Business Law

I have experience with and I am available to assist clients operating businesses of all sizes, with a focus, however, on small business. My specialties are commercial real estate and construction, which present complex and critical issues that often overwhelm small businesses, or which small businesses are not even aware of. Real estate issues often make or break small businesses, and they require knowledge of the pitfalls, a wide focus, and long-term planning to be dealt with in a manner beneficial to the business. Small business operators sometimes feel that they do not have the leverage to obtain advantages or better deals in regard to real estate matters, or they are wary about pushing too hard in negotiations to avoid losing a deal. Adequate analysis and an experienced approach, however, can often obtain much better deals than first expected, with an eye to at least covering major issues that allow the business flexibility in operations and adequate growth and exit strategies.

With regard to other business concerns, I can help with business formation, various contract issues, insurance questions, employee stock or equity grants, and daily operating concerns. My business experience enables me to think through issues and help clients to come to reasoned decisions, while understanding that business people need to move forward in a timely way without being bogged down by legal niceties.

My network includes the services of a large national law firm, and other practitioners, so that the needs of businesses can be covered no matter what aspect of legal practice requires to be addressed.

Real Estate Law

Information coming soon.

NY, Mar 1982
Bar Number: 1770072

New York; United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

American Bar Association

I fulfill continuing education credits by writing on legal topics and attending seminars on real estate and business law.

I have authored articles for "Commercial Leasing Law and Strategy," the "Lease Brokerage" chapter in the treatise "Negotiating and Drafting Office Leases," and periodic updates to that treatise.

I have helped in the sale of a restaurant business, finalizing documents that included those directly affecting the sale and those which were necessary to obtain the agreement of the landlord to assign the restaurant lease, and overseeing the closing of the sale.

I have worked on numerous agreements over many years for commercial real estate brokers, including listing and commission agreements with landlords, tenants, and subtenants, as well as property leasing and property management agreements.

I was involved in helping with the complicated foreclosure of a mezzanine loan, involving the foreclosure of pledged ownership interests in entities which owned real property, and for which the matter involved work with counsel in New York and Florida.

I am helping to structure the grant of stock and equity interests to significant employees/consultants of a small business.

I was involved in helping a small business with the complicated purchase of a property for its operations, involving loans from a major lender backed by the Small Business Administration, and several types of leases and subleases to effect the intended operations. I also helped that business purchase another property which involved obtaining and evaluating environmental assessments.

I was the primary in-house counsel overseeing the structure and closing of the simultaneous sale and assignment of a large portfolio of subleased "big-box" properties in various states throughout the country.

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New York

My law practice is focused on helping small businesses survive and prosper, with an aim toward creating and maintaining jobs, and on helping with commercial real estate and construction matters. I have also assisted not-for-profit entities.

My solo practice was established in May of 2011, and it includes independent contractor work for a large national law firm.

I have dealt with commercial real estate matters nationwide, including complex property transactions and the real estate aspects of corporate acquisitions and divestitures. My experience includes ground leasing, with work on the largest ground lease transaction in New York City history, retail, office, and warehouse leasing and subleasing transactions for spaces ranging from the smallest to "big box" stores over 100,000 square feet, on behalf of both landlord and tenant entities, as well as shopping center development, commercial condominium work, construction contracts, matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, environmental issues, and corporate and not-for-profit corporation work. I have worked at both large and boutique law firms, with 15 years as in-house real estate counsel at the Woolworth Corporation, including positions as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, and I have business experience as a real estate salesman and with a property management company, as well as working for the American Arbitration Association. I was a former infantry company commander, battalion adjutant, and acting Judge Advocate General officer in the New York Army National Guard.

By appointment.

Yes

I know the Ukrainian language and have some familiarity with other Slavic languages.

My rates are usually hourly, but I am flexible in considering fixed fees if appropriate. Clients retaining me through the Nolo web site are given a ten percent fee discount.

$250, subject to adjustment as appropriate.

The first 30 minutes of consultation are without charge.

I require a retainer for matters where projected fees will exceed $5,000. The retainer amount depends on the particular matter, and usually is for 40% of the projected fees.