IN THE NEWS

John Christopher and Jason Horowitz were featured in articles announcing their becoming associated with the Firm.  The Roslyn News article included details on their educational background, their work with the firm during summers and while in law school and a photograph of Jason.

News 12’s Long Island Talks

Special Counsel Thomas McKevitt appeared on this half hour call in show as the expert legal source on telecommunications facilities. He discussed legal challenges facing communities and property owners when challenging telecommunications companies wishing to locate facilities in their neighborhoods.

NEWSDAY

The “Winners” section recognizes achievements of leading Long Islanders.  This Sunday’s section featured an item and photo of Dan Baker as the honoree of this year’s Twelfth Annual South Shore Invitational Golf Outing by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Long Island Chapter.

Michael Sahn’s appointment to the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island appeared in the “Newsmakers” section in Long Island Business News and as a business news item in The Roslyn News, a weekly Anton newspaper.

Long Island Business News

Michael Sahn was profiled in “Who’s Who in Commercial & Residential Real Estate Law.” He suggests that purchasers consider providing for a due diligence investigation period in the contract and that contract obligations be contingent upon the approval of the purchaser’s contemplated use and development of the property. Click here to read the article..

The Northport Observer

The Firm’s appearance on behalf of the owner of a shopping center on Fort Salonga Road at a Northport Village Planning Board meeting was covered by the local press.  The Firm is requesting a wavier of filing a formal site plan in connection with the expansion of a CVS drugstore and other changes in the shopping center.

The New York Times

The Firm’s Special Counsel Thomas McKevitt was interviewed regarding several telecommunications matters, including the new telecommunications ordinance that was prepared by the Firm and adopted into law by the City of Glen Cove. Click here to read the article.

Long Island Business News

Jon Ward is extensively interviewed in an article discussing the Decision and Order of the Appellate Division, Second Department, affirming the decision made by Justice Bucaria of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, annulling the rezoning of 19 acres of waterfront property in the Village of Great Neck, including a parcel previously owned by Waldbaum's, from an industrial zoning district to a waterfront residential zoning district, on the grounds that the rezoning was adopted in violation of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA").

Land Use Legal Report

The ruling of the Appellate Division concerning the former Waldbaum’s parcel is reviewed in this newsletter, highlighting the fact that the Village of Great Neck improperly segmented its environmental review, rendering the rezoning invalid. Click here to see the news item.

New York Law Journal

The Firm successfully represented our client in vacating a foreclosure sale that had been based on non-payment of common area charges for homeowners association dues.  Jon Ward led the litigation team whose efforts led to the home being returned to our client, with the court finding the plaintiff proceeded with the sale in bad faith. Click here to read the article.

New York Law Journal

“News Briefs” featured an item on the Decision and Order of the Appellate Division, Second Department, to annul the rezoning of 19 acres of waterfront property in the Village of Great Neck. Click here to see the item.

Our announcement that Jeffrey Greenblatt has become associated with the Firm was included in the “On the Move” section of Newsday, “People in the News” section of Jeffrey’s hometown paper, The Half Hollow Hills Newspapers, and the “Newsmakers” section of Long Island Business News.

Nassau Lawyer – Nassau Bar Association

The use of temporary zoning moratoriums throughout New York State to control growth and development was the subject of an article authored by Michael Sahn and John Christopher, a legal intern in the firm and a third year law student at Touro.  The article examined cases in New York State and before the United States Supreme Court as well as current state legislation. Click here to see a copy of the article.

Long Island Business News

Dan Baker was featured in “Who’s Who in Tax Certiorari,” a special section published by Long Island Business News.  The article provided a close look at Dan’s background in land use law and his successful representation of the owner of a large horse farm in Nassau County. Click here to read the full article.

Real Estate Weekly

A news item on the Firm’s successful representation of Wild by Nature in Oceanside appears in this trade publication.

Nassau Lawyer – Nassau County Bar Association

Thomas McKevitt shares his experience as a member of the New York State Assembly. His description of the legislative process, “Lobbying Day” and activities on behalf of his constituents provides a uniquely personal and enlightening portrait of a rising leader. Click here to read “From Lawyer to Legislator.”

Long Island Business News

Richard Weinberg was quoted as a source in an article examining the use of “IRC Section 1031 exchanges,” in which proceeds from the sale of one property are used to purchase another property and capital gains taxes are deferred. Weinberg, who represents many clients in 1031 tax deferred exchange transactions, explains that one of the requirements is the participation of an independent third party, who must take possession of the proceeds of the sale and use them to purchase the replacement property. While these transactions are complex, the appeal of deferring capital gains taxes on real estate transactions has made the 1031 exchange increasingly utilized.

