Lecturer Bios
Adam Leitman Bailey, Esq.
Actively at the helm of the law firm he built from scratch, Adam Leitman Bailey, Esq. practices residential and commercial real estate law. Among New York's most successful and prominent real estate attorneys, Mr. Bailey has been identified among the top five percent of attorneys in the New York area, repeatedly named a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine and honored with a Martindale-Hubbell "AV" Preeminent rating.
During the past five years, the internationally esteemed Chambers & Partners repeatedly selected Mr. Bailey as one of New York's Leading Real Estate lawyers and, being one of only three New York attorneys from firms with fewer than 30 attorneys to receive the honor. Chambers & Partners hailed Mr. Bailey as a "tenacious and confident litigator who is quick-witted in court and respected by the judges," noting that Bailey is "an extraordinary practitioner who gets great results" and quoting a client on Mr. Bailey's "ability to anticipate things before they happen." "He has been hired to litigate extremely high-profile cases…sources are highly impressed by his courtroom presence." "You feel like you have a zealous advocate out there working for you, and you never worry about things when they are in his hands."
Real Estate Weekly recognized that "Adam Leitman Bailey has made a name for himself with his success winning cases in the courtroom." The same newspaper called Mr. Bailey "famous" for his "condominium, foreclosure and landlord-tenant representation." The New York Times referred to his legal strategy and legislation proposed in one case as "novel," in addition to remarking on another case in which "Adam Leitman Bailey fought on…grinding through excruciating detail and obscure Perry Mason moments." After Mr. Bailey's firm used a forgotten statute to prevail in a landmark case, the Wall Street Journal quoted a prominent New York developer's attorney who called the holding a "game changer" affecting real estate nationwide. In another case hailed as "the city's largest condo refund ever" (Curbed NY) involving "a settlement likely to send shivers through the ranks of the city's condo developers" (the New York Post), the settlement he received was the largest condominium settlement in history for one building, and in another transaction, he obtained the largest government grant ($21 million) for a cooperative in New York history. The Commercial Observer ranked another victory among their "15 Most Fascinating New York Real Estate Cases of the 21st Century."
Dateline NBC referred to Mr. Bailey as "aggressive, tenacious and smart" in asking him to share his negotiating secrets on its nationally syndicated television program. Mr. Bailey's advocacy has prevailed in numerous important trials and cases before various courts and trial venues, including Housing, Civil, and New York State Supreme and Federal Courts, as well as various New York Appellate tribunals. A New York State Judge wrote that Mr. Bailey "was the best trial lawyer I saw in my nine years as a Judge in New York City."
Hon. Cheryl Gonzales
Judge Gonzales is Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County. She was appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, 2005 to 2010; Reappointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2010 to 2015; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2015 to 2020. Judge Gonzales is admitted to the New York State Bar, Second Department and received her J.D. degree from the City University of New York, Queens College.
Hon. Jean T. Schneider
Hon. Jean T. Schneider is Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2012 to Present. She was Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2009 to 2011 and a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, 1997 to 2007; Reappointed, 2008 to 2012; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2012 to 2017. Her other experience includes The Legal Aid Society, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and Bedford-Stuyvesant Community Legal Services Corp. She received a BA from Swarthmore College and a J.D. from Yale School of Law.
Hon. John S. Lansden
Hon. John S. Lansden is Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2013 to Present. He was Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, 2007 to 2013 and a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed 2003 to 2008, Reappointed, 2008 to 2013. His prior experience included serving as a Court Attorney for Housing Court Judge Timmie Elsner, NY County; an Associate at Penn, Proefriedt, Schwarzfeld & Schwartz, Horing, Welikson & Rosen P.C., and Rosenberg & Estis P.C. He attended Connecticut College and received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He is a member, Housing Court Public Services Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
Hon. Jaya K. Madhavan
Hon. Jaya K. Madhavan is Supervising Judge, Bronx County Housing Court, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, 2007 to Present. She was a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, 2004 to 2009; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2009 to 2014; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2014 to 2019. Previously she was a Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society, Community Law Offices and an Associate at Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben & Donahue. She attended Fordham University and received a JD from Pace University, School of Law.
