Biography
Howard Schechter serves as co-leader of the firm's Cooperative and Condominium Law practice area. He concentrates his practice on real estate law. He has more than 40 years of experience representing cooperatives, condominiums and other owners of residential and commercial property. He counsels clients on contentious issues including apartment expansions; construction defects; alterations, admissions and leasing policies; unauthorized occupants; corporate and condominium elections; revisions to by-laws and proprietary leases; relations with sponsors and holders of unsold units and shares; and ownership of apartments by trusts and other entities. Howard also represents borrowers and lenders in construction and permanent, underlying mortgage financing transactions in both development and long-term ownership settings.
Howard’s housing clients span all segments of the housing market. He has worked with all city, state and federal housing agencies in the subsidized and supervised housing sector and advises clients on compliance with government financing, supervision and rent regulation issues. Howard established many of the mechanisms necessary for the “reconstitution” of income and price-restricted, government-subsidized housing into unrestricted, private cooperatives, unlocking enormous value for the shareholders while keeping the monthly carrying charges affordable and spurring major investment in upgrading the physical condition of these properties.
Howard is a frequent author and lecturer for various legal and other industry organizations. He co-authored the Code of Ethics adopted by the New York Association of Realty Managers and taught the mandatory ethics course for that organization’s manager competency certification course at the New York University School of Continuing Education Real Estate Professionals Program for several years. He was also part of a group retained by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to study and report on barriers to electrical submetering in New York State and to make recommendations for changes in public policy based on its conclusions. The report this group prepared, as well as a follow-up project to assist it in implementing the recommendations made, were published by NYSERDA.
Services and Industries
Background
Prior to joining the firm, Howard was a partner at a mid-Atlantic law firm, where he served as co-chair of the Cooperative and Condominium Law practice.
Education
- New York University School of Law (J.D.)
- New York University (B.A., cum laude)
- Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
Professional Activities
- New York State Bar Association Real Property Law Section (Cooperative and Condominium Committee)
- New York City Bar Association
Charitable and Civic Involvement
- Roslyn Hilltop Educational Foundation, Inc. (Founder and former president)
Accolades
- New York Metro Super Lawyers®, Real Estate (2018-present)
- Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rating