Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its New York Real Estate & Finance Law Practice Group and the firm’s Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law Industry Group, spoke at the monthly virtual meeting of the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York (CCC) on Saturday, April 10.

“Each month, I enjoy the conversation had with these cooperative board members. I am glad to be a part of and help this group of New York’s professionals in continuing their legal education to make their residents’ lives the best they can be,” said Roberts.

About the Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York

The CCC, composed of housing cooperatives ranging from seventy to thousands of units, aims to serve as a sounding board for circulating ideas and experiences that may apply to other cooperatives and to implement joint programs for economic and political achievement.

At the meeting, Roberts addressed general information regarding Housing Court, accumulated arrears, landlord-tenant matters, marijuana laws, and nuisance issues. Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions about their specific cooperatives. Additionally, a representative of Get Women Cycling joined the meeting to discuss the services, education, and support they offer for safe street passage and the changing landscape of daily commuting in New York City. To view the recording, please click here, or for more information, visit cccofgny.coop.

About Dean Roberts

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums. He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership, from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors. Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement. In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News, Real Estate & Finance | Tags: Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, real estate & finance

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its New York Real Estate & Finance Law Practice Group and the firm’s Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law Industry Group, presented “Estates and Trusts Presentation for Co-op Shareholders” to the Morningside Heights Housing Corporation for the third year in a row on December 11. Due to the pandemic, however, this year’s presentation was virtual.

“It is so important, especially for shareholders, to put all your wishes and desires in a trust form to avoid a long-contested probate, so that your appointed trustee can take care of business right away, benefiting everyone involved,” said Roberts, who serves as Counsel to the Morningside Heights Housing Corporation.

About the Estates and Trusts Presentation for Co-op Shareholders

In the presentation, Roberts explained how estates are handled in New York State and what shareholders can do to protect their assets and make the process as simple as possible for themselves and their family members. Also discussed were the various forms and uses of trusts that are now available to shareholders at Morningside Gardens. Participants were able to submit questions before, during, and after the presentation, which Roberts would answer to be circulated later through a follow-up document. To view a recording of the virtual presentation, please click here.

About Dean Roberts

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums. He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership, from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors. Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement. In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, Estate Planning & Administration, News, Real Estate & Finance | Tags: Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, Estate Planning & Administration, real estate & finance

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its New York Real Estate & Finance Law Practice Group and of the firm’s Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law Industry Group, spoke at the first virtual meeting of the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York (CCC) on Saturday, September 12.

“It is important for condo and co-op boards to consider how to address the issues of enforcing maintenance obligations with limitations created by the COVID-19-related orders, while the current status of the Housing Court and how that affects shareholders’ abilities is confusing and so fluid during these trying times,” said Roberts.

About the Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York

The CCC, composed of housing cooperatives ranging from seventy to thousands of units, aims to serve as a sounding board for circulating ideas and experiences that may apply to other cooperatives and to implement joint programs for economic and political achievement.

At the meeting, Roberts addressed many topics that have come up due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as wearing masks, holding virtual meetings, opening gyms, and what the court system is and is not doing on arrears issues. He set liability and legal procedure expectations for condo and co-op boards and discussed how Norris McLaughlin has been operating remotely and what resources the firm offers during these unprecedented times. The next meeting, also virtual, will be on Saturday, October 17. For more information, visit cccofgny.coop.

About Dean Roberts

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums. He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership, from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors. Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement. In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News, Real Estate & Finance | Tags: Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, real estate & finance

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its New York Real Estate & Finance Law Practice Group, presented the webinar, “Voting, Meeting Remotely & Bridging the Tech Divide in Co-ops, Condos & HOAs,” sponsored by Honest Ballot on May 27 to over 500 participants for The Cooperator.

“COVID-19 has raised many questions about how condo and co-op boards are able to conduct business as well as how residents can continue to participate in their communities’ governance while still social distancing. It’s been a confusing and difficult road, but we are finally getting to a point where there may be some answers,” said Roberts.

Co-ops, Condos, and HOAs Voting and Meeting Remotely

Roberts addressed the primary concerns boards and residents have about holding board elections and other vote-dependent functions while social distancing, what boards and managers should know ahead of time about the laws around electronic voting and meeting, the steps a board should take in transitioning from in-person meetings and voting to an electronic/online format, the biggest challenges in getting residents to accept and participate in virtual meetings and electronic elections from a management perspective, what liability concerns a board might have around virtual meetings and elections, recommendations for boards and managers to better inform residents about the procedures and improve buy-in and participation, and the opportunity for associations to adopt remote elections and owner/shareholder meetings even after the crisis has subsided.

