Rafael J. Sondon | Attorney, Developer, Author

About

A lifelong New Yorker at the corner of real estate, law, and the written word.

Rafael Sondon is the President of Development and Acquisitions at The Sondon Organization, where he oversees the firm's development pipeline and acquisitions, and the CEO of Castleground Real Estate Brokerage. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, with a background in real estate transactions shaped at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

He came up in a small family business, an experience that continues to shape how he approaches every deal and client relationship.

Away from the closing table, Rafael writes on politics, history, and public policy, and can occasionally be found losing chess games at Washington Square Park.

Work

Three seats at the same table.

No. 01

The Sondon Organization

President, Development & Acquisitions

Leading development and acquisitions for the family real estate enterprise, from sourcing and underwriting new opportunities through entitlement, execution, and long-term ownership.

No. 02

Castleground Real Estate Brokerage

Chief Executive Officer

Running a New York brokerage built on the same principles as the development business: know the asset, know the neighborhood, and treat every client's deal like your own.

No. 03

Legal Practice

Attorney, State of New York

A real estate transactions lawyer by training, with experience at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP spanning acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and joint ventures.

The Book

The American Papers

Drawing inspiration from the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, The American Papers is a collection of 85 prescriptive essays on the contemporary problems facing the United States, spanning politics, history, philosophy, economics, religion, and psychology.

At its core, it is a personal call to unity: genuine conversation built on empathy and respectful rhetoric, a revitalized education standard centered on shared national values, and structural, reasonable reform of the federal government.

Written in the tradition of the founding debates, addressed to the country we still share.

Amazon / Kindle Apple Books Barnes & Noble / Nook Audible

Education

Trained in the law, grounded in the deal.

Juris Doctor

New York University School of Law

Staff editor of the Journal of Law and Business. Served startup and small-business clients through the Business Transactions Clinic, handling entity formation, contract drafting, and asset protection.

M.B.A., Real Estate

St. John's University

Graduate business studies concentrated in real estate, in Queens, NY.

B.S., Finance

St. John's University

Undergraduate degree in finance, the foundation for a career spent underwriting and closing real property.

Available Now

The American Papers

Rafael's collection of 85 essays is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook from every major retailer.

Amazon / Kindle Apple Books Barnes & Noble / Nook Audible