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News / 12.30.24 /Jack Malley
New York’s New Paid Leave for Prenatal Care Law Effective January 1, 2025
Beginning January 1, 2025, New York employers must provide employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal care appointments or other pregnancy-related needs. The key provisions of the new law are as follows: Every employer, regardless of the number of employees, is required to provide this benefit. Leave can be used for healthcare …
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News / 12.18.24 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Latest CTA Update- Short Term Funding Bill Being Reviewed in Congress include a One- Year Delay in Filing BOI Reports
The short-term government funding bill that was just released, and which keeps the government open until March, includes a one-year delay in the Beneficial Ownership Information filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. See Section 122 of the bill on page 223. [2025 Extension] The full bill is expected to be voted on later this …
News / 12.06.24 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Enforcement of Corporate Transparency Act Temporarily Stopped Nationwide By Federal Court Order
A Texas federal district court has issued a nationwide injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) by the government. Therefore, until the injunction is lifted, business entities subject to the CTA (including cooperatives and condominiums) do not need to file their beneficial ownership information forms with the Treasury Department. The injunction remains in …
News / 12.06.24 /Margaret D. Baisley
Court Declares Soho/Noho Arts Fund Contributions Unconstitutional
On December 5, 2024, the Appellate Division declared unconstitutional the portion of the recently amended Zoning Regulations that required payments to the SoHo-NoHo Arts Fund of $100 per square foot of loft area (with annual increases) to the City as a condition of allowing the conversion of lofts to legal residential occupancy. This decision reversed the 2023 decision …
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News / 11.21.24 /Eric P. BlahaandKenneth R. Jacobs
Thank you to everyone who joined us at New York’s Biggest & Best Co-op, Condo & Apt Expo on Tuesday, November 19th!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at New York’s Biggest & Best Co-op, Condo & Apt Expo! Your participation made the event a tremendous success, and we’re grateful for your attendance. Special thanks to our SBJ speakers, Ken Jacobs, Eric Blaha , and Jason Rogovich for their insightful presentation on “Repairs – Who Makes …
News / 10.28.24 /Eric P. BlahaandKenneth R. Jacobs
Join SBJ at New York’s Biggest & Best Co-op, Condo & Apt Expo!
📅 Date: November 19, 2024 🕘 Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM 📍 Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center, 655 W 34th St Smith Buss & Jacobs, LLP Session 🕑 Time: 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM 📍 Room 1 🔍 Topic: “Repairs – Who Makes Them, Who Approves Them, & Who Pays?” To register click here: …
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News / 06.18.24 /Eric P. BlahaandKenneth R. Jacobs
Thank you to everyone who joined us at New York’s Biggest & Best Co-op, Condo & Apt Expo on Tuesday, June 18th!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at New York’s Biggest & Best Co-op, Condo & Apt Expo! Your participation made the event a tremendous success, and we’re grateful for your attendance. Special thanks to our SBJ speakers, Ken Jacobs, and Eric Blaha, for their insightful presentations on “Resident Rights vs. Board Confidentiality – New …
News / 05.29.24 /Eric P. BlahaandKenneth R. Jacobs
You’re invited to attend a Powerful Educational Seminar- Cooperator Events EXPO 2024 New York
Smith Buss & Jacobs, cordially invites you to attend: RESIDENT RIGHTS VS. BOARD CONFIDENTIALITY—NEW STANDARDS FOR ACCESS TO RECORDS & DISCLOSURE OF PRIVATE INFORMATION What rights do individual owners have to inspect their association’s books? What rights do boards have to limit owner review? When can a board restrict what an owner discloses to other …
News / 04.11.24 /Jack Malley
Severance Agreements CLE Webinar April 18th, 2024, hosted by Jack Malley
Severance Agreements Date: April 18th, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT Speaker: Jack Malley, Partner Cost: No Charge Credits: 1.5 (NY) Register here Learn about: The fundamentals of severance agreements The newest laws and their impact Typical severance packages in today’s market; and Common negotiation points and tactics
News / 09.23.23 /Eric P. Blaha,Jeffrey D. Buss,Kenneth R. Jacobs,Thomas W. SmithandMark L. Manewitz
Smith Buss & Jacobs 2023 selections by Super Lawyers
Eric Blaha, Jeffrey Buss, Kenneth Jacobs, Mark Manewitz & Thomas Smith have each been selected to the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of …
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News / 05.17.22 /Jeffrey D. Buss
Westchester Business Journal: Westchester Attorney, Jeffrey Buss, is Instrumental in $621.5M Refinancing
A Westchester attorney whose firm is based in Yonkers was instrumental in coordinating a real estate refinancing so significant that it was announced jointly on April 28 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congressman Jamal Bowman and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge. Even without the …
News / 04.28.22 /Jeffrey D. Buss
Partner Jeffrey Buss Coordinates $124,000,000 Co-op City Refinancing with HUD
Governor Hochul, Secretary Fudge, Senator Schumer, and Representative Bowman Announce Approval of Loan Refinancing to Maintain Housing Quality and Affordability for Co-op City Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, Senator Charles Schumer, and Representative Jamaal Bowman today announced that Riverbay Corporation, the management company for Co-op City, the …
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Jacob Amir has been appointed Co-Chair of the Construction Law Committee of the Westchester Bar Association.
