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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
      STATES</strong></font></div>
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      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Washington,
      DC 20549 </strong></font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>FORM
      8-K </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CURRENT
      REPORT </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Pursuant
      to Section&#160;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>March
      22, 2006 </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 20pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>NorthStar
      Realty Finance Corp.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter) </font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(State
                or other jurisdiction</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">of
                incorporation)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="32%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>001-32330</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Commission
                File</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Number)</font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="32%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>11-3707493</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(I.R.S.&#160;Employer</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Identification
                No.)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

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            <td valign="bottom" width="49%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>527
                Madison Avenue, 16</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><sup><strong>th</strong></sup></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>
                Floor, New York</strong></font></div>
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            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="2%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="49%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>10022</strong></font></div>
            </td>
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            <td valign="bottom" width="49%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
                of principal executive offices)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="2%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="49%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Zip
                Code)</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>(212)
      319-8801</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Registrant's
      telephone number, including area code) </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>N/A</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Former
      name or former address, if changed since last report.) </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form&#160;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="left" style="width: 36pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Written
                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
                230.425) </font></div>
            </td>
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            <td align="left" style="width: 36pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Soliciting
                material pursuant to Rule&#160;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
                240.14a-12) </font></div>
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      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
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        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">&#160;</div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement. </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
      March
      27, 2006, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press release
      (the &#8220;Press Release&#8221;) announcing the hiring of Andrew C. Richardson as the
      Company&#8217;s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer &amp; Treasurer. In
      connection therewith, the Company and Mr. Richardson entered into an Employment
      Agreement (the &#8220;Employment Agreement&#8221;), a copy of which is attached to this
      Current Report as Exhibit 99.1. The Employment Agreement </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">has
      an
      initial term of three years beginning on a date mutually agreed to between
      the
      Company and Mr. Richardson, but in no event later than April 17, 2006. Following
      the initial term, the Employment Agreement automatically will extend on an
      annual basis for one additional year, unless notice not to renew the Employment
      Agreement is given 90 days prior to the expiration of its term. Mr. Richardson
      will receive an initial annual base salary of $250,000 per annum. In subsequent
      years during the term, the base salary under the Employment Agreement will
      be
      subject to annual review and adjustment from time to time by the Compensation
      Committee of the Board of Directors. The Employment Agreement also provides
      that
      Mr. Richardson may be entitled to an annual cash bonus. The initial target
      amount of the annual cash bonus will be 240% of Mr. Richardson&#8217;s base salary.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Richardson shall be entitled to a minimum
      annual cash bonus of $600,000 for the 2006 calendar year payable in February
      2007, subject to Mr. Richardson being employed by the Company at that time.
      </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As
      part
      of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Richardson will receive (i) $1,000,000 payable
      in the form equity awards, approximately 50% of which will be in the form (at
      the Company&#8217;s election) of an allocation of shares or units of partnership
      interest which are structured as profits interests in NorthStar Realty Finance
      Limited Partnership (&#8220;LTIP Units&#8221;), the operating partnership and a majority
      owned subsidiary of the Company (or the cash equivalent value), under the
      Company&#8217;s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan (the &#8220;Bonus Plan&#8221;) if the Company
      meets certain return hurdles during the applicable performance periods under
      the
      Bonus Plan (the &#8220;Bonus Plan Hurdles&#8221;), (ii) a cash payment of $250,000 payable
      on or before January 15, 2007, provided that prior to January 1, 2007 Mr.
