Construction projects have slowed in South Florida as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As workers are deciding to stay home, supply chain problems arise and developers are hitting the pause button, Becker hosted a virtual webinar “Construction, Contractors, and COVID-19” to discuss these concerns. Led by Becker Shareholder Lee Weintraub, the panel included Janice Oliva, controller […]
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“My Weekday Workout in the COVID-19 Era: Becker & Poliakoff’s Scott Marcus,” Law.com
Don’t let the pandemic slow down your workout regime. Becker Shareholder Scott Marcus used to work out four to five times a week before the coronavirus forced his local gyms and workout studios to close. When he worked out he focused on 30-45 minutes on the Stairmaster—a machine that offers moderate to intense cardio with […]
Read More“The Strange Fear of Life in a Big Apartment Building at the Epicenter of the Pandemic,” Realtor.com
In Florida some emergency plans are being put in place to “prohibit nonessential visitors beyond caregivers, delivery personnel, and a limited number of immediate family members,” says Donna DiMaggio Berger, Becker Shareholder, in regard to COVID-19. Click here to read the full article on Realtor.com.
Read More“With No Copyright Protection for Client, Broward Lawyers Created Own Road Map,” Daily Business Review
Without copyright protection for a client with sophisticated products showcased in places like the Smithsonian Museum, two South Florida lawyers had to rely on creative legal theories. Their efforts paid off by convincing a New York judge to shut down online counterfeits of their client’s work. It also left a road map for future intellectual […]
Read More“A New Coronavirus Threat: Sidelined Subcontractors,” ConstructionDive
According to panelists in the Associated General Contractors of New York State webinar last week, it’s not just the coronavirus that poses a threat to the construction industry. Another factor impacting general contractors is a lack of available specialty contractors, which could be devastating to the industry. Employees at some specialty firms have been exposed to […]
Read More“Construction Companies Lobby to Keep Working as Coronavirus Spreads, “ Wall Street Journal
As state and local governments shut down or grind to a halt with the spread of the coronavirus, the construction industry is pushing to keep projects up and running. The industry employs 7.6 million Americans, or 5% of the workforce. Some states have deemed construction workers as non-essential or have ordered building sites to close, […]
Read More“Continuity and Closures: How Community Associations Are Addressing COVID-19,” Community Association Institute
Ensuring continuity of operations and residents’ safety has become top of mind for community association board members, managers, and business partners as the COVID-19 outbreak begins to impact more and more of the U.S. Donna DiMaggio Berger, a shareholder with Becker in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a fellow in CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers […]
Read More“Limiting Person-To-Person Contact to Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in HOAs,” HOAresources
With an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, states and communities are taking action to slow its spread from person to person by minimizing close or frequent interactions. Social distancing includes cancelling public gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and conferences, limiting or shutting down public transportation, closing schools, adjusting business operations, and encouraging people to […]
Read More“6 Ways the Coronavirus Outbreak Will Affect Construction,” Construction Dive
When it comes to how U.S. contractors should react to the negative effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, Steve Lesser, chair of Becker’s construction law practice recommends a “wait and see” approach. Instead of rushing, Lesser suggests slowing down since the fallout from the effects of COVID-19 may be unpredictable. “The smart money rests on […]
Read More“In the Crosshairs: Can — and Should — Your Clients Regulate Firearm Possession?,” Community Association Management Insider
The issue of gun violence has become increasingly common in news headlines across the country, and in turn, has become a hot button topic of debate within community associations. Shareholder Jay Roberts discusses the options community associations have in dealing with this issue with Community Association Management Inside. Jay notes that while Florida has no […]
Read More“Q&A Interview with Lee Weintraub,” ActionLine
Q: Lee, how long have you been the chair of the Public-Private Partnership (P3) group at Becker? A: I have practiced in the Fort Lauderdale office of Becker since 1999, where I am the Vice-Chair of the Construction Law and Litigation Practice Group and Chair of the Public/Private Partnerships Practice Group. Since 2013, the year […]
Read More“How I Made Partner: Becker & Poliakoff’s Jie Chengying Xiu,” Law.com
Jie Chengying Xiu, 43, Becker & Poliakoff Office: New York. Practice area: Capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate. Law school and year of graduation: Seton Hall Law School, 2004. How long have you been at the firm? Four years. Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? I was counsel at […]
Read MoreOmar Franco and Bert Gómez Named to The Hill’s List of 2019 Top Lobbyists
