Title/Riparian Rights
Our real estate title lawyers work closely with our owner, developer and investor clients to resolve complicated title issues encumbering our clients' real property. By clearing title, we help clients increase the value, marketability and financeability of their property.
We resolve boundary-line disputes and clear up defects in the chain of title. Our attorneys help beat back or assert, as the case may be, claims of adverse possession and prescriptive easements of adjoining property owners. We work with our clients to remove mechanic’s liens, ancient mortgages, and other title defects affecting their property.
We have particular expertise handling title matters related to waterfront property built on fill (land formerly underwater) and other issues related to riparian rights of upland owners and others to the waters adjoining waterfront property. Our lawyers advocate on behalf of our clients before the New York State Office of General Services (“OGS”) to resolve disputes as to title to filled-in lands. We use a myriad of innovative methods, including dogged research of the law and historical record, to clear title to disputed portions of waterfront property. When necessary, we negotiate with OGS to secure Letters Patent and Certificates of Compliance to clear title to the filled-in lands.
Overview
Our real estate title lawyers work closely with our owner, developer and investor clients to resolve complicated title issues encumbering our clients' real property. By clearing title, we help clients increase the value, marketability and financeability of their property.
We resolve boundary-line disputes and clear up defects in the chain of title. Our attorneys help beat back or assert, as the case may be, claims of adverse possession and prescriptive easements of adjoining property owners. We work with our clients to remove mechanic’s liens, ancient mortgages, and other title defects affecting their property.
We have particular expertise handling title matters related to waterfront property built on fill (land formerly underwater) and other issues related to riparian rights of upland owners and others to the waters adjoining waterfront property. Our lawyers advocate on behalf of our clients before the New York State Office of General Services (“OGS”) to resolve disputes as to title to filled-in lands. We use a myriad of innovative methods, including dogged research of the law and historical record, to clear title to disputed portions of waterfront property. When necessary, we negotiate with OGS to secure Letters Patent and Certificates of Compliance to clear title to the filled-in lands.
Representative Matters
- After extensive research of title and historical records dating back 150 years, obtained significant financial savings for a Fortune 500 global food service company by clearing title to prime waterfront property that was once underwater. The work involved successfully challenging a title claim by New York State, which was initially supported by the record and by the title company.
- Through tenacious efforts to track down an unrecorded deed in a prior counsel’s file, represented a developer in the acquisition and successful development of a commercial property by resolving a title defect to a portion of the property necessary for development of the site.