      Richardson has not been terminated &#8220;for cause&#8221; (as defined in the Employment
      Agreement) or has not voluntarily terminated his employment other than for
&#8220;good
      reason&#8221; (as defined in the Employment Agreement), and (iii) a grant of $250,000
      in equity awards, approximately 50% of which will be in the form of LTIP Units
      under the Company&#8217;s 2004 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (&#8220;Stock Plan&#8221;) and
      approximately 50% of which will be in the form (at the Company&#8217;s election) of an
      allocation of shares or LTIP Units (or the cash equivalent value) under the
      Bonus Plan if the Company meets the Bonus Plan Hurdles. Additionally, the
      Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Richardson shall be entitled to an
      allocation of 10% of the </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8220;performance
      pool&#8221; under the Company&#8217;s 2006 Outperformance Plan (the &#8220;OPP&#8221;). </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Furthermore,
      the Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Richardson will receive severance
      payments in the event of termination of his employment by the Company (other
      than a termination for "cause") or by Mr. Richardson with "good reason." These
      severance payments include continuation of annual base salary for two years
      following the date of termination of employment and, if the termination occurs
      on or prior to January 1, 2007, the automatic vesting of one-third of all
      outstanding equity awards issued to Mr. Richardson under the Stock Plan. In
      addition, Mr. Richardson would receive a pro-rata bonus for the year in which
      such termination occurred. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">If
      payments made under the Employment Agreement (or any other plans or agreements)
      are subject to excise tax under the provisions of Section 4999 of the Internal
      Revenue Code, the Employment Agreement provides that the Company will pay Mr.
      Richardson an additional amount such that the amount retained by him would
      equal
      the net amount of payments which would have been received by him absent
      application of the excise tax.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Richardson agreed that, during his employment
      with the Company and for a period of one year following the termination of
      his
      employment, he will not solicit, directly or indirectly, any of the Company&#8217;s
      employees, officers, consultants or joint venture partners to terminate their
      employment or other relationships with the Company.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
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      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">&#160;</div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Richardson may participate in the
      Company&#8217;s equity compensation plans, including the Bonus Plan, the OPP and the
      Stock Plan. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.</strong></font></div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
      March
      27, 2006, the Company also announced in the Press Release that Mark E. Chertok,
      the Company&#8217;s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will be leaving the Company
      in April 2006 to pursue other personal and professional interests. As a result,
      Mr. Chertok&#8217;s </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">employment
      agreement with the Company will terminate effective April 7, 2006. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
      Appointment of Principal Officers. </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As
      referred to in Item 1.01 above, Mr. Richardson, 39, entered into the Employment
      Agreement with the Company. Mr. Richardson&#8217;s employment with the Company as
      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer will begin
      </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">on
      a date
      mutually agreed to between the Company and Mr. Richardson, but in no event
      later
      than April 17, 2006. Mr. Richardson comes to the Company from iStar Financial
      Inc., where he was an executive vice president and head of the capital markets
      group for the past six years. Mr. Richardson joined iStar Financial from Salomon
      Smith Barney, where he was a vice president in the global real estate and
      lodging investment banking group. Prior to joining Salomon Smith Barney, Mr.
      Richardson worked for Ernst &amp; Young and was a certified public accountant.
      Mr. Richardson holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.B.A.
      in
      accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">There
      are
      no relationships or transactions regarding Mr. Richardson that are required
      to
      be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(d) or Item 404(a) of Regulation
      S-K.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As
      referred to in Item 1.02 above, Mr. Chertok&#8217;s employment with the Company will
      cease effective as of April 7, 2006, at which time he will no longer serve
      as
      the Company&#8217;s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">A
      copy of
      the Press Release announcing Mr. Richardson&#8217;s appointment and Mr. Chertok&#8217;s
      departure is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 99.2.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>ITEM
      9.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits.
</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="left" style="width: 36pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Exhibits
                </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td valign="bottom" width="7%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><strong>Exhibit</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><strong>Number</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="2%" style="border-bottom: #ffffff solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="62%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><strong>Description</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="right" valign="top" width="7%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="62%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="right" valign="top" width="7%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">99.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="62%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Employment
                Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2006, between the Company and Andrew
                C.
