With experience representing buyers, sellers, borrowers, building owners, developers, landlords and tenants, we understand real estate transactions from every perspective. This insight, along with our experience, helps us deliver value to our clients. Our primary areas of focus within our real estate practice are:
Commercial leasing: We represent clients in commercial leasing and related matters, including office, loft, commercial, restaurant, retail and ground leases, garage leases, lease assignments and subleases.
Purchase and sale transactions: We assist in the purchase and sale of commercial office buildings, loft buildings, apartment buildings, retail centers, industrial property, hotels and motels, and vacant land for development. We also handle tenant buyouts and other real estate-related matters such as transfers of property to limited liability companies, nonprofit organizations and other entities.
Land use and zoning: We counsel clients on the full spectrum of zoning issues related to both development and ownership: advising on zoning and building code compliance, assessing site development potential, due diligence for acquisitions and financings, property tax abatements and the transfer of development (air) rights. We represent client seeking zoning changes, special permits, variances, and landmarks approvals in both New York City and surrounding municipalities. We appear before New York City and suburban land use bodies, including the New York City Planning Commission, Board of Standards and Appeals, Borough Presidents’ Offices, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Department of Buildings, local Community Boards, as well as suburban town and planning boards.
Cooperatives and condominiums: As general counsel to cooperative corporations and condominiums, our attorneys, among other things, advise coop and condo boards, negotiate service and construction contracts and leases for commercial space, and assist with trust and property transfers.
Real Estate Litigation: The firm has represented clients in connection with a variety of real estate related litigations, including partition of property (forcible sale of property under court supervision), investigation of potentially fraudulent mortgage financing, recovery of damages arising from building collapse, mediation of a landlord-tenant dispute over sublease profits, and rights of adverse possession and trespass, cooperative corporations and condominiums litigation, representing secured lenders in foreclosures (both Uniform Commercial Code foreclosures of cooperative apartments and mortgages foreclosures), and litigating the status of buildings and units under the Interim Multiple Dwelling Law (the Loft Law) and the Rent Stabilization Law, Exchange Act, as well as banking, trading, clearing brokerage and customer-broker disputes. We have also handled cases involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (relating to accessibility issues and real estate).
Other Real Estate Related Agreements: As part of our general real estate practice, we represent clients in various real estate related transactions, such as the formation of business entities to acquire/hold real estate, rooftop and other license agreements, store window “pop up” licenses, construction and design agreements, easement agreements, restrictive declarations, and post-lease termination access agreements (to enable tenants to conduct environmental remediation).
Financing transactions: We work with borrowers to facilitate mortgages, IDA bond financing, syndicated loans, and other financing transactions. We also represent clients with respect to debt and equity investments in real estate, including loan participation, syndications, joint ventures, construction financing and secondary financing.
For assistance with real estate matters, call 212-661-5030 or complete our online form.
