Racanelli of Farrell Fritz named general counsel of ABLI

John Racanelli, Farrell Fritz

Hauppauge, NY The Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) has appointed John Racanelli as general counsel for the organization.

Racanelli, a partner with the  firm Farrell Fritz, focuses his practice on commercial real estate acquisitions, development, leasing, financing and construction. His prior professional background allowed him to pursue a dual role as both principal and general counsel of a prominent real estate development and construction business which built some 13 million s/f of commercial and industrial space.

 ABLI executive director Desmond Ryan said, “John’s expertise and background provide a perfect complement to our mission of advocating on behalf of orderly economic growth on Long Island. As the real estate development industry becomes even more complex and challenging, having someone with John’s legal credentials is vital to our organization’s mission.”

 ABLI President Laureen Harris stated, “John has an outstanding reputation for his unique insight into Long Island development issues and the legal challenges that often accompany those proposals. He is a welcome addition to the ABLI team.”

Racanelli said, “It is an honor to work with the ABLI so that we may pursue a shared commitment to sustained economic growth that can protect our region’s quality of life.”                                                                                                                                 

A background of insight and expertise

Racanelli has served on numerous boards throughout his career and is actively engaged in various educational and community activities. Since 1981, he has been a member of Dowling College’s board of trustees and formerly served as the board’s chairman. He is a director of the Council of Governing Boards for New York’s Independent Education Trustees where he has previously served as chairman and vice chairman. He is a board member of the Long Island Arts Alliance; a member of the Energeia Partnership and the LI Index advisory boards; and chair of the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corporation’s board of directors;

Racanelli formerly chaired the board of directors of the Long Island Association. He has served as a director of the Long Island Builders Institute, the Action Committee for Long Island, the Association for a Better Long Island and the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, which he chaired.

Racanelli received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1969 from New York University School of Law where he was research editor of the Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in 1966.