Practice Areas Overview

Practice Areas Overview

SAHN WARD is one of the region’s most highly regarded and recognized law firms. We are a full service law firm concentrating in the areas of zoning and land use planning in the metropolitan area and New York City; real estate law and transactions; civil litigation and appeals in state and federal courts; municipal law and legislative practice; environmental law; corporate law and commercial transactions; matrimonial and family law; estate and trust practice including special needs planning and elder law; labor and employment; real estate tax certiorari and condemnation; and telecommunications.

Our zoning and land use planning practice focuses on representing property owners and developers in obtaining necessary governmental and municipal approvals to use, subdivide and develop commercial and residential properties. The firm appears before local legislative and administrative bodies, planning boards and commissions and zoning boards of appeal in connection with obtaining zoning changes, special permits,variances, site plan and subdivision approvals for its clients.

Our real estate practice complements the firm's zoning and land use practice. It involves representing the firm's clients in the acquisition and sale of commercial and residential properties, including the negotiation of contracts of sale and loan documents, pre-contract and post-contract due diligence, resolution of title problems and representation at closings. The firm also counsels its clients on leasing and landlord/tenant relationships.

We also represent clients in all phases of civil litigation and dispute resolution, including complex civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and in mediation and arbitration proceedings before alternative dispute resolution tribunals, with primary emphasis on disputes involving commercial and business transactions, real property matters; zoning and land use planning matters; and environmental matters. Services include pre-action due diligence and investigation of claims and defenses; preparation of pleadings and the commencement of litigation proceedings in court or before alternative dispute resolution tribunals; pre-trial motion practice; representation during discovery proceedings, including conducting and defending depositions; negotiating and structuring settlements; representation at trials and evidentiary hearings; preparation of and arguing appeals.

Our environmental law practice is devoted to representing clients in connection with the applicability of a vast array of state and federal environmental laws and regulations to their business activities and properties. The firm advises clients on hazardous waste management, remediation of contaminated properties, environmental impact review (the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act), and other environmental protection laws. The firm represents clients in connection with judicial and administrative governmental enforcement actions, private environmental litigation, and related insurance claims.

In the corporate and securities practice area, we represent clients in the establishment and formation of business entities, corporate finance, sales and acquisitions of businesses, reorganizations and transfers, and the structuring of relationships among the principals of business entities.

In the municipal law and legislative practice areas, the firm's practice involves representation of municipal or governmental entities and private clients before governmental boards, authorities, administrative agencies and legislative bodies with regard to administrative and legislative actions affecting their interests. The firm serves as counsel to several Long Island municipalities and their agencies.

The Firm's telecommunications practice area focuses on representing municipalities, property owners and community associations with regard to the increasing presence of telecommunications, facilities, including cell phone transmission towers throughout Long Island and the New York metropolitan area. The firm's unique experience in this area of the law is complemented and supported by the municipal law practice.

SAHN WARD also counsels its clients in the areas of estate planning and administration, tax certiorari (real property tax reduction proceedings) and condemnation matters and family law, criminal defense, and personal injury litigation.