NEW YORK–LAWFUEL – The Law Jobs & Law Newswire –Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, one of New York City’s most reputable and long-established law firms, is pleased to announce that partners Jeffrey Reich, Steven Sladkus and Lisa Smith have been named Co-Chairs of the firm’s vibrant Real-Estate Practice with an emphasis on cooperative and condominium law. Partner Maria Beltrani will continue to head Wolf Haldenstein’s landlord-tenant practice. Wolf Haldenstein has handled real estate transactions since 1888 and these partners bring energy and experience, drive and vision with decades of proven success at the firm.
“With the naming of Lisa, Steven and Jeff as Co-Chairs, Wolf Haldenstein is bringing a new standard of service to our real-estate clients,” said Charles Baller, one of the senior partners of the firm. “Their appointments signify a new era of leadership at Wolf Haldenstein.”
Partner and Co-Chair Jeffrey S. Reich: Reich has extensive experience representing clients in a wide variety of real estate transactions. Reich represents a diverse group of clients, including real estate developers, lenders, and investors. He also regularly counsels boards of cooperatives and condominiums on all matters of governance and management. Reich recently represented three of the country’s largest condominium and cooperative developments, borrowing approximately $750 million to facilitate the rehabilitation of more than 25,000 apartments in New York City. Reich graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law and Tulane University. He holds an undergraduate accounting degree and has passed all four parts of the CPA examination.
Partner and Co-Chair Steven D. Sladkus: Sladkus has extensive experience representing clients in real estate-related litigation and has a concentration in cooperatives and condominiums. He regularly handles a wide variety of construction defect, mold and general commercial and corporate-law cases. He also handles the defense of discrimination claims, including those against cooperative and condominium boards. Sladkus provides general counseling to the boards and managing agents of the firm’s cooperative and condominium clients. He also lectures on many of these topics. He graduated from Brandeis University and Brooklyn Law School and holds a master’s degree in taxation from New York University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He also serves as an arbitrator in the New York court system.
Partner and Co-Chair Lisa A. Smith: Smith practices transactional real estate both in New York and nationally, representing parties in acquisitions and sales, construction and mortgage financing, and residential and commercial leasing. She represents cooperative and condominium buildings on an ongoing basis in connection with their general corporate and condominium association matters, including those relating to tenant stockholders and unit owners, board members, managing agents and contractors. In recent years, Smith has also represented numerous developers and sponsors of cooperative and condominium offering plans for major development projects throughout New York City. She is a graduate of Colgate University and Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in New York and Massachusetts.
Partner Maria Beltrani: Beltrani is an experienced civil litigator who represents the firm’s numerous cooperative and condominium clients in a variety of landlord/tenant disputes involving illegal subletting, unauthorized alterations, excessive noise, violations of pet policies, nuisance, non-payment of rent and foreclosure proceedings. In addition, Beltrani represents the firm’s many institutional clients and developers in both commercial and residential landlord/tenant disputes. Her experience also extends to cases involving rent regulation in New York City. Beltrani is admitted to practice in New York and Florida and routinely practices in Civil and Supreme Court, as well as New York’s appellate courts. She also serves as an arbitrator for the Civil Court of the City of New York. She is a graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York and Brooklyn Law School.
About Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP:
Our clients include large corporations, pension funds, investment managers, privately-held businesses and individual entrepreneurs, as well as cooperatives, condominiums and real estate developers. What distinguishes Wolf Haldenstein from other firms is a longstanding tradition of close attorney/client relationships, which ensures that each client receives prompt, individual attention. A team approach is at the heart of our practice – all of our attorneys are readily available to clients and to each other. As a result, we are able to provide cost-effective and comprehensive counsel focused on our clients´ overall goals. At Wolf Haldenstein, we pride ourselves on our collegial spirit, our broad expertise and dedication to our clients, with whom we have thrived for more than a century. For more information, visit www.whafh.com.
