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If your board has an attorney serving as a director — or if you're that attorney — this episode is essential. Stewart Wurtzel, member at Tane, Waterman & Wurtzel, walks through the real conflicts that arise when legal expertise meets board duty. He explains why letting your board's attorney review contracts instead of hiring outside counsel can leave everyone dangerously uninsured, how to voice a legal opinion without it becoming legal advice, and why diplomacy is everything. His practical framework for drawing boundaries without drawing battle lines is something every board member needs to hear. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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What happens when a neighbor decides the person living below her is the enemy? In this episode, Emanuela Lupu, partner at Smith Buss and Jacobs, speaks about a case that unfolded over years — one involving hallway confrontations, elevator ambushes, and a dog weaponized on the sidewalk. It's a story that reveals just how much a board needs to get right long before a lawyer ever gets involved, and how one early misstep can force everyone to keep living with the problem longer than they should. Lupu also walks through a separate case with a twist ending that left a co-op holding a bill they thought they'd earned the right to collect. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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Being a co-op board member comes with real legal responsibility — and most people don't realize that until it's too late. In this episode, attorney Ben Flavin, partner at Braverman Greenspun, breaks down the two fiduciary duties every board member is legally bound by: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. Ben walks through exactly what diligence looks like when hiring contractors, why rejecting a sale based on price can land your board in court, and how conflicts of interest — from brokers to contractors sitting on the board — need to be handled. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!