Practice Areas
Administrative Proceedings | Anti-Harassment and Certification of No Harassment (CONH) | Human Rights | Commercial Lease Attorneys | Loft Law | Mortgage Foreclosures | Due Diligence
Education
JD, Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
BA, Long Island University, C.W. Post, Greenvale, New York
Honors & Awards
2024 Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, by Best Lawyers Publication
2023 Notable Women in Law by Crain's New York Business
2023 NY Real Estate Journal Women in Commercial Real Estate
KARA I. SCHECHTER RAKOWSKI is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Administrative Law Department. Ms. Rakowski joined the firm in 1991 and became a Partner of the firm in 1999.
Ms. Rakowski practices administrative law, with concentrations in representing property owners/buyers in rent regulation, development of rent regulated property, Certificates of Non-Harassment/NYC Pilot Program, Single Room Occupancy/Hotel Stabilization, NYC Loft Law and human rights. Ms. Rakowski represents property sellers, buyers and lenders in connection with rent regulatory due diligence and affordable housing issues. She has represented owners in numerous proceedings before the New York State Division of Housing & Community Renewal, New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development, New York City Environmental Control Board, New York City Department of Buildings, New York City Commission on Human Rights, New York State Division of Human Rights, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the New York State Public Service Commission. She has also represented owners in litigation challenging determinations made by these agencies. Ms. Rakowski has conducted numerous anti-discrimination training sessions for clients and their staff in connection with NYC and NYS human rights compliance. She has a broad knowledge of and has advised many owners regarding their compliance with city, state and federal lead-paint regulations and HEFPA.
Ms. Rakowski is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She is a member of the New York Bar and is admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern District Courts of New York.
Ms. Rakowski is a member of the Advisory Board for CHIP. She has lectured at seminars for CHIP and REBNY, as well as private organizations on issues concerning rent stabilization and rent control, anti-harassment, Anti-discrimination and ADA/Fair Housing compliance, and rent regulatory due diligence, affordable housing, Certificates of No Harassment, and NYC Pilot Program. In addition, she is a contributing columnist for Mann Report Management, and has been quoted in articles in publications such as the NY Times and the Commercial Observer. Ms. Rakowski was named as one of the top 100 women attorneys in NYC in Crain’s 2018 Inaugural List.