New York Cooperative and Condominium

Home Practices Condo, Co-Op & HOA New York Cooperative and Condominium

Overview

Becker’s New York Condo & Coop Practice Group has established a strong reputation in the field, recognized by managing agents and attorneys both within and outside the condo/coop bar as the ‘go-to’ lawyers for handling serious and complex legal and especially litigation issues —many of which can take years to resolve. In a word, the group routinely and often deals with crises and emergencies requiring an integrated response, always working with boards, agents, and the larger community.

As both general and litigation counsel for condominiums and cooperatives, our team has handled the gamut of legal matters, including reviewing and advising on agreements and issues and governing documents and relevant regulations, addressing complex construction, engineering, and architectural disputes, managing proxy fights on behalf of both Boards and insurgents, cases involving objectionable conduct issues, financial disputes with third parties and shareholders, and discrimination claims brought by federal, state, and city agencies. Our work extends to representing clients in matters involving governmental agencies, and we lecture at seminars on condominium and cooperative issues.

Our practice group serves properties in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all other NYC boroughs, as well as NYC suburbs. Our team represents all types and sizes of properties, including small, medium, and large buildings, whether they are older construction, luxury developments, or otherwise.

Collections & Foreclosure

Becker’s community association attorneys have specialized experience crafting comprehensive collections strategies for associations, including collection and foreclosure actions, representation in mortgage foreclosure actions, surplus funds recovery and receiverships. Becker attorneys are experienced with FDCPA compliance, lien foreclosures, deeds in lieu of foreclosure and judgment recovery. Becker attorneys advise community association clients regarding the legal issues implicated in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters. Learn More.

Community Association Litigation & Covenant Enforcement

Becker’s Community Association Litigation Practice is dedicated to providing strategic, innovative, and aggressive representation for our clients in all litigation matters. Becker’s reputation as a pioneer and leader in Community Association law is well-known throughout the legal community. Judges, arbitrators, and other attorneys are aware that Becker clients not only have the benefit of decades of experience but also, the largest team of dedicated community association lawyers to represent clients. With over 4,000 Community Association clients, there is almost no issue Becker’s attorneys have not dealt with before. Learn More.

Corporate Representation

Becker is most well-known for its reputation in the area of community association law, representing condominiums, cooperatives and homeowner associations. Becker has been a pioneer and industry leader in this field since 1973. Becker attorneys in this practice group cover the entire spectrum of legal counseling of community associations. Each Becker attorney plays an integral part of their association’s professional team, assisting the Board and management prepare for and conduct meetings; answering questions about the governing documents and the pertinent law; enforcing and drafting amendment to the governing documents and; drafting and negotiating contracts for provision of services. Learn More.

Disaster Recovery

Becker’s Disaster Recovery Practice Group assists clients with all aspects of catastrophic incidents that may befall a condominium association or any shared ownership community, including hurricanes, windstorms, tornadoes, fires, floods, lightning strikes, mold, pipe breaks, major leaks, sinkholes, etc. Becker attorneys have handled thousands of claims issues, including dozens of hurricanes in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Our team approach provides a comprehensive set of services for all pre- and post-disaster needs in conjunction with our firm’s esteemed Community Association Practice Group and Construction Law & Litigation Practice Group, which includes board certified construction law experts, specific structural engineering experts, electrical/corrosion engineering experts, general contractor experts, estimators, adjusters, plumbing and other specific experts that know how to find damage and process claims. They are experts in what they do and our substantial experience tells us that to maximize recovery, you are best served by using a team that brings a wealth of experts to your rescue. Learn More.

Local Government

Community associations often have issues with local and state government agencies; for example, changes to ingress/egress at the community, local zoning changes to accommodate businesses in the area that adversely impact the association, or a sound or traffic nuisance created by new road, new development or changing traffic pattern. Becker’s local government team of lawyers and lobbyists represents associations before the governmental entity to ensure the community’s rights are protected and the property value preserved. Learn More.

Premises Liability

Becker’s attorneys have extensive experience handling various types of liability matters from pre-suit investigation and negotiations through trial. We aggressively represent our community association clients with liability or casualty claims. Learn More.

Property Insurance Claims

After your property is damaged by a hurricane or other disaster, you naturally expect your insurance company to quickly investigate your claim and fairly pay your loss. Unfortunately, many policy holders have learned that insurance companies often undervalue, delay, or deny payment. We have represented policy holders in a wide range of insurance disputes including coverage disputes and bad faith claims. Becker attorneys have significant experience assisting Florida property owners in their fight with their insurance carrier and have successfully resolved hundreds of claims totaling millions of dollars. Learn More.

Technology & Telecommunications

Becker’s technology attorneys work closely with communities to negotiate the terms and conditions of bulk cable, internet and video communications contracts, as well as cell tower and roof tower leases, and the restructuring of cell tower agreements. As technology changes, Becker also assists communities with upgrades including contractions for the wiring of “smart buildings”, security systems, and fiber optic and satellite. Learn More.

Trademarking & Logo Creation

Having your community’s name associated with a certain quality of lifestyle goes a long way towards promoting your real property values and keeping you competitive in the real estate marketplace. Trademarking your community’s name (and logo) can also serve two important functions: (a) you can prevent bad actors from using your community’s name and/or logo to create confusion or mischief online and in print and (b) you can license your community’s trademark to valued local businesses and entities as a means to supplement your association’s revenues. If your community association has taken the time to thoughtfully create a memorable brand, it only makes sense to protect that investment. If you’ve never thought about the need to brand and protect your community’s name, perhaps now is the time to consider doing so. Becker will guide you through the process of registering your association’s name and logo and can also design a logo for you in the event your association doesn’t already have one. Learn More.