Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. Promoted Five Of Counsel To Members, Promotes Six Associates to Of Counsel

On Behalf of | May 31, 2022 | Press Releases

Top NYC real estate firm continues expansion to meet market demand

NEW YORK, June 1, 2022 – Rosenberg and Estis, P.C., a leading New York City real estate law firm, has announced a series of personnel changes to continue meeting robust market demand from a diversity of clients.

The firm has promoted five Of Counsel to Member while promoting six Associates to Of Counsel.

“We are grateful to have a deep roster of talented attorneys to adeptly handle an array of complex legal needs with great skill and enthusiasm,” said Rosenberg & Estis managing member Michael Lefkowitz. “We congratulate them on their new roles and know they’ll continue to be tremendous assets to our current and future clients.

Ethan R. Cohen, who joined the firm in 2014, has been promoted to a member of the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department. Cohen specializes in appellate practice, complex commercial real estate litigation, cooperative/condominium law, and landlord-tenant disputes, including rent overcharge class actions.  Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Cohen was an Appellate Court Attorney with the State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department and an associate attorney at the Breier Deutschmeister Urban Popper Law Group PLLC.  Cohen earned his bachelor’s degree from Williams College in 2009 and graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2012.

Peter B. Kane, who serves the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department and joined the firm in 2018, has been promoted to Member from of Counsel. Kane practices complex commercial real estate litigation in state and federal courts. He earned a bachelor’s in history from Tufts University in 2007 and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2010.

His real estate law practice includes litigation and dispute resolution and business finance and restructuring. Before joining Rosenberg & Estis, Kane was an Associate with Robinson Brog Leinwand Greene Genovese & Gluck P.C., and he served as an Attorney with the State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Judicial Department.

Cori A. Rosen, who practices as part of the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department, has risen to Member from of Counsel.

Rosen’s practice includes counseling clients regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, State Human Rights Law, and New York City Human Rights Law by: defending administrative and civil proceedings; providing guidance on accessible design and construction; developing and administering training programs; and preparing client procedures and policies to ensure compliance through nondiscriminatory practices. Additionally, Rosen handles complex commercial litigation of cases involving real estate development, lease interpretation, partnership and joint venture disputes, corporate mergers, acquisitions and dissolutions, and landlord-tenant disputes.

Rosen earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Florida in 2005 and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2008. Rosen joined the firm in 2013.

Zachary J. Rothken, who joined Rosenberg & Estis in 2018, has been promoted to Member from Of Counsel. Additionally, as of June 1, 2022, Rothken has been designated the new Leader of the firm’s Administrative Law Department. Rothken earned a bachelor’s from Yeshiva University in 2009 and a J.D. at Hofstra University School of Law in 2013.

Rothken’s practice focuses on complex regulatory issues concerning rent stabilization and rent control.  He counsels prospective purchasers, sellers and lenders in performing due diligence on properties subject to rent regulation. He also represents property owners in administrative proceedings before DHCR and Article 78 proceedings, including claims concerning rent overcharge, substantial rehabilitation, luxury deregulation and reduction of services. Named to the New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2020-22, Rothken co-authored a well-received article published in the New York Law Journal titled “Commercial Rent Control Effort Defined by Confusion and Unintended Consequences.”

Anthony J. Virga, Of Counsel in Rosenberg & Estis’s Litigation Department, has been promoted to Member of the Firm. Virga, who joined the Firm in 2012, earned his bachelor’s degree from Marist College with a concentration on finance in 2007 and a J.D. from St. John’s University in 2012.

Virga specializes in commercial litigation, landlord/tenant law and the Loft Law. Over the last decade, he has represented clients before the New York City and State trial courts, as well as the Appellate Division. Virga was honored as a Rising Star by Real Estate Weekly in 2019 and has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star since 2018.

