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Leni Cummins updates her previous alert with new guidance provided by the New York State Department of State.
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Cozen O’Connor has earned its place among the nation’s top-rated real estate firms over the last two decades. We are widely recognized for our ability to complete complex real estate transactions, utilize the most current and sophisticated deal structures, and achieve client success when the stakes are high.
Cozen O’Connor represents REITs and other public companies, regional and national developers, owners, builders, managers, private equity funds, institutional and private investors, banks, and governments in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, ground leasing, management, and sale of real estate in every asset class. With a real estate practice group that includes more than 70 attorneys in 10 offices who are regularly supported by members of our corporate, litigation, tax, and environmental groups, Cozen O’Connor provides comprehensive, integrated service to some of the largest real estate organizations in the country.
Cozen O’Connor has strategically developed a full-service real estate practice. We know clients require access to a wide range of practice areas, and we believe our work in each area is enhanced by taking a multidisciplinary approach. Our lawyers regularly represent clients in the areas of:
Our team includes real estate practitioners who have been ranked by Chambers & Partners and recognized as “rising stars” and top regional dealmakers. They have previous experience as in-house counsel, and government counsel, which provides them with valuable insights into the needs and interests of both clients and regulators.
In every representation, Cozen O’Connor differentiates itself by a clear-eyed focus on client business objectives and marketplace realities. Rather than belaboring the “can’t-dos” and “better-nots,” the firm’s real estate attorneys find a way to get results.
SERVICES
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Lead acquisition and disposition of all real estate asset classes
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Counsel on development and construction of mixed-use, multi-phase projects
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Negotiate debt financing on behalf of borrowers and lenders
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Arrange joint venture and other equity investment transactions
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Lead public-private real estate projects
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Conduct commercial, industrial, and retail leasing for both landlords and tenants
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Structure tax-efficient real estate transactions
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Procure land use, zoning, special legislation, and other entitlements
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Negotiate workouts, restructurings, and acquisitions of distressed debt
CLIENTS
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Developers of and investors in residential, retail, office, and industrial properties
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Global corporations
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Hotel developers and investors
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Health care facilities
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Building management companies
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Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
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Pension funds and other institutional and private equity investors
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Banks, lending institutions, and real estate brokerage firms
TEAM
The Cozen O’Connor team is made up of noted real estate practitioners. Both the practice group and individual attorneys are ranked by Chambers & Partners USA. Moreover, many attorneys have previous experience as in-house counsel and government counsel, which means they are adept at seeing things from a client perspective.
During the last decade, many large law firms have made the decision to focus strictly on the finance side of the real estate industry. Cozen O’Connor has taken a markedly different approach. We continue to invest in building a full-service national real estate practice because we believe all participants in this sector deserve and demand the most sophisticated counsel. Where others may see limitations, we see opportunities.
March 31, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the Department of Building's guidance following Governor Cuomo's order halting all non-essential construction in New York.
March 30, 2020
Leni Cummings and Jennifer Miller review ESD's guidance shutting down all non-essential construction in New York.
March 28, 2020
Members of Cozen O'Connor's Coronavirus Task Force provide analysis of the CARES Act and how it will impact small businesses, distressed industries, employers and employees, taxes, and the health care, real estates, and energy industries.
March 26, 2020
Stuart Shorenstein, Katie Schwab, Jamie Ansorge, and Evan Preminger discuss EC 202.9, requiring New York state-regulated financial institutions to provide mortgage forbearance for residential properties located in New York for 90 days and to eliminate ATM fees, overdraft fees, and credit card late payment fees.
March 25, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss why boards should consider postponing meetings or holding meetings virtually.
March 24, 2020
Marnie Kudon discusses how commercial landlords should navigate tenants' requests to terminate or modify their leases.
March 20, 2020
Erin Szulewski answers commercial property owners' questions about Pennsylvania's business closure mandate.
March 20, 2020
Erin Szulewski provides an update on what businesses are considered essential in Pennsylvania when following Governor Wolf's mandate for all non-essential businesses to close.
March 19, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses what condo and coop owners and managers need to know about the SHIELD Act.
March 18, 2020
Christian Bruno, Matt Robbins, Jon Schoenwetter, and Erin Szulewski discuss the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on commercial real estate assets whose tenant occupants are experiencing complete or partial shutdown of their business operations.
March 16, 2020
Paul Rutter discusses what property owners need to do now in relation to their properties and the coronavirus.
March 13, 2020
Meridith Moldenhauer discusses systems that may be impacted by D.C. mayor's decision to operate under a telework schedule beginning March 16.
March 09, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller outline how property owners, managers, and boards should prepare themselves for the coronavirus.
March 06, 2020
Steve Katkov and Jon Schoenwetter discuss components of Minneapolis’s urban planning initiative designed to combat the affordable housing crisis.
March 05, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the New York City Department of Buildings expanded the requirements of its Façade Inspection and Safety Program, previously known as Local Law 11.
February 26, 2020
Steven P. Katkov and Jon Schoenwetter discuss rent control measures throughout the United States.
February 24, 2020
Benjamin A. Bomrind, Anne M. Madonia, and Joshua C. Weinberger discuss this discontinuation of LIBOR and how clients should prepare.
