WHO WE ARE.
Cyruli Shanks is staffed with talented, innovative professionals, each possessing an unrelenting sense of purpose. They bring to each matter significant, valuable experience and expertise across the broad spectrum of our practice areas. We are structured in order that our “bold advocacy…dynamic thought…pragmatic counsel”, in combination with our relative size, give the Firm its unique aspect. The Firm is a formidable advocate in pursuit of its clients´ objectives, yet sufficiently nimble in its ability to respond rapidly to evolving facts, events or client objectives.
ROBERT J. CYRULI
Robert J. Cyruli, a member of the firm and an AV rated attorney as certified by Martindale-Hubbell, concentrates his practice on matters involving real estate law and commercial litigation. Mr. Cyruli represents both publicly-traded and privately-held commercial real estate concerns and major commercial asset managers in their leasing and management of office, retail and industrial properties, and in related commercial litigation (including commercial landlord/tenant litigation). Among his clients are many of the most prominent such concerns and trophy office properties in the New York metropolitan area. In addition, Mr. Cyruli represents various national and multinational office and retail tenants in their real estate interests throughout the United States.
Mr. Cyruli has also represented various national title insurance underwriters as litigation counsel in matters involving title insurance claims, as well as various federally insured lending institutions in connection with the origination and enforcement of mortgage loans and secured obligations. In the field of governmental affairs, Mr. Cyruli has successfully represented clients in matters before the highest levels of New York State and City governments and their various agencies.
For many years, Mr. Cyruli has been counsel on a pro bono basis to the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a worldwide not-for-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to fostering relations between the American Jewish community and various other ethnic American communities. Mr. Cyruli is also an ardent supporter of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Real Estate Board of New York and the Lambda Chi Alpha national fraternity.
EDUCATION
Mr. Cyruli received a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and before the United States Supreme Court.
Russell Shanks
Russell Shanks, a member of the firm, concentrates his practice in the area of commercial litigation, specializing within the automotive and real estate industries. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Shanks had previously served as general counsel to the Potamkin automotive organization for five years.
Mr. Shanks has represented clients in numerous matters of complex litigation involving the “Big Three” automotive manufacturers. In addition, he has represented clients in various litigated matters including commercial loan transactions, shareholder/partnership/contract disputes and commercial foreclosures.
Mr. Shanks has a wide range of experience before the State and Federal Courts in New York, as well as before numerous administrative and arbitration tribunals. He has previously lectured in a program operated by the Kings County Supreme Court in conjunction with the Kings County District Attorneys Office. He currently trains small claims arbitrators and has served on the Board and as President of the Association of Small Claims Arbitrators of the City of New York. He has also acted as a mentor in the Brooklyn Law School mentoring program.
EDUCATION
Mr. Shanks received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1983, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law in the States of New York and New Jersey, before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Andrew S. Zizmor
Andrew S. Zizmor, a member of the firm, is a corporate attorney with extensive experience in general commercial matters. Mr. Zizmor has represented both domestic and foreign concerns in their acquisition, divestiture, formation and restructuring of various business entities. In addition, Mr. Zizmor has substantial experience representing commercial lending institutions in various areas of commercial banking, and has represented clients in commercial real estate transactions involving the lease or sale of properties.
For many of his clients, Mr. Zizmor acts as outside general counsel regarding matters of corporate governance and other commercial endeavors. He has also represented clients before various governmental agencies.
Mr. Zizmor’s clients include automotive concerns, a chain of parking garages in Manhattan, a public utility company in the United Kingdom and the United States, software companies, high net worth individuals and start up ventures.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Zizmor was previously associated with the firms of Battle Fowler and Kronish, Lieb, Wiener & Hellman.
EDUCATION
Mr. Zizmor received a Juris Doctor degree from The Cornell Law School, where he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Cornell University Law Review, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Franklin & Marshall College.
ADMISSIONS
Mr. Zizmor is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
STUART T. BASSEL
Stuart T. Bassel, a partner of the firm, concentrates his practice in commercial leasing matters, representing both landlords and tenants in the preparation and negotiation of complex office and retail leases, licenses and all related agreements.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bassel was an associate with the firm of Goldberg Weprin & Ustin LLP and prior to that was General Counsel, Vice President of Administration of Sam Seltzer’s Steakhouses of America, a restaurant operating company in Florida.
While in law school, Mr. Bassel served as an intern for Ernst & Young, LLP, and continued as a Senior Tax Consultant for several years after graduating from law school.
EDUCATION
Mr. Bassel received his Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
ADMISSIONS
Mr. Bassel is a member of the New York State Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in New York.
RICHARD A. GILBERT
Richard A. Gilbert, a partner of the firm, concentrates his practice in the field of personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. A seasoned trial attorney, Mr. Gilbert has devoted his career to securing fair compensation for victims of automobile accidents, construction accidents, municipal and premises liability, police officer and firefighter work related accidents and substandard medical treatment. Mr. Gilbert has been recognized by New York Super Lawyers as a Top Attorney in the New York Metro Area on multiple occasions and by America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gilbert was a founding partner of Levine & Gilbert, where he secured numerous multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for negligence victims and their families. Mr. Gilbert worked tirelessly to expand the rights of police officers, firefighters and construction workers to secure substantial damage awards for injuries sustained on the job. This devotion has resulted in strong and lasting relationships with clients and their families that extend far beyond the conclusion of any one matter.
EDUCATION
Mr. Gilbert received a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Communications from State University of New York at Albany.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Jeffrey C. Ruderman
Jeffrey C. Ruderman, a partner of the firm, concentrates his practice in the area of commercial litigation and real estate transactions both in New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Ruderman has represented clients in numerous matters of complex litigation involving Federal RICO claims, insurance coverage issues, consumer fraud actions and the New York State Beverage Franchise Law. He has acted as outside general counsel for a consortium of real estate investors as well as a nationally recognized food and beverage manufacturer and distributor advising as to general commercial endeavors.
Mr. Ruderman has represented clients in their acquisition, divestiture, formation and restructuring of various business entities as well their associated commercial real estate acquisitions and commercial financing with major lending institutions. Mr. Ruderman has also represented defendants in commercial real estate foreclosure matters.
Mr. Ruderman’s experience also includes residential purchase and sale transactions and residential financing transactions representing lenders, borrowers and title insurance companies.
EDUCATION
Mr. Ruderman received a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Information Systems from The City University of New York, Queens College.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States District Court of New Jersey.