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Rajat Shah
D: (716) 200-5109  
rshah@harrisbeach.com

Rajat R. Shah

  Member

Industry Teams Co-Leader -  
Racing and Gaming
(716) 200-5109  |
  rshah@harrisbeach.com
“We bring an entrepreneurial outlook to finding innovative solutions to meet client needs. As a result, we pride ourselves in making the impossible a reality.”
Profile
Representative Matters
Professional and Civic
Areas of Experience
Admissions
Education
Location

Rajat is an accomplished general counsel, corporate development and governmental affairs senior executive whose experience goes far beyond the law. Across his career, Rajat has led and significantly influenced the strategic direction of several large organizations, including the Delaware North Companies, an international gaming and hospitality conglomerate operating on four continents, and Seneca Gaming Corporation, which operates three resort casinos in New York. At Harris Beach, Rajat advises clients on matters relating to finance, corporate, real estate and governmental affairs, as well as crisis management.

Prior to joining Harris Beach, Rajat was CEO and founder of a multi-state corporation that helped manage celebrity-branded restaurants and retail operations and also advised on operational improvements and acquisitions in the gaming industry. At Delaware North, Rajat served in the Office of CEO as an executive vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, corporate secretary and head of corporate development and external affairs. During his tenure, Rajat helped materially grow the revenue of Delaware North through organic and inorganic growth, including the development or acquisition of Miami Valley Gaming, Patina Restaurant Group, GEM Gaming and Entertainment and Ruby 7 Studios. He also served as senior vice president of corporate development and general counsel for Seneca Gaming, as the organization grew from a single temporary casino to three permanent facilities in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca, New York.

Prior to becoming a senior corporate executive, Rajat practiced law at two of the world’s largest law firms – Akin Gump (Washington D.C. office) and Pillsbury (New York City office). During his time with Akin Gump and Pillsbury, Rajat negotiated terms for more than $3.5 billion in domestic and international bond offerings and credit facilities, negotiated domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, advised public companies pre- and post-Chapter 11 and counseled public companies on corporate governance and legal and regulatory compliance.

  • Represented national commercial real estate developer, Sinatra & Co.,  in buy-out of co-founder, including multi-layered financing with traditional and non-traditional debt financing.
  • Advised Sinatra & Co. in a complicated real estate portfolio investment with a component tenant in common investment structure.
  • Successfully led strategy to continue operations of a 50 plus retail store chain during Phase II of New York COVID-19 reopening plan and prevent such closure prior to commencement of Phase III.
  • Counseled Guideline Medical Holdings/Compliance Team, LLC’s acquisition of Compliance Team, Inc.
  • Negotiated slot placement agreements for Pervasive Gaming Operations, LLC throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Argentina.
  • Represented Ahold Delhaize in acquisition of a grocery store chain in Thailand.
  • Advised Seneca Gaming Corporation in $80 million credit facility and $200 million bond offering.
  • Represented Seneca Nation in $160 million muni bond offering.
  • Counseled lenders, developers and project sponsors in large-scale infrastructure projects in the Philippines, India, Colombia and Texas.
  • Represented Rotate Black in casino development opportunities in Panama City, Panama; Biloxi, Mississippi, Catskills, New York; and Alberta, Canada.
  • Advised CRIIMI MAE Inc. in multi-billion Chapter 11 restructuring.

Professional and Civic

  • 43North, Buffalo-based business accelerator – mentor to startup companies
  • Vanderbilt Law Review

Recognition

  • Legal Elite of Western New York, Buffalo Business First
  • 40 Under 40, Buffalo Business First
  • Eagle Scout

Legal Practices

Commercial Real Estate
Corporate
Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Public Finance and Economic Development

Industry Teams

Construction and Surety
Financial Institutions and Capital Markets
Racing and Gaming

District of Columbia

New York

Vanderbilt University School of Law

JD
1996

Gettysburg College

BA
1993
magna cum laude
Buffalo, NY Office
Washington, D.C. Office
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(866) 999-0659

Rajat R. Shah

rshah@harrisbeach.com
D: (716) 200-5109
Buffalo, NY Office
Washington, D.C. Office
Rajat Shah
https://www.harrisbeach.com/people/shah-rajat-r/

■ Areas of Expertise

Commercial Real Estate Legal Practice
Corporate Legal Practice
Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Legal Practice
Public Finance and Economic Development Legal Practice
Construction and Surety Industry Team
Financial Institutions and Capital Markets Industry Team
Racing and Gaming Industry Team

■ Profile

Rajat is an accomplished general counsel, corporate development and governmental affairs senior executive whose experience goes far beyond the law. Across his career, Rajat has led and significantly influenced the strategic direction of several large organizations, including the Delaware North Companies, an international gaming and hospitality conglomerate operating on four continents, and Seneca Gaming Corporation, which operates three resort casinos in New York. At Harris Beach, Rajat advises clients on matters relating to finance, corporate, real estate and governmental affairs, as well as crisis management.

