Six attorneys join Adler & Stachenfeld

Manhattan, NY According to Adler & Stachenfeld (A&S), six attorneys from Seiden & Schein, P.C. have joined the firm, including its co-founder and named partner, Alvin Schein. Schein will be a partner and will co-chair the firm’s real estate tax & zoning incentive practice with YuhTyng Patka. In addition, Hillary Potashnick has joined the firm and will chair its new condominium & cooperative practice group.

“This is an exciting time at Adler & Stachenfeld,” said managing partner Terri Adler. “Alvin, Hillary, and Stacy are natural fits for A&S and are joining us at a time of significant growth. The additions to our NYC real estate tax & zoning incentives practice group, and the creation of a condominium & cooperative practice group, will amplify our ability to serve our developer, owner, and lender clients in guiding them through the ever-changing and highly complex landscape of New York City real estate and policies.” 

On the move, Schein said, “Adler & Stachenfeld’s sole focus on real estate and deep bench of expertise are the perfect fit for my background and the team of talented professionals that have joined me in this perfectly-timed move. This will enable us to continue to meet the growing demands of our high-profile developer clients.” 

Schein will co-chair the NYC Real Estate Tax & Zoning Incentives Practice Group with YuhTyng Patka, a partner at Adler & Stachenfeld who has chaired the practice since 2019. Schein is a recognized expert in cooperative, condominium, and affordable housing law. He has spearheaded the filing of more than 200 inclusionary housing plans with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and is one of the few attorneys in New York whose practice includes the representation of sellers and purchasers of inclusionary air rights. 

“I have known Alvin for many years, during which time we have explored the idea of working together at some point in our careers,” said Patka. “There are great sea changes taking place in the New York City development landscape, particularly around New York’s zoning and tax incentives, so this has turned out to be the ideal moment for us to join forces. We are also excited to be working in tandem with our firm’s Land Use & Zoning and NYC Development Practice Groups,” Patka said. 

Potashnick will chair its new Condominium & Cooperative Practice Group. The practice will represent developers of condominiums and cooperatives — including market-rate, income-restricted, and mixed-use projects — across New York City. Potashnick has more than 30 years of experience in acquisitions and sales of real estate, cooperative/condominium new construction and conversion projects, all aspects of registrations and representation of developers, lenders, and co-op and condo boards, financing and workouts between purchasers and developers/lenders, advocacy before the New York State Attorney General’s office and general real estate practice. 

In addition, Jacobson has joined as a partner and will focus her practice on a broad array of real estate transactions, financing, leasing, and development matters, as well as practicing in inclusionary housing. With almost 25 years of experience, Jacobson counsels her clients on the acquisition, financing, leasing, development and disposition of real estate and real estate-related assets of all property types. 

Associate David Lu will work with Potashnick in the Condominium & Cooperative Practice Group, and Associates Scott Schreiber and Efram Klipper will work with Patka and Schein in the Real Estate Tax & Zoning Incentives Practice Group. 

Bruce Stachenfeld, chairman and a founding partner of Adler & Stachenfeld, said, “Our longstanding competitive advantage has been our Pure Play in Real Estate Law Model, which is grounded in the relentless focus on the real estate industry. Everything we do is founded on making us the one-stop shop and best-in-class legal partner for real estate clients. The addition of a luminary like Alvin, along with his accomplished team, further strengthens our Pure Play strategy. On a personal level, I hold Alvin in high regard and look forward to collaborating closely on a range of impactful initiatives.”