February 11, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the governor's pocket veto of Bill S6219/A8082, which proposes requiring New York coops and condos to certify that their service employees are paid a prevailing wage to avail their shareholders and unit owners of the benefits of the state’s Cooperative and Condominium Tax Abatement.
February 05, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the settlement reached with laundry machine provider CSC and who may benefit.
January 30, 2020
Alex DuFour and Jackson Siegal discuss what DC LLCs and LLCs doing business in the District of Columbia need to know when filing new entity filings and biennial reports.
January 09, 2020
James Van Orden and Matthew Robbins discuss what commercial building owners need to know about the Building Energy Performance Policy bill signed into law by Mayor Kenny.
December 03, 2019
Ken Fisher authored this article on the political changes and challenges facing New York City’s real estate industry and the importance of industry activism in support of new construction and growth in the city.
November 07, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses self-dealing sponsor issues in a special issue of Habitat magazine, titled “Seeking Counsel,” which profiles top condo and co-op attorneys.
September 16, 2019
Leni Cummins updates her previous alert with new guidance provided by the New York State Department of State.
September 05, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses what condo and coop boards can do to comply with this act.
August 01, 2019
Thomas Casparian contributed an article to MHInsider Magazine explaining some of the most common elements of MHC-specific rent control systems.
July 09, 2019
Ken Fisher co-authored a chapter titled, “Turn Development Rights into Landmarks Revenue” in Maintaining: Public Works in the Next New York, published by the Urban Design Forum.
May 23, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses the impact the Climate Mobilization Act will have on condo and co-op boards.
May 10, 2019
Paul Rutter and Peter Swain discuss factors that could impact investors interested in pursuing opportunity zone investments.
April 19, 2019
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses the Energy Retrofit Bill passed by New York City Council and its impact on property owners including boards of condos and coops.
April 04, 2019
Leni Cummins and Rebecca Eschen explain how condo boards can avoid pitfalls associated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage refinancing guidelines.
March 07, 2019
Leni Morrison Cummins and Rebecca Eschen authored an article in Habitat Magazine on how lenders blacklist entire condominium buildings based upon the Fannie and Freddie guidelines.
December 28, 2018
Thomas Casparian and Susy Forbath authored an article in California Mobilehome Parkowners Alliance’s publication Alliance News.
December 05, 2018
Ken Fisher authored an article in the New York Real Estate Journal the impact the 2018 midterm election results could have on shaping infrastructure funding decisions.
October 19, 2018
Zach Samton and William Davis discuss the enactment of the Economic Growth Act and how it impacts both borrowers and lenders.
August 28, 2018
Menachem J. Kastner and Ally Hack, members in the firm's Commercial Litigation Department, co-authored, "Early Termination Provisions: A Landlord’s Saving Grace…If Done Right' for the New York Law Journal.
April 24, 2018
Leni Cummins discusses Governor Cuomo's correction bill that applies BCL Section 727 to condominiums created pursuant to the New York Real Property Law.
January 22, 2018
Tom Gallagher discusses how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may impact real estate professionals.
January 01, 2018
Paul S. Rutter, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses important legal issues and considerations for future artistic, cultural, and entertainment projects in the Los Angeles region in The Practical Real Estate Lawyer magazine.
December 06, 2017
Leni Morrison, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses if it is legal for homeowner association (HOA) board members to also serve on the board of directors of the property management company that the HOA hires and oversees in The Cooperator.
December 05, 2017
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses the varying infrastructure priorities of New Yorkers Donald Trump, Andrew Cuomo, and Bill de Blasio, in New York Real Estate Journal.
November 27, 2017
Leni Cummins discusses Local Law 147 that requires all residential buildings to establish and display a smoking policy that specifies where smoking is and is not permitted on the property.
November 01, 2017
Matthew Weinstein, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses unique considerations in connection with expansions and relocations of breweries in Bar Business Magazine.
October 27, 2017
Bob Careless, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Zoning, Land Use, & Development and Tax Practice Groups, discusses zoning obstacles for medical marijuana operators after the passage of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16) in The Temple 10-Q.
September 06, 2017
Adam Silverman, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, addresses the questions developers need to ask their legal team when considering a mixed-use development in the Commercial Property Executive article, “Mixed Use: 5 Questions Every Lawyer Should Answer.”
September 01, 2017
Adam Silverman, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice, discusses the considerations for mixed-use developers and legal practitioners in a book published by the Philadelphia Bar Institute.
July 01, 2017
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in The Cooperator, regarding whether a co-op owner can sue for water damages caused by a leaky roof.
June 01, 2017
Ken Fisher discusses key current proposals that could set the stage for the next wave of growth in Brooklyn.
April 19, 2017
David B. Lipner discusses the amendment to Pennsylvania’s Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963 that allows for an online State Construction Notices Directory to provide notice to parties involved in projects costing a minimum of $1,500,000.
March 15, 2017
Steven P. Katkov discusses a recent federal court decision in a case involving a landlord-tenant dispute regarding the Woolworth Building in St. Paul, Minn., in which Foot Locker Foot Locker was the tenant under a lease from 1920. The landlord claimed that Foot Locker failed to keep the building in good repair, and the court considered the measure of damages for the landlord’s claims.
December 14, 2016
Ken Fisher discusses methods for Donald Trump’s business organization to avoid conflicts of interest in Crain’s New York Business.
December 06, 2016
Ken Fisher discusses the potential impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on New York’s design professionals in the New York Real Estate Journal.
November 02, 2016
Leni Morrison Cummins and Kelly S. Maharaj discuss Section 121 to the Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) and Article 18 to Title 27 of the New York City Administrative Code that makes it unlawful for anyone to advertise the use or occupancy of apartments for purposes other than primary residence.
June 09, 2016
Steven P. Katkov discusses a recent decision in Massachusetts Land Court that text messages between two real estate brokers regarding the purchase and sale of a commercial building may constitute a “writing” sufficient to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Statute of Frauds.
December 14, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate practice, discusses how condominium boards can prevent undesirable purchasers, such as foreign investors, as well as undisclosed occupants.
December 14, 2015
Menachem Kastner, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate practice, discusses the recent decision in Artcorp Inc. v. Citireach Realty Corp. case.
December 08, 2015
Ken Fisher, a member of the firm’s Business Law Department, discusses the forecast for New York City’s future infrastructure and development efforts. Ken addresses funding transportation and major infrastructure projects throughout the city, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Tappan Zee Bridge and LaGuardia Airport.
October 15, 2015
Under New York General Business Law § 352-e(2-b), sponsor-developers of new construction and gut-renovation condominiums are required to hold all deposits, down payments and advances made by buyers of residential units in a special escrow account pending delivery of the completed unit.
May 01, 2015
Under Local Law 11, the New York City Department of Buildings requires owners of building that are six stories or greater to have exterior walls inspected once every five years. Building owners who did not comply by the most recent deadline have received a pardon, but are obligated to meet new requirements.
February 01, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, answers a question discussing parking garage issues in an apartment building.
December 08, 2014
Ken Fisher, a member in the firm's Business Law Department, discusses New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo impact on infrastructure and real estate development in New York City.
October 01, 2014
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, discusses sponsors of condominium conversions and the ownership and funding of reserve funds.
October 01, 2014
Paul Rutter, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice, discusses crowdfunding in the UCLA Economic Letter.
September 01, 2014
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, discusses housing development fund corporations under New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
June 25, 2014
Richard Close, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses mobile home parks in Western Real Estate Business.
September 19, 2013
Members of New York City’s Congressional delegation, long relegated to the sidelines of local politics, are increasingly filling the void left by the declining influence of political party apparatchiks.
July 22, 2013
On July 10, 2013, the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issued draft regulations filling in the compliance requirements of Philadelphia’s mandatory energy and water disclosure ordinance (the Disclosure Ordinance) that was enacted in June 2012. The draft regulations will become final on August 2, 2013.
April 18, 2013
The voluntary payment doctrine has been long applied to prevent tenants from recovering payments made to the landlord which were tendered “voluntarily”—to wit, without dispute or inquiry—over a lengthy period of time. For example: a tenant tenders payment of real estate taxes to the landlord for over 10 years pursuant to what the tenant later claims to be an erroneous method of calculation, resulting in an overbilling. With this newfound knowledge, the tenant brings suit against the landlord to recover the amounts overpaid. By virtue of the voluntary payment doctrine, under this scenario, the tenant is, in essence, out of luck.
January 23, 2013
This whitepaper provides an overview of construction related issues potentially raised by storm damage, including delay claims, areas of responsibility of municipalities and design professionals, environmental concerns and other topical matters.
January 07, 2013
Besides extending the lower tax rates for millions of Americans, as well as avoiding across the board federal budget cuts, the eleventh-hour legislative compromise reinstated two business and personal tax credits applicable to energy efficiency residences and appliances. Contractors or developers of homes or low-rise multi-family projects, as well as individuals considering energy efficient renovations or appliance purchases, should consider the availability of these tax credits.
December 14, 2012
In August 2012, the mayor of Philadelphia signed into law Bill 120428-A, which establishes new energy benchmarking requirements for owners of certain large commercial and mixed-use buildings. The energy benchmarking bill requires owners of “covered buildings” to report and disclose data annually related to energy and water usage and other building characteristics.1 Covered buildings include any commercial
building with at least 50,000 square feet, and all commercial portions of any mixed-use building where at least 50,000 square feet of the building is devoted to commercial use.
April 01, 2012
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, answers a Q&A from a reader about who pays for a water leak in a residence.
June 01, 2011
Donald Nanney and Duane Montgomery discuss this topic in Korek Land Company, Inc's Commentaries & Bulletins.
April 01, 2011
Paul Rutter, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice, discusses a lender's right to waive in Korek Land Company, Inc's Commentaries & Bulletins.
November 01, 2008
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses environmental insurance and policies in California Real Property Journal.
January 01, 2008
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Anthropogenic Global Warming: Believe it or Not, it's Here" in Real Estate Southern California.
January 01, 2006
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "The Lawsuit Trigger: Closing the Gap in Environmental Insurance" in Brownfield News.
