Q&A with Michael H. Sahn

2019 marks the Firm’s 20th anniversary. Looking back and looking ahead, Michael shares some thoughts and observations about the Firm, and its legal practice.

MICHAEL H. SAHN

What were your goals when you started the Firm?

My goals were simple. Build a law firm based on excellence that would provide the highest quality representation for our clients and always adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards. Jon Ward, who joined me a year after I established the Firm likes to say that we made a commitment to “Tiffany-like” work product, done the right way-meaning that the services and advice we provide are always the best by every measure and standard. I think that adhering to these fundamental principles has given us the foundation to build the Firm, and set the stage for our future, sustained growth.

When you started the Firm, did you have any concerns about whether you could accomplish your goals?

No, none whatsoever. I was fortunate to have great mentors who taught me how to be a lawyer, and how to practice law “the right way”. I only worked for two people in my career. My first and always “Boss” is Judge Edward G. McCabe, who is now Special Counsel to our Firm. Judge McCabe hired me right out of law school when he was the Town Attorney in North Hempstead. The Judge basically had one rule for everyone who worked for him; that was do the best you can and do it right. Judge had no exceptions. He had a simple phrase when he inquired about a case or legal issue: “Don’t tell me what you think, tell me what you know.” After working at the Town, I joined Mike Ricigliano in private practice. Like the Judge, Mike never compromised his values. And, when it came time for me to go out on my own, he gave me his unconditional support and encouragement. So, I learned from great people and had great people behind me. I was confident that if I applied the lessons I learned, I would be successful.

Law practice is very demanding. What do you enjoy most about the Firm and its practice?

The people who I work with at the Firm, my partners, the attorneys and our professional staff, are absolutely the best. I enjoy working with everyone, every day. We have a collegial working environment based on a high respect for each other. Our Firm culture is unique. We enjoy working with each other, we collaborate on issues, and we challenge each other to achieve. We participate in many activities together outside the office, such as our softball and bowling teams, and other social activities. Everyday I learn something new from my partners and the other attorneys at the Firm as well as our professional staff. Many of us have worked together from the time I started the Firm, or even before that in my former firm with Mike Ricigliano. In addition, we have terrific, sophisticated clients who entrust us with their cases and legal issues. We take our responsibility very seriously. Nothing is more satisfying then the mutual respect and trust between attorney and client. We do our best to nurture and sustain that relationship. That gives us incredible satisfaction.

What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of?

Every lawyer or professional has certain cases they always recall as high points in a career or cases that laid the foundation for the future. When we first started the Firm, Jon Ward and I litigated a case challenging the New York State’s right to build sound barrier walls along the LIE. We took on the State and won on the merits. That set the tone for our practice. Even though years later the decision was reversed on a technical, statute of limitations issue having nothing to do with the merits, we learned that we were capable of achieving great results with diligent work. After that we had a very complex case about the termination of a commercial lease. Our client was a very prominent developer with uncompromising values, and the other party was represented by a large New York City firm. Again, we were successful and that, too, set the foundation for many cases. Recently, we have achieved successes for not-for-profit health care institutions that will enable patients in need to get the most sophisticated medical care for themselves and their families. That is the most gratifying work we’ve ever done because generations of people will benefit from our efforts.

How do you see the future of the Firm?

Our Firm is going to continue to grow. We want to take the Firm to the next level, so to speak. We now have a New York City and a Suffolk County office. We expect to continue to add lawyers and staff, and expand our practice areas as a full service Firm. For our Firm size, our attorneys are young, and exceptionally experienced, talented, and dedicated. That’s the perfect combination for the future. We will always look for new opportunities to grow, and hope to attract talented people to join us. We are ready to invest in our future. Standing still is not in our vocabulary.

Matters of Interest

MICHELLE GREENBERG

SWC Guides Purchase of the Seawane Country Club

The Firm recently represented the purchasers of The Sewane Country Club located on the South Shore of Long Island. The attorneys in the Environment, Energy and Resources practice group guided the transaction. Our team consisted of Michael Sahn, Wayne Edwards, Michelle Greenberg, Miriam Villani, Christian Browne, Kyle Lawrence, and Adam Koblenz. The team members worked together using their knowledge and expertise of real estate, zoning, land use, corporate, and environmental law to provide counsel necessary to close on the purchase of the property.

Chris Coschignano and Nicholas Cappadora attend the Opening Ceremony of Mill Creek Residential Facility in Mineola

Chris Coschignano and Nicholas Cappadora recently attended the opening ceremony for Mill Creek Residential, an apartment complex, which was built on the 2-acre site of the former Corpus Christi Elementary School. The Firm was instrumental in assisting with the zoning variances and the Nassau County IDA required for the project to move forward to development. The apartment complex consists of 192 apartment units in the highly desirable Mineola community.

Joshua D. Brookstein Promoted to Partner

JOSHUA D. BROOKSTEIN

SWC is very pleased to announce the promotion of Joshua D. Brookstein to Partner.

Josh concentrates his practice in zoning and land use planning, municipal law, real estate law and transactions, and litigation and appeals.

Josh’s responsibilities include representing the Firm’s municipal and private-sector clients as well as not-for-profit institutions in a wide range of cases. Recently, Josh guided the recording of the first commercial subleasehold condominium subdivision map in Nassau County for a not-for-profit healthcare institution. Josh has also worked on the Firm’s team that secured approvals for medevac helicopters to land at Cohen Children's Medical Center in Lake Success.