The New York Times

Michael Sahn was a featured source in the “Your Home” column on the use of bridge loans in residential real estate transactions. Bridge loans are commonly used to provide funds to purchase a new home if the buyer has not yet sold their existing home. He explained that most residential real estate contracts do not make the purchase of a new house contingent on the sale of the old one, and buyers must therefore close on the purchase of the new home, even if their current home does not sell, or face losing deposits and other monies associated with the purchase of a new home.

Long Island Business News

The first item in the law section highlights the increasing presence of legislators in law firms as beneficial for both lawmakers and law firms, and announces that Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt, representing the 17th Assembly District, has joined Sahn Ward & Baker as Special Counsel.  Three large law Long Island firms and names of their own legislative members are mentioned as well.

New York Law Journal

The first item in the “Briefly Noted” column features the news that Thomas McKevitt has joined the firm as Special Counsel. The article details Assemblyman McKevitt’s accomplishments as a Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Hempstead , includes his professional and political affiliation and includes a description of the Firm’s practice areas.

Reckson Report

Sahn Ward & Baker is recognized as a leader in the legal field by the Long Island edition of the Reckson newsletter, which welcomes the firm to the Omni Building and commends its members for service in the community and the profession.

Land Use Law Report

The Firm’s successful reversal of a rezoning by a municipality was analyzed in depth in a prestigious national publication dedicated to high profile cases concerning zoning and land use matters. Please click here to see a copy of the newsletter.

New York Law Journal

The success of our litigation team in protecting the rights of a property owner from rezoning without proper environmental impact studies was explored in a detailed article concerning Waldbaum, Inc. v. Incorporated Village of Great Neck.  Jon Ward told the reporter that this decision could be construed as a clear message to municipalities that they must conduct sound and complete environmental studies before taking action against a property owner. Click here to read the full article.

Great Neck Record

The ruling by Justice Bucaria in support of our client was the subject of a lengthy article that reviewed the decision and made a careful analysis of specific problems not addressed by the municipality in the development plan.  The reporter explained the massive logistical problems that would be created by the Village’s plan with regard to moving existing sewage treatment plans and diverting the village’s sewage to a new location for treatment. For a copy of the article, please call our office.

Long Island Business News

Michael Sahn served as a source for an article on the United States Supreme Court decision on Kelo v. the City of New London, which presented the issue of whether "economic development" constitutes a valid "public purpose" to justify the use of eminent domain powers under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Click here to read the full article.

Real Estate Weekly

Michael Sahn was also interviewed by Real Estate Weekly the day after the United States Supreme Court decision in Kelo was announced. Government, he noted, is now willing to use the eminent domain power as a "tool to achieve a particular result in a way the private marketplace could not." For a copy of the article, please call our office.

Long Island Business News

Michael Sahn was featured in an article in Long Island Business News that was published several weeks before the Kelo decision was announced, in which he explained the issues in the case. Click here to read the full articl.

Long Island Business News

The Firm’s successful representation of Chasanoff Properties, a major area developer, in a complex commercial landlord-tenant dispute resulted in the dismissal of $30 million in claims against Chasanoff Properties and the recovery of $7 million from the tenant. Partner Jon Ward, who led the litigation team that skillfully defended our client, proved that Chasanoff Properties acted reasonably in rejecting the assignment of a sub-lease by a tenant and as a result, all claims against our client were dismissed and the court ordered payment for damages caused to the building and reimbursement of all legal fees. Click here to read the full article.

Long Island Business News

Michael Sahn was extensively quoted in an article examining the complex world of real estate law and development on Long Island. When asked to identify the biggest issue facing Long Island property owners and developers, Michael pointed to increasingly restrictive zoning regulations and ordinances. "How restrictive zoning will become, and how effective challenges will be" is the big question for the area's future growth and development.. Click here to read the full article.

Long Island Business News

For the second year in a row, Michael Sahn was included among a small group of attorneys in a special “Who’s Who in Law” in this weekly business newspaper. When asked about trends in land use issues on Long Island, he observed “We have to come to grips with change and embrace it so that we not just preserve what we have, but improve upon it in the future."

The New York Times

Michael Sahn was quoted in an article by real estate reporter Carole Paquette that profiled three different shopping centers on Long Island about to undergo face-lifts, starting with the Baldwin Waldbaum's shopping center represented by the firm. Michael noted that the expansion from 30,870 to 44,250 square feet will allow the Baldwin Waldbaum's to provide additional goods and services that consumers expect in a modern shopping center.

Long Island Business News

Dan Baker was featured in an article that examined the challenges facing multi-unit franchises doing business on Long Island. Dan emphasized that Long Island’s population density, along with a high level of discretionary income, make it very attractive for franchise restaurants – and worth the extra patience that is occasionally required in obtaining land use permits.

Long Island Business News

An article reviewing the challenges and rewards for attorneys leaving established law firms and starting their own practices featured Michael Sahn. The article noted the successful growth of the firm to include two additional name partners and a support staff.