We are pleased to announce Omar Franco and Bert Gómez’s inclusion in The Hill’s list of 2019 Top Lobbyists as “Hired Guns.” Those recognized are at the top of their game in the influence industry, representing and delivering results for some of the nation’s largest companies and associations. Omar Franco serves as Managing Director and […]
Read More“Uber, Lyft No-Show Sparks House Panel Talk Of New Regs” – Law360
Uber and Lyft skipped out on a hearing this week before a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee panel, which has resulted in heightened scrutiny over the ride-hailing industry’s regulatory oversight. Business Litigation Shareholder Mark Stempler, who previously represented a Broward taxicab company in a regulatory dispute with Uber, commented on the issue: “There’s no one […]
Read More“Associations Confront the Continuing Challenge of Short-Term Rentals,” Community Association Management Insider
Short-term rentals are this season’s hot topic. Many communities are wondering what they can do to overcome the challenge of having things like Airbnbs pop up in their neighborhood. There are ways that homeowners associations can impose regulations and restrictions on short-term rentals, without legislation having to pass. “A majority of my associations have leasing […]
Read More“Debtor Must Release Privileged Carlton Fields Attorney-Client Communications, Judge Rules” – Daily Business Review
Becker shareholder Jon Polenberg represents creditor-trustee, Daniel J. Stermer in a suit filed in Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida alleging that ATIF’s 2015 asset transfer to Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, one of the largest title insurance groups in the U.S., was fraudulent. Mr. Polenberg argued that ATIF attempted to avoid […]
Read More“Personnel Note: Alejandro Alamo, Former Aide to Jeanette Núñez, Joins Becker” – Florida Politics
Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists and other professionals at offices across the East Coast, today announced that Alejandro Alamo has joined the firm as a Government Relations Consultant in its Government Law and Lobbying practice. He was a Legislative Assistant to then-state Rep. Jeanette M. Núñez, now the state’s Lieutenant Governor. “I’m thrilled to be joining Becker […]
Read More“Developing Practice Group Chairs into Leaders Lawyers Actually Want to Follow,” NALP
Practice Group Leaders (PGL) are a big part of determining whether or not a firm will ultimately find success. PGLs that have certain characteristics tend to be better and more focused leaders. In a recent article published in The National Association for Law Placement, Becker’s Managing Shareholder Gary Rosen shared his insight as to what […]
Read More“Miami Developers: All This Socialist Talk Is Really Bugging Us,” Bisnow
Real Estate professionals in Miami are generally worried about macroeconomic forces that have more to do with policy than anything else. More specifically, all the talk of socialism has some Miami Real Estate influencers concerned. At a recent panel at Bisnow’s South Florida State of the Market event, many members of the discussion divulged that it […]
Read More“Is It Kosher for My Condo to Go Kosher?” The New York Times
A hotly debated topic within the world of community associations is whether or not condominiums should be accommodating towards certain religions. The New York Times recently tackled this issue in their article, “Is It Kosher for My Condo to Go Kosher?” The article questions whether or not a board can impose customs that support the […]
Read More“NJ Broker Found Guilty of Insider Trading,” ThinkAdvisor
Shareholder Robert Rabinowitz spoke to ThinkAdvisor regarding The Securities and Exchange Commission winning a jury trial in U.S. District Court, Atlanta against Raymond Pirello Jr. He was found guilty on all five SEC claims, last serving as a FINRA-registered broker for Garden State Securities in Red Bank, New Jersey. When asked if the firm Garden […]
Read More“Ellyn Bogdanoff Named to Human Trafficking Panel’s DSO,” Florida Politics
Ellyn Bogdanoff, a former state lawmaker, has been named to the board of directors of the direct-support organization (DSO) for the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. Senate President Bill Galvano appointed her last week, according to a news advisory from the Becker firm, where she is a shareholder. Her term of office runs through July 1, 2021. DSOs are nonprofits that […]
Read More“Fla. Defamation Suit Shield Doesn’t Extend To Books, Movies” – Law360
Jon Polenberg, Yasin Daneshfar, and Andrew Polenberg represented Francisco Javier Ospina Baraya, the grandson of a former Colombian president, in a defamation suit that went up against publishing powerhouses Penguin Random House and Little, Brown and Company, among others. The ruling, in favor of the client, sets a precedent for defamation law in Florida. The appeals […]
Read More“Q&As With DBR’s 2019 On the Rise Honorees,” Daily Business Review
Business Litigation Shareholder Evan Berger is a 2019 Daily Business Review “On the Rise” honoree. The awards recognize attorneys for outstanding work early in their careers. Evan discusses what drew him to a legal career, his favorite mentor, and where he fits on a 1-10 work-life balance scale among other topics. Click here to read […]
Read More“Behind Closed Doors – Executive Session Explained,” AssociationHelpNow
Everyone who lives in a condominium or homeowner association knows that board meetings are no picnic. They can be confusing, loud and even get a little heated. However, some people may not know that the board also meets privately in executive session. Although this may seem secretive, it is necessary to keep the board, and […]
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