x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos

Legal Talk by Habitat Magazine

Co-op and condo board directors face a myriad of challenges they are not equipped to solve, and taking action can be a fraught experience. In this series, Habitat Magazine editors interview New York"s leading co-op/condo attorneys for guidance on these challenges. Habitat, a New York City publication founded in 1982, is edited for co-op and condo board directors, property managers, and other professionals.

business non-profit

All Episodes

14:03

David vs. Developer: Protecting Your Property Rights

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/04/17

Send us a text In the era of Local Law 11 work, the access agreement has become so mundane that it usually doesn’t cause controversy. That isn’t true, though, for buildings facing a developer who wants to build a new building next door. Mark Hankin, partner at the law firm Hankin & Mazel, warns of proposed legislative changes that would favor developers by forcing buildings to accept permanent underpinning without fair compensation and potentially eliminating legal fee reimbursement for a...

en

16:20

The Eviction Playbook: How Boards Can Legally Handle...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text Intolerable behavior is everyone’s nightmare, and solving the problem first falls in the lap of a co-op or condo board. Often this is tossed to the building’s attorney or managing agent because the solution is painful, relentless and full of legal potholes. In this interview Justin Buchel, partner at Schneider Buchel, tackles what happens when objectionable conduct is addressed head on. From documenting evidence and issuing formal notices to conducting proper hearings and poten...

en

13:00

When Accessibility Meets Complexity

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/03/24

Send us a text When a resident asks for an accommodation, the response may not be so straightforward. Your co-op or condo board will need to approach each request thoughtfully, legally and compassionately. Daniel Finger, partner at the law firm Finger and Finger, offers crucial insights into determining what's "reasonable," avoiding potential discrimination complaints, and balancing the needs of all residents. His conversation with Habitat's Emily Myers covers everything from elevator i...

en

9:39

The Secret Weapon Against Difficult Sponsors

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/03/17

Send us a text Think your co-op board is powerless against holders of unsold shares? Think again. When sponsors dismiss safety concerns by claiming special privileges, boards actually have significant legal leverage. In this episode, Bruce Cholst, partner at the law firm Herrick Feinstein, reveals how to use the "covenant of good faith and fair dealing" doctrine that can protect your building even when sponsors are technically exempt from rules. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview. Th...

en

18:43

Don't Get Sued Over Pet Policies

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/03/10

Send us a text Are you prepared when a resident claims their parakeet is an emotional support animal? Co-op and condo board members can't afford to mishandle service animal accommodation requests — one wrong move could trigger costly discrimination lawsuits and fines. In this episode, Maria Boboris, a partner at Boyd Richards Parker Colonnelli, clarifies the crucial distinctions between service animals and emotional support animals in NYC. Learn exactly when you can request documentatio...

en

12:57

Injunctions: A Powerful Tool for Co-op and Condo Boards

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/03/04

Send us a text David Berkey, partner at Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, joins Paula Chin of Habitat Magazine to discuss how co-op and condo boards can use injunctions to enforce rules and maintain community standards. Learn about the legal mechanisms boards can employ when default notices and fines fail, including compelling tenants to address issues like hoarding or dangerous behavior, and preventing unauthorized activities that threaten building safety and community harmony. The business of ru...

en

12:41

Is Your Indemnification Clause Protecting You?

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/02/27

Send us a text Carol Ott of Habitat Magazine discusses board member liability with Leni Morrison Cummins, partner at Cozen O'Connor. Cummins explains that volunteer board members face real liability risks and need proper protection through well-drafted indemnification clauses. She highlights common pitfalls in these clauses, including insufficient coverage for tort claims and pre-litigation proceedings. Cummins advises board members to review their indemnification language with counsel, ensur...

en

12:41

Serving on Your Board? The Liability Trap No One...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/02/26

Send us a text Volunteering for your building's board seems like a great way to serve your community—until you realize you might be personally liable for the board's decisions. Often overlooked are indemnification clauses, says Leni Morrison Cummins, Member, Cozen O'Connor. This protection isn’t guaranteed and there are surprising "pitfalls" of indemnification clauses that leave board members vulnerable, particularly in condominiums where protection isn't built into law as it is (partially) f...

en

11:10

Understanding Co-op and Condo Bylaws

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/02/17

Send us a text Emily Myers of Habitat Magazine discusses bylaw governance with Carl Finger, principal at the law firm Finger and Finger. Finger outlines how bylaws serve as a corporate operations roadmap and explains the risks of improper adherence, from minor scheduling issues to major legal challenges. He highlights the business judgment rule's protection of board decisions—when bylaws are followed—and shares insights from the Cohan v. Board of Directors case. Finger advises boards to stay ...

en

20:30

Defects After Move-In: How Boards Can Hold Sponsors...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/02/10

