On the practice of real estate law . . .

"The core satisfaction I get from the practice of complex real estate law, including commercial, development, municipal, and zoning issues, comes from identifying solutions, solving problems and ultimately creating an environment that brings warring neighbors, local or state governments, and developers together in what frequently becomes a beneficial, win-win situation for all involved.

What we do can and does have positive impact, especially when it involves taking vacant or abandoned property, cleaning it up for development, and ensuring that it enhances not only the participants involved, but the community at large.

I think I'm good at reading people -- reading between the lines -- and finding places of amicable accommodation. I am, by nature, methodical, measured and thoughtful, and those are attributes that work well in the job of finding common ground for parties holding disparate points of view.

Real estate law is often about getting the big picture and not missing the details. It's about doing one's homework, which is often technical and detail oriented. And it's about listening -- really listening -- empathizing, negotiating and building consensus.

I think what makes RF&G special is that each of us is not only committed to our areas of concentration, but also to working collaboratively. We derive real satisfaction from the work we do."

Background

Engaged in the private practice of law, my areas of concentration involve all aspects of real estate with particular specialties in conveyancing, zoning, environmental and subdivision control issues, and commercial or business law. I have been in private practice since 1978, and my current firm, Rosenberg, Freedman and Goldstein, has its roots in the firm created in 1978 when it was Cohen (Eliot), Concannon (Thomas B., Jr.), and Rosenberg. Don Freedman and I have been together since 1982 (Concannon, Rosenberg & Freedman), and Howard Goldstein joined us in 1987 (Concannon, Rosenberg, Freedman, Goldstein & Magence). I (and each of my partners) have Martindale Hubbel's "av" rating, its highest, for lawyers.

Prior to private practice, I had been the zoning and real estate attorney in the Solicitor's Office of the City of Newton from 1971, when I graduated from Boston University School of Law, to 1977. Thereafter while in private practice I was an Assistant Town Counsel for the Town of Weymouth for zoning and environmental matters through 1981, and Special Town Counsel on an appeal at the Supreme Judicial Court until 1982.

Although my practice involves all of Massachusetts, I appear most frequently with respect to zoning matters in Newton, Brookline and Watertown.

Among the zoning work, which I have performed in Brookline, I have obtained variances and special permits for the 8-unit townhouse development next to Shalom Hunan on Harvard Street; to preserve the historic mansion at 269 Kent Street and build a new historically matching duplex next to the mansion at 191-193 Longwood Avenue; and to create an additional dwelling unit in a detached building on a historically sensitive parcel and mansion at 143-145 Tappan Street. My most recent large-scale project in Newton was obtaining special permits for the construction of the 59 unit residential condominium development on Boylston Street, just west of the Atrium.

Community Involvements

• Member of Board of Directors and Counsel to the John Leopold & Geraldine Rickard Weil Memorial Charitable Foundation, Inc. established to further Drs. John and Geraldine Weil's lifelong concerns for and care of children who are victims of family abuse and their studies of how to intervene and prevent such abuse.
• Chairman since 1979 and member since founding in 1975 of Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities. In that capacity assisted Congregations Shaarei Tefilah and Beth El Atereth in Newton as to best ways to make the synagogues accessible.
• Received City of Newton Human Rights Communities Award, 1990; and Understanding Differences (formerly Understanding Handicaps) Award for leadership in disability rights and awareness, 1999.
• Co-founder in 1978, Boston Self Help Center, a peer counseling/advocacy group for disabled persons.
• Member, first Board of Trustees (later chairman), Garden City Activity Center, a day socialization program for people with severe cerebral palsy, 1972-80.
• Counsel, Boston Center for Independent Living, Inc., 1972-85
• Member, Board of Trustees, Temple Beth Avodah 1990-2000.
• Special Counsel for Greater Boston Eruv Corporation as to municipalities - assisted Jesse Hefter, the President in obtaining all municipal approvals for the Eruv. As part of the group, we received the Synagogue Counsel award Klal Yisrael Award for encouraging unity, cooperation and respect among Jews. I also assisted with Jesse in efforts in 1993 to advocate for the establishment of an eruv in London (UK) which was being attempted by Lord Jakobovits and The United Synagogue Eruv Committee.
• Received, with partners Donald Freedman and Howard Goldstein, the Boston Academy of Talmudic Research (the Kollel) Community Service Award in January 1999.
• Received the Malcolm Flash Excellence in Community Development Award from the City of Newton Housing and Community development Program, in recognition of “outstanding leadership and contribution to community development in Newton.”

 

Press

Profiled in SuperLawyers Magazine, November 2013