Lawyerly Lairs: A Biglaw Partner's $12 Million Home -- With Amazing Central Park Views

This is quite the trophy property.

1150 Fifth Avenue 10

I hold the law firm of Ropes & Gray in very high esteem — and I’m not alone. The firm routinely appears at or near the top of major law firm rankings, including the American Lawyer A-List, the Vault and Law360 diversity rankings, and Vault’s list of the best law firms to work for.

Another plus of working at Ropes & Gray: if your career at the firm is long and successful enough, you could end up owning some pretty fabulous real estate. Last Sunday, the New York Times profiled the apartment at 1150 Fifth Avenue that was once the home of noted British journalist and social commentator Alistair Cooke — before it got acquired by a Ropes partner who took it to a new level of luxury:

Mr. Cooke and his wife, were they still around (Ms. White died in 2011), likely wouldn’t recognize the place today, except for the stunning views of the park and reservoir from the living room and most of the bedrooms. The current owners, Othon and Kathy Prounis, bought the simplex, No. 15A, from the sponsor in 2006 for $4.35 million, and commenced a top-to-bottom overhaul that took nearly two years, modernizing and reconfiguring the entire space.

The reimagined apartment, at East 96th Street, was recently refurbished and refreshed with new millwork, lighting and kitchen appliances, and is now about to return to the market. The asking price is $11.75 million, according to Randall Gianopulos, the agent at Sotheby’s International Realty who is listing the property. Monthly maintenance is $7,467.

The Prounises, who have two daughters, one of whom is in college, say they are looking for a home closer to Midtown, where Mr. Prounis works as a corporate lawyer.

Othon A. Prounis

Othon A. Prounis

To be more specific, at Ropes & Gray — where Othon Prounis practices in the corporate department and serves on the policy committee, the firm’s managing body. Prounis graduated from Columbia College in 1983 and Columbia Law School in 1986. He previously worked at the distinguished boutique of Reboul MacMurray, which Ropes absorbed into its New York office in 2003.

Now, $12 million is not a small asking price, and the Manhattan real estate market is cooling, especially in the segment north of $10 million. But this co-op apartment — with almost 2,500 square feet of living space, incredible Central Park views, and high ceilings — is a very impressive property.

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Let’s have a look, shall we?

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