January 01, 2004
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, co-authored an article titled, "Brownfields: Consider Aggravating & Mitigating Factors " in Valuation magazine.
January 01, 2004
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Benjamin S. Crocker Symposium Embarks on New Era" in Real Property Section Review.
January 01, 2003
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Appraising Brownfield Sites" in Brownfield News.
October 01, 2001
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses environmental risks in today's market in Real Estate Issues.
January 01, 2000
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Ninth Circuit Also Rules that Voluntary Remedial Action May be "Necessary" under CERCLA" in Real Property Section Review.
January 01, 1998
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Getting All Your Ducks in a ROW: Right-of-Way Portfolio Management" in American Gas magazine.
January 01, 1997
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Environmental Insurance is Finally Catching On" in Real Property Section Review.
January 01, 1996
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Manage Mess" in California Law Business.
January 01, 1996
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Asbestos Inspection, Disclosure by Building Owners and Employers" in California Real Property Journal.
January 01, 1995
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "New OSHA Asbestos Standards: A New Chapter in an Old Controversy" in Environmental Liability Enforcement and Penalties Reporter.
January 01, 1995
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "New OSHA Asbestos Regulation Expand Duties of Employers and Building Owners and Tenants" in Journal of Environmental Regulation.
December 01, 1994
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "New Asbestos Regulations Create Expanded Duties" in The Corporate Counselor.
January 01, 1994
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Hazardous Materials Disaster Management" in Environmental Manager.
January 01, 1993
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "ASTM Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments" in Environmental Liability, Enforcement and Penalties Reporter .
January 01, 1993
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, authored an article titled, "Trustee and Fiduciary Liability Under CERCLA: What Did the Trustee Know and When Did the Trustee Know It?" in Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
January 01, 1900
Donald Nanney, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, co-authored an article titled, "Mitigating Factors in Appraisal and Valuation of Contaminated Real Property" in Counselors of Real Estate.
March 31, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in Habitat Magazine on how condo and co-op boards should handle residents who refuse to comply with social-distancing and self-quarantine edicts.
March 26, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on actions that condo and co-op boards can take if their residents do not follow social distancing or quarantine advisements in The Real Deal.
March 25, 2020
Christian Bruno commented on the impact the coronavirus is having on real estate closings in South Florida in The Real Deal.
March 17, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on how New York City high-rise, residential buildings can manage coronavirus anxiety and potential exposure in The Real Deal.
March 14, 2020
Leni Cummins explains what to do when a co-op shareholder needs to make repairs to her apartment in a New York Times article.
March 11, 2020
Kenneth K. Fisher, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Business Law Department, and Stuart A. Shorenstein, a member of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies and chair of the New York City and state practice, were named to City & State New York’s 2020 Law Power 100.
March 09, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in the Commercial Observer on the Attorney General’s granted request to extend the deadline to respond to the real estate industry’s lawsuit against the brokers’ fee ban in New York.
February 18, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on the impact of the Department of State’s (DOS) issued guidance on tenant-paid broker fees in the Commercial Observer.
February 14, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pocket-veto of a bill that would have required condominium and cooperative boards to pay building employees a prevailing wage or lose a property tax abatement.
February 13, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pocket-veto of a bill that would remove a property tax abatement from condominium and cooperative homeowners in larger buildings in which building service workers did not receive prevailing wage in an article in The Real Deal.
February 11, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the temporary injunction against the Department of State’s guidance on tenant-paid broker commissions in an article on GlobeSt.com.
February 07, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in Real Estate Weekly on The New York Department of State’s legal guidance on tenant-paid broker fees. As a part of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act that was passed last summer, landlords are now prohibited from charging tenants for broker fees. The real estate industry is challenging the legality of the guidance.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins explains how new guidance from the New York Department of State could impact landlords in an article in Law 360.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on the court’s decision to grant a temporary restraining order against guidance from the Department of State that prevents landlords, in certain circumstances, from collecting broker fees from tenants in a Multi-Housing News article.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in the New York Post on a recent guidance memo issued by the New York Department of State which dictates that tenants cannot be charged broker fees in certain circumstances.
January 15, 2020
Ken Fisher discusses the likelihood of the de Blasio administration reaching its rezoning goals before the term ends in a Crain’s New York Business article.
January 15, 2020
Super Lawyers has named nine Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers.
January 14, 2020
Ken Fisher was quoted in an article the New York Post discussing claims that a developer paid a New York City Hall lobbyist and a law firm with ties to Mayor DeBlasio to win approval of the expansion of a 10-story office tower in the East Village.
December 23, 2019
Ken Fisher is quoted in The Real Deal on developers’ reactions to the New York Supreme Court’s decision to nullify the Inwood neighborhood rezoning regulations.
December 05, 2019
Ken Fisher quoted in The Real Deal on New York’s decision to reduce the amounts that real estate donors and other large contributors can give to candidates for governor and other statewide offices.
November 29, 2019
Ken Fisher comments on significate changes to New York’s political climate for the real estate industry in a New York Times article.
November 19, 2019
Ken Fisher comments on proposed changes to the structure of the New York City Housing Court in an article in The Real Deal.
November 05, 2019
The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys in their field.