Josh has received various awards and recognitions for his professional accomplishments. He was selected by Super Lawyers to the Metro New York Rising Star List in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He was also a recipient of the Long Island Business News Leadership in Law Award in 2018, in the law firm Associate category.

Outside his regular office responsibilities, Josh serves the legal profession and his community in many ways. He received the Pro Bono/Public Service Attorney of the Year Award from Touro Law Center in 2018 for his dedication to pro-bono work.

For the past five years, Josh has been involved in the New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament — his first year as a judge, and the last four as attorney advisor to a mock trial team. In addition to serving as a mock trial coach, he also serves as a mentor to middle school students through the Nassau County Bar Association. During the regular school year, Josh mentors students twice each month at public schools in Nassau County.

Josh is a Board member of Teach for America – New York Associate Board where he supports Teach For America’s mission to eliminate the achievement gap in education. He also serves on the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center’s Nassau County Family Court Children’s Center Advisory Council.

Josh is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, and the Nassau County Bar Association, where he serves as Chair of the Association’s Community Relations and Public Education Committee. The Community Relations and Public Education Committee is charged with organizing timely and relevant public seminars to the residents of Nassau County.

Josh graduated cum laude from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Political Management. He later earned a Masters degrees from Fordham University and Bank Street College of Education. He graduated from New York Law School, where he was the Student Commencement Speaker and an Arthur Abbey Public Service Fellow.

“We are extremely proud that Josh is now a Partner of the Firm,” said Michael Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Member. “Josh is an exceptionally accomplished and dedicated lawyer. He is a vital part of our practice, and he has earned the respect and confidence of our clients and his colleagues at the Firm. We greatly respect Josh’s commitment to community service and pro-bono work. Josh is a role model for all of us in his engagement with our clients and his community.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues, and to serving the Firm’s clients in this new capacity,” Josh said. “I cannot thank enough, the Firm’s members and the rest of the SWC team, for this incredible opportunity.”

Prior to joining the Firm, Josh worked at the New York City Law Department, in its Family Court Division, and was a member of the Special Victims Unit where he handled felony and misdemeanor cases through trial.

Firm News

Chris J. Coschignano/SWC Scholarship Awarded to Touro Law School Student

Chris J. Coschignano has announced that Alessandra Albano and Siara Osso have been awarded the Chris J. Coschignano/SWC Scholarship. The scholarship, which was established in 2016, is awarded to two second-year law students at Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center who are interested in practicing in the area of land use or real estate law. The scholarship has special meaning to Mr. Coschignano who is a 1990 graduate of Touro Law. Mr. Coschignano recently attended the Law School's Scholarship Dinner where he had the opportunity to meet this year’s scholarship recipients.

CHRIS J. COSCHIGNANO

SWC Will Be Hosting an Earth Day Event on April 22, 2019

SWC will be hosting an Earth Day event in conjunction with the NYSBA Environmental and Energy Law Section (EELS) on April 22, 2019, from 5:30-7:30pm. The event is being held to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. This networking event will feature light refreshments and a notable speaker from the local environmental community. Learn more about the event here.

Nicholas Cappadora Joins NYSBA Young Lawyers Section Trip to Washington D.C. to be Sworn in before U.S. Supreme Court Justices

On November 18, 2019, Nick was admitted to the United States Supreme Court through a program sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Cappadora was sworn in during an open session of the Court. Afterwards, the group received the special honor of meeting Chief Justice John Roberts.

Elaine Colavito Earns LIBN's Leadership in Law Award

On Thursday, November 21, 2019, Elaine Colavito was awarded the Long Island Business News Leadership in Law Award in the Partner category. Ms. Colavito received this award due to her dedication both in the legal profession and in the community. Learn more about Ms. Colavito's biography here.

SWC Supports 2019 Long Island Smart Growth Summit as a Sponsor

Sahn Ward Coschignano was a sponsor of the 2019 Long Island Smart Growth Summit, which was presented by Vision Long Island. The summit took place on December 6th, at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. This year's event featured a State of the Towns and Villages Panel, more than 20 separate workshops, over 100 speakers and panelists, an industry trade show, and a Long Island Youth Summit.

Thomas McKevitt Coaches Holy Trinity High School Moot Court Team to Nassau County Championships

Thomas McKevitt, Counsel with the Firm, coached the Holy Trinity Diocesan High School Moot Court Team for this year’s Moot Court Competition, which took place on November 18th, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip before Federal Magistrate Judges Lindsay and Locke.

To prepare the team for the competition, Mr. McKevitt taught the members the basics of Constitutional Law and how to argue before an appellate panel of judges. Ralph Branciforte, Partner, and Matthew C. McCann, Associate, assisted the students as they practiced at Sahn Ward Coschignano's office.

The team was able to successfully argue in favor of its side before Federal Magistrate Judges Lindsay and Locke so that it advanced to the Nassau County Championship on November 21st. Although it put forth an excellent effort, the team was defeated in its match against Massapequa.

Thomas McKevitt (right) with members of the Moot Court Team

New Developments in the Law

Elaine Colavito's "Bench Briefs" Appears in The Suffolk Lawyer

Elaine Colavito's "Bench Briefs" column was published in the November 2019 edition of The Suffolk Lawyer (Pages 6 & 32). "Bench Briefs" is a roundup of recent decisions from Suffolk County trial courts.

ELAINE M. COLAVITO

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Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC is one of the region's most highly regarded and recognized law firms. Our attorneys are thought leaders and dedicated to achieving success through excellence. With our broad experience in land use, development, litigation, real estate, corporate, and environmental law, we have the vision and knowledge to serve our clients and our communities.

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