Leaders in Municipal, Environmental & Land Use Law
Abrams Fensterman is one of New York’s leading municipal, environmental, and land use law firms. Founded in 2000, the firm has grown to 120 attorneys across five offices—Lake Success, Brooklyn, White Plains, Rochester, and Albany—offering unmatched experience in representing local governments throughout the Hudson Valley and across the state.
We counsel municipalities on the full spectrum of issues they face, including municipal and environmental law, public sector labor and employment, land use and zoning, government contracts, commercial litigation, civil rights and First Amendment matters, regulatory compliance, telecommunications issues, ethics, and investigations.
Our team includes former judges, long-serving Town and Village Attorneys, Planning and Zoning Board counsel, and seasoned litigators who have handled thousands of municipal matters at both the trial and appellate levels.
We advise municipal clients on burgeoning issues, such as short-term rental legislation, solar farms and small cell tower installation. We have negotiated the successful implementation of developer community benefit agreements.
As a multidisciplinary law firm, we provide our municipal clients with immediate access to experienced attorneys across numerous practice areas. When specialized issues arise—such as intellectual property claims, complex litigation, environmental matters, or appellate work—we draw on the firm’s depth to ensure comprehensive, timely support.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how Abrams Fensterman can support your municipality’s legal needs.
Comprehensive Services For Local Governments
For the municipalities we serve as general or special counsel, our work spans every aspect of local government operations. Our services include:
- Attending board and committee meetings
- Advising governing boards, planning boards, zoning boards, and administrators
- Drafting local laws, resolutions, notices, decisions, and legal opinions
- Ensuring compliance with SEQRA, the Open Meetings Law, FOIL, and other state and federal requirements
- Preparing and negotiating contracts (other than bond work)
- Defending municipal actions in litigation, appeals, arbitration, and Article 78 proceedings
We also have extensive experience in municipal litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitration.
Labor Counsel
We negotiate and draft collective bargaining agreements, handle grievances and arbitrations, prosecute disciplinary matters, and represent municipalities before the EEOC, NYSDHR, and in state and federal courts.
Land Use Counsel
We draft zoning and environmental legislation, guide land use boards, review SEQRA submissions, prepare determinations, and defend municipal decisions in litigation.
Litigation
Our attorneys regularly handle Article 78 proceedings, civil rights matters under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, contract and real estate disputes, and environmental litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.
Representative Municipal Clients
Our attorneys have represented or currently represent the Comptroller of the City of New York, as well as the following municipalities and public entities:
CITIES
- New Rochelle White Plains • Peekskill • Yonkers
TOWNS
- Beekman Greenburgh • Eastchester • North Castle
- North Salem Somers • Mamaroneck • Kent • LaGrange
- Ramapo Orangetown • Union Vale • Amity • Grove
- Allen Angelica • Belfast • Birdsall • Granger • Willing
VILLAGES
- Mamaroneck New Paltz • Pelham • Pelham Manor
- Larchmont Mount Kisco • Briarcliff Manor • Canaseraga
- Washington • Belmont
OTHER ENTITIES
- Fire Districts (Belfast, Belmont, Friendship, Hinsdale)
- Yonkers City School District
- Additional municipal clients across New York State
SPECIAL COUNSEL APPOINTMENTS
We serve as principal labor and employment counsel for the Yonkers City School District and the Nassau University Medical Center, and as special counsel for the Village of Mamaroneck, the Town of North Salem, and the Pound Ridge Library District. We were recently retained as Town Attorneys for the Town of Beekman in Dutchess County.
Representative Matters
Our attorneys have litigated municipal matters for more than 30 years. It would be impossible to put together a comprehensive list, but recent representative matters include: Our municipal litigation successes include:
- Defending the City of Yonkers in a proposed class action involving fire inspection fees
- Securing favorable results for New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, and Pelham Manor in a Clean Water Act citizen suit
- Representing the Town of Greenburgh in litigation challenging a village incorporation petition
- Defending the Westchester County Department of Health in a CERCLA matter
- Prevailing for the City of White Plains in federal litigation regarding group home placement
- Upholding Rockland County’s redistricting legislation
- Successfully defending local determinations in multiple Article 78 proceedings, including zoning, ethics, and land use matters
CONTACT OUR LAW FIRM
We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you further about serving your legal needs. Contact us on Long Island at 516-328-2300, in Brooklyn at 718-215-5300, White Plains at 914-607-7010, Rochester at 585-218-9999 or Albany at 518-535-9477 to schedule an initial consultation.
