High Quality Services And Personal Attention
Biography
Michael J. Spithogiannis, who joined the Firm in 2017, is an accomplished litigator with over thirty years of experience representing clients on complex commercial and real estate litigation matters. Before joining the Firm, he led his own law practice for many years, concentrating on all facets of real estate and commercial litigation, including trials, appeals, discovery, motion practice, oral arguments and depositions. Mr. Spithogiannis’s clients include major real-estate developers and investors, leading title-insurance underwriters, large banks and lending institutions, corporate and individual real property owners, and members and shareholders of prominent closely-held business entities. His practice includes matters involving complex title claims, large tracts of land, intricate mortgage foreclosures, and highly-contested corporate and contract disputes. Having earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1981, Mr. Spithogiannis received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1984, and was a member and editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Mr. Spithogiannis is licensed to practice law in the States of New York and New Jersey, and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as well as the United States District Court of New Jersey, and the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Mr. Spithogiannis has been awarded the AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale Hubbell.
Education
- Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
- J.D. – 1984
- Columbia University
- B.A. – 1981
Published Works
- Doctors Win Big in The Court of Appeals – Court Settles Dispute Over MLMIC Sale Proceeds
- Avoid Litigation Disaster – Know The Law
- Weiss Zarett Defeats Motion To Dismiss Fraudulent-Conveyance Complaint
- Courts Enforce Contracts As Written – Except Sometimes
- How Neighborly Do You Have To Be?
- Asserting The Fifth Amendment Privilege In Civil Proceedings Can Be Tricky
- Anatomy Of A Business Dispute: Preparing To Sue
- Force Majeure And Business Interruption In The Age Of COVID-19
- Commercial Tenants Beware For The Times They Are A-Changin’
- “A Taxpayer Must Render Unto Caesar What is Caesar’s, but No More”
- Floyd Grossman, Michael Spithogiannis and Jessica Seidman Have Joined the Firm
Representative Cases
- Eastern Savings Bank v. Campbell, 167 A.D.3d 712, 90 N.Y.S.3d 212 (2d Dep’t 2018)
- Targee Street Internal Medicine Group P.C. v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., 92 A.D.3d 768, 939 N.Y.S.2d 82 (2d Dep’t 2012)
- Ammirati v. Van Wicklen, 16 Misc.3d 952, 839 N.Y.S.2d 685 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Co. 2007)
- Wydra v. Chai, 50 A.D.3d 779, 857 N.Y.S.2d 580 (2d Dep’t 2008)
- Dolce v. Mandel, Supreme Court, Westchester County
- Greenberg v. Sutter, 173 Misc.2d 774, 661 N.Y.S.2d 933 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Co. 1997)
- Finkelman v. Wood, 203 A.D.2d 236, 609 A.D.2d 236 (2d Dep’t 1994)
- Strnad v. Brudnicki, 200 A.D.2d 735, 606 N.Y.S.2d 913 (2d Dep’t 1994)
- Motovich Holdings LLC v. 315 W 35th Associates LLC, Supreme Court, New York County
- Sunshine v. Danbury, Supreme Court, Ulster County
- Webster v. Sherman, 165 A.D.3d 738, 85 N.Y.S.3d 457 (2d Dep’t 2018)
- Sirius America Ins. Co. v. Vigo Const. Corp., 48 A.D.3d 450, 852 N.Y.S.2d 176 (2d Dep’t 2008)
- Premium Financial and Realty Services, Inc. v. 233 Broadway Owners, LLC, 20 Misc.3d 1137(A), 867 N.Y.S.2d 377 (Sup. Ct. Kings Co. 2008)
- Farrell v. Sitaras, 22 A.D.3d 518, 803 N.Y.S.2d 659 (2d Dep’t 2005)
- Madonna v. Town of Riverhead, 23 A.D.3d 388, 806 N.Y.S.2d 75 (2d Dep’t 2005)
- Leist v. Goldstein, 305 A.D.2d 468, 760 N.Y.S.2d 191 (2d Dep’t 2003)
- Four Star Oil & Gas Co., Inc. v. Kalish, 272 A.D.2d 292, 707 N.Y.S.2d 189 (2d Dep’t 2000)
- Grammer v. Turits, 271 N.Y.S.2d 644, 706 N.Y.S.2d 453 (2d Dep’t 2000)
- 262-64 Higbie Lane, Inc. v. Town Bd. of Town of Islip, 267 A.D.2d 377, 699 N.Y.S.2d 909 (2d Dep’t 1999)
- W.W.W. Associates, Inc. v. Giancontieri, 77 N.Y.2d 157, 566 N.E.2d 639, 565 N.Y.S.2d 440 (1990)
- Pau v. Bellavia, 145 A.D.2d 609, 536 N.Y.S.2d 472 (2d Dep’t 1988)
Practice Areas
- Complex Commercial
- Real Estate Litigation
- Complex Title Claims
- Large Tracts of Land
- Intricate Mortgage Foreclosures
- Highly-Contested Corporate
- Contract Disputes
Honors
- AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale Hubbell
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1985
- New Jersey, 1985
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1985
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1985
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1985
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
Current Employment Position
- Partner