Rubenstein Associates Sees PR Guru Start Own Firm, Leave With Legendary Real Estate Clients

Splashed across the pages of The New York Times today is the news that Steve Solomon, the long-time right-hand man of Howard Rubenstein of Rubenstein Associates will be leaving the firm this week to start his own consulting company, Steve Solomon Inc.

Solomon, 76, has served as Executive Vice President of the legendary New York PR firm since 1990, and runs the agencys real estate practice, where clients include some of New York’s biggest developers, including Extell, LeFrak, Macklowe, Charles Kushner, and others. Among the clients who will be leaving with Solomon, according to the NY Times are “Cohen Brothers Realty, headed by Charles Cohen; the William Macklowe Company, headed by Billy Macklowe; the Naftali Group, which is headed by Miki Naftali,” and Lefrak.

Solomon explained he met Howard Rubenstein when he was editor of Real Estate Weekly in the early 1960’s, and was with the firm in the ‘60’s, before returning in 1990 with clients who included Barbara Corcoran – today most famous for Shark Tank – as well as SL Green Realty. While he wouldn’t name his favorite client, he said he “laughed the most with Barbara Corcoran” and said his most challenging client was “Gary Barnett of Extell Development.”

For Rubenstein PR, this could be a forbearing for the day that Howard Rubenstein, who is 83 years old retires.  Howard continues to run the agency, and it is inevitable that more clients, and employees will leave as Howard continues to age.  We, at Everything-PR wish Mr. Solomon only the best of success.