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.
BRAD BECKER
Brad Becker, of counsel to the firm, has a broad practice concentrating in commercial real estate and transactional matters including complex developments, structuring, real estate and corporate acquisitions, joint ventures, leasing, construction, financing, and advisory work, and attendant work-out and litigation strategization. He takes an innovative, business-centric approach to crafting creative, efficient, comprehensive solutions to complex business and legal issues and structures.
Incorporating experiences learned from representing distressed business relationships and operations during the early part of his career as a bankruptcy associate and then real estate litigator with Dreyer and Traub, Mr. Becker has become a valued counsel for real estate opportunity funds, institutional and foreign clients, publicly traded entities, as well as traditional real estate, family office and individual investors. For many years, Mr. Becker was a real estate partner with Rogers & Wells and Clifford Chance before forming a boutique commercial real estate and transactional law firm.
In addition to representation of many of the noteworthy real estate families, commercial banks, investment funds and companies and state agencies in the New York metropolitan area, Mr. Becker has acted as outside general counsel for real estate and hotel operating companies, owner’s representative firms, project development companies, real estate management companies, and luxury retailers in connection with all aspects of business operations including acquisition, development, leasing, financing, property management, construction, credit facilities, joint venture, licensing, litigation, restructurings, corporate and shareholder governance and strategic planning. Mr. Becker is well-versed in coordinating with tax, employment, land use, litigation and related counsel to create seamless representation on as needed basis.
EDUCATION
Mr. Becker received a Juris Doctor degree from the Hofstra University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from LIU CW Post Center.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, and the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
MITCHELL S. ZINGMAN
Mr. Zingman is of counsel to the firm. He has been practicing law since 1981. His philosophy is that the practice of law is more than a job, it is a profession in which he has the privilege of making a difference in people’s lives. Cases are not files in a cabinet; they are people who depend on him. With over 40 years of experience – he knows how to fight, when to fight and when it is time to negotiate your differences.
A substantial portion of his practice since 1986 involves commercial and residential landlord and tenant litigation, representing both landlords and tenants. His litigation practice also includes extensive experience litigating commercial cases primarily involving real estate matters. Preparation for trial and mastery of detail for each case are proud hallmarks of his practice.
Complimenting his landlord and tenant practice, Mr. Zingman has concurrently done extensive work in the area of commercial leasing, drafting and negotiating a range of leases from small space leases for “Mom and Pop” operations to office space to retail leases for store chains. Having tested most lease provisions in court, he is in a better position to know the implications of each lease term and articulate the arguments that can make a difference in lease negotiations.
Mr. Zingman also provides full-service representation for real property transactions. He has extensive experience in the purchase, sale and refinancing of real property from residential transactions, such as single-family homes, condominium units and cooperative apartments, to commercial transactions, such as apartment buildings and other commercial structures in the multimillion-dollar category.
Mr. Zingman is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and has been acknowledged as a Super Lawyer.
EDUCATION
Mr. Zingman received a Juris Doctor degree from The Cornell Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Rochester.
ADMISSIONS
Mr. Zingman is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, and the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Cheryl R. Ginsburg
Cheryl R. Ginsburg, of counsel to the firm, concentrates her practice in commercial and residential real estate transactions and litigation.
Ms. Ginsburg has over eighteen years of experience representing both landlords and tenants, from individuals to large publicly traded companies. She litigates disputes at the trial and appellate levels, concerning a wide range of real estate issues, including possessory interests, monetary claims, and complex lease disputes.
In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Ginsburg represents sellers, purchasers, landlords, tenants, lenders and borrowers for the purchase and sale of commercial and residential properties, financing and commercial leasing transactions. She negotiates and drafts contracts of sale, office and retail leases, and loan agreements, and handles all aspects of the closing.
EDUCATION
Ms. Ginsburg received a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University, magna cum laude.
ADMISSIONS
She is admitted to practice law in the States of New York and New Jersey, and the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York.
Paul Goodman
Paul Goodman, of counsel to the firm, has been actively engaged in the practice of computer law for many years, and now concentrates on the representation of Internet and new media clients with respect to both corporate and product level matters.
At the corporate level, Mr. Goodman has represented many clients involved in the merger and acquisition of Web design and services companies, as well as venture capital transactions within the Internet industry. His experience includes reverse mergers of operating companies into publicly-traded shells and is involved in the formation of shell companies. He is currently SEC counsel to two publicly-traded companies and handles all aspects of their ’33 and ’34 Act compliance. His client base includes two of the largest Web services and development companies in New York City, a major Macintosh software utilities publisher, a Web-based distance learning company, a Web-based video rental company, and various other concerns in the software, consulting, Web and computer reselling businesses. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Aladdin Systems Holding, Inc. (OTCBB:ALHI).