October 22, 2019
Ken Fisher comments on New York City Council’s decision to suspend Councilman Andy King in City & State New York.
October 09, 2019
Meridith Moldenhauer and Samantha Mazo comment on the D.C. Council’s vote to approve amendments to the Comprehensive Plan's Framework Element nearly two years after the Office of Planning introduced the proposed changes in an article in Bisnow.
September 27, 2019
Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2019 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.
September 06, 2019
Ken Fisher provides his perspective on whether a plan to close Rikers Island, one of the largest jails in the country, and build four new borough-based jails in New York City will succeed in City & State New York.
August 28, 2019
Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
August 27, 2019
Ken Fisher comments on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s order to the Department of City Planning to study implementing a special permit for developing hotels in New York City in the New York Post.
August 26, 2019
Ken Fisher is quoted in Crain’s New York Business on Mayor de Blasio’s plans to implement a special permit for hotel development, following a hotel union’s (Hotel Trades Council) support of de Blasio’s presidential campaign.
August 19, 2019
Kenneth K. Fisher, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Business Law Department, was named to City & State New York’s 2019 Brooklyn Power 100.
August 07, 2019
Paul Rutter was interviewed for an article in Commercial Observer regarding his 40 years of real estate experience.
August 07, 2019
Ken Fisher discusses Queens District Attorney Democratic candidate Melinda Katz's narrow victory over Tiffany Cabán in the primary that was announced only after a lengthy manual recount and threats of affidavit ballot challenges.
July 27, 2019
Ken Fisher was featured on a WPIX 11 New York news segment discussing the plan to build a parking garage below the Riverside Apartment complex courtyard in Brooklyn.
July 24, 2019
Thomas Casparian was quoted in MHInsider discussing his thoughts on statewide rent control and how it affects the industry.
July 23, 2019
Holzer is a New York City-based litigator who brings nearly 15 years of experience guiding developers, property owners, architects, and other related entities through the city’s complex zoning and land use application processes.
July 22, 2019
Meridith Moldenhauer comments on the newly released amendments to D.C’s comprehensive plan in an article in the Washington Business Journal.
July 18, 2019
Samantha Mazo comments on the positive effects a recent D.C. Court of Appeals’ decision could have on real estate developers in an article in Bisnow.
July 17, 2019
Ken Fisher notes the makeup of the Supreme Court could impact New York's Rent Stabilization Association's and Community Housing Improvement Program's lawsuit, challenging the New York State rent stabilization law, in an article in The Real Deal.
June 18, 2019
Hoyt has closed leasing transactions on behalf of landlords and tenants in excess of 15 million square feet, including major build-to-suit and corporate headquarters deals.
June 17, 2019
Ken Fisher comments on the impact just-enacted changes to New York’s rent laws will have on New York City landlords, including a provision eliminating the ability to raise rents by 20% when a rent-regulated tenant moved out.
June 06, 2019
Leni Cummins explains why it is important for condo/co-op board members to govern in accordance with the corporate documents in The Cooperator.
June 05, 2019
Ken Fisher shares his thoughts on the increase in political contributions from landlords above what their trade association, the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), as the State Legislature prepares for its most significant overhaul in decades.
May 22, 2019
Ken Fisher explains why the narrative of aggressive evictions in New York is unfair to landlords in a PincusCo article.
May 13, 2019
Ken Fisher discusses New York City's Right to Counsel law in The Real Deal. The article explains that New York passed the law in 2017, guaranteeing a lawyer to all low-income tenants facing eviction, and while it has received support from both tenants and landlords some issues still remain.
April 25, 2019
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the USA, has ranked 57 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the Guide’s 2019 edition.
April 04, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses what happens when joint tenants of a co-op disagree on selling the shared property in The Cooperator.
April 03, 2019
Adam Silverman, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group in Philadelphia, has been elected a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL).
March 31, 2019
Kenneth K. Fisher, a member of the law firm of Cozen O'Connor was named to City & State New York’s inaugural Real Estate Power 50.
March 05, 2019
Ken Fisher is quoted in City & State New York on efforts to reform existing rent stabilization laws. According to the article, Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance, a coalition of activist groups, is advocating for tenant protections and has laid out a universal rent platform consisting of several pieces of legislation.
February 14, 2019
Jim Forsyth is quoted in the Pittsburgh Business Times on why Pittsburgh may be slower to capitalize on opportunity zones than other regions.
February 12, 2019
Meridith Moldenhauer weighs in on a dispute between an owner of a high-rise apartment building and a developer of a hotel in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in Bisnow.
February 07, 2019
Ken Fisher discusses the accuracy of statements made by candidates during the first debate for New York City Public Advocate special election in City & State New York.
February 06, 2019
In the settlement, the city acknowledged that RLUIPA is an important and central aspect of its land use decisions and is a primary consideration in processing and responding to land use applications made to the city.
January 24, 2019
– Cozen O’Connor attorney Paul S. Rutter, a member of the real estate practice in the firm’s Santa Monica, Calif., office, has been named “Urban Development Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association. The Association provides legal education, leadership opportunities, and a sense of community to more than 4,000 Century City attorneys. Paul is among six attorneys being recognized by the Association for distinguishing himself in his respective field of expertise.
