Brian specializes in land use, zoning, environmental compliance, municipal, and real estate law, as well as municipal and commercial litigation and appeals and regulatory defense and enforcement. His practice focuses on representing real estate developers, small businesses, major corporations and property owners in the development of residential, commercial and industrial properties, and serving as general counsel and special counsel to numerous municipalities and zoning and planning boards.
Brian has worked on significant projects, including apartment buildings, office buildings, retail and drug stores, residential subdivisions, a 250-megawatt electric generating facility, zoning changes and site plan approvals. His skillset enables him to gain difficult-to-obtain approvals, including an apartment building project that required approvals from four different municipalities. As a real estate attorney, Brian drafts and negotiates leases, contracts and agreements affecting real property. He also defends clients in enforcement actions concerning state and local regulatory violations.
As counsel to local governments, Brian advises officials and staff on local government operations, procedures, administration and compliance with federal, state and local laws. He also guides municipal boards and departments, drafts land use and general regulatory legislation, and prosecutes and defends land use challenges, constitutional claims and all municipal and regulatory litigation.
Brian's 30 years of experience as an advisor to local governments and municipal boards uniquely positions him to understand the thinking processes and local government viewpoints when reviewing proposed development projects. Brian serves as Village Attorney in Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Neck, Sea Cliff and Woodsburgh, and has been serving as counsel to the Great Neck Estates and North Hills zoning boards. He previously held similar roles in the villages of Great Neck, Kings Point, Oyster Bay Cove, Port Washington North and Roslyn Estates. With this insider's perspective, Brian is able to anticipate potential issues and guide clients and projects on the right path. In doing so, he turns government "inaction" into government "in action."
Brian serves as an Advisory Board member for the Touro Law Center Institute on Land Use and Sustainable Development Law. He has taught continuing legal education courses and published several articles on land use law, planning law and the law of eminent domain. He also has lectured on land use and municipal law topics for the Nassau County Bar Association, Nassau County Planning Federation and the National Business Institute. He also serves as guest commentator in connection with land use and eminent domain issues.