                Richardson.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="right" valign="top" width="7%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="62%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="right" valign="top" width="7%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">99.2</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="62%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Press
                Release, dated March 27, 2006.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">&#160;</div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">&#160;</div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
      Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="49%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">NorthStar
                Realty Finance Corp.</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Registrant)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date:
                March 28, 2006</font></div>
            </td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">By:&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">/s/
              Richard J. McCready<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td colspan="2"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: " size="1">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <hr style="COLOR: black" align="left" noshade size="2" width="80%"><font size="2">Richard
              J. McCready</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Executive
                Vice President &amp; General Counsel
</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">&#160;</div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">&#160;</div>
      </div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>EXHIBIT
      INDEX </strong></font><a name="page_di6181_1_4"/><a name="di6181_exhibit_index"/></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><a name="toc_di6181_1">&#160;</a></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td valign="bottom" width="7%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><strong>Exhibit</strong></font></div>
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            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="2%" style="border-bottom: #ffffff solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
            </td>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><strong>Description</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="right" valign="top" width="7%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="62%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
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            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
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                Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2006, between the Company and Andrew
                C.
                Richardson.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
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            <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">&#160;</td>
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            </td>
          </tr>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NORTHSTAR REALTY", "cik": "0001273801", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-32330", "film-number": "06715384"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "627 MADISON AVE 15TH FL", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022"}}
UNITED
      STATES
SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
      DC 20549
FORM
      8-K
CURRENT
      REPORT
Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March
      22, 2006
NorthStar
      Realty Finance Corp.
(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
(State
                or other jurisdiction
of
                incorporation)
001-32330
(Commission
                File
Number)
11-3707493
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification
                No.)
527
                Madison Avenue, 16
th
Floor, New York
10022
(Address
                of principal executive offices)
(Zip
                Code)
(212)
      319-8801
(Registrant's
      telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former
      name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o
Written
                communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
                230.425)
o
Soliciting
                material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
                240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item
      1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
      March
      27, 2006, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (the "Company") issued a press release
      (the "Press Release") announcing the hiring of Andrew C. Richardson as the
      Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer. In
      connection therewith, the Company and Mr. Richardson entered into an Employment
      Agreement (the "Employment Agreement"), a copy of which is attached to this
      Current Report as Exhibit 99.1. The Employment Agreement
has
      an
      initial term of three years beginning on a date mutually agreed to between
      the
      Company and Mr. Richardson, but in no event later than April 17, 2006. Following
      the initial term, the Employment Agreement automatically will extend on an
      annual basis for one additional year, unless notice not to renew the Employment
      Agreement is given 90 days prior to the expiration of its term. Mr. Richardson
      will receive an initial annual base salary of $250,000 per annum. In subsequent
      years during the term, the base salary under the Employment Agreement will
      be
      subject to annual review and adjustment from time to time by the Compensation
      Committee of the Board of Directors. The Employment Agreement also provides
      that
      Mr. Richardson may be entitled to an annual cash bonus. The initial target
      amount of the annual cash bonus will be 240% of Mr. Richardson's base salary.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Richardson shall be entitled to a minimum
      annual cash bonus of $600,000 for the 2006 calendar year payable in February
      2007, subject to Mr. Richardson being employed by the Company at that time.
As
      part
      of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Richardson will receive (i) $1,000,000 payable
      in the form equity awards, approximately 50% of which will be in the form (at
      the Company's election) of an allocation of shares or units of partnership
      interest which are structured as profits interests in NorthStar Realty Finance
      Limited Partnership ("LTIP Units"), the operating partnership and a majority
      owned subsidiary of the Company (or the cash equivalent value), under the
      Company's 2004 Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan") if the Company
      meets certain return hurdles during the applicable performance periods under
      the
      Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan Hurdles"), (ii) a cash payment of $250,000 payable
      on or before January 15, 2007, provided that prior to January 1, 2007 Mr.