Jacob Amir has been appointed Co-Chair of the Construction Law Committee of the Westchester Bar Association. The Committee members are engaged in some of the largest and most advanced public and private development projects in the County and around New York State.
News / 10.15.21 /Eric P. Blaha,Jeffrey D. Buss,Kenneth R. Jacobs,Thomas W. SmithandMark L. Manewitz
Smith Buss & Jacobs 2021 selections by Super Lawyers
Eric Blaha, Jeffrey Buss, Kenneth Jacobs, Mark Manewitz & Thomas Smith have each been selected to the 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating …
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Jacob Amir obtained dismissal of a complaint brought by a commercial property owner against our client, the principal of a construction company, regarding the principal’s certification on payment requisitions totaling about $700,000 under a $7.5 million construction management contract.
The owner alleged that our client engaged in fraud and misrepresentation when he certified the accuracy of payment requisitions which the owner claimed were false due to non-performance and non-payments to subcontractors. The Court adopted Jacob’s arguments that the principal could not be held personally liable for the claims alleged, and granted dismissal of the …
News / 07.16.21 /Kenneth R. Jacobs,Emanuela LupuandJennifer L. Stewart
Webinar: Legal Updates – New State, Local & Federal Legislation – What Boards Should Know
Register NOW for our June 29th, Cooperator Town Hall Event at 2:00pm EST. Led by Kenneth R. Jacobs, Emanuela Lupu-Ferrante, and Jennifer L. Stewart. Overview: The New York State legislature amended several important laws affecting co-ops and condos in the last two days of its session. Several new federal and local laws will also have …
News / 12.30.20 /Jack Malley
Jack Malley won an appeal on December 29, 2020. The First Department affirmed Supreme Court, New York County’s decision granting a preliminary injunction enjoining a Manhattan co-op from evicting Jack’s client from an apartment he inherited after the co-op board denied his transfer application.
News / 10.06.20 /Nancy Durand
Upcoming Board Governance Series: How to Build an Effective Board of Directors
Being a board member of a nonprofit entity is an awesome responsibility undertaken by volunteers (often with other full-time commitments) who are driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to their community, industry, or society at large. Whether you serve on the board of a nonprofit corporation, foundation, or housing entity, you are a fiduciary …
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News / 04.03.20 /Jeffrey D. Buss
Smith Buss & Jacobs Closes Historic Financing in the midst of the Pandemic
Co-Op City, New York’s largest affordable housing complex, will stay affordable for another 30 years pursuant to a March 31st, 2020 loan agreement between Co-op City and the City of New York. The Agreement provides One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), at zero percent interest, with the principal forgiven, conditioned upon the Cooperative’s agreement to remain in …
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BREAKING NEWS CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Empire State Development Corporation Issues Guidance On What Businesses Provide an “Essential Function” Under Executive Order 202.6, as Revised Executive Order No. 202.6 directed that all businesses and non-profit entities are required to reduce their in-person workforce by 75%, and Governor Cuomo’s “New York State on PAUSE” Executive Order (the “PAUSE Order” will increase that …
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News / 03.20.20 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
BREAKING NEWS CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Governor Cuomo Extends Lockdown on “Non-Essential” Businesses to 100% of Employees Governor Cuomo announced today that New York State would take a “pause,” requiring that 100% of employees of “non-essential businesses” cannot go to their place of employment. The “pause” included specific guidelines affecting persons over 70 and vulnerable persons under 70. We are awaiting …
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News / 03.20.20 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
BREAKING NEWS CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Governor Cuomo Announces Executive Order Imposing 90-day Moratorium on Mortgage Payments and Mortgage Foreclosures Governor Cuomo announced at a press conference this afternoon that he plans to order a 90-day moratorium on all mortgage payments and mortgage foreclosures. Mortgage payments will be suspended for three months based on financial hardship, and mortgage foreclosures will be …
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News / 03.17.20 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Habitat LIVE: What should co-ops and condos do during the coronavirus pandemic?
