August 17, 2023

Press Release

Nine Tarter Krinsky & Drogin Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Four Attorneys Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

NEW YORK – August 17, 2023 – Nine  Tarter Krinsky & Drogin attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 edition of U.S. News – The Best Lawyers in America, which was released today, and four attorneys have been named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

The Tarter Krinsky & Drogin attorneys named New York Best Lawyers are:

The Tarter Krinsky & Drogin attorneys named New York Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are:

Mr. Freedman, who has been recognized in Best Lawyers for fifteen years, is a partner in the Firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice. He focuses his practice on elder law, counseling clients on the legal and financial issues facing the elderly. He is a founder of both the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys as well as the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law section.

Ms. Levine, who is chair of the Firm’s Business & Corporate Immigration Practice, counsels corporations and individual clients in nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issues, permanent residence processing for extraordinary foreign nationals, priority worker petitions for executives and managerial staff, PERM processing, and consular practice. With clients’ business goals in mind, Ms. Levine guides corporations in the creation of policies and programs applicable to the hiring of foreign national personnel, I-9 compliance, recordkeeping, and compliance programs developed in accordance with U.S. immigration and nationality law requirements. She is named in Best Lawyers for the fourth consecutive year.

Mr. Lutzky, who has been named in Best Lawyers for the fifth year, is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice. Mr. Lutzky focuses his practice on estate planning, estate administration, estate and trust taxation, and elder law and special needs planning. He represents clients in all aspects of trust and estates law, from protecting the assets of the middle class to preserving the wealth of high-net-worth individuals.

Mr. Pfeffer is recognized in Best Lawyers for the second consecutive year. As a partner and Chair of the Firm’s Construction Practice, he serves as a business partner to his clients – including real estate owners and developers, educational institutions, high-net-worth individuals, healthcare organizations, and cultural centers – and advises on all aspects of their construction, development, real estate, and business needs. He focuses his practice on project delivery strategies and the preparation and negotiation of design, construction, and related contracts for private and public real estate development projects.

Ms. Schess is recognized in Best Lawyers for the first time. As a partner in the Firm’s Labor and Employment Practice, focuses her practice on a broad range of workplace compliance issues representing management. She advises them on how to develop and implement compliance processes to meet legal and regulatory requirements in tandem with their own company cultures. She counsels on the full range of workplace issues from discrimination and harassment, leave management, and workplace investigations to wage and hour compliance, employee contracts, severance agreements, and restrictive covenants.

Mr. Scuderi is recognized in Best Lawyers for the first time. Vice Chair of the Construction Practice, he represents owners, developers, non-profit entities, schools, architects, engineers, general contractors, and construction managers through every phase of the design and construction process, from negotiating construction agreements to handling complex disputes. He has created a niche role in the New York construction industry in relation to neighboring construction and adjacent access, becoming a leader in maneuvering negotiations to allow his clients’ projects to move forward efficiently.

Mr. Steer, named in Best Lawyers for the tenth year, is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice. He advises and defends employers, including insurance policyholders, in litigation involving employment discrimination, wage & hour, housing discrimination, and investigations. He provides tailored risk management programs for his clients that address workplace compliance as well as significant developments in the law. 

Mr. Tarter is the managing partner of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin and recognized in Best Lawyers in Real Estate Law for the tenth year. As Managing Partner, he has been instrumental in the Firm’s success, growth, and expansion, spearheading the personal and professional development of its employees. Representing clients from owners and developers to financial institutions and professional services firms, Mr. Tarter handles a wide range of corporate and real estate matters including office, retail, and industrial leasing, real estate financing, and commercial contracts.

Mr. Weisner, partner and chair of the Real Estate Practice, counsels owners, investors, developers, lenders, landlords, and tenants on a variety of commercial real estate matters. He regularly handles real estate transactions such as sales and purchases, partnerships and joint ventures, and financings. In addition, he guides clients on leasing, including office, retail, and industrial properties and includes triple net and ground leases, subleases, amendments, and brokerage agreements. He is recognized in Best Lawyers for the fifth consecutive year.

Mr. De La Torre, an associate in the Firm’s Construction Practice, is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for the fourth time. He represents clients in all stages of construction litigation, including drafting pleadings, arguing motions and appeals, conducting depositions, and preparing for mediation, arbitration, and trial. Leveraging his commercial litigation background, he guides clients and litigates on a wide range of project agreements.

Ms. Galante, who was recently promoted to counsel in the Firm’s Italy and International Practices, as well as the Retail and Corporate, Securities, and M&A Practices, is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for the first time. She focuses her practice on Italian companies and their U.S. subsidiaries interested in doing business or expanding their operations in the U.S. Leveraging her previous experience working with some of the world’s leading brands, she often acts as outside general counsel and guides clients on a broad range of matters related to their business and commercial transactions.

Ms. Johnson is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for the first time. She is an associate in the Firm’s Construction Practice, where she focuses on transactional drafting for construction projects and serves as a mediator for the New York City School Construction Authority, resolving contract disputes involving a variety of construction claims. Representing architects, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, property owners, and real estate developers, she guides clients on all aspects of project development and operations in the construction sector.

Ms. Lazzaro is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for the first time. Recently promoted to counsel in the Firm’s Litigation Practice, she handles complex and sensitive business disputes on behalf of clients in the financial, real estate, retail, intellectual property, and employment sectors. She is actively involved in all stages of litigation, from initial case analysis and strategy through trial and appeals, and also handles both mediations and arbitrations. Ms. Lazzaro’s practice includes guiding clients on contract, joint venture, and condominium/cooperative disputes, defamation cases, employment claims, fraud and business torts, and intellectual property rights.

About Tarter Krinsky & Drogin: Celebrating 22 years of legal service, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin is a bicoastal midsize law firm that focuses on effectively and efficiently representing companies of all sizes. With our clients’ business objectives and concerns top of mind, we focus on what matters – understanding what our clients need in order to succeed, partnering with them to achieve their goals, offering holistic and practical legal advice, and devising creative strategies to complex disputes. Purposefully designed to integrate seamlessly with any client’s business team, we are a vibrant, multidisciplinary law firm dedicated to smart thinking and strong client relationships. Learn more at http://www.tarterkrinsky.com.