Starr Associates LLP is a boutique law firm founded by Allan Starr on July 1, 2002. Together with Allan Starr the firm includes partners Samantha Sheeber, Andrea Roschelle, Adam Kriegstein and Shaun Pappas, as well as a talented group of attorneys, paralegals and support staff that have been working together for almost two decades. Firm attorneys have earned a reputation for combining creative solutions with practical techniques to achieve success with complex transactions. The Firm’s practice groups work together seamlessly, aiming to merge the transactional end of real estate with litigation and dispute resolution services. The successful integration and communication among the practice groups have enabled the Firm to offer sound, comprehensive advice from attorneys with a broad perspective and wide range of experience and knowledge.
Our team is dedicated to maintaining personalized service with attention to detail to achieve lasting success for our clients.
astarr@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2686
ALLAN STARR is the founder of Starr Associates LLP. Mr. Starr specializes in the registration of offering plans for newly-constructed, rehabilitated and vacant buildings, residential rental conversions, hotels, timeshares and fractional vacation clubs for a diverse group of clients and has extensive experience creating commercial condominium regimes pursuant to “no-action” letters. Mr. Starr also advises institutional and mezzanine lenders who provide financing to developers of offering plan projects to ensure that they have appropriate protections in their loan documents and has handled the workout of troubled projects. He represents owners of major hotel franchises and independent developers throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Middle East, whose vacation ownership projects are registered by the Firm in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Mr. Starr served with distinction as an Assistant Attorney General, the last two years as Executive Assistant to New York State Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz. Mr. Starr entered private practice in 1979, and since that time, he has participated in the registration of approximately 650,000 units, having an aggregate purchase price exceeding $50 billion. Mr. Starr is an acknowledged leader in condominium offerings as well as timeshare and fractional ownership structures, and is the pioneer of the world’s largest urban timeshare project and a “first” in New York at The Manhattan Club located in the Park Central Hotel. Mr. Starr also created fractional regimes at the St. Regis Hotel and Wyndham’s Midtown 45. Mr. Starr taught in Fordham Law School’s continuing legal education program. Bar Admissions: New York bar, U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (B.A., 1968); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1973). Prior Professional Experience: Assistant Attorney General, State of New York, Real Estate Financing Bureau, Cooperative and Condominium Section, 1974-1976; Executive Assistant to the New York State Attorney General, 1976-1978; Partner, Olnick, Boxer, Blumberg, Lane & Troy; Co-Managing Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan’s real estate department; Managing Partner, Greenstein Starr Gerstein Rinaldi LLP. Member: New York State Bar Association (Real Property Law Section, Committee on Cooperatives and Condominiums; Attorney General Liaison Subcommittee); Association of the Bar of the City of New York; The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc.; American Resort Development Association (Trustee; Member, State Legislative Issues and Federal Issues Committees); Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums. Boards: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1998 – 2011.
ssheeber@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2682
SAMANTHA SHEEBER is the managing partner at Starr Associates LLP. Ms. Sheeber practices in the development and offering plan group. She specializes in the registration of offering plans for both new construction condominiums and conversions of existing rental properties, including, mixed-use, residential and commercial properties. Ms. Sheeber works closely with New York’s leading developers to provide counsel and advice from the earliest stages of the development process through the final stages of creating the project from acquisition and construction through contract drafting, negotiation and closing of individual units. She is well versed in navigating the complex registration requirements of the New York State Department of Law, for both in state and out of state projects. Ms. Sheeber has been recognized in the real estate community (by developers and brokers as well as other attorneys) as a top deal maker in the creation of condominiums and the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements. Ms. Sheeber has quarterbacked many of Manhattan’s condominium projects of all sizes and complexities, which also include some of the most prestigious condominium projects, namely, Walker Tower, Stella Tower, Essex Crossing, 53 West 53rd Street, 520 Park Avenue, Fifteen Central Park West, One Jackson Square and 40 Mercer Street. Ms. Sheeber also provides general counsel to numerous cooperative and condominium boards. Bar Admissions: New York and New Jersey. Education: State University of New York at Buffalo; Cardozo School of Law. Member: Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Committee on Condominiums and Cooperatives); Member: Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums. Charitable Affiliations: founder of and board chairperson of the Kellner Family Pediatric Liver Foundation.
