October 2008

Partners Michael Branca and Mark Berry recently wrote a comprehensive treatise entitled Virginia Construction Law. The treatise, published by Thomson-West, covers all major legal issues arising in the construction industry in Virginia including licensing, building code compliance, public-private partnerships, public contract bidding and performance, dispute resolution, damages, third party liability, liens and bonds, and other important issues. For more information or to order the book, please click here.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that K. Stefan Chin and Warren E. Friedman have joined the firm as associates in our Miami office.

Steve Charney and Tom Thompson will be speaking about "What Every Contractor Should Know About the False Claims Act" at the International Risk Management Institute's (IRMI) Construction Risk Conference on October 29th in Las Vegas. For more information or to register for the conference please click here.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that 14 of its partners have been chosen as Best Lawyers in America 2009.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been chosen as 2008 New York Super Lawyers in Construction Law: Richard Abramson, Steve Charney, Robert Drucker, Charlie Kenny, Bruce Meller, Bob Peckar, Howard Rosen and Charles Williams. Bob Peckar was also chosen as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in the metro New York area. "Only five percent of New York Metro attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers list. The selection process is based on peer nominations, blue ribbon panel review and independent research."

Ralf Rodgriguez will be presenting a seminar on October 31st regarding An Overview of the Complex Construction Defect Litigation Process. For additional information please contact Jason Salvin, Esq., Construction Law Committee Chairman (305-358-2600). To register for the upcoming seminar please contact Grace Febles at the Dade County Bar (305-371-2220).

September 2008

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Christian Harvat has joined the firm as a litigation associate in our New Jersey office and Margaret Bettenhausen has joined the firm as a litigation associate in our Fort Lauderdale office.

Peckar & Abramson will be sponsoring a breakfast seminar entitled "Collaboration Through BIM-Lessons for GCs and CMs" on Tuesday, September 23rd in New York City. For more information or to register for the seminar please click here.

Jeffrey Daitz will be presenting a seminar, sponsored by Lewis & Associates and Aging Services of California, entitled "The Human Resources Dilemma" on September 16th, 18th and 19th in California. The seminar will address several workplaces practices including hire packets/employee handbooks, personnel policy and procedure manuals and self audits. For more information regarding this seminar, please click here.

Melinda S. Gentile, Neal I. Sklar and Gary M. Stein will be presenting a one day seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, entitled "Condominium Construction Issues in Florida" on September 23rd, 2008 in Miami. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here.

August 2008

Client Alert: Florida Supreme Court Favorably Revises Its Prior Ruling

Matt Coglianese recently presented a seminar entitled Green Construction Part II - Liability Risks with Green Building Construction at the Dade County Bar Association's Law Committee meeting on July 25th. Mindy Gentile will be presenting a seminar on August 22nd regarding Construction Law Dispute Resolution. For additional information please contact Jason Salvin, Esq., Construction Law Committee Chairman (305-358-2600). To register for the upcoming seminars please contact Grace Febles at the Dade County Bar (305-371-2220).

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Chad E. Cron has joined the firm as an associate in our Miami office.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Elana Ben-Dov has been selected as a 2008 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Employment Litigation and Denis Serkin has been selected as a 2008 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Construction Law.

Client Alert: Good News: NYC Recognizes Delay Claims

Jerry Brodsky will be speaking regarding Selection of Arbitrators and Evidence at the 2nd International Congress for Arbitration in Engineering conference on August 7th and 8th in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

July 2008

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Lisa Lesser has been selected as one of the Top Ten Women in Real Estate and Construction in New Jersey for 2008 by Tri-State Real Estate magazine.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Stephen Katz has been appointed Co-Chair of the Securities Law Division of the Business Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Matt Coglianese recently moderated a session, entitled Sustainable and Conservation Based Development, at the Florida Chamber's 22nd Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School on July 15-16 in Marco Island, Florida.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Richard Abramson, Adrian Bastianelli, Steve Charney, Patrick Greene, Bruce Meller, Bob Peckar, Stephen Reisman and Howard Rosen all once again have been selected by Who's Who Legal as being among the world's leading construction lawyers. Bob Peckar was selected for the third year in a row as the "Leading Construction Lawyer in the World". Who's Who Legal is the official research partner of the International Bar Association and inclusion in the directory is based on research with clients and peers.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that the firm has been selected by The Legal 500 United States - the world's largest legal referral guide as a top construction law firm. Inclusion in this directory is based on the combined opinions of corporate counsel and clients.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce the relocation of its Orange County office to 20 Pacifica, Suite 260.

Gary M. Stein will be a speaker at a one day seminar, sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, entitled "Change Orders in Florida" on July 23, 2008 in Miami, Florida. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here.

