Russell Wolfson

Partner
Russell Wolfson

Russell Wolfson advises on commercial real estate projects, with a heavy emphasis on construction and development. Russell is also a seasoned New York litigator, and he couples the resulting skills with his many years of transactional experience, granting him a unique legal perspective in matters across numerous industries. Russell prioritizes providing superior client service, approaching each engagement with the goal of creating and maintaining long-term relationships. He often counsels clients from the initiation of a construction project through its completion, serving as an integral contributor in acquisitions, contract drafting, neighbor licensing agreements, financing, insurance, and more.

His array of clients includes owners, property developers, engineers, architects, and major contractors. Many of his clients own and manage large real estate portfolios, and his hands-on experience managing a condominium development project in Brooklyn makes him uniquely qualified to understand the challenges facing those in this industry.

Well versed in the world of real estate transactions, Russell has substantial experience in the sales, leasing, and acquisitions of multifamily, commercial, vacant land, and gas station properties. He has also litigated property damage, nuisance, quiet title, adverse possession, trespass, and other, similar claims. Additionally, Russell represents clients in such business sectors as building management and maintenance, hospitality, staffing, and retail.

When taking on the role of outside general counsel, Russell provides clients with a range of services in diverse matters. He also has experience representing businesses in corporate formation, partnership issues, insurance, employment law, dispute avoidance, resolution, mergers, and acquisitions.


Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented the owner of a South Bronx piano factory in a complete build-out and conversion to an educational facility
  • Represented an Upper East Side garage owner in a $15 million lawsuit over claims regarding negligent operations and construction
  • Represented several religious institutions in the implementation of major capital projects
  • Represented a religious institution in the ground up construction of a new facility at an Ivy League institution
  • Represented the majority partner in a dispute over work performed on 18 New York City School Construction Authority projects
  • Represented an events venue in the aftermath of a $5 million breach and delay claim against a prominent construction manager
  • Represented a property owner in the sale of 250,000 square foot warehouses in Brooklyn
  • Counseled condo and co-op boards undergoing Local Law 11 repairs and a number of other capital improvements
  • Appeared in a variety of 881 (access) proceedings for developers and neighboring landowners
  • Represented a national engineering firm with multi-state offices in an acquisition by one of its competitors
  • Represented the purchaser of an $8 million gas station in Brooklyn
  • Represented sellers of townhouses throughout New York City in real estate transactional proceedings

Representative Clients

  • Counsel to more than $1 billion in ongoing construction projects in New York City. The following is a sampling of new building construction representations:
    • 51 Jay Street, Brooklyn
    • Untitled at Freeman Alley, New York City
    • 611 West 56th Street, New York City
    • The Brooklyn Grove
    • The Nevins
    • Five Six One Pacific
    • 22-12 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City
    • 583 Baltic Street, Brooklyn
    • 610 Warren Street, Brooklyn
    • 1535 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 120 Union Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 228 Water Street, Brooklyn
    • 110 North 1st Street, Brooklyn
    • 123 Hope, Brooklyn
    • 275 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 470 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 613 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 771-781 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn
    • 185 Chrystie Street, New York City
    • 2403 Third Avenue, Bronx
    • 19-29 Clay Street, Brooklyn
    • 50 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn
    • 207 5th Avenue, Brooklyn

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. Brooklyn Law School 1998
  • B.A. State University of New York at Albany 1994

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Clerk Experience

  • The Honorable Laura Jacobson Supreme Court of Kings County, New York

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, New York, 2021 – 2023
  • Super Lawyers, Construction Law, New York-Metro, 2020 – 2023