James Wacht
Managing Principal, Lee & Associates
New York, NY 10036
James Wacht is president of Lee & Associates NYC (Lee NYC)
Phone (212) 776-1202
James Wacht is president of Lee & Associates NYC (Lee NYC)
Property Types
Office
Markets
New York City
Languages
English
Bio
James Wacht is a lifelong New Yorker and a veteran leader in the commercial real estate industry, with more than four decades of experience spanning law, ownership, investment, and firm leadership. He is the Managing Principal and former President of Lee & Associates NYC, where he oversees a full-service commercial real estate platform serving owners, investors, and tenants across New York City.
Mr. Wacht began his career in 1981 as a real estate attorney with Bachner, Tally, Misher, Brinberg & Polevoy, developing deep expertise in commercial leasing, property acquisitions, mortgage financing, and real estate syndications. In 1989, he joined Sierra Realty Corp.—now Lee & Associates NYC—as General Counsel. He became President and Principal Owner in 2000, leading the firm’s evolution from a boutique management company into a diversified and highly active commercial real estate enterprise.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wacht has been directly involved in the sale, acquisition, development, and financing of retail, office, and industrial properties. He is particularly known for structuring joint ventures and executing complex like-kind (1031) exchanges. His leadership and impact have earned industry-wide recognition, including being named an “Industry Leader” by Real Estate Weekly and one of New York City’s 40 most active landlords by The Commercial Observer. In 2025, he received the Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award from the Real Estate Board of New York, honoring his exceptional standards of integrity, leadership, and professionalism in the industry.
Beyond his professional work, Mr. Wacht is deeply engaged in civic, philanthropic, and industry organizations. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and its Commercial Board of Directors. In the arts, he has been a long-standing supporter of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, helping to expand music education programs in public schools across all five boroughs. He is currently leading the capital campaign for the development of a cultural hub in East Harlem, featuring a 300-seat performing arts theater and jazz club.
A respected industry voice, Mr. Wacht has authored numerous articles on real estate, including “Completing Exchange Transactions in Turbulent Times: A Case Study and 1031 Guide” and “How to Analyze a Real Estate Deal.” He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law.
Education
