Lecturer Bios
Dean M. Roberts, Esq.
Dean M. Roberts, Chair of the firm’s New York Real Estate & Finance Law Practice Group, oversees and coordinates a diverse group of real estate attorneys and support professionals who handle all matters relating to real estate in the state of New York. Prior to joining the firm by way of a merger in 2006, he was the managing partner of Szold & Brandwen, a law firm founded in 1924, which had been involved in the development of cooperatives (co-ops) for over 80 years.
Dean has represented real estate entities for more than 30 years in all facets of legal issues affecting individuals and legal entities that own, develop, or manage real estate assets. His practice is a hybrid of corporate, litigation, and transactional services on behalf of his clients. Dean is well established as one of the elite condominium and co-op attorneys in New York, including being one of the foremost Mitchell Lama and regulated co-op attorneys in the city.
Outside of the firm, Dean supports diverse and moderate-income housing developments as the pro bono general counsel to the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, President of the United Housing Foundation and as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors as well as other housing programs.
I have received my JD from Rutgers School of Law – Newark J.D., 1987
Kimbrilee M. Weber, Esq.
Kim Weber focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters and
represents clients in a variety of high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts
in New York and New Jersey. Her litigation experience involves pretrial
procedure and discovery, electronic discovery, briefing and arguing motions,
taking and defending fact witness and corporate representative depositions,
appellate practice, and post-judgment discovery and collections. Kim’s
representative matters for diverse individual and corporate clients informs her
flexible, problem-solving approach to litigation, aimed at maximizing efficiency
and positive outcomes for her clients.
Kim is also a member of the firm’s Associates Committee, serving as a liaison
between firm Management and her fellow Associates.
Prior to joining the firm, Kim was an Associate at a boutique insurance litigation
firm, where she assisted in the representation of clients in all stages of litigation,
from inception through appeal. She was also a law clerk for the Hon. Susan L.
Reisner, P.J.A.D. in New Jersey’s Appellate Division.
During law school, Kim was a member of the Seton Hall Law Review as an
Associate Editor (2013-2014), and the Editorial Board’s Symposium
Editor (2014-2015), and her comment was published in the journal’s
45th volume. She was also a student advocate in Seton Hall’s Civil Rights and
Constitutional Litigation clinic, and worked as a summer intern for the Hon. Claire
C. Cecchi, U.S.D.J.
Melissa A. Peña, Esq.
Melissa A. Peña, a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Chair of
the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, concentrates her practice
on commercial litigation and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Her clients include
financial institutions, private lenders, creditors, and accounting firms. Melissa
has successfully represented secured creditors and unsecured creditors in
Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and state court insolvency proceedings. She
frequently handles commercial foreclosure actions, actions to enforce
promissory notes and guarantees, lien priority disputes, fraudulent conveyance
actions, and creditor enforcement matters.
Melissa also defends accounting firms in disputes regarding alleged failure to
detect criminal and fraudulent activity in the state and federal courts of New
Jersey and New York.
Outside the courtroom, Melissa handles commercial workouts, negotiating
forbearance agreements on behalf of lenders and troubled cross-border
transactions. She represents investors seeking to acquire defaulted loans from
the due diligence stage to closing on the sale. Melissa also helps lenders to
liquidate their collateral through UCC sales, including sales of co-ops. In
connection with the firm’s cross-border practice, she represents clients
concerning inbound and outbound transactions that require working with
government agencies such as the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection.
Whether she is inside or outside the courtroom, Melissa’s goal is to find a
practical business solution for her clients. She utilizes litigation as a tool to further
her client’s business objectives in a cost-effective manner.
Melissa is Co-Chair of the Meritas Financial Services section.
