FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SUGARMAN JAY   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ISTAR FINANCIAL INC [SFI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chairman and CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 39TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/02/2010 (Street) NEW YORK, NY 10036 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Restricted Stock Units (1) 03/02/2010   A   806,518 (1) A $ 0 7,043,030 (2) (3) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SUGARMAN JAY 1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 39TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10036	X		Chairman and CEO

Signatures

s/ Jay Sugarman		03/04/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On March 2, 2010, the Compensation Committee of iStar Financial Inc.'s Board of Directors approved an incentive award to the Reporting Person, Mr. Jay Sugarman, in the amount of 806,518 Restricted Stock Units (Units). The Units represent the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of iStar common stock (net of shares deducted for applicable taxes and other withholdings) if and when the Units vest. These Units will cliff vest on March 2, 2012 if certain performance and service conditions have been achieved.
(2)	Following this award, the Reporting Person owns a total of 7,043,030 Units, representing the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of iStar common stock (net of shares deducted for applicable taxes and other withholdings) if and when the Units vest in accordance with the terms of the award agreements for the Units.
(3)	In addition to these Restricted Stock Units, the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of (a) 2,797,219 shares of iStar common stock, of which 2,752,675 shares are owned directly (including 53,487 shares acquired in January 2010, net of tax withholdings, upon vesting of Units) and 44,544 shares are owned indirectly by the Reporting Person's spouse, and (b) 2,000 shares of iStar Series D preferred stock, which are owned directly.

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