Overview
Steven Cramer focuses his practice on construction law and commercial litigation.
He has extensive experience representing a broad range of clients including property owners, developers, contractors and subcontractors, private equity funds, design professionals, sureties, cooperatives and condominiums, and other businesses as well as individuals.
He represents clients in all aspects of construction litigation including matters related to contractual disputes, construction defects, property damage, insurance, funding, disputes with contractors, design professionals and suppliers.
Mr. Cramer also assists clients in filing and enforcing mechanic’s liens in New York and drafting and negotiating construction contracts for a range of projects including renovations and new construction.
Further, he assists developers and owners in the negotiations of access agreements and has been involved in numerous actions under Section 881 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) and related litigation arising from access issues.
His commercial litigation experience includes representing clients in breach of contract claims, malpractice by design professionals, fraud claims and real estate disputes.
Prior to joining Kaufman Dolowich, he served as a partner at a boutique construction law firm in Manhattan, where he focused in the areas of commercial, construction and real estate litigation and arbitration.
His community involvement includes serving as President of the Board of Lydia Johnson Dance.
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court
- Southern District of New York
- Eastern District of New York
Education
- Brooklyn Law School – J.D., Carswell Scholar
- St. John’s College, Annapolis – B.A.
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University of Maryland, Graduate School of Architecture (2 years)
Professional Memberships
- New York City Bar Association-former Construction Law Committee member
- New York State Bar Association-member of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Committee
Experience
• Representation of property owners in negotiation and drafting of construction contracts for a range of projects, including renovations and new construction. Mr. Cramer has recently negotiated contracts for owners conducting renovations of Manhattan and Brooklyn townhomes as well as a major developer in the negotiation of a construction management agreement and related documents for a $100 million project in Manhattan.
• Representation of developers and owners in negotiation of access agreements setting forth the terms of access needed to allow construction to proceed on neighboring properties. Mr. Cramer represents both parties undertaking construction and neighbors to construction. He has been involved in numerous actions under RPAPL 881 and related litigation arising from access issues, and has represented owners in negotiations with the Department of Buildings concerning access issues. He has worked with experts to evaluate the impact on neighboring buildings of underpinning, tie-backs, piles, secant pile walls and other engineering techniques.
• Representation of general contractors in a broad range of claims, including contractual disputes with subcontractors, owners, neighbors, design professionals and others. Many of these cases require an understanding of a variety of construction techniques and methods, and the ability to understand construction drawings, as well as various theories of damages and methods of damage calculation.
• Representation of subcontractors and trade contractors in a broad range of disputes with general contractors, neighboring owners and others, including disputes concerning project management and compliance with construction schedules and contract documents. Cramer is currently representing a subcontractor in a multi-million dollar claim against a general contractor and owner.
• Representation of design professionals in the negotiation of contracts as well as in contractual disputes with owners, contractors and subconsultants.
• Representation of property owners seeking to recover for major property damage caused by neighboring construction. Clients have included owners of a historic cast-iron building in lower Manhattan, a commercial and residential building in mid-town Manhattan, and brownstone homes and apartment buildings in Brooklyn. The successful recoveries in these actions depended on determining the responsibility of numerous parties contributing to the damage, analysis of structural and geotechnical conditions, use of a range of experts, and coordination with City agencies, including the Department of Buildings and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
• Corporate Electrical Technologies, Inc. v. Structure Tone, Inc., 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 30085 (U), 2020 WL 118730 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Co. 2020);
• Stewart v. Yorrick, 2020 WL 2789925 (Sup. Ct. Kings Co. 2020);
• W&W Glass, LLC v. 1113 York Ave. Realty Co., 113 A.D.3d 563 (1st Dep’t 2014);
• Staples, Inc. v. W.J.R. Associates, 2020 WL 1260191 (E.D.N.Y. 2010);
• Betal Environmental Corp. v. Local Union Number 78, 123 F.Supp 2d 156 (S.D.N.Y. 2000),78, 162 F. Supp.2d 246 (S.D.N.Y. 2001), 39 Fed.Appx. 688 (2nd Cir. 2002);
• Lynbrook Glass & Architectural Metals, Corp. v. Elite Associates, Inc. 238 A.D.2d 319 (2nd Dep’t 1997).
Recognitions and Awards
- Super Lawyers®, 2010
Our Firm's Awards & Honors
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