Ownership Submission
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 *
BURNS JAMES D
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ISTAR FINANCIAL INC [SFI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Financial Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O ISTAR FINANCIAL, 1114 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 39TH FLR
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/29/2009
(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 05/29/2009   P   100,000 (1) A $ 0 155,459 (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
BURNS JAMES D
C/O ISTAR FINANCIAL
1114 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 39TH FLR
NEW YORK, NY 10036
      Chief Financial Officer  

Signatures

 s/ James D Burns   05/29/2009
**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 May 27, 2009, iStar's shareholders approved the iStar Financial Inc. 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan, under which iStar had granted an incentive award to the Reporting Person in the amount of 100,000 Restricted Stock Units (Units) on December 19, 2008. 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, subject to shareholder approval of the 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders. These Units will vest only if a specified price target for iStar common stock is achieved within three years of the award date and if the Reporting Person is employed on subsequent vesting date(s) after the price target has been achieved. The performance and vesting conditions of this award are described in more detail in iStar's definitive proxy statement dated April 23, 2009, as filed with the SEC on April 27, 2009.
(2) Following these awards, the Reporting Person owns a total of 155,459 Restricted Stock 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.
(3) In addition to these Restricted Stock Units, the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of a total of 7,435 shares of iStar common stock, 6,180 shares of which are owned directly and 1,255 shares of which are owned indirectly through an individual retirement account.

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