Brandt, Steinberg, Lewis & Blond LLP - New York, NY

Overview

The firm, which has existed for nearly eighty years, consists of six attorneys, two of whom, Willa I. Lewis and Richard A. Steinberg, were formerly members of the Tax Certiorari Division of the New York City Law Department. Ms. Lewis was a Deputy Division Chief, before leaving the City to join our firm. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Tax Review Bar Association. Mr. Steinberg is a past president of the Real Estate Tax Review Bar Association and a former Chair of the Committee on Condemnation and Tax Certiorari of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Hubert J. Brandt was a member of the New York State Temporary Commission on the Real Property Tax for its entire 12 year existence, a past President of the Real Estate Tax Review Bar Association, and holds memberships in various other bar association assessment law committees, as well as in the Institute for Professionals in Taxation. He is a member of the Committee on Property Taxation of the Real Estate Board of New York, having served as a lecturer for the Board in its brokers’ continuing education program.

Peter E. Blond originally started with the firm in 1997 and returned in 2008 after spending five years with Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein P.C. on Long Island. During his time with that firm, he was able to expand his knowledge and experience with Nassau and Suffolk counties. His achievements resulted in his inclusion to the May 2007 Long Island Business News’ “Ones To Watch” list. Mr. Blond has written several articles and has lectured extensively on real property tax matters.

Kathryn Weg Brandt started with the firm in 1988. She concentrates her practice on the firm’s litigation matters including, but not limited to, appearances before the Appellate Division of the State of New York.

Michaelle Francois started with the firm in 2003. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Francois was a pension analyst for Price Waterhouse. She is an active member of the Big Brother Big Sister program of Greater New York.

In addition, Mr. Patrick Burke - while not an attorney - is an invaluable asset to our office through many years of appraisal experience; as an assessor in the City of New York and Director of the Appraisal Division of the New York City Tax Commission. While Mr. Burke is not an attorney, his appraisal expertise gained through many years of experience is a valuable asset to our office.

Our practice is limited to real estate valuation matters, most of which involve review of property tax assessments. We additionally represent condemnees in eminent domain proceedings as well as applicants for tax exemption and/or abatements for both commercial (e.g. ICIP/ICAP) and residential (J-51, RPTL 421a, etc.) properties. Although concentrated in New York City, we maintain substantial representation of properties outside the City limits and in many instances outside the State of New York. We have personally appeared in assessment review matters in the States of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our portfolio has also included assessment review matters in the State of Massachusetts.

In the City of New York, we represent thousands of properties of every size and description.

Our legal skills and extensive experience are bolstered by our substantial investments in technology, providing our clients state-of-the-art representation. By maintaining physical and economic profiles of tens of thousands of properties throughout the City and its suburbs we can optimize our representation of clients before administrative bodies and the Courts.

As attorneys, our representation of clients in tax review matters extends not only to assessors and administrative reviewing boards but also to pre-trial negotiations with municipal attorneys and, if necessary, trial.