Lecturer Bios
Margaret T. Ling, Esq.
Margaret T. Ling has been a real estate attorney since 1986. Her real estate experience commenced with a private real estate practice for almost a decade. Prior to practicing as a real estate attorney, Ms. Ling was a Law Clerk for Chief Judge Constance Baker Motley of the United States District Court –Southern District of New York. Following her clerkship, she focused on the area of immigration law before transitioning into real estate law.
Currently, Ms. Ling is the Senior Underwriting Counsel at MacGregor Abstract with offices in Long Island. For the past twenty years, she has been in-house counsel in the title insurance industry working in First Nationwide Title Insurance Company, Skyline TRG Title Agency, Summit Associates LLC, Liberty Title Agency LLC, Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group, Landstar Title Agency Inc., Intracoastal Abstract Co. Inc., and Titleserv Inc. At these firms, she was responsible for all legal title underwriting, reading, clearing and processing of all title files for closing. She coordinated all title underwriting requirements with the Agent’s respective Title Underwriters and also addressed all post-closing escrow and policy matters. Ms. Ling also held positions at major New York title underwriters including Stewart Title Insurance Company and Ticor Title Insurance Company- The Fidelity Title Group. She provided underwriting and legal support for over 300 New York State Title Agents and Direct Operations.
She is active in many associations including serving as Co-Chairperson of both the Real Estate and Asia Practice Committees of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. She is also a member of the National Asian Pacific Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Queens Asian Bar Association, the Korean Lawyers Association of Greater New York and the Asian Pacific American Lawyer’s Association of New Jersey. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Asian Real Estate Professional Association, Asian Columbia Alumni Association, and New York Law School Alumnae Association. She was awarded the “Most Valuable Player Award” in 2013 for outstanding dedication and service to AABANY and the New York Law School Award in 2010 for Distinguished Service in Diversity and Progress.
Ms. Ling is also a member of the United States Golf Association and the New Jersey PGA Golf Foundation. Since 2012, she has been on the Pro Am Team for the LPGA Shoprite Acer Classic.
Ms. Ling received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Cum Laude and Dean’s List from Barnard College – Columbia University and her Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, Appellate Division, and Second Department.
Sarah Fiona Phillips, Esq.
Sarah Fiona Phillips joined Borah, Goldstein Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C in 2017. Ms. Phillips spent twenty years working for the City of New York. Ms. Phillips prosecuted Building Code violations for the Department of Buildings from 2004-2015. Ms. Phillips has extensive experience defending property owners against DOB, FDNY and other city issued violations.
Ms. Phillips regularly represents property owners at OATH (formerly ECB) on transient use, illegal occupancies, public assembly, work without a permit, construction site, fire safety and other violations. She also appears on criminal court summonses and before the Department of Buildings to lift stop work and vacate orders. Ms. Phillips represents clients in DHCR matters including substantial rehabilitation applications, lease renewal, and decrease in service complaints.
Significant cases involving transient use and fines for illegal occupancies include:
- DOB v 25 Avenue C Realty, LLC, DOB OATH decision that found the City failed to prove transient use, dismissing almost $10,000 in fines.
- DOB v SJS Properties, OATH decision where the fines for illegal occupancies were reduced by $34,000. Ms. Phillips was successful in arguing transient use summonses dismissed based on JNPJ Tenth Ave LLC v Dept of Buildings of New York 178 A.D. 3d 636 (1st Dept 2019).
- DOB v JD Broadway Realty, LLC, OATH Appeals Unit reverses the judge's decision and dismissed the work without a permit summons in favor of our client.
Ms. Phillips received her J.D. from SUNY Buffalo School of Law and is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University and Groton School. She is admitted in New York and California.
