Many of my Construction Company Clients have recently been hit with Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) wage and hour lawsuits. This is not surprising as New York has the fourth largest amount of FLSA lawsuits nationwide and the construction business is one of the five industries worst hit. Construction seems to be an easy target […]
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Your Contractor filed a Mechanic’s Lien. Now what?
Under New York’s Lien Law, a contractor can file a mechanic’s lien for unpaid fees or materials costs stemming from a construction project. The contractor or subcontractor that performs labor or provides materials for a build-out of a store or office can place a lien against the premises. He serves not only the tenant who […]
Read more...Drafting Strong New York Construction Contracts
What to look for in well-drafted construction contracts? Many architects and contractors use the American Institute of Architects (AIA) pre-printed, “fill in the blank” form contracts. Although these AIA forms are a good, fundamental starting point, most attorneys draft extensive riders to supplement them. The owner’s lawyer frequently proposes the riders because the AIA form […]
Read more...Don’t Fire Your Contractor for the Wrong Reasons
If you are having problems with a general contractor and want to hire a different one for the project; you should tread carefully. Regardless as to how justified you feel in doing so, always look carefully at the reasons why you want to fire your contractor. Terminating a general contractor should only be done when there is a well-documented history […]
Read more...Commercial Lease Build-Out Clauses
Most prospective commercial tenants, prior to the move-in date, need to modify the space to suit their business’s needs. Whether it is a raw space (a “vanilla box”) or built to the specifications of the prior tenant, extensive renovations are almost always required. Unless the new tenant is a chain with other locations, they may […]
Read more...Construction Litigation Spikes in Brooklyn
Real estate development in Brooklyn has not been without its setbacks. Due to extraordinarily fast timelines from design to completion, Brooklyn has seen a spike in construction litigation involving structural defects in new residential buildings. The Brooklyn housing gold rush has attracted some inexperienced developers who may not have had confidence in the boom’s sustainability. They therefore […]
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Commercial Real Estate Development vs. Artists in Brooklyn
Like all Burgeoning Arts neighborhoods ultimately do, Bushwick, Brooklyn, now feels the threat of gentrification. Famous for its street murals, this former manufacturing neighborhood is home to many artists’ studios and galleries. The overwhelming demand in Brooklyn for commercial real estate has caused most artists’ space to be priced out as commercial landlords either refuse […]
Read more...Cure NYC Building Violations & Fire Code Violations before Fines
Businesses in New York face a variety of Building Violations & Fire Code Violations enforced by different city agencies, including the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Environmental Control Board, and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). When a business is found to violate any regulation, the business can face fines and other penalties. Now, […]
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