Lawyers for Unique Challenges Ahead

Experienced Lawyers & Government Relations Professionals

Greenberg Traurig (GT) New York has a unique Government Law & Policy (GLP) Practice, comprised of seasoned lawyers and lobbyists who have real government experience. These capabilities are more relevant than ever for today’s challenging environment as we help clients address the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis, and even more importantly, help them navigate issues and opportunities as reopening guidance changes to meet real-time conditions.

Over the last year, GT has expanded its GLP Practice with a number of professionals who have added further depth of services, and multidisciplinary economic development, hospitality, and government relations experience. We believe we have built a team with all levels of real government experience that no other law or lobbying firm in the City has, which we are confident provides effective counsel to and advocacy for clients, especially during these unprecedented times. 

GT’s Value Proposition

At GT, we take pride in our proven ability to leverage the firm’s size and depth of experience to assist our clients. We foster a collaborative atmosphere, including engaging with colleagues in practices across the firm, which results in creative counsel. The New York GLP team, is supported by and working with our multidisciplinary lobbying and legal teams in the firm’s Albany and Washington, D.C. offices to provide multifaceted counsel for our clients’ needs. In addition to the depth of our GLP team, GT has a Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force: Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Reopening the Economy Team. Members of these teams are monitoring actions anticipated or being taken by state and local government closely and have written many alerts on the issues that may impact municipalities and businesses in a wide-range of industries. We update the site in real time and you will find those insights on the GT website. Our GLP team is also following up with clients in real time as these decisions are being made, and updating clients on developments that may affect their businesses.

We create tailored strategies for clients experiencing legal and policy obstacles with their local government. Each member of the team has broad experience in government, law, and policy, as well as in the hospitality sector, travel and tourism industry, and not-for-profits.

Below is a list of the types of issues we anticipate in addition to the key New York contacts in areas where they may be helpful to clients. All lawyers on the GLP team are also registered as lobbyists, affording clients the ability to combine services, for an economical approach to their needs.

• Small Business Relief under the CARES Act
  • Forgiveness
  • Audit
  • Compliance issues
• Federal legislative updates
• NYC/NYS Budget & Funding
  • State Budget
    • Navigating unprecedented legislative authority granted to the Budget Director
      • Negotiations with regard to appropriated amounts in the Aid to Localities Budget
      • Advocacy on the Legislative plan in response to actions of the Budget Director
      • Protecting existing funding streams
    • Counsel on New Revenue Initiatives
      • Addressing programs proposed by government to add revenue to State Budget
      • Advocating new program opportunities to the State
    • Assistance with not-for-profit and social services funding
    • Payment issues on existing agreements
  • City Budget process
    • Assistance with not-for-profit and social services funding
    • Payment issues on existing agreements
    • Protection of existing funding/New needs funding
  • Guidance on reopening issues/business safety plans
  • Government Contracts
    • Emergency Procurement
    • Contract Amendments
    • Existing contract compliance
    • Post emergency contract and performance audits
  • Lobbying
    • Inclusion in Relief Programs (NYC) / Economic Development Initiatives
    • Advancing Your Legislative / Policy Agenda
  • Regulatory - Employment & Related Issues / Tax Credits (NYC) / Other Relief
  • Labor & Employment – Unemployment/FMLA/Employee Rights/Safety Issues
  • Ethics and disclosure laws required from government contracts, economic benefits, or other government relief programs
  • Election Law
  • Political Law & Compliance
  • Government Investigations & Administrative Hearings
  • Real estate/Land Use/ULURP

Working with Government

We offer a strategic approach that differs from many firms engaged in traditional government and real estate work. We have a thorough understanding of the key players’ priorities – and the political and environmental issues involved. The GT team will work with the client to identify their goals and jointly develop a strategic approach that recognizes the client’s unique needs, both substantive and political. Additionally, because our team members have served in government, we recognize the importance of identifying the needs of both the client and the relevant governmental entity before embarking on a plan of action to identify and obtain needed funds, and navigate key policy issues.

Additional Capabilities - New York

Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice combines the capabilities of its federal team in Washington, D.C., with the firm's state and local practices across the country to advocate for the interests of our clients at various levels of government.

Our experience in this area encompasses a broad array of issues, including, but not limited to:

• Administrative law and regulatory compliance
• Preparation of responses to government requests for proposals and bids
• Disclosures to government integrity forms; Vendex/Passport/Vendrep, and non-responsibility findings
• Contract interpretation and disputes
• Government investigations and contractor compliance including appearing before the NYC Department of Investigation, Mayor’s Office of Contracts Services, Department of Consumer Affairs, Conflicts of Interest Board, as well as Attorney General and District Attorney inquiries
• Bid protests, administrative hearings and litigation (Article 78 Proceedings), debarment proceedings
• Procurement training and best practices
• MWBE certifications
• Lobby compliance issues
• Government real estate transactions and government leasing
• Transaction work
• Government procurement for franchises and concessions
• Franchises and concessions issues
• Large scale events
• Contracts
• Technology agreements
• PILOT Programs
• Tax

Our real estate, land use, government law, environmental, and tax team is one of the largest and most established in New York City. Our attorneys deliver diversified and multifaceted legal counsel for property acquisition and investment, joint ventures, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, land use, and disposition of virtually all asset classes of real estate. GT has represented clients in major real estate matters including transactions with all relevant government executive agencies, public authorities, and public utilities.

Our attorneys have broad experience assisting clients’ in key industry sectors including real estate development and management. Our team focuses on protecting and furthering our clients’ interests as they navigate the complex and interrelated regulatory and liability schemes of our modern land use, real estate development, and environmental laws. We bring together legal, legislative, and industry professionals to represent clients in transactions, regulatory matters, administrative proceedings, and litigation.

The unification of such diverse practice areas into a cohesive, client-focused group specific to the New York market and tri-state area distinguishes GT from other law firms and results in a more thorough and sophisticated representation of our clients.