Jake W. Bedor, who serves the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department and joined the firm in 2020, has been promoted to Of Counsel from Associate. Bedor has accumulated extensive experience in a diversity of real estate litigation before New York State and federal courts. Bedor earned a bachelor’s from George Washington University in 2005 and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2008. He has represented clients in a broad range of complex real estate litigation, including claims involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Bedor was a Senior Associate with Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

Among his many major cases, Bedor achieved a favorable resolution of action asserting tortious interference with a contract and violation of Judiciary Law 487(1) based on an allegation that a client submitted purportedly fraudulent DHCR filings to delay the plaintiffs’ construction of a multi-story Madison Avenue condominium. He also helped secure a multi-million dollar judgment against a major international retailer attempting to avoid its rental obligations based upon a novel force majeure argument concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elizabeth M. Brown is in the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department. She joined the firm in 2018 and has been promoted to Of Counsel from Associate.

Brown represents commercial and residential real estate owners and developers in complex litigation matters before Civil, State and Federal Courts. She has obtained substantial judgments, after inquests, and has successfully defended clients in New York State Division of Human Rights cases. Brown has participated in every stage of the trial process and prevailed in trials. She has additional experience litigating and obtaining judgments of possession, representing commercial and residential parties in mediations and negotiating commercial leases.

Brown earned a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, with concentration in Intellectual Property, in 2013, and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010, where she was recognized for her leadership, earning honors from the Order of Omega Honor Society and a University of Wisconsin-Madison Leadership Certificate. She is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Brendan Derr, who serves the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department and joined the firm in 2018, has risen to Of Counsel from Associate. Derr is an experienced litigator whose practice includes representing clients in a diverse range of disputes including those relating to real estate, construction, and complex commercial/business matters in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration. He routinely drafts and negotiates license agreements for access on behalf of developers and neighboring property owners/tenants, and has successfully litigated numerous RPAPL 881 proceedings. Derr is known for applying his knowledge and pragmatism to achieve favorable results for his clients. Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis,  Derr was an Associate with Bracewell LLP.

Nick DiLorenzo, who serves the Rosenberg & Estis Administrative Law Department, has been promoted to Of Counsel from Associate. DiLorenzo earned a bachelor’s from Kent State University, where he played on the ice hockey team, in 2009 and a J.D. from New York Law School in 2013. His practice focuses on real estate development, with a specialization in tax incentives, affordable housing and development bonuses.

DiLorenzo assists clients in obtaining real estate property tax exemption and abatement benefits (421-a, 420-c, Article XI, J-51, FRESH, ICAP, etc.), securing bonus floor area development rights through various New York City programs (voluntary and mandatory inclusionary housing, AIRS, FRESH, etc.), and negotiating land disposition and regulatory agreements with the City. DiLorenzo also has extensive experience in an array of real estate transactions, finance, and land use and zoning, among other areas of real estate law.

Alex M. Estis, who serves the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department and joined the firm in 2017, has been promoted to Of Counsel from Associate. Estis earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurial studies from Muhlenberg College in 2014 and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law College in 2017. Estis handles all matters of general commercial litigation, including landlord-tenant disputes, breach of contract, transactional disputes, real estate partnership disputes, brokerage commission actions, holdover proceedings, ejectment proceedings, loft litigation, owner occupancy actions, co-op/condo disputes, matters before the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, such as the Environmental Control Board and Department of Health as well as the New York City Criminal Court

Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Estis was a Legal Intern with the New York State Attorney General’s office in its Claims Bureau. Brooklyn Law School awarded Estis the Brooklyn Law School Pro Bono Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication to Public Service for his work on behalf of the Attorney General’s office.

Justin Weitzman, who serves in the Rosenberg & Estis Litigation Department and joined the firm in 2020, has risen to Of Counsel from Associate. Weitzman earned a bachelor’s from Penn State in 2009 and a J.D. from the University of Miami in 2012. Weitzman’s diverse real estate litigation practice includes commercial litigation (partnership disputes and contract disputes), significant employment-related disputes (such as claims of workplace discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations); breach of restrictive covenants and breach of employment agreements, among other areas.

Weitzman also is known for handling complicated tort cases arising from products liability, premises liability, general liability and construction site defects, to difficult insurance coverage disputes. His client base ranges from individuals to Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Weitzman was an Associate with Kishner Miller Himes P.C.