December 04, 2018
Dan Hardwick is quoted in the Washington Business Journal on a provision in a bill that would require major disclosures from individuals with an ownership interest in limited liability companies.
November 19, 2018
Parent Has Closed Real Estate Acquisition/Disposition Deals Worth Billions of Dollars
November 05, 2018
Kenneth Fisher, a member of the Business Law Department at Cozen O’Connor, has been elected to the board of directors of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Fisher will serve a two-year term on the board, effective October 25, 2018.
October 17, 2018
Steven Katkov authored an article in National Real Estate Investor on challenges confronting landlords when their property is used as a package pick-up point.
September 21, 2018
Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Twelve were recognized as Super Lawyers and five were named "Rising Stars."
September 14, 2018
Paul Rutter, a member in Real Estate, was featured in the Dealmaker Section of the Daily Journal. Paul led the Cozen O'Connor team that negotiated real estate investment and development firm McCarthy Cook & Co.'s $179.7 million acquisition of an office campus in Mountain View.
August 31, 2018
Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that seven of the firm’s lawyers have been recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective practices by Best Lawyers in America, one of the oldest and most highly regarded peer review publications in the legal profession.
August 31, 2018
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses the return of displaced tenants to a renovated New York apartment building in the Daily News, CBS New York, and AsAmNews.com.
August 27, 2018
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, discusses the allocation of co-op expenses to pay for common costs in The New York Times.
August 22, 2018
One hundred twenty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 20 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
August 10, 2018
Adam Silverman, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, is quoted in Urban Land Magazine on the city of Detroit’s new plan for “Tactical Preservation” – an effort to target for preservation some of the thousands of abandoned but architecturally or historically significant properties in the outlying districts of the city.
July 24, 2018
Daniel Hardwick, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, discusses the proposed Real Estate LLC Transparency Amendment Act of 2018 in the Washington Business Journal.
July 23, 2018
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses the review of the New York City charter by two commissions and the potential impact to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
July 11, 2018
Kudon Will Help Clients Acquire and Develop Real Estate While Continuing to Navigate New York City’s Complex Land Use and Development Processes
June 27, 2018
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s vote to allow a 1.5 percent increase on one-year leases and a 2.5 percent increase on two-year leases to rent-regulated apartments in New York City.
June 12, 2018
Super Lawyers has named 54 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
May 21, 2018
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has recognized 50 Cozen O’Connor attorneys for 2018 as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 14 were ranked in the top band either nationally or at the state level.
March 13, 2018
Thomas Gallagher, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Tax group, spoke with New York Real Estate News about the impact the tax deduction may have on real estate brokers.
March 09, 2018
Diane Hvolka, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discussed with Commercial Property Executive about the legal, health, and safety implications at the workplace for landlords and property managers.
March 07, 2018
Jeffrey Mills, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discussed with Developing Pittsburgh about the use of public grants and loan assistance to make private development feasible through public/private partnerships (P3).
February 14, 2018
The Philadelphia Bar Association has announced that Bernard Lee, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, is the recipient of the 2017 Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award.
February 05, 2018
Richard Close, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses why the damage caused by mudslides, flooding, heat waves, and wildfires to homes and infrastructure throughout Northern California could ultimately lead to a need for rent control in Super Lawyers.
February 01, 2018
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses Brooklyn Multiple Listing Service’s (MLS) increase in memberships in the recent years despite losing the benefits from the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) membership in The Real Deal.
February 01, 2018
In the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms, Cozen O’Connor is ranked nationally in 17 practice areas and regionally in 64 practice areas.
January 19, 2018
Jeffrey Mills, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses Pittsburgh’s appealing cost of living as a distinguishing feature from other cities in competition for Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2) in Pittsburgh Business Times.
January 18, 2018
Jeffrey Mills, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses Pittsburgh’s chances of being selected as the home for Amazon’s new headquarters, a multibillion-dollar investment boasting an expected 50,000 jobs, in Pittsburgh Business Times.
November 27, 2017
The national real estate practice at Cozen O’Connor represented Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center Local Development Corporation (GMDC) in the acquisition, development, and financing of an Ozone Park manufacturing facility in Queens, New York. The cost of the acquisition and development of the project is an estimated $40 million.
November 09, 2017
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses what information cooperative and condominium boards are required to provide to shareholders and unit owners in The Cooperator New York.
September 27, 2017
Cozen O’Connor is thrilled to announce that effective October 1, 2017, all of the lawyers from the Los Angeles real estate and commercial litigation boutique, Gilchrist & Rutter, will join the firm.
September 13, 2017
Jeffrey Mills, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, discusses how competitive incentives could benefit Amazon’s search for a new headquarters in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
August 23, 2017
Lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition based on a rigorous peer-review that has been developed and defined for more than 30 years.
August 17, 2017
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses the new zoning plan in Manhattan’s Great East Midtown district in a Q&A in the Commercial Property Executive.
July 24, 2017
Jeffrey Mills discusses the approval for mixed-use developments in Ross Township, Pa. in TribLIVE.
July 18, 2017
Jeffrey A. Mills is a member of the Real Estate and Public & Project Finance practice groups.