aroschelle@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2681
ANDREAL. ROSCHELLE is the partner in charge of litigation at Starr Associates LLP and specializes in cooperative and condominium law, real estate law and real estate, corporate and commercial litigation. She counsels property owners, condominium and cooperative boards, managing agents, owners of unsold shares and owners of blocks of condominium units in all aspects of condominium and cooperative law. Ms. Roschelle drafts commercial leases and contracts and has redrafted many outdated cooperative governing documents to bring them into compliance with law and the realities of contemporary life. Ms. Roschelle acts as lead counsel in complex litigations involving construction defects and varied real estate, commercial and corporate issues. She has extensive experience handling all varieties of commercial disputes, real estate controversies and employment claims and represents both property owners and tenants in land valuation proceedings. Ms. Roschelle participates in a broad range of actions and proceedings in the state and federal courts on the trial and appellate levels, handles arbitrations, mediations and represents clients before governmental and administrative agencies, including the New York State Department of Law. Formerly Assistant Chief of the New York City Law Department, Commercial/Real Estate Litigation Division where Ms. Roschelle acquired expertise in all phases of housing policy matters. A faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, she has led trial practice clinics at Yale University and Fordham and Cardozo Law Schools. Bar Admissions: New York, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Education: Hunter College (B.A. 1977); Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 1984). Honors: Order of the Barristers. Member: National Institute of Trial Advocacy; Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums. Boards: Jericho Project.
akriegstein@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2675
Adam Kriegstein practices in the general real estate group with a focus on development and offering plans as well as the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing and development of various property types. With respect to offering plans, Mr. Kriegstein’s work on behalf of clients spans the many phases of the condominium and cooperative formation process, including the promulgation of condominium and cooperative governing documents, the preparation and filing of condominium and cooperative offering plans (or applications for no-action letters) with the New York State Department of Law, and the sale of individual residential and commercial condominium and cooperative units. With nearly 15 years of experience representing sellers and purchasers in the acquisition, sale, and lease of high-end co-op and condominium units, townhouses and residential homes, Mr. Kriegstein provides clients with comprehensive services, including pre-contract due diligence review of properties, contract preparation and negotiation, title and lien search review and guidance through all aspects of a residential closing transaction. Being that such a large portion of Mr. Kriegstein’s practice is focused on representing developers and drafting condominium and cooperative documents, clients purchasing under an offering plan gain invaluable insight about the transaction which translates into more information, better protection and unparalleled counsel. Bar Admissions: New York; Education: University of South Florida (B.S. Major in Criminal Justice, Minor in Political Science, 1996); Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center (J.D., cum laude, Goodwin Fellow, 2001).
spappas@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2684
Shaun W. Pappas practices in the general real estate group with a focus on development and offering plans. Mr. Pappas works with developers, lenders and investors in the acquisition, sale, and financing of complex commercial, mixed-use, and luxury residential properties in New York. Mr. Pappas assists clients in all aspects of project development, including the preparation of offering plans, drafting declarations, the condominium creation process, negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, and the closing of title. In addition, Mr. Pappas collaborates with the project’s development team, including sales and marketing, architects and engineers, managing agents, and other general counsel to expeditiously move projects from inception through approval and ultimately to the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements as well as closings. Mr. Pappas handles many of the Firm’s Part 23 conversions from rental to condominium or cooperative ownership and is always informed of the latest updates in this complex area. Mr. Pappas is also the lead partner in charge of the Firm’s leasing department, with a focus on commercial leases. He has worked with owners and tenants on complicated office, retail, restaurant, warehouse, and ground leases throughout New York as well as other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. In addition to his work on real estate transactions, Mr. Pappas has significant experience in commercial litigation, including real property disputes, RPAPL § 881 hearings, defense of construction defects claims, mortgage and timeshare foreclosures and various employment and corporate controversies. He also represents condominium and cooperative boards throughout Manhattan. This dual practice focus allows him to see each particular deal from different angles, which translates into efficient and strategic representation for the Firm’s clients. He previously served as a legal assistant in the Southern District of New York for Judge Harold Baer, Jr. and was an associate at a large law firm in Manhattan. Bar Admissions: New York and New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Education: Binghamton University (B.S., cum laude, 2005); Cardozo Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2008). Boards: The New York Neo-Futurists.
slevi@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2678
SALLIE SCHLAM LEVI is senior counsel at Starr Associates LLP concentrating her practice on condominium, cooperative, and timeshare registrations and compliance with the New York State Attorney General’s regulations. Ms. Levi’s expertise runs the gamut from offering plans for conversions and ground-up new construction to “no-action” filings in residential, mixed-use, and commercial projects. Projects have included complex underlying qualified leaseholds, affordable housing, and high-end luxury developments. Additional practice areas include leasing, financing and real estate acquisitions. Ms. Levi provides guidance and due diligence support to lenders, principals, and transactional counsel where underlying issues require a thorough and practical understanding of condominium law. Bar Admissions: New York and New Jersey. Education: Queens College, C.U.N.Y. (B.A., 1982); Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1985). Member: American Bar Association; New York Bar Association; Teaneck, New Jersey Bar Association. Foreign Language: Hebrew
dtyler@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2694
DAVID WILLIAM TYLER is senior counsel in the litigation department at Starr Associates LLP and represents international and domestic corporations and individuals, serving as a trusted counselor and advisor. Mr. Tyler serves as lead attorney on a wide range of complex commercial and corporate matters, real estate and business disputes, liability defense, class action, fraud, internal and government investigations. He has represented litigants in a broad range of actions and proceedings before state and federal courts nationwide. Mr. Tyler has lectured and published on effective litigation practices, strategic use of expert witnesses, and qui tam litigation, including matters brought under state and federal False Claims Acts. Bar Admissions: New York, New Jersey, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the District of
New Jersey. Education: CUNY Queens College (B.A. 1997); Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 2000).
bcrosby@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2690
Brian D. Crosby represents leading developers and investors in complex mixed-use, commercial and luxury residential projects, with a particular focus on condominiums and cooperatives. Mr. Crosby navigates clients through all phases of the planning, structuring and implementation of sophisticated real estate ownership and operation regimes, as well as the registration, marketing and sale of residential and mixed-use condominium and cooperative public and nonpublic offerings. His work includes drafting condominium and cooperative governing documentation, preparing and filing offering plans, and drafting and filing for no-action applications with the New York State Department of Law, as well drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements. Mr. Crosby has worked on a number of sophisticated and complex projects, both within and outside New York. Prior to joining Starr Associates LLP, he was an associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in the firm’s condominium and cooperative practice. Bar Admissions: New York; United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: New York University; Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2009).
edangelo@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2676
EVELYN D’ANGELO practices in the development and offering plan group and has experience with complex residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments (including the preparation and filing of offering plans, negotiation of contracts, and the creation of the development’s governing regime) with respect to condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations. Prior to joining Starr Associates LLP, Ms. D’Angelo interned at the Real Estate Finance Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General, where she assisted with the review of amendments to offering plans to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. Ms. D’Angelo graduated with honors from Brooklyn Law School, having achieved such distinctions as membership in the prestigious Moot Court Honor Society and her publication in the Brooklyn Law Review. Upon graduation, Ms. D’Angelo was awarded the commencement prize “Max M. Lome Memorial Prize,” for highest achievement in the area of urban law, and the “Real Estate Certificate with Distinction,” for her excellence in extensive real estate courses. Bar Admissions: New York; Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A. 2007); Bowling Green State University (M.A. 2009); Brooklyn Law School (J.D. 2013).
bsiegel@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2677
BENJAMIN P. SIEGEL practices in the general real estate group with a focus on development and offering plans. Mr. Siegel works with institutional developers, investors, and lenders in connection with the creation and governance of residential, commercial, and mixed-use condominiums and cooperatives, and the acquisition, disposition, financing, and leasing of commercial and luxury residential properties. Mr. Siegel also has extensive experience in commercial litigation and assists clients in the evaluation, litigation, and resolution of real property disputes.
Prior to joining Starr Associates LLP, Mr. Siegel practiced high-stakes commercial litigation at a nationally-recognized firm with an emphasis on business and environmental disputes involving substantial financial or business exposure. Mr. Siegel graduated from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, magna cum laude, in 2014 with the Business Honors concentration. Mr. Siegel served as an Associate Editor on the Hofstra Law Review.
Bar Admission: New York
Education: Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2014); University of Delaware (B.A., 2010).
cferszt@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2673
COURTNEY J. FERSZT practices in the general real estate group with a focus on development and offering plans. Ms. Ferszt works with developers, investors, and lenders in connection with the creation and governance of condominiums and cooperatives. She also assists with conducting due diligence reviews of residential and commercial properties, commercial
leasing, and negotiating purchase and sale agreements. Prior to joining Starr Associates, as a law student, Ms. Ferszt interned in various law firms, primarily focusing on residential real estate transactions. Ms. Ferszt graduated from Cardozo Law School where she served as an Associate Editor on the Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice and participated in the Real Estate Clinic and Public Service Auction Committee. Bar Admissions: New York and New Jersey. Education: Lehigh University (B.A., with honors, 2017); Cardozo Law School (J.D., Dean’s Merit Scholar, 2020).
jrodriguez@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2685
JOHN RODRIGUEZ is the director of the Firm’s closing department. He is in charge of coordinating unit closings with the Firm’s developer clients and their sales and marketing professionals and interfaces with the developers’ construction lenders and title companies retained by purchasers. Mr. Rodriguez prepares all closing statements, supervises actual closings and implements the disbursement of escrow and other funds. Mr. Rodriguez is highly regarded in the real estate industry for his attention to detail, ability to handle complex matters, and coordinate diverse and competing interests in order to close transactions timely and efficiently.
lostrover@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2695
LORI OSTROVER is a paralegal and integral part of the Firm’s closing department. She handles all aspects of the closing process, including preparation of closing statements, closing coordination with developers, lenders, purchasers and title companies. Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Indiana University; Paralegal Certificate, New York University.
jmartinez@starr-lawfirm.com
(212) 620-2687
JOSELYN MARTINEZ is a paralegal in the Firm’s closing department and has been closing residential and real estate transactions for well over a decade. She handles all aspects of the closing process, including preparation of closing statements, closing coordination with developers, lenders, sellers, purchasers, and title companies. Education: Bachelor of Arts, John Jay College Criminal Justice, New York, New York.
dballone@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2679
DANIEL BALLONE is a paralegal in the Firm’s development and offering plan group. He is in charge of maintaining the Firm’s extensive database of offering plan amendments to insure that projects are timely amended prior to the expiry of the prior amendment. While the Firm currently keeps track of, and prepares over 150 amendments for a diverse group of projects, Mr. Ballone’s attention to detail insures accuracy and prudent oversight. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Ballone gained invaluable experience working as a paralegal in several New York law firms. Education: Berkley College, White Plains, New York, Bachelor in Business Administration – Management.
cborg@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2693
Christopher Borg has been with the Firm since it was founded and has worked in many paralegal capacities. He has served as the Administrative Supervisor since 2015. Specializing in the transactional aspect of the practice, he has forged trusting relationships over the years with clients, sales agents and attorneys for purchasers, which has helped to streamline the sales process. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah and as the team leader for the support staff, he combines his passion for language and communication with a compulsion for organization and building efficient systems
bcaberte@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2696
Betty Caberte is a legal assistant in the Firm’s cooperative and condominium department. She works directly with Allan Starr, the Co-Managing Partner of the Firm. She processes contracts, interacts with attorneys, clients and sales professionals. Her efficiency and knowledge of the field makes her a very valuable asset to the Firm. Ms. Caberte has worked with Mr. Starr since 1994.
bburnett@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2698
Barbara Burnett has over 15 years of real estate transactional and paralegal experience, and has been a member of the Starr team since 2014. Barbara serves dual roles at Starr – – she assists our attorneys on the development side, from offering plan drafting through contract drafting and closing and also supports our attorneys in the litigation department. Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Pace University and is a graduate of the Queens College Paralegal program.
iegger@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2688
Ingrid Egger joined the firm in May 2015 with years of experience as a legal assistant. With Starr Associates, she assists in cooperative and condominium real estate transactions. She interacts with attorneys, sponsors and sales professionals to bring transactions from the contract negotiation stage through to closing.
