Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP | Real Estate Law

11/8/2018 | Habitat Magazine

GDB's head of the Coop and Condo Law Practice, David L. Berkey, Esq. is quoted in Habitat Magazine.

Legal Update

10/24/18 | GDB 2018 Fall Newsletter

Partner Scott M. Smiler closed on a $42 million dollar loan.

6/2018

Partner Scott M. Smiler closed on a $42 million dollar loan from the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for one of GDB’s Mitchell-Lama clients, Masaryk Towers Corporation. Masaryk Towers is set to undertake a major capital improvement project which included the negotiation of a $28 million dollar construction contract.

Partner David L. Berkey lectured on Pre-Contract Due Diligence

9/2018

Partner David L. Berkey lectured on Pre-Contract Due Diligence at a CLE program sponsored by the New York City Bar Association entitled “Residential Real Estate Closings: What You Need to Know From Pre-Contract to Closing.”

Senior associate Michelle P. Quinn conducted a seminar on landlord and tenant issues for Lorman Education Services.

10/2018

Service Animals and the “No Dog” Building

7/11/18 | By: Michelle P. Quinn | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

The proliferation of online websites that sell “service animal certification kits” in order to allow non-service animals access to public places has led to recent legislation intended to curb the abuse. A new law signed by New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on December 18, 2017 makes it unlawful to knowingly apply a false or improper identification tag designating a service, emotional support, or therapy dog to enable the animal to accompany its owner into places of public accommodation and other venues. What does this law mean for apartment, condominium and cooperative buildings? Read more to find out how you may be affected.

Making a Building Smoke-Free? Here are Answers to Some Commonly Asked Questions

7/11/18 | By: Peter R. Massa, Esq. & Alyssa C. Goldrich, Esq. | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

As described in our spring 2018 newsletter, under recent legislation all New York City multi-family dwellings consisting of three or more apartments (including coops and condos) must adopt a smoking policy by August 28, 2018 and provide the policy to all current and prospective residents. This requirement has caused many coops and condos to consider making their buildings “smoke-free” by prohibiting smoking in individual apartments as well as the common areas of the building. Click here for FAQ regarding implementation of a smoke-free policy.

Cooperatives and Condominiums Must Disclose Conflicts of Interest

7/11/18 | By: Marc J. Luxemburg, Esq. | GDB Summer Newsletter

Section 727 of the Business Corporation Law (“BCL”), as enacted last year and recently amended, requires that every cooperative housing corporation incorporated under the BCL and every condominium must report to its shareholders or condo unit owners at least once a year of transactions voted on by the board where one or more of the directors is an interested party pursuant to Section 713 of the BCL. If there is no such transaction, the report must state specifically that no such transaction occurred. Please read on in order to learn what you must do to comply with this new law.

Partner Beatrice Lesser Won a Unanimous Affirmance from the Appellate Division

4/2018

Partner Beatrice Lesser won a unanimous affirmance from the Appellate Division in a case where the underlying issue concerned a cooperative corporation’s obligation to give a shareholder’s lender notice of the shareholder’s non-monetary default of the proprietary lease. Where the cooperative’s records do not include a copy of the lender’s recognition agreement, counsel is advised to perform an independent search on ACRIS for a UCC-1 and give the lender notice of the shareholder’s default even if it doesn’t have a copy of the recognition agreement.

Summer 2018 Newsletter

7/11/2018 | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

Legal Update

The Sales Tax May Be Coming to the Internet

6/25/18 | By: David N. Milner, Esq.

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 1992 ruling in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota. States may now require internet sellers to collect sales tax on goods shipped into their state even if the seller does not maintain a physical presence in that state. Previously a physical presence was required.

For a Mess Made by a Few, Many May Be Punished

4/29/18 | The New York Times

GDB Partner, Peter R. Massa, Esq. is quoted in the Real Estate Section of The New York Times answering the question regarding what can be done if a mess is left in the common spaces of a co-op.

Spring 2018 Newsletter

4/4/2018 | Spring 2018 Newsletter

Legal Update

Winter 2018 Newsletter

1/29/2018 | GDB 2018 Winter Newsletter

Legal Update

When Alterations Become a Headache...The Cause is in these Clauses

10/2017 | Habitat Magazine

Coops and Condos Be Aware: New Conflict Of Interest Reporting Obligations Go Into Effect on Jan. 1.

10/26/2017 | By: David L. Berkey, Esq.

On September 12, 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law Chapter 305 of the Laws of 2017, which imposes an annual conflict of interest reporting obligation on cooperatives and condominiums incorporated under the Business Corporation Law or Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. Chapter 305 goes into effect on January 1, 2018.

A Commercial Retail Landlord’s Checklist

10/23/2017 | By: Scott M. Smiler, Esq. | GDB 2017 Fall Newsletter

Fall 2017 Newsletter

10/23/2017 | GDB 2017 Fall Newsletter

Legal Update

Only In Brooklyn: Discrimination Against Baby Strollers

8/10/2017 | Habitat Magazine

GDB Partner Beatrice Lesser on discrimination against baby strollers in Habitat Magazine

Can a Stroller Be Sent to the Back Door?

8/5/2017 | The New York Times

GDB Partner Beatrice Lesser is quoted in The New York Times

The Heartbreak of a Co-op Rejection

7/21/17 | The New York Times

GDB Partner Marc Luxemburg is quoted in The New York Times

Short-Term (Airbnb) Rentals Are Not Only Illegal But Also Now More Costly

7/5/2017 | By: Michelle P. Quinn, Esq. | GDB 2017 Summer Newsletter

Helping Those Who Hoard

6/30/2017 | The New York Times

GDB Senior Partner, David L. Berkey, quoted in The New York Times.

Summer 2017 Newsletter

7/5/2017 | GDB 2017 Summer Newsletter

Legal Update

Should I Tell the Co-Op Board I May Work From Home?

2/25/17 | The New York Times

GDB Partner Beatrice Lesser quoted in The New York Times

Low-Income Families in Leaky Townhouses Left to Fight for Themselves

2/14/2017 | Crain's New York Business

GDB Partner Marc Luxemburg quoted in Crain's New York Business

Harassing the Super

12/17/16 | The New York Times

GDB Partner Marc Luxemburg is quoted in The New York Times

Summer 2016 Newsletter

6/27/2016

Legal Update

Coop and Condo Boards: Do Not Ignore Second-Hand Smoke Complaints

6/27/2016 | By: Peter R. Massa, Esq. | Summer 2016 Newsletter

Peter R. Massa, Esq. Promoted to Partner

1/04/2016 | Winter 2016 Newsletter

Gallet Dreyer & Berkey is pleased to announce that Peter R. Massa has become a partner of the firm. Mr. Massa is a highly skilled real estate attorney with strong experience in a wide variety of residential and commercial matters.

Condos Face Limitations on Fines and Fees and an Additional Burden of Proof

2/11/2016 | By: Marc J. Luxemburg, Esq. | Winter 2016 Newsletter

Winter 2016 Newsletter

2/16/2016

Legal Update

Legal Talk Podcast on Updating Co-Op ByLaws - Habitat Magazine

11/18/2015

Panel Presentation on Issues Facing Building Managers at New York Association of Realty Managers Building Management Expo

10/29/2015

"Speak Up" Program Video on Objectionable Behavior under The Co-Op Proprietary Lease

11/18/2015

When is a Decision of a Cooperative or Condominium Board of Directors Reasonable