About Dean Roberts

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums. He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors. Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement. In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs. Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, real estate & finance

Dean M. Roberts and Abbey M. Horwitz, Members of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will speak to the shareholders of Morningside Heights Housing Corporation. The presentation will take place Saturday, January 11, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., and again on Thursday, January 16, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., in New York City.

About the Presentation

Topics to be discussed include how estates are handled in the state of New York, what shareholders can do to create a more seamless process to protect their assets, and the forms and uses of trusts available to the shareholders of Morningside Gardens. Throughout the presentation, Roberts and Horwitz will answer questions from attendees.

“Often, co-op shareholders forget the importance of including the cooperatives when thinking about their estate planning and trust administration, so I feel it is crucial to let them know that they have options and we’re here to help,” said Roberts. Horwitz added, “Estate planning and trust administration is much more complex than just making a will. It is essential to make people aware of what services are available to them.”

About the Presenters

Dean Roberts

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums. He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors. Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement. In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Abbey Horwitz

Horwitz practices primarily in the area of estate planning and administration.  She is experienced in preparing wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance directives for health care, and other estate planning documents.  She is also experienced in administering estates and trusts, including counseling executors and trustees; preparing estate, trust, and guardianship pleadings; preparing estate and trust accountings; preparing estate tax returns; handling estate tax audits; and preparing releases and waivers for distributions from estates and trusts.

In addition, Horwitz has experience preparing corporate and LLC filings, including certificates of incorporation, articles of organization, bylaws, operating agreements, and IRC 501(c)(3) filings.

Horwitz earned her LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University in 2018; her J.D. from New York Law School in 2006; and her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000.

Posted in: Abbey M. Horwitz, Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, Estate Planning & Administration, News | Tags: Abbey M. Horwitz, Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, Estate Planning & Administration

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will co-present “A Cooperative Response to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019” at the monthly meeting of the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York on Saturday, September 21. (more…)

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News, Real Estate & Finance | Tags: Cooperative (“Co-op”) and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, real estate & finance

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present “Cyber and Internet Issues Affecting Co-Ops and Their Board of Directors” at the monthly meeting of the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York on Saturday, April 13.

Roberts will discuss specific procedures and policies that board members and co-ops need to take into consideration when it comes to cyber and internet issues. The meeting, set for 9:15 – 12:00 p.m., Vladeck Hall, Amalgamated House, in Bronx, will also include a question and answer session, networking opportunities, and “What’s New in Your Co-Op.”

Roberts focuses his practice on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums.  He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors.  Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement.  In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987, and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: Board of Directors, Co-op, condominiums, cooperative housing, cyber law, Dean Roberts, Internet Issues, Internet Law, New York Attorney

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is a featured co-lecturer for HABITATU’s Master Class: Legal Topics for Experienced Board Directors, “Board Makeup.” Run by HABITAT and National Cooperative Bank (NCB), HABITATU is a free online course platform for Co-op and Condo Board Directors.

The course covers important issues concerning board director make-up and their obligations, including who can serve, sponsor obligations, and removing directors. For more information and to register for the course, please click here.

Roberts focuses his practice on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums.  He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors.  Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement.  In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987, and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: Board Directors, Co-op Attorney, Co-op Board Directors, Condo Board Directors, Dean Roberts, HABITAT, HABITATU, Landlord Tenant Law, Master Class, New York Attorney, New York City Co-op, New York law

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present “Estate Planning and Trust Ownership” to shareholders of Morningside Heights Housing Corporation. The closed presentation will take place Saturday, February 9, 2 – 3:30 p.m., and again Thursday, February 28, 7 – 8:30 p.m., in New York City.

Roberts will discuss how estates are handled in the state of New York, what shareholders can do to create a more seamless process to protect their assets, and the new forms and uses of trust now available to shareholders of Morningside Gardens. Throughout the presentation, Roberts will answer questions from attendees.

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums.  He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors.  Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement.  In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: Assests, Co-op, Co-operatives, Dean Roberts, estate planning, New York co-op, shareholders, Trust Ownership, Uses of Trust

Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present “Legal Issues for Our Co-ops” at the monthly meeting of the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives of Greater New York on Saturday, April 14.  Roberts will discuss decreased shareholders and the issues presented for boards and management.  The meeting, set for 9:15 AM– noon, at Vladeck Hall, Amalgamated House, in Bronx, will also include a question and answer session, networking opportunities, and “What’s New in Your Co-op.”

Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums.  He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors.  Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement.  In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: Co-op, condominiums, cooperative housing, Dean Roberts, New York Attorney, shareholder