Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Brooklyn, NY 2005 – 2009
Assistant District Attorney
Successfully brought seven trials to completion and presented at more than twenty hearings as lead attorney in Supreme and Criminal Courts; presented over 100 cases to the grand jury; and conducted full criminal investigations, including videotaping criminal defendants, gathering evidence, supervising field work and plea negotiations as assigned lead attorney in over three-hundred cases; trained new attorneys for trials, grand jury presentations and investigatory tactics; received training and practical trial experience in a wide range of fields including: larceny, fraud, bribery, assault, robbery, burglary, child abuse, domestic violence, vehicular crimes and corruption cases.
Research and Practical Policy Application
Researched and drafted legal memorandum regarding the effect that out-of-state Nolo Contendre convictions have on Felony Predicate Status in New York; submitted research findings and the same was used to successfully implement a change of policy in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office; practiced extensive legal research and review of legal doctrine for motion practice in the Supreme Court; orally argued legal precedent, case law and statutory regulations at pre-trial hearings before the Supreme Court.
Media and Public Relations
Co-hosted a weekly radio program regarding interfaith communications, in conjunction with the District Attorney’s office. Organizes conferences and Unity Breakfasts endorsing open communication between Law Enforcement agencies and civilian leaders in Brooklyn.
Associate
Actively participated in civil litigation and trial preparation; Drafted motions and partnership contracts; Prepared, drafted and submitted 2 appellate briefs to the Brooklyn Supreme Court Criminal Division; Drafted wills, codicils and participated in estate planning; trained and received practical experience in Landlord/ Tenant Law and Personal Injury Law.
ALEXANDER GOFER
- Prepared and negotiated contracts of sale for the acquisition and disposition of commercial and residential real estate, including, without limitation, assignments and assumptions of contracts of sale , transfer of developmental and air rights, contracts for the simultaneous acquisition and disposition of multiple sites, industrial warehouses, shopping malls, apartment buildings, as well as IRC 1031 exchanges.
- Drafted mortgage notes, mortgage agreements, purchase money mortgages, consolidation and extension mortgage agreements, security agreements, construction loan agreements, negative pledge agreements, and other mortgage related documents on behalf of private mortgage lenders, including, without limitation, the completion of the HUD-1 forms, even where HUD-1 forms were not required pursuant to Section 4 of RESPA and Regulation X of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (24 CFR Part 3500).
- Cleared objections to title, including, without limitation, old and mis-indexed ECBs, Department of Building and Housing and Preservation Department violations, as well as ancient mortgages and defective/questionable deeds.
- Prepared Limited Liability Company agreements as well as Corporation shareholder agreements.
- Prepared Joint Venture agreements vis-à-vis Limited Liability Agreements for contractors and investors entering into joint ventures to build condominiums.
- Conducted commercial and residential closings.
- Drafted court documents, including, without limitation, notices of pendency for specific performance and/or forced foreclosure, mechanic’s liens, Orders to Show Cause, as well as court orders for leave to sell and/or mortgage property owned by religious and other not-for-profit organizations.
- Reviewed 10-Q and 10-K Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
- Resolved education law matters including IDEA, Section 504, wrongful dismissals, university grant processing.
- Resolved labor law matters, including employer-employee relations, including New York State labor law and matters pertaining to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Experienced in civil and criminal appellate practices, including research and oral arguments.
- Experienced in civil rights cases including those which fall under Sections 1981, 1981a, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 of Title 24,, title IX of Public Law 92-318 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.], the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 [42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.], the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
ABIGAIL MEREL
- Serves as Office Director, Legal Assistant
- Acquired a Bachelors in International Trade and Marketing
- Also, minored in Advertising and Marketing Communications.
- Graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology.