Attorney Profiles

JOSEPH BURDEN is a founding partner of  the firm.

Mr. Burden, as senior trial counsel, has tried many cases in the Civil and Supreme Courts, including complicated non-primary residence and owner occupancy proceedings and commercial holdover and non-payment proceedings. Mr. Burden was successful in setting the initial precedent for an owner's right to pre-trial discovery in non-primary residence holdover proceedings (NYU v. Farkas). He represents several non-profit institutions, including New York University, Columbia University, Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, the Jewish Theological Seminary and Lenox Hill Hospital.

Mr. Burden also specializes in loft litigation and administrative proceedings before the New York City Loft Board. He successfully handled the first proceeding permitting an owner to recover possession of a loft for the owner's own residential use. He also advises owners throughout the loft legalization process.

In addition to litigation, Mr. Burden has represented numerous clients in the negotiation and drafting of commercial leases.

Mr. Burden has lectured at the Practicing Law Institute and the City Bar Association on residential holdover proceedings and commercial non-payment proceedings and at the Association of Housing Court Judges on legislative changes.

Mr. Burden is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Port Washington Public Library and the Chair of the Housing Court Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.