McCarthy Fingar acquires Municipal Law and Land Use Group

McCarthy Fingar LLP, one of the Hudson Valley's most distinguished law firms, revealed the formation of a new Municipal Law and Land Use practice group. Effective November 1, the group will focus on serving the legal needs of clients or municipal entities engaged in developing a comprehensive strategy for real estate projects where there is interplay of zoning and other land use, eminent domain or development issues. The group will also engage in administrative and litigated proceedings both before and on behalf of governmental units, including tax certiorari proceedings. The Municipal Law and Land Use group will be led by Clinton B. Smith, with attorneys Lester D. Steinman and Daniel Pozin serving as partners and Anna Georgiou, who will be of counsel. All four attorneys recently joined McCarthy Fingar after working for Wormser Kiely Galef and Jacobs, LLP in White Plains. "We're excited to have this talented group join the firm," said McCarthy Fingar co-administrative partner Lisa Newfield. "All of them are outstanding attorneys and their wealth of experience in planning, zoning and environmental law processes—as well as the political arena in which land use approvals are processed and approved—will greatly enhance the services we offer to our clients." Clinton B. Smith is deeply involved in government and public affairs in the Hudson Valley region. In addition to maintaining various professional memberships and serving on numerous boards, Smith served as New Castle Town Supervisor from 1996 to 1999. He has served the Westchester County Planning Board and the Teatown Lake Reservation Board of Trustees since 2000 and is a member of the New York City Watershed Protection and Partnership Council, East of Hudson Advisory Committee (1998 - present). Smith earned his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1977. With extensive experience in municipal law, Lester D. Steinman began his legal career as Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York; he then served the Westchester County Department of Law as an attorney and as Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney. In addition to representing clients, he has worked as an editor for "Municipal Lawyer" magazine since 1984. Additionally, Steinman is the Director of the Edwin G. Michaelian Municipal Law Resource Center and has served as Adjunct Professor of Local Government Law and Finance at Pace University. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University in 1974. Daniel Pozin has practiced extensively in the areas of municipal law, real estate development, zoning and planning, and environmental law. He sits as Village Counsel to the Board of Trustees and Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Elmsford in Westchester County and has advised various municipal boards in other towns throughout the county. He's also conducted in rem tax foreclosure proceedings on behalf of the towns of Briarcliff Manor, New Castle, Rye and Scarsdale. Additionally, Pozin has represented the interests of numerous private clients seeking approvals for matters involving real estate development from municipal boards throughout Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties. Pozin earned his Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University Law School in 1988. With significant experience in the areas of municipal law, real estate development, zoning and planning and environmental law, Anna L. Georgiou has represented a number of municipal clients, property owners and developers in land use approval and the environmental review process. She also sits as Zoning Board of Appeals Counsel to the Town of Yorktown in Westchester County. Prior to practicing law, she was engaged in the development of affordable housing and community development for the public and non-profit sectors. Formerly, Georgiou served an adjunct law professor and Director of Research for the Land Use Law Center at Pace Law School. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Pace University School of Law in 1998.