Biglaw

Lawyerly Lairs: A Wicked Awesome, $13 Million Penthouse Condo

One Boston attorney has enough free cash flow to buy the most expensive condominium ever sold in Boston -- the very best penthouse at the Mandarin Oriental Residences, on tony Boylston Street. And who is the lucky lawyer who will get to spend another seven-figure sum finishing and then furnishing this 7,000-square-foot space?

According to the Globe, the buyer is Henry Rosen (pictured; he looks like an older Jason Schwartzman). Rosen is a real estate lawyer at Choate, Hall & Stewart, one of Boston’s oldest and most well-respected firms.

CORRECTION (7/13/11): Actually, it appears that Henry Rosen is not the true buyer. Please see this correction.

But Boston firms aren’t as lucrative as, say, their New York counterparts. One of the many tipsters who brought this item to our attention posed the $64,000 — or $13 million — question: “How can a partner at a medium-sized, well-regarded Boston law firm afford a $13.2 million pad?”

And note that Henry Rosen isn’t even a Choate Hall partner. He’s currently of counsel — although it seems that he previously was a partner. Perhaps he’s now so rich that he doesn’t have to practice law full-time?

Our speculation is that Rosen, like many successful real estate lawyers, made some extra money through investing in real estate on the side. A number of top real estate attorneys dabble as investors. For example, Jonathan Mechanic of Fried Frank, one of New York’s (and the nation’s) top real estate lawyers, owns retail and investment properties in Bergen County, New Jersey (where I’m from).

Another possibility, of a more delicious nature: family money. There are few words in the English language that go better together than “family” and “money.” (Use in a sentence: “Going to law school wasn’t a bad idea for her, since she had family money.”)

This is, of course, all complete speculation. Do you know how Henry Rosen was able to afford his fabulous Boston abode? If so, please spill the Beantown beans (subject line: “Henry Rosen”).

In the meantime, while we wait to hear back from readers about Henry Rosen’s wealth, let’s learn more about his new apartment (and look at some pictures)….

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Next »