Biography
Nationally recognized real estate attorney and commercial litigator. Represent high end fashion brands, media conglomerates, multinational corporations, owners, developers, condominiums, cooperative boards, politicians, and celebrities on complex real estate disputes, civil cases, securities litigation and white collar criminal matters.
Counsel clients on general corporate governance, labor and employment issues, transactional matters, lobbying efforts. Trial attorney with extensive experience in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country as well as internationally. Has argued numerous appeals.
Regularly write and contribute to the education and development of the law. Featured multiple times on CNN and CBS News, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Politico, Forbes, NY Post, Times of London, Commercial Observer, NY Law Journal and Law360.
Fluent in Italian/conversant in French & Spanish
ENGAGEMENTS
Hartman v WVH Hous. Dev Fund: Created precedent that a prevailing party is entitled to recovery of their reasonable fees/costs where they are awarded the central relief that goes to core of parties’ dispute.
Rumble Fitness v 700 Broadway 1891: Denied commercial tenant’s COVID-19 lease defenses; ordered payment of nearly one million dollars in back rent, plus fees and costs, invalidating applicability of the doctrines of force majeure and impossibility resulting from the pandemic.
Board of Managers of 266 West 115th Street Condo v 266 West 115th Street: On two separate issues, successfully established that a board may pursue claims against a sponsor-developer’s principal, personally, where the principal signs the certification to the Offering Plan in his individual capacity and a sponsor-developer may be liable for construction defects beyond applicable notice period set forth in Offering Plan when the sponsor-developer engages in repairs beyond such notice period.
Westchester Mall v Manoucher Hedvat: Reaffirmed general rule that dismissals after opening statements are strongly disfavored absent extraordinary circumstances in a corporate veil piercing action brought against a commercial tenant and its principal.
Chairman of Board of Trustees for La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi
Member of Italy America Chamber of Commerce
Membership Committee of Columbus Citizens Foundation
Executive Secretary of Columbian Lawyers Association of First Judicial Dept
Member of Civil Court Practice Section of NY County Lawyers’ Association
Member of Professional Responsibility Committee of NYC Bar Assn.
EDU
Thomas M. Cooley Law School JD 2007
University of MA, Amherst BA 2004