At the product transaction level, Mr. Goodman has represented clients in a wide range of transactions including software publishing, technology licensing, software development and distribution arrangements, software and hardware maintenance agreements, trademarks, software patents and copyrights, foreign localization and OEM licensing, Web site development ventures, purchase and sale of Web sites, advertising arrangements and purchase and sale of domain names. Typical clients include software publishing companies, Web site development companies, computer resellers and consulting firms.
EDUCATION
Mr. Goodman received a Juris Doctor degree from the City University of New York and received a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Computer Science from Queens College. He was formerly a faculty member of the Queens College Computer Science Department and is the author of five books on programming.
ADMISSIONS
Mr. Goodman is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
ERIC KELTz
Eric Keltz, of counsel to the firm, has been actively engaged in the legal affairs and managerial supervision of a variety of automotive dealership groups, including one of the largest volume single-point dealership in the United States, for over seventeen years. Involved in all aspects of legal affairs, including corporate compliance, human resources, active litigation preparation and strategy, as well as implementation of corporate policy and procedure, Mr. Keltz has an insider’s view of successful best business practices, as well as the processes necessary to handle and resolve emergency legal occurrences - from catastrophic insurance losses to threatened class-action litigation. All of these matters are colored by his extensive experience in the automotive retailing space – combining the unique economic challenges of these entities with a lawyer’s attention to detail and holistic approach to maintaining a compliant yet competitive retail environment. A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Mr. Keltz brings a practical business acumen with a passion for the subject matter. He was formerly a serial entrepreneur and has developed, nurtured and sold multiple businesses, including efforts in the hospitality and professional training fields.
EDUCATION
Mr. Keltz received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado - Boulder and received a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Economics from Cornell University.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, New Jersey and the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York.
HARRY KRITZER
Harry Kritzer, of counsel to the Firm, focuses on national real estate and restructuring ventures. Harry has over thirty years of experience representing clients such as syndication firms, REITS, commercial banks, conduit lenders, national retail chains, automotive dealerships, development companies, cooperative housing corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Harry brings vast experience in the structuring of private equity joint ventures, acquisition of shopping centers, office and residential buildings, the general leasing, financing and development of commercial properties, and negotiation of architect, contractor, maintenance, and other construction related agreements.
In addition to his legal practice, Harry has served as a Director of Visiting Neighbors, a nonprofit elder-care organization, as an Education Advisor to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani heading a corporate satellite site school participation project and as a special advisor to Palm Beach County School Board on school construction issues. He also serves on the Science and Law Committee at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, co-chairing the Cyborg Law subcommittee focusing on medical insurance and personal liability issues related to enhanced neural prosthesis and is currently chairing a subcommittee recommending safe harbors for cyber security investigators. Harry was on Ross Perot’s legal team on his 1992 presidential campaign, having worked for Mr. Perot as a systems engineer prior to becoming an attorney.
Special projects have included mezzanine loan debt restructuring for several million square feet of office space in Manhattan, negotiation of an Israeli-Chinese commercial property acquisition project, several mixed-use condominium developments on 11th Avenue in Manhattan, establishment of a New York division of a prominent 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary, and development of a public-private rail infrastructure plan with the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation in Connecticut.
Earlier experience includes structuring of economic development financing as Vice President of Sonnenblick-Goldman and serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to a real estate syndication company.
EDUCATION
Mr. Kritzer received a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and received a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University Goizueta Business School.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York, Florida, and the United States District Court of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
ANDREW C. PISTOR
Andrew C. Pistor, of counsel to the firm, concentrates his practice in commercial real estate litigation, with an emphasis on commercial landlord-tenant litigation.
Mr. Pistor has represented many of the leading publicly-traded and privately-held commercial real estate concerns in the New York metropolitan area, in possessory and in general commercial suits at the trial and appellate levels, concerning a wide range of real estate issues. Additionally, Mr. Pistor has experience in the prosecution and defense of mortgage and lien foreclosure actions.
After law school, Mr. Pistor clerked for the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Department, where he evaluated incoming motions, reviewed lower court judgments, notices of appeal, and reviewed decisions and preliminary weekly reports of all orders and decisions issued by the Second Department.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Pistor spent ten years working for the City of New York, Borough President of Staten Island, as Associate Director of Contract Oversight and Deputy Press Secretary.
EDUCATION
Mr. Pistor received a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. John University.
ADMISSIONS
He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, the United States District Courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and before the United States Supreme Court.