Send us a text In this informative Legal Talk episode, attorney Michael Savino of Braverman Greenspun shares with Habitat's Paula Chin essential guidance for co-op and condo board directors dealing with construction defects in new buildings. The conversation provides a clear roadmap for boards to protect their interests when issues arise after a sponsor hands over control. Savino explains that while minor problems can often be addressed through punch lists, major defects—particularly in buil...

en

17:58

The $300,000 Mistake: How Boards Can Avoid a...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/02/03

Send us a text Navigating building violations can be tricky for co-op and condo boards, especially when it comes to determining responsibility for corrections. In this enlightening discussion with attorney Brandon James of Borah Goldstein, board directors will learn crucial guidelines for managing violations effectively and avoiding costly mistakes. Habitat's Paula Chin conducts the interview. James breaks down the fundamental "rule of thumb" - unit owners and shareholders are typicall...

en

14:31

When Time Runs Out: Protecting Your Building's Legal...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/01/27

Send us a textIn this episode of Legal Talk, Jennifer Stewart, a partner at the law firm Smith Buss and Jacobs, explains to Habitat's Emily Myers how critical the importance of understanding statutes of limitations for co-op and condo board directors is. The discussion reveals how timing can make or break a board's ability to pursue legal claims or defend against them.Stewart emphasizes that proactive planning and early legal consultation are essential for protecting a building's interests. T...

en

16:23

Beyond "No": The Smart Board's Guide to Handling...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/01/20

Send us a textTracy Peterson, a partner at the law firm Braverman Greenspun, joins Habitat's Paula Chin for an essential discussion on how co-op and condo boards should handle resident requests for information and documents about fellow residents. Peterson draws from her extensive experience to explain when boards must share information, what they can protect, and how to avoid unnecessary litigation.Board directors will gain practical insights into:* The broad rights shareholders and unit own...

en

13:35

Hidden Traps in Pet Policies: A Warning to Boards

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/01/13

Send us a textEnforcing pet policies in co-ops and condos can feel like walking through a legal minefield. From tight enforcement deadlines to complex accommodations for service and emotional support animals, board directors face high-stakes decisions that could lead to costly litigation if mishandled.Attorney Kenneth Finger, a member of the law firm Finger & Finger, offers board directors essential insights into navigating the complex intersection of pet policies and legal requirements i...

en

13:48

When Good Neighbors Go Bad: A Board Director's Guide...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2025/01/07

Send us a textLiving in close quarters with neighbors who blast music at 3 AM, cook pungent meals, or hoard items can turn apartment living into a nightmare. But when do everyday annoyances cross the line into legal nuisances, and how should co-op and condo boards respond? Stewart Wurtzel, member of Tane Waterman and Wurtzel, offers practical guidance on investigating complaints, understanding legal standards, and protecting both resident rights and building harmony – before matters escalate ...

en

16:07

Squawking Their Way to Federal Court: The $800K...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2024/12/30

Send us a textMishandling anything to do with emotional support pets can have huge financial consequences. The Rutherford, a New York City co-op, recently learned that the hard way when a resident's noisy emotional support birds caused neighbor complaints. The board acted improperly and Attorney William McCracken, partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff, breaks down what happened, how the board could have avoided this costly mistake, and the lessons to be learned. Habitat's Carol Ott condu...

en

15:31

When Grandma Wants to Add Junior: Navigating Co-op...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2024/12/19

Send us a textOne would think it would be easy to add a family member to a co-op stock certificate, but you can’t "just add a name." For boards, it requires careful consideration of multiple factors, including transfer taxes, flip tax implications, and the financial viability of new shareholders. Matthew Goldberg, partner at Hankin & Mazel, explains how boards should evaluate cases where incoming family members lack strong finances, such as recent graduates being added to elderly relative...

en

13:04

Yellowstone Injunctions: The Legal Power Move Your...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2024/12/03

Send us a textWhen a commercial tenant becomes problematic — whether falling behind in rent, not performing repairs or some other infraction of their lease — co-op and condo boards need to act. In this episode Moshe Bobker, partner at Tane Waterman & Wurtzel, explains what the Yellowstone Injunction is and how this critical legal tool can both protect and challenge commercial tenants in NYC buildings. Learn how this Supreme Court proceeding works, when it applies, and most importantly, ho...

en

13:25

Personal Liability While Serving On Your Board

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2024/10/28

Serving on your co-op or condo board can be a terrific experience, but it can turn into a personal nightmare if you or your board acts improperly. There are many legal protections, however, and Geoffrey Mazel, partner at Hankin & Mazel, provides an overview of what they are and the precautions you need to take. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.Key Takeaways for Board Directors:1. Basic Protections· Board members are protected through mult...

en

7:16

When Are Board Decisions Protected And Why Should You...

Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos ·

2023/06/21

en

51 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...