James G. Greilsheimer Joins Kramer Levin’s Land Use Department: Firm Establishes Multi-disciplinary Condemnation Practice

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP announced today that James G. Greilsheimer is joining the firm as counsel and will lead the firm’s new multi-disciplinary condemnation practice. Mr. Greilsheimer has many years of experience in condemnation law and has served as the Chief of the Condemnation Unit for the US Attorney in the Southern District of New York and as First Assistant Corporation Counsel for New York City during the city’s fiscal crisis. He comes over from the firm Blank Rome and is a specialist in condemnation and government-related litigation at the local, state and federal level.

Mr. Greilsheimer’s full-service condemnation practice will augment the already pre-eminent Land Use Department and will be closely associated with the firm’s renowned Real Estate, Tax, Environmental and Litigation Departments. The new practice will enhance the firm’s ability to meet the increasing demand for eminent domain-related work.

"Jim is one of the city’s most respected and well-known condemnation law attorneys, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the firm and to have him lead our condemnation practice," said Paul Pearlman, Kramer Levin’s managing partner. "His vast knowledge and experience in condemnation and government law will be a huge asset to our clients and an ideal complement to our top-tier Land Use Department."

The firm will work with clients to maximize condemnation awards through negotiation and litigation and assist developers where condemnation is part of the development process for large projects. Zoning analysis and determining the full potential use of a site are frequently the critical factors in valuing property in a condemnation. Kramer Levin zoning lawyers will provide the same expertise in condemnation as they do in advising clients in developing sites to the full extent permitted by law. Kramer Levin’s Tax Department will advise concerning tax issues to help clients receive the full tax benefits that they are entitled to in condemnation.

Mr. Greilsheimer will also work closely with the firm‘s interrelated Real Estate and Environmental Departments, an elite team of lawyers who handle New York’s most high-profile real estate, environmental and land use disputes. Recently, Kramer Levin played an instrumental role in achieving two litigation successes as Forest City Ratner Companies, LLC’s lead litigation counsel in connection with Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards project. Kramer Levin’s environmental lawyers will play a vital role with respect to remediation and other environmental issues relating to the use of property which is condemned. Further, the firm’s Real Estate Department will assist in resolving title issues and facilitating payments from the condemnors.

Throughout his career, Mr. Greilsheimer has been active within several bar associations and frequently lectures on condemnation law. He was a founder and served for 20 years as a director of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. Mr. Greilsheimer earned his L.L.B. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Princeton University.