bar, New Jersey Law Journal
Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers
Rising Stars, New Jersey Super Lawyers

Client Perspective

"Rob is one of the leading east coast attorneys in the cannabis industry because he’s responsive, detail oriented, and creative in solving the challenges we face every day. His expertise is widely recognized; every time we tell someone in the industry that we are working with Rob, they tell us what we already know -- we’re in good hands."
Matt Budofsky Co-Founder & CEO, Fresh Cut Cannabis Co.
  • Blogs
  • NEWS + PUBLICATIONS
  • Webinars + Events
  • Awards + Recognitions

Blogs

  1. 01

    New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Suspends Rent Increases For 36,000 Rental Units During COVID-19 Pandemic

    April 21, 2020
  2. 02

    New Jersey Legalization of Adult Cannabis Use and Sale

    March 15, 2019
  3. 03

    BREAKING!! One Step Closer for New Jersey Cannabis Legalization

    November 26, 2018
  4. 04

    As a Landlord, Are You Really Insured?: Denial of Insurance Coverage for Cannabis Cultivating Operation Upheld

    July 23, 2018
  5. 05

    Room for Growth in New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Program

    April 10, 2018
News + Insights

NEWS + PUBLICATIONS

  1. 01

    New York’s Crackdown On Unlicensed Weed Revealed The Depth Of Banks’ Exposure To Drug Sales

    December 6, 2024
  2. 02

    NYC Has Padlocked More Than 750 Unlicensed Cannabis Stores, Adams Says

    August 1, 2024 | Bisnow
  3. 03

    “Legal Challenges in New York and New Jersey with Robert M. DiPisa

    May 30, 2024 | Cannabis Radio
  4. 04

    Cannabis Reclassification Would Likely Boost Cash Flow, Opening Doors For CRE Moves

    May 1, 2024 | Bisnow
  5. 05

    Judge Approves ‘Fiore’ Settlement, Ending Injunction

    December 2, 2023 | Cannabis Business Executive
  6. 06

    How A Chicago Investor Is Reshaping New York’s Cannabis Real Estate Market

    November 1, 2023 | Bisnow
  7. 07

    Floodgates Are Open For Dispensary Applications, But Headaches Persist For NYC Cannabis Retail

    October 20, 2023 | Bisnow
  8. 08

    Yang Wants to Move ‘Forward’

    September 15, 2023 | Politico
  9. 09

    A Silver Linings Playbook for New York’s CAURD Program

    September 5, 2023 | Cannabis Business Executive
  10. 10

    Banks and Landlords Have Been Pulled Into NYC’s Cannabis Trade

    August 28, 2023 | Bloomberg
News + Insights

Webinars + Events

  1. 01

    Real Estate 2025 Forecast and Legislative Update

    January 31, 2025
  2. 02

    Tri-State Cannabis & Real Estate Conference

    December 14, 2023
  3. 03

    ICSC U.S. Law

    October 27, 2023
  4. 04

    MJBiz Con: Market Talks – New York, New Jersey and the Northeast

    November 18, 2022
  5. 05

    Webinar: Current Landscape of the Cannabis Industry

    May 19, 2022
  6. 06

    The East Coast, The New Frontier of Cannabis – Virtual Panel Discussion

    May 20, 2021
  7. 07

    2021 NJBIZ Cannabis Panel Discussion

    March 23, 2021
  8. 08

    The Outlook for Cannabis in 2021

    March 16, 2021
  9. 09

    Election 2020: What’s at Stake for Cannabis?

    November 2, 2020
  10. 10

    The Domino Effect: What Legalization on the East Coast Could Mean for the Rest of the U.S.

    June 30, 2020
News + Insights

Awards + Recognitions

  1. 01

    Cole Schotz Continues Upward Trajectory in Chambers USA Rankings

    June 6, 2024
  2. 02

    Top 10 Prominent Lawyers Influencing Cannabis Legislation in the US, 2023

    July 13, 2023 | Business Today
  3. 03

    Cole Schotz Continues to Climb the Chambers USA Rankings

    June 1, 2023 | Cole Schotz Press Release
  4. 04

    25 Cole Schotz Attorneys Named 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers

    May 11, 2023 | Cole Schotz Press Release
  5. 05

    Bergen Magazine Recognizes 13 Attorneys on 2022 Bergen County Top Lawyers List

    November 1, 2022
  6. 06

    Chambers USA Recognizes 27 Cole Schotz Attorneys and Eight Firm Departments

    June 1, 2022
  7. 07

    23 Cole Schotz Attorneys Named 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers

    March 17, 2022
  8. 08

    Best Lawyers Recognizes 17 Cole Schotz Attorneys in ‘Ones to Watch’ List

    August 16, 2021
  9. 09

    Chambers USA Recognizes 21 Cole Schotz Attorneys- 2021

    May 20, 2021
  10. 10

    20 Cole Schotz Attorneys Named 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers

    March 23, 2021
News + Insights

Related Services

Industries

  • Cannabis

  • Cannabis Applications & Licensing

  • Cannabis Social Equity Applicants

  • Cannabis Hemp & CBD

  • Cannabis Real Estate

  • Cannabis Corporate

  • Cannabis Regulatory Compliance

  • Commercial Real Estate

  • Food & Beverage Manufacturing

  • Retail

  • Start-Up & Early Stage Companies

  • Technology

  • Life Sciences

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