Effective representation builds on basic elements such as accessibility, attention to detail and carrying out strategic, yet pragmatic, approaches to a client's evolving priorities.
Elisabeth's law practice brings to her clients more than 25 years of expertise and a wealth of knowledge with which to render skilled representation. Elisabeth combines the balance between protecting the interests of a client's most valuable investments and assets, and closing a transaction in a timely fashion. Elisabeth's hands-on experience as associate general counsel at real estate development company AVR Realty, associate at the Manhattan law firms of Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP and Battle Fowler LLP and as special counsel to the White Plains law firm of Cuddy & Feder LLP provides to clients the results of sophisticated large firm practice with the personal attention of a small law firm. Elisabeth's experience working with commercial entities including lending institutions and real estate developers , governmental entities, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals provides her with an in-depth and varied understanding of the perspectives involved in her practice area. Elisabeth performs investigative and analytical work on an as needed basis for clients seeking to manage risk in their operations. Elisabeth is a certified mediator and approaches each client transaction with the philosophy that the negotiation process presents the best opportunity to prevent disputes. Elisabeth's practice also includes mediation of real property disputes which arise after a contract has been signed, with the goal of forging a deliberative, yet prompt and cost effective settlement outside of a court setting.
Elisabeth's law practice joins her decades of experience in transactional real estate, real estate finance, construction and risk management with her environmental and energy conservation work to assist clients wishing to navigate toward, and operate in, a sustainable and resilient built environment which incorporates building materials compatible with human health and use of renewable energy sources, wherever possible.
Elisabeth works as outside counsel and with outside counsel, as the case may be, to provide clients with well-rounded representation tailored to their unique goals and needs. Elisabeth also collaborates, as needed, with land use planning counsel, insurance, engineering, energy, environmental, architectural design, construction, and other professional consultants to incorporate state of the art practices and facilitate project compliance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Elisabeth is the immediate past president of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck chapter of the League of Women Voters having served a four year term. This year, the Larchmont/Mamaroneck League is continuing a Community Conservation Civics Initiative, the goal of which is to engage all sectors of the community in energy conservation measures. Read more about this in Elisabeth's article: The Road to Energy Conservation: Climate Smart Steps Which Begin at Home published in the NYSBA Government, Law and Policy Journal (available at, www.lwvlm.org).
Elisabeth is collaborating with other professionals in her waterfront community to develop a sustainability, resilience and quality of life plan for the Town of Mamaroneck that addresses such topics as flood management, emergency response and solid waste management.
Elisabeth chairs the Committee on Energy, Agriculture and the Environment of the League of Women Voters of New York State.
Elisabeth's independent research in environmental risk management addresses the impacts of oil and gas development on residential property ownership, risk allocation and effects to the mortgage market.
Elisabeth's research has been sourced and cited in The New York Times and other national publications. Visit Albany Times Union for Elisabeth's Op-Ed: Don't Use Our Water For Fracking, published April 2, 2014
http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Don-t-use-our-water-for-fracking-5370834.php
Elisabeth's Spring 2014 law review article: At the Intersection of Wall Street and Main: Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Residential Property Interests, Risk Allocation, and Implications for the Secondary Mortgage Market,
can be found in the Albany Law Review at http://www.albanylawreview.org?Pages/hone.aspx.
Visit MORE magazine at http://www.more.com/health/wellness/how-fracking-affects-you for their reporting on hydraulic fracturing and Elisabeth's sidebar on what home purchasers should investigate if considering a move to the a gas drilling region: http://www.more.com/reinvention-money/money/do-you-own-whats-under-your-home Elisabeth's article Homeowners and Gas Drilling Leases: Boon or Bust appeared as the cover story of the November/December 2011 issue of the New York State Bar Association Journal. Read Elisabeth's hearing testimony before the New York Senate in Elisabeth on Energy Options.
Elisabeth was among the initial group of attorneys who formed the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Seniors and its successor, the Elder Law Section. Elisabeth chaired the Elder Law Section's Committee on Housing and Real Property from 1990-1997 and chaired the Section's first annual conference as a Section in 1992. Elisabeth is a proponent of universal design which enables older adults to remain at home and as an integral part of community life.
Elisabeth graduated from Cardozo School of Law in 1983 and is admitted to practice law in New York State. Elisabeth received her certification in mediation from The Ackerman Institute in 2000. Elisabeth graduated from Cornell University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science having majored in Human Development and Family Studies.
Elisabeth is a member of the New York State Bar Association.