David I. Schaffer is a Partner in the firm’s Corporate/Business and Real Estate Practice Groups, representing public and private companies. He advises the firm’s business clients, both public and private, start-up and established, including hi-tech and bio-tech companies, and drafts complex operating agreements, partnership agreements and shareholder agreements. He also handles various public and private offerings and acquisitions. He handles venture capital investments for major venture capital funds. He also represents major commercial landlords on Long Island.

David began his career at the Wall Street firm of Shearman & Sterling, where he concentrated in complex secured and unsecured financing and leasing transactions for Citibank, then the firm’s principal client. Prior to joining Meltzer Lippe, David was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Avis, Inc. for 15 years, then Vice President and General Counsel of U.S. Surgical Corporation. As General Counsel of Avis, David worked on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures. He negotiated and did the legal work for numerous joint ventures, both in the United States and foreign countries. In the area of franchising, David supervised Avis’ relationships with its extensive network of licensees within the U.S. and worldwide.

Over his corporate career, David advised six different CEOs. He has also dealt closely with many of the country’s major law firms, which enables him to combine a dedication to high quality legal work with an understanding of the cost-benefit considerations important to clients.

While in corporate practice, David supervised major governmental antitrust and securities investigations. He has handled major bank financings, and in the securities field, has prepared ’33 and ’34 Act filings, participated in public offerings and private placements and advised on Rule 144, insider trading, 16(b) and 13D matters. He is also a Designated Advisor for Disclosure (DAD), for a client listed on the OTCQX.

David has been a trustee and is past president of the Nassau County Legal Aid Society and a former Director and General Counsel of the Long Island Capital Alliance. He is a member of various bar associations, is listed in Who’s Who in America, has an “AV Preeminent Rating” from his peers and lectures before business and bar association groups. David also serves as Village Justice for the Village of Great Neck Estates.

David lives in Great Neck with his wife, Lois, has one surviving child Eric Schaffer, and six grandchildren. He is an avid tennis player and jogger. David has completed four New York Marathons and he is a rabid New York Giants fan.