sparker@starr-lawfirm.com
212-620-2692
Shelecia Parker has been working with Samantha Sheeber and Allan Starr for over 20 years and has been with Starr Associates since it was founded. She is extremely proficient in navigating the offering plan process and working with the Attorney General’s office. She is also well-versed in real estate transactions, assisting the Firm’s attorneys in all facets of the negotiation and drafting of purchase and sale agreements. She has a reputation for being “on top” of all the deals she works on in order to efficiently manage each project and ensure that deals are executed in a timely fashion.
I have known Allan Starr for many years and worked with him on many projects. He has always exceeded my expectations. He not only knows the ins and outs of the law, but knows how to make the whole process easy and quick. I’ve found him to possess an incredibly astute legal mind, combined with a common sense approach that always accomplishes my goals. He’s not only a gentleman and a friend, but a brilliant lawyer.
It has been an absolute pleasure working with Allan Starr and Samantha Sheeber over the past twelve years. They are not only the utmost professionals, but also wonderful people who I have grown to love like family. I trust them with all of my new development projects and private clients, and we support each other in our business and personal lives. Starr Associates LLP has always been there for me and my clients and I would recommend them as highly as I recommend anyone.
Starr Associates is a top tier condo/coop firm and I have worked with Allan and his team for decades. They have a tremendous depth of knowledge and expertise in the condo/coop area and are very well respected by the industry. Starr Associates produces first class product, provides fast and efficient answers and solutions, and understands client service.
Allan and I have worked together for decades; along the way, I have worked with Samantha Sheeber, Andrea Roschelle, John Rodriguez and Erica Starr and have always been pleased with their quick and accurate responses. They have worked with us on closings (with great and efficient results), restatements of stale plans, amendments and other assorted AG requirements, always on a timely and cost-effective basis.
“Working with Starr has been great on three condo projects in Manhattan to date. The accessibility and direct attention of the partners is unsurpassed. Allan and Sam have the interests of the owner at heart and make every effort to protect our interests in a responsible and defensible manner. Their practical approach and deep knowledge of the offering plan process and requirements of the AG office combine to make a highly effective and efficient package. At the associate level they have good support as well. The closing office has to be the best in NY – never a failed closing in 15 years. We are repeat customers and will be going forward.”
“Samantha Sheeber is a partner in making transactions successful. She’s resourceful, respected, smart, funny as hell, and is swift to constantly embarrass us (and clients) because she sees the end while we all muddle in the middle. She saves time. She is selfless and fast and conscientious. She’s loyal to the notion of selflessly getting stuff done. She cultivates great talent. And she makes the process fun, even when she is mad at us for asking the same impossible question 11 times hoping for a new result (a solution for which — by the way — she often discovers).”
“As an active developer in New York City, Magnum Real Estate Group is proud to have partnered with Starr Associates, LLP as our legal counsel in 5 significant projects valued at approximately $800 million. Over the last 5 years, Starr has provided us with exceptional advice on condominium Offering Plans and related transactions. Partner Samantha Sheeber, Esq. and her team have professionally guided us, and provided creative and effective solutions when needed.”
“I have had the fortunate opportunity, over the past 16 years, to work with Allan Starr and Samantha Sheeber who I consider to be experts in the field of real estate law. They, together with their team, have a deep understanding of Attorney General Offering Plan registrations and continually seek to identify creative solutions to complicated issues. Their level of integrity and commitment are unwavering no matter how large or small a project. I completely endorse Starr Associates LLP and look forward to our mutual continued success.”
“Starr Associates’ specialty in the creation and representation of condominiums is unmatched. Their knowledge, experience and professionalism in the office condominium sector is best-in-class. Starr Associates’ hard work and expertise has been critical to the success of our firm’s office condominium projects.”
“Starr Associates have been our condominium attorneys for many years. Their counsel goes well beyond just drafting the condominium documents, which of course they do extremely well. They also represent us and our brand with condominium unit purchasers, and with our lenders and partners on condominium related matters. We have always found Starr’s attorneys to be professional, responsive and cost-conscious.”