Practical advice for co-op and condo board directors about how to conduct themselves and their buildings due to the health crisis.
News / 03.02.20 /andNancy Durand
WVOX Interview with Jacob Amir & Nancy Durand
Jacob Amir and Nancy Durand discuss the firm and their work in Westchester County with the Business Council of Westchester.
Firm News
Jacob Amir won a decision after trial declaring his clients’ shareholder interests in a private corporation, voiding a 2015 deed determined to be fraudulent, and restoring ownership of a nearly eight acre residential property to the corporation. The trial in Westchester involved over 100 exhibits, recreating over 30 years of factual history and followed extensive …
News / 01.08.20 /Nancy Durand
Firm News
Nancy Durand won an appeal on behalf of a local municipality in a proceeding pursuant to General Municipal Law § 50-e(5), for leave to serve a late notice of claim. The City appealed from an order of the Supreme Court, Westchester County, which granted a motion to renew a petition for leave to serve a …
Firm News
Jacob Amir, a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Youth, Law and Citizenship, participated in the committee’s conference on October 3 and 4, 2019 on how school districts can better address student and faculty mental health and substance abuse issues.
News / 08.02.19 /Jack Malley
Firm News
Jack Malley won a preliminary injunction enjoining a Manhattan co-op from evicting his client from the apartment that he, his wife and their kids have lived in since 1994. The case concerns a provision in many New York City proprietary leases that controls the transfer of co-op apartments from an estate of a deceased shareholder …
News / 06.13.19 /Thomas W. Smithand
Firm News
Tom Smith and Jacob Amir won summary judgment on behalf of a large marina owner in Westchester, obtaining dismissal of claims brought by a commercial tenant seeking money damages and the enforceability of a 99-year ground lease. After extensive discovery, our firm moved to dismiss the complaint because the commercial tenant’s claims, if accepted, would …
Speaking Engagement
In the Spring 2019, Jacob Amir was invited to once again teach a seminar course in the Paralegal Studies program, hosted by Pace Law School, on civil procedure in the New York courts. Jacob has taught this course for the last several years, and has also lectured on corporations and essential legal skills in the program.
News / 11.27.18 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Learn More about the Firm’s Cooperative and Condominium Practice with Ken Jacobs!
News / 10.22.18 /Emanuela Lupu
The Smoke Free Air Act
New York City has recently passed regulations requiring all boards of co-ops and condos to pass a policy with respect to smoking and to notify all their residents of that policy and post it in the building.
This should motivate all boards to begin thinking about what they want and what their residents want with respect to smoking and the quality of life in a building. Many boards have passed policies prohibiting smoking within apartments. Those are enforceable only through proprietary-lease amendments, and to amend those requires a shareholder vote.
News / 07.31.18 /Emanuela Lupu
Demystifying Housing 2018 Conference
Emanuela Lupu-Ferrante, Esq. will be presenting at the 2018 Demystifying Housing Conference along with other members of the HDFC Coalition.
News / 05.23.18 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Join Ken Jacobs & the CAI on March 28th for a Session in Hot Topics Affecting Cooperatives & Condominiums
Click the link below to review our event flyer.
News / 02.20.18 /Kenneth R. Jacobs
Ken Jacobs Presents a Lesson in Habitat U’s Latest Course
Dealing with a casualty: What do your bylaws require?
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