Lecturer Bios
Adam Leitman Bailey, Esq.
Actively at the helm of the law firm he built from scratch, Adam Leitman Bailey, Esq. practices residential and commercial real estate law. Among New York's most successful and prominent real estate attorneys, Mr. Bailey has been identified among the top five percent of attorneys in the New York area, repeatedly named a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine and honored with a Martindale-Hubbell "AV" Preeminent rating.
During the past five years, the internationally esteemed Chambers & Partners repeatedly selected Mr. Bailey as one of New York's Leading Real Estate lawyers and, being one of only three New York attorneys from firms with fewer than 30 attorneys to receive the honor. Chambers & Partners hailed Mr. Bailey as a "tenacious and confident litigator who is quick-witted in court and respected by the judges," noting that Bailey is "an extraordinary practitioner who gets great results" and quoting a client on Mr. Bailey's "ability to anticipate things before they happen." "He has been hired to litigate extremely high-profile cases…sources are highly impressed by his courtroom presence." "You feel like you have a zealous advocate out there working for you, and you never worry about things when they are in his hands."
Real Estate Weekly recognized that "Adam Leitman Bailey has made a name for himself with his success winning cases in the courtroom." The same newspaper called Mr. Bailey "famous" for his "condominium, foreclosure and landlord-tenant representation." The New York Times referred to his legal strategy and legislation proposed in one case as "novel," in addition to remarking on another case in which "Adam Leitman Bailey fought on…grinding through excruciating detail and obscure Perry Mason moments." After Mr. Bailey's firm used a forgotten statute to prevail in a landmark case, the Wall Street Journal quoted a prominent New York developer's attorney who called the holding a "game changer" affecting real estate nationwide. In another case hailed as "the city's largest condo refund ever" (Curbed NY) involving "a settlement likely to send shivers through the ranks of the city's condo developers" (the New York Post), the settlement he received was the largest condominium settlement in history for one building, and in another transaction, he obtained the largest government grant ($21 million) for a cooperative in New York history. The Commercial Observer ranked another victory among their "15 Most Fascinating New York Real Estate Cases of the 21st Century."
Dateline NBC referred to Mr. Bailey as "aggressive, tenacious and smart" in asking him to share his negotiating secrets on its nationally syndicated television program. Mr. Bailey's advocacy has prevailed in numerous important trials and cases before various courts and trial venues, including Housing, Civil, and New York State Supreme and Federal Courts, as well as various New York Appellate tribunals. A New York State Judge wrote that Mr. Bailey "was the best trial lawyer I saw in my nine years as a Judge in New York City."
MAGDA L. CRUZ, ESQ.
Ms. Cruz specializes in appeals and complex litigation matters. She has briefed and argued appeals before New York State and Federal appellate courts involving constitutional law, property rights, commercial law, loft law, cooperative and condominium law, tax incentive law, administrative law, landlord-tenant law, mortgage foreclosure law and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. Her major appellate victories on behalf of owners include owner-occupancy, succession rights, non-primary residence, lease rights, attorneys' fees, and rent overcharge cases. Ms. Cruz also successfully obtained one of the largest Rule 130 sanctions award that the Court of Appeals has ever imposed against a party and its attorney for frivolous litigation.
Ms. Cruz is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to joining the firm, she held positions with the New York County District Attorney's Office, The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Miami, Florida, and Rosenberg & Estis, P.C., in New York. In addition, Ms. Cruz has served on the Board of Directors of two cooperative apartment corporations in Brooklyn, New York.
Ms. Cruz is a member of the Housing Court Advisory Council, and Women in Housing and Finance.
Hon. George Silver
Justice, Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term, Elected, 2013 to 2027. Acting Justice, Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term, Appointed, 2010 to 2012. Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Elected, 2005 to 2012
Hon. Cheryl Gonzales
Judge Gonzales is Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County. She was appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, 2005 to 2010; Reappointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2010 to 2015; Re-appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2015 to 2020. Judge Gonzales is admitted to the New York State Bar, Second Department and received her J.D. degree from the City University of New York, Queens College.
Hon. John S. Lansden
Hon. John S. Lansden is Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti, 2013 to Present. He was Supervising Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, 2007 to 2013 and a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed 2003 to 2008, Reappointed, 2008 to 2013. His prior experience included serving as a Court Attorney for Housing Court Judge Timmie Elsner, NY County; an Associate at Penn, Proefriedt, Schwarzfeld & Schwartz, Horing, Welikson & Rosen P.C., and Rosenberg & Estis P.C. He attended Connecticut College and received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He is a member, Housing Court Public Services Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
Hon. Laurie L. Lau
Hon. Laurie L. Lau is a Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge, Jonathan Lippman 2003 to 2003; Re-Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2008 to 2013. Previously she was a Litigation Associate at Marcus, Borg, Rosenberg & Diamond and Arthur Birnbaum & Associates. She attended the University of Michigan and received a JD from New York Law School.
Mitchell L. Posilkin, Esq.
Mitchell Posilkin is the General Counsel of the Rent Stabilization Association, a trade association that represents approximately 25,000 owners and managers of over one million
apartments in the City. In that capacity, Mr. Posilkin addresses myriad issues that affect property owners which arise in the courts, in government agencies and in the State Legislature and City
Council. Prior to the commencement of his tenure at RSA in January 1996, Mr. Posilkin served as Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development for
eleven years, including two and one half years as the Acting Director of the Department's Housing Litigation Bureau. Mr. Posilkin began his career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Division of Legal Counsel at the New York City Law Department from 1979 to 1984. Mr. Posilkin graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1976 and from New
York Law School, where he served as an editor of the Law Review, in 1979. Mr. Posilkin until recently, served as a representative of property owners on the Housing Court Advisory Council. He has previously served on the Advisory Council as the City’s representative and as a representative of property owners, and has also served on the Housing Court Committee of
the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Posilkin has presented at many seminars held by RSA, the New York State Office of Court Administration, the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Kings County Housing Court Bar Association, including programs pertaining to the significant changes
over the years in the State’s rent regulatory laws and regulations, the City’s lead paint laws, Section 8, and numerous other regulatory and legislative issues of concern to property owners.
Hon. Timmie Erin Elsner
Hon. Timmie Erin Elsner is a Judge, Housing Court, New York City Civil Court, New York County. She is admitted to the NYS Bar, Second Department. She graduated from Iowa State University and received a J.D. from Villanova School of Law. Her other professional experience includes working at Smith & Laquercia P.C., Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, Rosenberg & Estis P.C., Penn & Proefriedt and the New York State Division of Housing & Community Renewal.
