Manage all legal issues for New Destiny Housing, a mission-driven non-profit supportive housing developer assisting domestic violence survivors remain safe, stably housed and financially secure and connecting survivors to safe affordable housing, including: providing legal advice and guidance to the board of directors, executive team and staff with respect to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law, contracting and all other operational and organizational matters, real estate finance and development, legislation, and litigation.

Lecturer, Department of City and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University

Provide support in matters handled by the Office of Legal Affairs

As the chief legal officer: (a) counseled Commissioner and senior staff regarding the planning and implementation of HPD’s programs, policies, and procedures; (b) provided legal advice with respect to complex operational and policy issues related to e.g., affordable housing financial transactions, real property acquisition and disposition, tax benefits, zoning incentives and requirements, federal subsidies, urban renewal, environmental and land use review, contracts, code enforcement, labor and employment, fair housing, conflicts of interest, and administrative procedures; (c) advised senior staff re compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws; (d) served as HPD’s chief liaison to the City’s Corporation Counsel, advising and assisting with respect to litigation and compliance with law; (e) served as chief liaison to the legal offices of the mayoral agencies, HDC, EDC, and other local, state, and federal governmental bodies; (f) drafted and reviewed complex legal documents, legislation and regulation; (g) advised the Commissioner and senior staff regarding proposed legislation and regulation; and (h) managed HPD’s Office of Legal Affairs, overseeing all operational matters, including the performance of approximately 60 attorneys and support staff.

Assist the Commissioner oversee all policies, programs, operations, legislative advocacy, and finances of the agency, with particular emphasis on overseeing all affordable housing financing policies and transactions. With an annual budget of approximately $350 million, and an approximately 50 person staff, the agency serves as the State’s lead for all housing and housing-related policy and programmatic matters and performs all statutory and regulatory functions in that area. The primary objectives of DOH are to dramatically increase the volume of affordable housing preservation and new construction and reduce and end homelessness.

Advise teams comprising in-house project managers, planners and executive management and City Hall staff members regarding the structure and terms of economic development projects and exempt organization issues. Negotiate transactions, including public/private real estate development projects, freight rail operations, brownfield redevelopment and tax exempt bond financing for commercial and mixed-use projects.

Development and Leasing and Construction groups: represented corporate and individual clients in a wide range of real estate transactions (e.g. sales and acquisitions, leases, and development agreements). Published 2005 Connecticut Real Property Law Developments, 80 Connecticut Bar Journal 39-80 (2006).

Represented non-profit, corporate and individual clients in real estate financings (including financing affordable housing development and charter school construction, credit enhanced bond financings, mezzanine debt and loan syndications), conveyances, commercial leasing and construction contracts.

Staff Attorney: Co-launched new practice group to assist small businesses, housing co-operatives and non-profit organizations in Upper Manhattan. Represented clients in a wide range of matters, including corporate governance, leasing, small business lending, commercial contracts, bankruptcy, exempt organizations, employment law, trademark, tax and commercial landlord-tenant litigation. Assisted clients to lobby public officials. Conducted outreach and legal information workshops for community members. Supervised private attorneys providing pro bono counsel. Funded through two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship.