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Most co-op and condo boards are operating with bylaws that haven't been touched since the Nixon administration. Dean Roberts, senior partner at Norris McLaughlin, reveals how outdated bylaws create real legal vulnerabilities for boards, from impossible quorum requirements that can lead to an entire board being ousted, to missing provisions for dealing with disruptive directors. In this episode, Roberts explains why many buildings are particularly vulnerable right now, what warning signs boards miss, and the specific provisions that could prevent disaster. The takeaway? Small preventive steps today can save buildings from dramatic upheaval tomorrow. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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The Dakota, a historic co-op on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, won their case — spending $2.4 million in legal fees defending themselves against a shareholder’s charge of discrimination. And then the court said they couldn’t collect a dime in legal fees.

William McCracken, partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff, walks through this head-spinning case, explaining how a seemingly minor amendment to the building's proprietary lease unraveled everything. McCracken reveals which buildings might face the same problem and what boards should be asking their attorneys right now. It's a cautionary tale about the hidden risks lurking in legal documents that seemed perfectly fine for decades. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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Co-op and condo boards often move too quickly when hiring contractors, which can lead to problems later on. Contractor-written proposals can lack board protections like indemnification and the ability to recover attorney's fees. Signing these inadequate contracts can leave a board trapped with a contractor doing subpar work — or just not showing up. In this episode, J. David Eldridge, partner at Taylor Eldridge & Endres, walks through how this can happen, and what it could cost your building to escape. He reveals the warning signs boards miss and why even routine renewals deserve careful scrutiny. If you've ever wondered whether spending money on legal review is worth it, Eldridge’s real-world examples make the case crystal clear. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

Send us a text

A condo board let an arrears situation drag on for years, convinced they had no chance of recovering delinquent common charges against an owner with massive tax and mortgage debts. They were wrong. Eric Goldberg, partner at Kahn & Goldberg, reveals how a stroke of luck involving a 60-day window between the board and the IRS filing liens completely changed their outcome. Goldberg shares the details. Condo foreclosures are high-stakes — and timing can mean the difference between recovering everything and losing it all. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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When buildings need to place scaffolding on a neighbor's roof or temporarily close off a courtyard, some owners see dollar signs, while others face project-killing delays. As a result, the space between New York City buildings has become a surprisingly lucrative battleground. Dani Schwartz, partner at Offit Kurman, explains why neighboring access disputes have exploded over the past 15 years, and reveals the high-stakes negotiations happening right above your head. Schwartz walks through the delicate process of these negotiations, from the initial letter that can make or break a relationship to the courtroom showdowns that follow when talks collapse. With real examples ranging from modest rooftop access to a swimming pool standoff, this conversation exposes the hidden tensions built into New York's densely packed real estate and the creative strategies that sometimes prevent all-out war. Habitat's Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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That dry cleaner or restaurant on your building's ground floor might seem like a simple revenue stream, but the dynamics behind managing commercial tenants are surprisingly complex. Christopher Tumulty, partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, explains the different challenges commercial tenants bring depending whether they are in a co-op or condo, and what board directors should understand about their power in each circumstance. For co-ops, in particular, boards need to be an active manager of the commercial tenant while condo boards, spared that task, must remain vigilant. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

Send us a text

A $30,000 water leak becomes a $300,000 nightmare — all because a board waited too long to act. Ian Brandt, partner at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, exposes the surprising traps that leave buildings with massive repair bills when disaster strikes. He reveals why insurance companies are denying claims that used to be automatic approvals, including one jaw-dropping case involving nothing more than an overflowing sink. Brandt shares real cases where boards made costly mistakes that could have been avoided and explains how a legal principle most people have never heard of creates unexpected liability. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

Send us a text

When a co-op or condo loses a commercial tenant, a cash crunch often follows. Finding a new tenant is just the beginning — the real challenge is structuring a lease that protects the building’s finances and residents. Mark Axinn, partner at Phillips Nizer, explains how to think like a professional landlord while recognizing your unique constraints. Key elements are managing rent concessions, handling broker commissions, and funding upfront renovation costs when building reserves are low. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!