Judy Lynn Simoncic, Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana LLP

Name: Judy Lynn Simoncic Title: Partner Company/firm: Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana LLP I concentrate my practice in the areas of zoning, land use, environmental, municipal, and real estate law. I represent national franchises, Fortune 500 companies, national corporations, large real estate development companies as well as individual real estate developers in the development of both residential and commercial properties throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. She regularly appears on behalf of her clients before municipal boards on a diversity of zoning applications such as variances, special use permits, change of zones, site plan approval, and major and minor subdivisions. She has secured zoning approvals for Senior Housing Projects, Retail and Office Complexes, Multiple Dwelling Projects, Planned Unit Developments, Assisted Living Facilities, Equestrian facilities, Public Storage Facilities, Fitness Clubs, Public Utility Facilities, Restaurant Franchises, among others. Simoncic is a member of the Hauppauge Industrial Association and LIREG (the Long Island Real Estate Group). What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2010? In the fall of 2010, I was selected by the Long Island Business News to be featured in its publication entitled "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." This annual listing recognizes Long Island's top women professionals in business, education, government and the not-for-profit fields for their business acumen, mentoring and community involvement. It was an honor to be named amongst some of the most influential women in business on long island. I was proud to be named in this category by Long Island's well respected publication which is truly the premier source of business news and data within this region for more than 50 years. How do you contribute to the industry? The current state of the economy has affected my profession in the legal industry. As an attorney specializing in land use and zoning, the downturn in the real estate market has left its mark. The principles of supply and demand are present with an abundance of properties available and difficulty securing financing; there are fewer real estate development projects that are being pursued. The current economy also has put a tremendous amount of pressure on attorneys to save costs for clients. More than ever I find that I am aggressively pushing applications through the approval process while at the same time being mindful that the necessary steps are taken to achieve the clients' ultimate goals. Each day a project is delayed it impacts the client financially and in this economy attention to timing is everything. In this market, my goal is to have projects approved as expeditiously and economically for the client as possible. In this economy, I find my role as an advisor to my clients has expanded beyond just counseling them on land use and zoning issues but extends well beyond to financing concerns and the overall financial viability of projects. In addition, I have also actively brought clients together to assist each other in working out deals that they would have previously pursued on their own. In this economy clients are seeking more and more to partner up with other developers so that they can minimize their exposure. In these situations, it is a win-win for everyone involved.