June 27, 2017
The group is led by Meridith Moldenhauer, who joins as a member, and includes Samantha Mazo, who joins as of counsel, Alyssa Bigley and Eric DeBear, who both join as attorneys, and Stephen Varga, who joins as planning services director.
May 26, 2017
Chambers USA recognized 47 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 14 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.
May 04, 2017
The national real estate practice of Cozen O'Connor represented Independence Realty Operating Partnership, LP and Independence Realty Trust, Inc. in the consummation of a new $300 million unsecured credit facility.
April 03, 2017
The management committee is pleased to welcome a particularly qualified group to membership, composed of outstanding attorneys who have demonstrated remarkable professionalism, leadership, dedication, and loyalty to the firm and the legal community at large.
February 28, 2017
Leni Cummins discusses the rules and regulations related to disclosure for condominium and cooperative unit sales in The Cooperator.
February 13, 2017
Richard Close, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice, discusses how the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association has come to be a lesson of grassroots politics in Los Angeles Magazine.
January 19, 2017
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the process of replacing co-op board members and presidents in The Cooperator.
January 16, 2017
Ken Fisher discusses his client’s efforts to develop a former elementary school in New York City’s East Village into private dorms in a WCBS TV interview.
January 11, 2017
Ken Fisher discusses his client’s plan to develop a former New York City elementary school into private Adelphi University dorms in Crain’s New York Business.
January 01, 2017
Ken Fisher discusses the slow growth of infrastructure in emerging New York City neighborhoods in The Real Deal.
December 30, 2016
Ken Fisher discusses a taxpayer-funded video released by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office in New York Daily News.
December 16, 2016
Ross Weiss, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Film Society.
December 12, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses condo and co-op buildings’ increased use of video surveillance in The Cooperator.
November 23, 2016
Firms included in the 2017 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.
November 15, 2016
Ken Fisher will be recognized among the Brooklyn Power 50 by City & State at the Borough 50 Series.
November 11, 2016
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Business Law Department, discusses why New York City infrastructure can not keep up with gentrification in Brick Underground.
October 19, 2016
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to welcome Laura B. Sorscher as a member of its national Real Estate practice, one of the premiere such practices in the country.
September 23, 2016
Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group represented Liberty Property Trust, the REIT developing the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center project.
September 10, 2016
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses building exterior inspection regulations in The New York Times.
August 15, 2016
Sixty-two Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 13 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
August 13, 2016
Ken Fisher addressed the public’s concern surrounding a new refuge center in Williamsburg, NY, at a local community meeting.
August 02, 2016
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the effect above-ground trains have on apartment prices on BrickUnderground.com.
July 29, 2016
Cozen O’Connor promoted seven members to shareholder of the firm: David Barron (Houston), Melissa Brill (New York), Bryan Campbell (Seattle), W. Blake Coblentz (Washington, D.C.), Martin Gusy (New York), James Schultz (Philadelphia) and Matthew Weinstein (Philadelphia).
July 13, 2016
Jeff Leonard discusses the impact that the Philadelphia real estate market’s record breaking volume and transaction amounts has had on real estate attorneys.
June 25, 2016
Ken Fisher, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate department and Public Strategies group, discusses Mayor de Blasio’s efforts to maintain mayoral control of New York City schools in the New York Daily News.
May 27, 2016
Chambers USA recognized 41 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.
May 05, 2016
Bruno is a transactional attorney who handles all aspects of commercial real estate and finance transactions, including acquisitions, leasing, development, joint ventures, loan issuances and restructurings, note purchases, workouts, and fund formations in Florida and throughout the United States.
May 03, 2016
Jeff Leonard discusses the strong 2015 real estate market in comparison to the 2016 market, and what this means for law firms.
April 25, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses a new U.S. Treasury Department regulation in Habitat Magazine.
April 21, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses a significant victory for the Manhattan Modern 23 condominium board in the Commercial Observer.
April 01, 2016
Leni Cummins addresses a cooperative shareholder's concerns about his board's new policies in The Cooperator.
March 15, 2016
Ken Fisher discusses a compromise crafted by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito on housing proposals.
March 04, 2016
Howard Grossman, senior counsel in Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate practice group, discusses the implications of higher property taxes in Philadelphia.
February 22, 2016
Benjamin Suckewer and Daniel Levin recently closed an $80 million land and construction loan for a Brooklyn residential project.
February 20, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses the allocation of common expenses in cooperatives in The New York Times and Habitat.
February 13, 2016
Leni Cummins, member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate practice group, discusses building maintenance responsibilities in The New York Times.
January 19, 2016
Leni Cummins, member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate practice group, discusses drone usage by condominiums and cooperatives in The Cooperator.
January 18, 2016
Ken Fisher discusses New York City's ongoing struggle to agree on a prevailing wage requirement in an Engineering News Record article.
January 08, 2016
The national real estate practice at Cozen O'Connor represented a Maguire Hayden Real Estate Company affiliate in its purchase of a seven story West Conshohocken office property for $98.4 million.
January 07, 2016
Howard Grossman, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the Philadelphia residential real estate market and its recent unprecedented boom over the last two years.