June 2008

Chambers USA 2008: Americas Leading Lawyers for Business has once again recognized Peckar & Abramson as a top national construction law firm. Our New York office has been ranked the #1 law firm in New York for the 5th year in a row and our Florida offices (top construction law firm rating 4th year in a row), Washington DC (5th year of high ranking) and our California offices have also been recognized for their excellence.

The following attorneys were singled out for their excellence in Construction Law: Richard L. Abramson, Adrian L. Bastianelli III, Michael A. Branca, Steven M. Charney, Gregory H. Chertoff, Melinda S. Gentile, Robert S. Peckar, Stephen H. Reisman, Howard M. Rosen and Neal I. Sklar. Matt P. Coglianese was recognized for his excellence in Environmental Law.

Client Alert: The U.S. Supreme Court Interprets the “Presentment” Requirement of the Federal False Claims Act, and Adds Intent and Materiality Requirements

Melinda S. Gentile, Adam P. Handfinger and Gary M. Stein will be presenting a one day seminar, sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, entitled "Construction Lien Law in Florida" on June 17, 2008. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here.

Gregory J. Johansen will be a speaker at a one day seminar sponsored by the National Business Institute, entitled "Proving Damages Caused by Mold Infestation" on June 25th in Miami Florida. For more information or to register for this seminar, please click here.

May 2008

New Address: Miami Office

Spring 2008 Newsletter: Peckar & Abramson celebrates 30 Years!

Charles Kenny will be discussing "Litigation Potpourri" and "Differing Site Conditions and Extra Work Claims" at Mealey's Construction Litigation Conference: Delay & Disruption, Construction Failures and Differing Site Conditions on May 20-21st at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia. For more information or to register for the conference please click here.

Adrian Bastianelli will be a speaker at a seminar sponsored by the The Professional Women in Construction Capital Regional Chapter and the American Institute of Architects DC Chapter entitled "The New A201 Document-What it Means to You" on May 22nd from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. For more information, please click here.

April  2008

Partners Tom Thompson and Gregory Begg will be featured speakers at the annual meeting of the Construction Industry Round Table on April 21-23, 2008 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC. Mr. Thompson will be discussing "Government Contractors: Staying Clear of the “Pit-Falls” and “Catch-22’s”" and Mr. Begg will be discussing Immigration: DHS Initiative: “No Match” Letters." For additional information please click here.

Neal Sklar will be a moderator at a one day seminar, sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, entitled "Concrete From A to Z in Florida" on April 30th in Miami. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here.

Gregory Begg and Lorraine D'Angelo will be presenting a one day seminar, sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, entitled "Prevailing Wage Law in New Jersey" on April 25th in East Brunswick, New Jersey and in New York on April 30th. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here for April 25th and here for April 30th.

Patrick Greene and Charles Kenny will be participating in a seminar, sponsored by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, entitled "New Jersey's Lien Laws: Update 2008" on April 30th from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Imperia in Somerset. For more information or to register for the seminar, please click here.

March  2008

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Michael Neal has joined the firm as a Partner in our Orange County office.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Jeffrey R. Escobar has joined the firm as an associate in our New York office.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Adam Handfinger has been promoted to Partner.

February  2008

Client Alert: New York's highest court rules that insurance companies may be liable for extra-contractual damages for  failure to pay insurance benefits

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Victor Madeira Filho, a litigation associate with Pinheiro Neto Advogados in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has joined the firm as visiting attorney in our Miami office as part the American Bar Association's International Legal Exchange Training Program.

Peckar & Abramson is pleased to announce that Steve Charney has been named the Co-Managing Partner of the firm. In addition to fulfilling his primary responsibilities to clients, Mr. Charney will continue to serve as the Managing Partner of the firm's New York office and will work hand-in-hand with Bob Peckar in the overall management of the Firm. In making the announcement, Bob Peckar stated "Steve has achieved the highest levels of recognition as a pre-eminent construction lawyer among our clients, within the construction industry in general and before the practicing bar. Many in our Firm have also recognized or known that Steve was the obvious successor to my role as managing partner of the firm, as Steve has been working very closely with me for some time and I have relied heavily on his assistance and counsel as we have transitioned into a whole new era for our Firm—an era in which the younger partners of this Firm clearly are assuming the mantle of leadership and responsibility that Rich Abramson and I carried for the first 30 years of the Firm’s history."

January  2008

The South Florida Legal Guide recently recognized the following Miami partners as "Top Lawyers" in South Florida: Matt Coglianese - Litigation - Environmental, Steve Reisman - Construction Law, and Donald Rosenberg - Real Estate.

Client Alert: Florida Supreme Court Rules That Certain Commercial General Liability Insurance Policies Cover Repair or Replacement of Property Damage That Results from the Defective Work of Contractors

Alan Winkler published an article in the January/February 2008 issue of Constructor magazine entitled "Coordinate Your Contracts: Consistent Wording Helps Avoid Trouble"

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