Prior to joining Harris Beach, Rajat was CEO and founder of a multi-state corporation that helped manage celebrity-branded restaurants and retail operations and also advised on operational improvements and acquisitions in the gaming industry. At Delaware North, Rajat served in the Office of CEO as an executive vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, corporate secretary and head of corporate development and external affairs. During his tenure, Rajat helped materially grow the revenue of Delaware North through organic and inorganic growth, including the development or acquisition of Miami Valley Gaming, Patina Restaurant Group, GEM Gaming and Entertainment and Ruby 7 Studios. He also served as senior vice president of corporate development and general counsel for Seneca Gaming, as the organization grew from a single temporary casino to three permanent facilities in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca, New York.

Prior to becoming a senior corporate executive, Rajat practiced law at two of the world’s largest law firms – Akin Gump (Washington D.C. office) and Pillsbury (New York City office). During his time with Akin Gump and Pillsbury, Rajat negotiated terms for more than $3.5 billion in domestic and international bond offerings and credit facilities, negotiated domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, advised public companies pre- and post-Chapter 11 and counseled public companies on corporate governance and legal and regulatory compliance.

■ Representative Matters

  • Represented national commercial real estate developer, Sinatra & Co.,  in buy-out of co-founder, including multi-layered financing with traditional and non-traditional debt financing.
  • Advised Sinatra & Co. in a complicated real estate portfolio investment with a component tenant in common investment structure.
  • Successfully led strategy to continue operations of a 50 plus retail store chain during Phase II of New York COVID-19 reopening plan and prevent such closure prior to commencement of Phase III.
  • Counseled Guideline Medical Holdings/Compliance Team, LLC’s acquisition of Compliance Team, Inc.
  • Negotiated slot placement agreements for Pervasive Gaming Operations, LLC throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Argentina.
  • Represented Ahold Delhaize in acquisition of a grocery store chain in Thailand.
  • Advised Seneca Gaming Corporation in $80 million credit facility and $200 million bond offering.
  • Represented Seneca Nation in $160 million muni bond offering.
  • Counseled lenders, developers and project sponsors in large-scale infrastructure projects in the Philippines, India, Colombia and Texas.
  • Represented Rotate Black in casino development opportunities in Panama City, Panama; Biloxi, Mississippi, Catskills, New York; and Alberta, Canada.
  • Advised CRIIMI MAE Inc. in multi-billion Chapter 11 restructuring.

■ Professional and Civic

  • 43North, Buffalo-based business accelerator – mentor to startup companies
  • Vanderbilt Law Review

■ Admissions

  • Legal Elite of Western New York, Buffalo Business First
  • 40 Under 40, Buffalo Business First
  • Eagle Scout

■ Education

Vanderbilt University School of Law
 ,JD
 ,1996
Gettysburg College
 ,BA
 ,1993
 ,magna cum laude

Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide a full range of legal and professional services for clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal and is among the BTI Elite law firms based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Our clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Principal industries we represent include education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, and state and local governments and authorities.

Industry Teams
Automotive and Vehicle Dealerships
Cannabis
Construction and Surety
Educational Institutions Higher Ed
Educational Institutions K-12
EMS and Fire Protection Providers
Energy
Financial Institutions and Capital Markets
Food and Beverage
Health Care
Industrial and Consumer Manufacturing
Medical and Life Sciences
Municipalities and Local Agencies
Nanotechnology
Photonics
Racing and Gaming
Real Estate Developers
Science and Technology
Telecommunications and Media
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
USA Collegiate Sports
Veterinary Medicine

Practices
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate
Business and Commercial Litigation
Collection Law
Commercial Real Estate
Corporate
Cybersecurity Protection and Response
Diversity Compliance
E-Discovery (e-infoSM)
Employee Benefits
Employment Litigation
Environmental Law
Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Government Compliance and Investigations
Health Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Coverage
Intellectual Property Law
International Trade Law
Internet Law
Labor and Employment Law
Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation
New Markets Tax Credit
Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law
Product Liability and Comprehensive General Liability
Public Finance and Economic Development
Real Property Valuation Litigation
Residential Real Estate
Sports Law
Tax Law
White Collar Crime
Wills, Trusts and Estates

Consulting Services
HB Solutions LLC
Collegiate Sports Compliance
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
Economic Development and Public Affairs
Educational Institution Assistance
EMRG® (E-Discovery Management Resources Group)
Energy
Health and Human Services
Human Resources
Information Technology
Marketing and Communication Services
Municipal and Local Agency Assistance

HB Cornerstone LLC
Owner Representation
Design Services
Facilities Consulting
Move Management

Caetra.io
CyMetric (Cybersecurity Regulation Compliance Software)

Offices throughout New York:

Albany
677 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207
518-427-9700

Buffalo
726 Exchange Street
Buffalo, NY 14210
716-200-5050

Ithaca
119 East Seneca Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-6444

Long Island
333 Earle Ovington Boulevard
Uniondale, NY 11553
516-880-8484

New York City
100 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
212-687-0100

Rochester
99 Garnsey Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
585-419-8800

Saratoga Springs
513 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-587-0551

Syracuse
333 West Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-423-7100

White Plains
445 Hamilton Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
914-683-1200

Offices also in:

New Haven, CT
195 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
203-784-3159

Newark, NJ
One Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102
973-848-1244

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
© 2022 Harris Beach PLLC

Content current as of May 26, 2022 11:25 am
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