December 03, 2015
Kenneth K. Fisher, a member of the firm’s Real Estate Department and Public Strategies Group, discusses the potential repercussions of the 421-a tax abatement program expiring.
November 24, 2015
Ken Fisher discussed new regulations for political consulting firms in New York to register as lobbyists and disclose their clients and income to the public.
November 24, 2015
Due to the building’s proximity to LaGuardia Airport, changes are required to the maximum height allowance in the area. According to Krieger, the FAA and the Port Authority determined that the proposed height restrictions do not constitute a danger.
October 26, 2015
Steven brings over 25 years of experience representing a wide variety of closely held corporations, partnerships, emerging businesses, lenders, and individuals throughout the United States.
October 20, 2015
Ken Fisher is quoted in CityLand discussing the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on designating New York City's Greenwood Cemetery and Fairway Apartments as landmarks.
October 13, 2015
Ken Fisher is quoted in Brooklyn Daily on the proposal to landmark New York's historic Green-Wood cemetery.
October 07, 2015
Ken Fisher is quoted in Commercial Observer on incorporating the ability to build higher than zoning allows when it comes to air rights on New York City landmarks.
October 07, 2015
Ken Fisher is quoted in Real Estate Weekly on the potential expiration of New York City's 421-a tax abatement program.
October 01, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in The Cooperator on condo boards implementing fun ideas for their community.
September 30, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in The Cooperator on condo unit owners abiding by a condo board's declaration and bylaws.
September 19, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins was quoted in the New York Times article,
September 08, 2015
Howard Grossman discusses Philadelphia’s upswing in investment interest in every asset class, and it is coming from a multitude of sources, including national equity investors, regional and local institutions, and operators.
September 01, 2015
Bob Fallon and David Tiger have joined the firm as members in the Washington, D.C. office.
August 31, 2015
Ken Fisher discusses the approaching deadline to cut a pivotal deal on construction incentives and wages for construction workers.
August 25, 2015
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that it has expanded its New York Real Estate Group with the hiring of Joseph Mascia as a member. He joins Cozen O’Connor from Duane Morris, where he served as special counsel. Mascia will be resident in the firm’s New York Midtown office.
July 20, 2015
– Cozen O’Connor promoted six members to shareholder of the firm: Philip Carroll (Chicago), William Davis (New York), John B. Galligan (New York), Kendall Hayden (Dallas), Andrew Kay (D.C.) and Vincent Pozzuto (New York).
July 16, 2015
Richard Close, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice, is featured in an article by the Jewish Journal describing his heavy involvement with the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association (SOHA), which he has led since 1977.
July 14, 2015
In an article titled “Supreme Court Ruling Puts NYC Affordable Housing Plan in Peril,” Cozen O’Connor attorney, and former New York City Council member, Kenneth Fisher, discusses the implications of the June 25, 2015, ruling. The new decision requires anyone challenging an affordable housing policy as a violation of the Fair Housing Act to prove only that the policy itself is discriminatory.
July 06, 2015
Chambers USA recognized 37 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 10 were ranked in the top band.
July 02, 2015
Ken Fisher comments on the potential legal challenges related to the 421-a tax exemption program in a Crain’s New York Business article. The article discusses developers’ concerns over the re-vamped 421-a tax exemption program for housing, particularly a provision allowing the Real Estate Board of New York and the building trades to negotiate the program’s wage mandate for construction workers.
June 17, 2015
Ken Fisher was quoted in a Real Estate Weekly article that discusses the 421-a tax abatement program and rent regulations in New York State that expired on June 15, 2015, leaving the State Legislature at an impasse on numerous points. The deadlock will make a last minute deal more unlikely, with the last day of the legislative session for the year quickly approaching.
June 17, 2015
Daniel Hardwick, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, was selected by Legal Bisnow as one of their “2015 Trending 40 Lawyers Under 40,” which recognizes DC-area lawyers who are 40 and under and have distinguished themselves in the past year with exceptional performance for their firms and companies. Honorees will be profiled in an upcoming issue of Legal Bisnow. Daniel, along with other Trending 40 honorees, will also be honored at a reception on July 15 in Washington D.C.
June 13, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses a co-op board responsibility in responding to harassment allegations and the potential breach of warranty of habitability in the Ask Real Estate column of The New York Times.
June 05, 2015
Ken Fisher was quoted in The New York Times in an article addressing the redevelopment of Midtown Manhattan’s historic architectural buildings, and how the designation of being a preserved landmark building is made. The article explores how New York City’s expanding real estate landscape is creating challenges for preservation societies, who work to protect historical buildings throughout the city.
June 02, 2015
Ken Fisher, a member in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, discussed New York City’s 421-a tax exemption on WNYC radio. In the piece, Ken addresses how the New York City Department of Buildings has been handling the influx of applications.
May 25, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the legality of a cooperative board member assuming the role of spokesperson and sending email communications to all members in The Cooperator.
May 04, 2015
A team of Cozen O’Connor real estate attorneys, led by Howard Grossman, assisted a partnership comprised of affiliates of National Real Estate Development, Young Capital, SSH Real Estate and Joss Realty in its $141 million leasehold mortgage debt financing from Ullico, LLC, an insurance and investment firm.