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THE COMMERCIAL OBSERVER | DECEMBER 11, 2012 | 37 The daughter of David Lewis, the Russian-born Canadian pol- itician who helped launch the New Democratic Party, Nina Libeskind’s earliest exposure to politics came at age six. But political campaigns most- ly took a backseat starting in 1969, when she married world- renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, with whom she has shared her life and career ever since. Still, even in her current po- sition, in which she oversees management, financial and ad- ministrative matters at her husband’s studio, Ms. Libeskind’s political and social engagement continues to play an important part in her work. “I believe that once you work in architecture, you do it in a world that is public,” Ms. Libeskind told The Commercial Observer last week from China, where she is on a book tour with her husband. “The discussion should be about the public space, how the public views the building and how the building impacts the public.” Her time overseas is hardly unusual, given that the couple spends half of the year flying around the world, managing about 50 commissions at a time and working out of offices in New York, Zurich and Milan. “We have a symbiotic relation- ship,” she said, adding that they still have “a tremendous amount of fun.” Her political passion and be- liefs have played a role in projects such as the Jewish Museum in Berlin, which she described as near to her heart. “On the other [side] of the coin,” she said, was the Military History Museum in Dresden, on which she negotiated closely with the German military. “I think that with politics comes an ethical idea of the world that Daniel I share,” she said referring to her work. “Part is po- litical, part is ethical and part is fun.” —Alessia Pirolo Laurie Grasso Hunton & Williams LLP Partner Year joined: 2012 Recognized in New York Super Lawyers, Legal 500, Real Estate Forum’s 35 under 35 and Real Estate New York’s Women of Influence. Rachel Harari First New York Partners Management, Senior Vice President; Senior Counsel Year joined: 2005 In charge of Forest City Ratner’s New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania operating portfolios. Marcella Grigg CBRE First Vice President Year joined: 2009 Serves as the cross border invest- ment advisor for CBRE. Desiree Harbacek CBRE Senior Financial Analyst Year joined: 2006 Researched 685 Third Avenue, 1 New York Plaza and 123 William Street. Deborah Gutoff Eastern Consolidated Senior Director Year joined: 1986 Over $1 billion in sales completed, focusing on bulk packages of un- sold co-ops/condos, multifamily apartments and student housing. Patricia Harris Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Managing Partner Year joined: 2000 Board member of and alliance coordinator for Global Design Alliance. Lauren Hayes Cushman & Wakefield Senior Associate, Strategic Agency Services Year joined: 2010 Clients include Morgan Stanley, Jamestown Properties/MHP and JLL Investment Management. Linda Heaney Friedman LLP Partner Year joined: 1976 Founding member of the New York City chapter of the American Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants. Maureen Henegan Henegan Construction Co. Inc. Chair and CEO Year joined: 1986 Founded the largest woman- owned construction company. Caroline Hannigan Massey Knakal Realty Services Senior Associate Year joined: 2010 Completed over $400 million in transactions within two years. Sarah Hawkins Hines Associate Year joined: 2011 Currently managing 7 Bryant Park. Annette Healey SPQREA Executive Vice President Year joined: 2000 Focuses on tenant repre- sentation, with a number of institutional, apparel and jewelry retail tenants. Melissa Hein Studley Asociate Director Year joined: 2005 Oversees a portfolio of around 2.3 million square feet. Ellen Herman Jones Lang LaSalle Executive Vice President Year joined: 2008 Clients include NAACP LDF, New Alternatives for Children and the American Medical Association. Nina Libeskind, Studio Daniel Libeskind. Chief Operating Officer
