Brooklyn, New York, United States
Experienced and Successful Court Room Attorney Specializing in Real Estate Litigation, Complex Commercial Litigation, and Employment Law. Passionate litigator who keeps the big picture client goals in the forefront of every argument and strategy that I pursue on their behalf.
Litigation Counsel in the Creditor Rights Group Primarily focusing on Contested New York Foreclosure Matters and Appeals
Primarily assigned to manage the litigation team at Monetaria LLC (an MCA debt collection company) - Oversaw all debt enforcement litigation (~1,200 active cases) on behalf of mutual MCA clients - Tasked with overhauling the litigation strategy and process to respond to changing litigation realities - Developed templates and processes to successfully advance cases with minimal staffing while ensuring quality control through workflow design, review, and proactive training - Legal expertise, attention to detail, and process improvements delivered judgments for clients that other firms are failing to obtain and avoided severe negative rulings common in the industry - Expanded team from a group of 4 paralegals (2 local, 2 abroad) to a total team of 18 - Regularly appeared in court to argue substantive motions and OSCs
Real Estate, Employment, General Commercial Litigator • Cases include foreclosure defense, construction litigation, adverse possession, quiet title, and L&T • Oral Arguments in Second Department concerning piercing the corporate veil in property sale case • Drafting dispositive, discovery, and injunctive relief motions and oppositions • Drafting appeals and emergency applications for relief from ex parte orders • Frequent hearing and trial appearances in L&T and Supreme Courts
Real Estate, Employment and Commercial Litigation • Cases included foreclosure, construction, adverse possession, promissory note enforcement and defense, breach of contract, commercial tort, ADA defense, and employment defense • Lead Counsel for defendant in a two-week jury trial in a home improvement contract dispute • Drafted and argued dispositive and discovery motions – including winning reverse summary judgment awarding our client specific performance of a purchase and sale agreement • Drafted one comprehensive post-bench trial appeal, four interlocutory appeals, and one opposition • Argued Appeal before First Department concerning effect of COVID executive order • Designed creative settlement agreements to resolve previously intractable real estate disputes • Enabled firm to handle employment defense on behalf of its client rather than farm out the work
Primary practice areas: Litigation (Real Estate, Commercial, Employment) and Criminal Defense Key Accomplishments: • Obtained jury verdict granting plaintiff a prescriptive easement on neighbor’s property as lead counsel • Successfully led effort to get emergency relief from First Dept. to significantly narrow a TRO granted against my clients (former employees of plaintiff and their new employer), within 24 hours of original grant, eliminating problematic restrictions • Victorious on pretrial motion to suppress evidence, statements, and arrest on behalf of a client charged with felony burglary and drug possession • Victorious on multiple appeals, including after oral arguments regarding statute of limitations of damages • Obtained precedent setting denial of motions in Queens and Kings to dismiss quiet title actions concerning properties in which statute of limitations had lapsed since mortgage had been accelerated • Pivotal in obtaining the post-conviction release of a wrongfully convicted man who had served ~25 years Role and Responsibilities: • Oversaw strategy and execution of the firm’s commercial, real estate, and employment litigation • Managed the legal work of up to 9 attorneys and administrative staff • Lead drafter on both trial level documents including complaints, motions, statements of law and facts, and Appeals • Handled both applications for and opposition to emergency injunctive relief on behalf of individual and corporate clients as part of their overall legal strategy • Served as general outside counsel to 8 small and medium size business in New York • Appeared over 150 times in Supreme, Civil, and Criminal courts both in the city and surrounding areas • Negotiated and drafted favorable settlements and plea deals including settling multiple foreclosure cases for 10-20 cents on the dollar • Represented clients at jury trials, bench trials, appeals, pretrial hearings, depositions, and regulatory proceedings