“That’s the great thing about the firm: it is fairly seamless, and they always bring an expert” – Laurence Bambino
My name is Larry Bambino, and I’m retired. For decades, I worked at a well-known law firm in New York, but now I’m enjoying retirement and looking for my next challenge.
I met Adam about 12 years ago when I had a matter involving my co-op in Midtown Manhattan. At the time, I needed accommodations from the co-op board for my child with special needs, but I was encountering significant resistance.
I went to the real estate attorneys at my former firm and asked, “If you needed a pugnacious but clever lawyer, who would you hire?” Two of them immediately recommended Adam Lightman Bailey. I reached out to Adam, and he was incredibly helpful. Thanks to his efforts, we successfully persuaded the co-op board to make the necessary accommodations.
Following that experience, I went on to become president of my co-op board. When I assumed that role, I needed to hire a law firm to represent the co-op. I interviewed three or four boutique real estate firms, including Adam’s.
One aspect that stood out during the interview process was that Adam’s firm included a female partner in their presentation. This resonated strongly with the women on my board and played a significant role in our decision to hire them.
Since then, we’ve relied on Adam’s firm for most of our legal matters. These include:
– Closings and escrow agreements
– Negotiating third-party contracts
– Assisting with shareholders who sometimes forget the contents of their alteration agreements or house rules
– Input on bylaws to improve board operations
– Revising house rules with expert guidance
– Negotiating contracts with a new managing agent when we switched managing agents
One of the great things about Adam’s firm is how seamless they are to work with. They always bring in an expert for the specific issue at hand, and their team’s professionalism and expertise are consistently impressive.
I’ve worked closely with several members of Adam’s team, including:
Rachel McGintley: I’ve worked with Rachel for several years and appreciate her sharp expertise and attention to detail.
John Deeto: Although I’ve always struggled with pronouncing his last name, his work stands out for its quality and precision.
These individuals, along with others, have contributed to making our co-op a better place.
One of the firm’s strongest assets is its reputation as skilled litigators. While we’ve been able to prevent litigation in most cases, there are times in co-op management when shareholders threaten to litigate—or when the board may need to take legal action.
Having a firm with a strong litigation reputation, like Adam’s, is critical. Their presence often makes the other side think twice before taking things to court. Adam, in particular, has a reputation as a formidable litigator, which is invaluable in these situations.
The one thing I don’t like about Adam? He’s a Mets fan! With a name like Bambino and having grown up in the Bronx, I’m a diehard Yankees fan—clearly the superior choice. When it comes to baseball, we’ll never agree. But apart from that, Adam and his team have my unqualified support.