Kristen L. Cavatassi

Kristen L. Cavatassi

Attorney/Managing Partner, Morgenstern DeVoesick PLLC

What do you enjoy most about practicing real estate law?

The commercial aspect of my practice allows me to do handle acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and financing matters for properties located throughout the United States. Each transaction challenges me to work to a different standard, study and learn the unique real estate law in that area, and work with other lawyers who I may not normally interact with. I enjoy proving to people that a smaller firm in Upstate New York can produce a superior work product and work alongside attorneys in bigger cities — New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., etc. Also, I enjoy knowing that I’ve had a hand in helping to add value to our community whether that’s a new development project with a sophisticated commercial developer or walking first-time home buyers through a purchase.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve dealt with over the past year?

The biggest challenge I’ve had to deal with over the past couple of years is handling the volume of real estate transactions that have been presented to us. My firm, Morgenstern DeVoesick PLLC, celebrates its 10th anniversary in March 2022 and we’ve been growing throughout those 10 years. When you throw in a booming real estate market, a pandemic, and internal growth, it can make it hard to keep up. My role as Managing Partner has required me to make sure that both our client’s and team member’s needs were being met. I’m tasked with ensuring that we are adding attorneys and staff members that are committed to putting out a sophisticated work product and can fit in with our firm culture.

What do you see as the biggest changes in real estate law in the next 3-5 years?

I started out as a real estate paralegal in 2005 and until 2020, not much had changed about how Rochester handled real estate transactions. When interest rates lowered and the pandemic hit, we had to figure out a new way to handle and close the numerous real estate transactions while limiting our in-person meetings. In my opinion, this made the legal field more efficient and collaborative. Now that there is a return to “normal” I don’t see some of those changes going away and, in fact, it taught us that we have to adapt and change as necessary.

What community organizations do you support as a volunteer and why?

I love to support local organizations that directly give back to our community. One organization of importance to me, and my family, is IACKids: It’s About Caring for Kids. IACkids aids families in the Greater Rochester New York region going through financial hardships due to their child’s severe illness. All of the funds raised through this organization go directly to the families in need. I’ve personally witnessed the impact that this organization has had on our community and the families they serve. Outside of IACKids, I like to lend my support to: Saint’s Place, Lollipop Farms and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rochester, New York.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

Outside of spending more time with my family (husband, son (7) and daughter (5)) and friends, which is an ongoing goal of mine, I’d like to become a better golfer. I’ve played golf on-and-off for a number ofyears, but only recently have I become more serious about improving my game as I play more consistently on Tuesday evenings in the summer with a group of women.