Litigation

• Representing private developers in administrative proceedings and in federal and New York state trial and appellate courts in connection with environmental and land use disputes, including Article 78 proceedings and challenges under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
• Counseling in all types of contract disputes, including prosecution and defense of indemnification claims, mechanic’s liens and bond claims for a large cross-section of public and private sector clients as well as surety matters, including default terminations, construction claims, contract bond defaults, bad faith claims and performance and payment bond disputes
• Representing landlords and tenants with respect to disputes involving lease transactions
• Representing land owners in condemnation/eminent domain proceedings

Project Representation

• Counseling developers in permitting, and zoning and land use planning, including variances, site plans, subdivisions, planned unit development, rezoning, special use permits, and compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Representing clients in all aspects of acquisitions, dispositions and development of property including assisting in financing and refinancing through structuring and negotiating transactions such as securities offerings, venture capital, mezzanine financing, bond financings and conventional institution financings including construction loan financing transactions
• Acting as general counsel to assist developers in meeting corporate and business law needs, including contract development and review, proprietary rights, antitrust matters as well as guidance on tax planning
• Acting as special counsel to municipalities in tandem with developers
• Providing environmental due diligence and remediation planning to meet compliance with local, state and federal regulations for development, as well as redevelopment opportunities under the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program
• Representing owners, contractors, design professionals and sureties to minimize the impact of construction project disputes
• Preparing and filing condominium offering plans for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments and assisting in the formation of homeowner associations for single family, patio home and townhome associations
• Counseling developers in structuring and negotiating lease transactions, including ground leases, turnkey leases, build-to-suit leases, tenant improvement allowance leases, subleases, office leases, warehouse and industrial leases, manufacturing facility leases and retail leases
• Advising on Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises ( MWBE) compliance requirements

Public Finance and Economic Development Incentives

• Assisting in identifying and applying for local, state and federal economic development incentives, including the Excelsior Program, Rehabilitation Tax Credit, New Markets Tax Credit, New York State Energy Research and Empire State Development programs such as the Development Authority and Power Authority programs
• Representing developers, Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) and Local Development Corporations (LDCs) in connection with financial assistance in the form of sales tax, mortgage recording tax and real property tax incentives
• Counseling buyers on brownfield redevelopment requirements and aiding in securing of funding sources and structuring sale or acquisition transactions for maximum program benefits

Navigating SEQRA Matters for Energy Development Projects

Non-Legal Consulting Services

HB Cornerstone is a full-service owner representation consulting firm that helps organizations with real property development and management. Services include owner representation, planning and design, facilities consulting and move management. HB Cornerstone takes responsibility for project communications, coordination, scheduling, budgets and overall project management.

HB Solutions assists developers in managing the multi-dimensional aspects of major economic development initiatives such as mall developments and expansions. Services include designing solutions to challenging community relations issues, helping to keep projects on schedule and within budget.