      Richardson has not been terminated "for cause" (as defined in the Employment
      Agreement) or has not voluntarily terminated his employment other than for
"good
      reason" (as defined in the Employment Agreement), and (iii) a grant of $250,000
      in equity awards, approximately 50% of which will be in the form of LTIP Units
      under the Company's 2004 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan ("Stock Plan") and
      approximately 50% of which will be in the form (at the Company's election) of an
      allocation of shares or LTIP Units (or the cash equivalent value) under the
      Bonus Plan if the Company meets the Bonus Plan Hurdles. Additionally, the
      Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Richardson shall be entitled to an
      allocation of 10% of the
"performance
      pool" under the Company's 2006 Outperformance Plan (the "OPP").
Furthermore,
      the Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Richardson will receive severance
      payments in the event of termination of his employment by the Company (other
      than a termination for "cause") or by Mr. Richardson with "good reason." These
      severance payments include continuation of annual base salary for two years
      following the date of termination of employment and, if the termination occurs
      on or prior to January 1, 2007, the automatic vesting of one-third of all
      outstanding equity awards issued to Mr. Richardson under the Stock Plan. In
      addition, Mr. Richardson would receive a pro-rata bonus for the year in which
      such termination occurred.
If
      payments made under the Employment Agreement (or any other plans or agreements)
      are subject to excise tax under the provisions of Section 4999 of the Internal
      Revenue Code, the Employment Agreement provides that the Company will pay Mr.
      Richardson an additional amount such that the amount retained by him would
      equal
      the net amount of payments which would have been received by him absent
      application of the excise tax.
Pursuant
      to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Richardson agreed that, during his employment
      with the Company and for a period of one year following the termination of
      his
      employment, he will not solicit, directly or indirectly, any of the Company's
      employees, officers, consultants or joint venture partners to terminate their
      employment or other relationships with the Company.
The
      Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Richardson may participate in the
      Company's equity compensation plans, including the Bonus Plan, the OPP and the
      Stock Plan.
Item
      1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
      March
      27, 2006, the Company also announced in the Press Release that Mark E. Chertok,
      the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will be leaving the Company
      in April 2006 to pursue other personal and professional interests. As a result,
      Mr. Chertok's
employment
      agreement with the Company will terminate effective April 7, 2006.
Item
      5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
      Appointment of Principal Officers.
As
      referred to in Item 1.01 above, Mr. Richardson, 39, entered into the Employment
      Agreement with the Company. Mr. Richardson's employment with the Company as
      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer will begin
on
      a date
      mutually agreed to between the Company and Mr. Richardson, but in no event
      later
      than April 17, 2006. Mr. Richardson comes to the Company from iStar Financial
      Inc., where he was an executive vice president and head of the capital markets
      group for the past six years. Mr. Richardson joined iStar Financial from Salomon
      Smith Barney, where he was a vice president in the global real estate and
      lodging investment banking group. Prior to joining Salomon Smith Barney, Mr.
      Richardson worked for Ernst & Young and was a certified public accountant.
      Mr. Richardson holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.B.A.
      in
      accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
There
      are
      no relationships or transactions regarding Mr. Richardson that are required
      to
      be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(d) or Item 404(a) of Regulation
      S-K.
As
      referred to in Item 1.02 above, Mr. Chertok's employment with the Company will
      cease effective as of April 7, 2006, at which time he will no longer serve
      as
      the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
A
      copy of
      the Press Release announcing Mr. Richardson's appointment and Mr. Chertok's
      departure is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 99.2.
ITEM
      9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c)
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.1
Employment
                Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2006, between the Company and Andrew
                C.
                Richardson.
99.2
Press
                Release, dated March 27, 2006.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
      Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NorthStar
                Realty Finance Corp.
(Registrant)
Date:
                March 28, 2006
By:
/s/
              Richard J. McCready
Richard
              J. McCready
Executive
                Vice President & General Counsel
EXHIBIT
      INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.1
Employment
                Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2006, between the Company and Andrew
                C.
                Richardson.
99.2
Press
                Release, dated March 27, 2006.