As 2020 begins, it is with pleasure that we share with you some notable highlights of the past year.
Levin-Epstein & Associates has continued to enjoy robust growth and recognition for its litigation achievements in 2019. Consequently, the firm has expanded and relocated to The Graybar Building located above Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal. We welcome you to come tour the new office. Please note that our new address is: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2525, New York, NY 10170.
Once again, Joshua was selected for inclusion in the 2019 New York Metro Super Lawyers List as a "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney," a distinction awarded to only 2.5 percent of lawyers practicing in the New York metro area. Several of the firm’s cases were featured in the New York Law Journal’s column titled Decision of Interest, covering significant, precedent-setting legal cases.
The firm’s litigation achievements in the past year include:
- Federal Court Trial Practice. The firm obtained a favorable decision at a bench trial before the Honorable Denise Cote of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of a management defendant in a Fair Labor Standards Act case: Michael Pugh v. Iliya Meric (Case No. 18-cv-3556). Following the bench trial, the Court issued a decision that had the distinction of being featured in the New York Law Journal’s column for Decisions of Interest for establishing two legal precedents on August 27, 2019.
- State Court Litigation. The firm obtained a favorable decision by the Honorable Justice Arlene P. Bluth that dismissed, with prejudice, claims against our client for unjust enrichment, constructive trust, and money had and received, arising out a real estate scam orchestrated by a third-party. Our case had the distinction of being published by the New York State Law Reporting Bureau which selectively published important trial court decisions.
- Bankruptcy Litigation. The firm obtained a multi-million dollar claim in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court.
- Fair Labor Standards Act/Wage-and-Hour. The firm obtained a favorable decision by the Honorable Magistrate Steven Gold of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of a management defendant in a Fair Labor Standards Act case. This case had the distinction of being featured in the New York Law Journal’s column for Decisions of Interest on May 8, 2019.
- Judgment Collection. The firm assisted a New York law firm in the collection of a six-figure judgment.
The firm’s corporate achievements in the past year include:
- Hospitality Practice. The firm assisted several restauranteurs open businesses in Manhattan, including coffee businesses, fresh fruit and vegetable juice businesses, and we worked with renowned chefs to open new business channels in the food sector.
- Commercial Leases. The firm negotiated several commercial leases for hospitality companies in Manhattan, including a 22,000 sq. ft. lease near Hudson Yards and several “store-within-a-store” license agreements.
- General Counsel. The firm serves as outside general counsel to clients in the construction industry in all phases of the business.
In the New Year, we hope that you continue to refer clients to us and continue to be part of our success. You know us, you know our experience, and you know the quality of our work. We would be most grateful to be retained in these areas, among others:
- litigation before trial or appellate courts or administrative bodies, especially matters involving real estate, partnership disputes, and creditors' rights;
- litigation avoidance - the crucial effort to negotiate agreements to resolve disputes before they cross the threshold of the courthouse;
- domestic and international arbitration and mediations;
- bankruptcy litigation and creditors' rights work, including avoidance actions, preference actions, discharge and dischargeability actions;
- employment litigation in all aspects of employment law, including issues involving restrictive covenants and trade secrets, wage-and-hour issues, Fair Labor Standards Act issues, and breach of contract issues;
- business divorce litigation, including contested stock valuations, derivative actions and other disputes between owners of closely held business corporations;
- counseling and strategic planning that defy easy categorization, requiring a deep understanding of the pertinent legal issues and also of the business (and sometimes personal) considerations that must be taken into account to reach a favorable outcome; and
- representing investors, restauranteurs, restaurant management companies, and chefs in New York City's hospitality sector.