Hon. Marc Finkelstein
Hon. Marc Finkelstein is a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman 1994 to 1999; Re-appointed 1999 to 2004; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2009 to 2014; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2014 to 2019. Previously he was Faculty Director & Managing Attorney at Brooklyn Law School's Elder Law Clinic Program, a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society and a NYC School teacher. He attended SUNY at Buffalo and received a JD from Rutgers University School of Law.
Hon. Jack Stoller
Hon. Jack Stoller is a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2010 to 2015. Previously he worked at the NYC Law Department, Commercial and Real Estate Litigation Division, Legal Aid Society, Lower Manhattan Neighborhood Office, Legal Aid Society, Bronx Neighborhood Office and Bronx Legal Services. He received a BA from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a JD from New York University.
Hon. Laurie L. Lau
Hon. Laurie L. Lau is a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge, Jonathan Lippman 2003 to 2003; Re-Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2008 to 2013. Previously she was a Litigation Associate at Marcus, Borg, Rosenberg & Diamond and Arthur Birnbaum & Associates. She attended the University of Michigan and received a JD from New York Law School.
Hon. Peter M. Wendt
Hon. Peter M. Wendt is a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge, Jonathan Lippman, 2003 to 2008; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2008 to 2013; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2013 to 2015. Previously he was a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge, 1988 to 2002. He also worked at Lansner, Wendt, Himmelstein & McConnell, Brooklyn Legal Service Corp. "A" and MFY Legal Services. He received a BA from Cornell University and a JD from Cornell University School of Law.
Jonathan L. Geballe, Esq.
Jonathan L. Geballe is co-chair of NYCLA’s Real Property Section. He graduated cum laude from New York University with a B.A. in history. He earned his law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1990, and was Editor in Chief of the Moot Court Board. In the public service arena Mr. Geballe was for many years a member of Community Board 2, Manhattan (Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown), and Chairman of its Landmarks Committee. He is currently a member of the Preservation Committee of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, and President of his block association. Mr. Geballe started his legal career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel of the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York (the New York City Law Department). In 1994 he opened his own law practice in Lower Manhattan. In 1999 he joined with attorney Jan B. Geller to form Geballe &
Geller, LLP, a successful small general practice firm, and since 2009 has a solo practice. Mr. Geballe’s main areas of practice are: Real estate transactions, including residential sales, commercial leases, and cooperative and condominium buildings; Civil litigation, including landlord-tenant, contract disputes, title disputes; Wills and estates; Start-up corporations and LLCs, including shareholders’ agreements and operating agreements; Trademark registration.
Mark Levine
Mark Levine began his professional career as a bilingual math and science teacher at JHS149 in the South Bronx. He later served as Executive Director of Teach For America-New York, where he oversaw placement and training of hundreds of high-performing teachers in schools throughout Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. He continued his education leadership as Executive Director of the Center for After-School Excellence, a non-profit initiative supporting after-school programs throughout the five boroughs. While Mark was a teacher, he saw how the families of his students lacked access to basic financial services, including bank accounts. He decided to address this need by founding Upper Manhattan's first and only community development credit union, Neighborhood Trust. The credit union has helped thousands of local low-income residents obtain loans to start businesses, pay for education,
and even become owners of their own homes and continues to be a pillar of the Washington Heights community. In 2007, Mark was first elected to serve as Democratic District Leader in Northern Manhattan. In the 2008 presidential election he was honored to run on Barack Obama’s slate of delegate candidates and in early 2009 he founded one of New York City’s newest political clubs, the Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, which has quickly become a force for empowering community residents to make their voice heard in local politics. Mark also served as chair of the Traffic and Transportation Committee of Community Board 12, where he led calls for improved subway and bus service, and championed the cause of making streets safer for bicyclists. As a City Council Member, Mark
will continue to advocate for New York to be a place that works for everyone—where people of all incomes have an affordable place to live, a good school to send their kids to, and a job that pays a living wage. Mark is a longtime resident of Washington Heights with his wife Ivelisse and their two sons, who attend local public schools. He is an active member of the Hebrew Tabernacle synagogue. Mark earned a B.A. in Physics from Haverford College, and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University. He is fluent in Spanish.
Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright
Keith L.T. Wright was elected to represent the 70th Assembly District in 1992. Since then he has earned a reputation for getting results for his constituents and for improving the quality of life for New Yorkers across the State. He has chaired several standing committees in the Assembly including election law, social services, labor and his current chairmanship of the housing committee. He has sponsored bills to create affordable housing and is a champion for civil rights and social justice. As chair of the Harlem Community Development Corporation he has substantial, tangible impact on economic development in Harlem, developing and renovating properties to create hundreds of units of affordable housing, grow small business, increase services for children and seniors and expand cultural services. As Chair of the Housing Committee, he has maintained his commitment to ensure the preservation of programs that provide critical services to neighborhoods across New York City as well as those geared to empowering and increasing higher education and employment opportunities for underrepresented
communities and at-risk youth. He has authored numerous pieces of legislation to strengthen the rights
of tenants against unscrupulous landlords. He is a graduate of Rutgers Law School and Tuffs University.
Elizabeth Donoghue, Esq.
Elizabeth Donoghue is a partner at Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph. She graduated from Stockton State College, Pomona, New Jersey (1979, Political Science, with Honors), Antioch School of Law (1983, J.D.), and Georgetown University Law Center (1990, Ll.M., Advocacy). While at Antioch, Liz clerked for the Honorable Vincent L. Broderick, S.D.N.Y. From 1985-1986, she worked at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation in Mattoon, Illinois, as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, and from 1988-1990, she was the Institute Fellow at the Harrison Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, a law school clinical program which specializes in the representation of tenants' associations. Liz has represented tenants in New York City as a staff attorney at Municipal Employees Legal Services Plan, District Council 37, a housing specialist at Bronx Legal Services, and a supervising attorney at the Lower East Side Local Enforcement Unit, MFY Legal Services. Liz began
private practice at Himmelstein, McConnell & Gribben as an associate in 1993, and became a partner in 1997. Liz is a member of New York County Lawyers, where she served on the Task Force on Housing Court. Liz is also active in the New York City Bar Association. She served as a member of the City Bar Task Force on Town and Village Justices and has been a member of the Housing Court, Judiciary, Coop/Condo and Executive Committees. She is the former Chair of the Housing Court Committee and Judiciary Committee of the New York City Bar and is currently member of its Executive Committee. Liz is involved with youth sports in the Yorkville Youth Athletic Association and blogs for the Huffington Post.
Todd I. Nahins, Esq.
Todd I. Nahins is a Senior Partner of Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C with broad and extensive experience in both the Residential and Commercial Parts of the Civil Court of the City of New York. His litigation responsibilities include many of the Firm's most established clients. Mr. Nahins heads the Firm's Non-Payment and Holdover Division specifically relating to Manhattan cases. Mr. Nahins has been a Faculty Member of the New York State Judicial Seminar, Jack Newton Lerner, Landlord-Tenant Institute; Guest Speaker at the New York County Lawyers’ Association, New York State Bar Association, Cardozo Law School, New York University, Real Estate Program and Community Housing Improvement Program, Topics ranged from Trial Tactics in Housing Court, Bedbug Litigation, Guardian Ad Litem Representation, and Nuisance and Non-Primary Residence Litigation. Mr. Nahins has received the highest accolade in Martindale-Hubbell given an AV rating. He has received an Award from The New York State Department of Housing Preservation and Development and was recognized for Excellence in
Law by Cambridge's Who's Who. He is presently on the Board of Advisors for Apartment Law Insiders.
He received a BA from Hunter College (Cum Laude) and a JD from Western New England College School
of Law.
Mark Bierman, Esq.
Mark Bierman is a principal at Bierman & Associates. In Graham Court Owners Corp. v. Taylor, his client was awarded attorneys’ fees by the Appellate Division, First Department when the tenant prevailed against his landlord in a holdover proceeding. The Court ruled that language in his lease allowing the landlord to recover attorney fees by re-renting the apartment was enough to create a reciprocal right for the tenant. Previously he was a partner at Bierman & Palitz, LLP. He attended Hunter College of the City University of New York and received a JD from Brooklyn Law School.