Business Details
45 Years
experience
Experienced Legal Representation in White Plains, NY
Established in 1981, our firm provides comprehensive legal services rooted in decades of experience and community engagement. With a career spanning education, real estate law, and business transactions, we combine academic rigor with practical expertise to serve clients in Westchester County and beyond. Our founder, Louis Petralia, brings a unique background as both an attorney and educator, having taught real estate law for over 35 years while maintaining an active legal practice. Specializing in real estate, estate planning, and business law, we prioritize direct client interaction, personalized service, and deep local knowledge. Our practice extends across residential and commercial transactions, cooperative and condominium purchases, wills, trusts, and business formations, serving clients from first-time homebuyers to established corporations.We maintain affiliations with major lenders and professional organizations, ensuring up-to-date expertise in regulatory compliance and transactional efficiency. Committed to accessibility, we offer in-person document reviews and inspection report analysis without additional fees, distinguishing ourselves from firms that delegate client communication to paralegals. Our track record includes representation of supermarket chains, auto repair businesses, and dance studios, reflecting versatile commercial law capabilities. Active in local bar associations and community boards, we combine professional excellence with civic responsibility. This enduring commitment to both legal excellence and client-centered service has made us a trusted advisor for generations of clients in New York's Hudson Valley region.
Services
Real Estate Law
Wills & Trusts
Business Formations
Commercial Leasing
Landlord-Tenant
Estate Administration
Co-op/Condo Transactions
1031 Exchanges
Mortgage Closings
Legal Education
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of experience in New York real estate and business law
- Our solo practice ensures direct attorney-client communication throughout all transactions
- We provide in-person document reviews and inspection report analysis at no extra cost
- Our practice combines legal teaching expertise with active courtroom and transactional experience
- We maintain lender affiliations that reduce loan closing fees for residential clients
What people say
Best attorney I've ever dealt with
Crucial in co-op purchase process
Extremely thorough and knowledgeable
Seasoned real estate attorney
Handles everything professionally
Services
Real Estate Law
Comprehensive legal representation for residential and commercial real estate transactions. Specializing in co-op/condo purchases, new development acquisitions, and commercial leasing. Our practice handles title issues, mortgage financing, and contract negotiations across Westchester County and New York metropolitan area. With lender affiliations reducing closing costs, we serve buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants with direct attorney involvement throughout the process.
Estate Planning
Customized estate planning solutions including wills, living wills, trusts, and healthcare proxies. We administer probate estates and guide families through testamentary proceedings across New York's five boroughs and surrounding counties. Our practice addresses special needs trusts, guardianship designations, and asset protection strategies tailored to individual family circumstances and financial goals.
Business Law
Business formation and transactional support for startups and established companies. We facilitate entity selection, mergers, acquisitions, and commercial contracts while advising on tax implications and regulatory compliance. Our experience spans supermarket operations, automotive repair businesses, and real estate ventures, providing practical legal solutions for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Commercial Real Estate
Specialized representation for commercial property transactions including site acquisitions, lease agreements, and environmental compliance. Drawing on corporate counsel experience with national retailers, we handle complex leasing arrangements, 1031 exchanges, and multi-state transactions. Our practice addresses unique challenges in commercial financing and property management agreements.
Landlord-Tenant Law
Legal counsel for residential and commercial lease transactions including contract drafting, eviction proceedings, and dispute resolution. We represent property owners and tenants in lease negotiations, security deposit disputes, and court proceedings. Our practice addresses both traditional rental agreements and specialized commercial leasing arrangements.
People
Louis Petralia
Attorney & Owner
Admitted to practice in 1980, Louis Petralia brings 40+ years of legal experience with teaching roles at Westchester Community College and Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. He earned JD from Brooklyn Law School after teaching social studies at White Plains High School, where he received Teacher of the Year honors.
Questions
What areas do you serve for real estate transactions?
We handle transactions throughout Westchester County, New York City, Long Island (including east end properties), and northern counties including Putnam, Rockland, and Dutchess.
Do you handle both residential and commercial real estate?
Yes, our practice includes residential home sales, co-op/condo purchases, and commercial transactions including retail spaces, office buildings, and industrial properties.
How are you different from other real estate attorneys?
As a solo practitioner, I personally handle all aspects of your transaction without delegating to paralegals, providing direct attorney access and personalized service throughout the process.
What estate planning documents do you prepare?
We prepare wills, living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, revocable and irrevocable trusts, including special needs trusts and guardianship designations for minor children.
Can you assist with 1031 tax-deferred exchanges?
Yes, we have extensive experience with IRC 1031 exchanges since 1988, handling both single-state and multistate transactions with qualified intermediaries across the United States.
Do you work with mortgage lenders?
We are approved closing counsel for Wells Fargo Bank and Citizens Bank, with experience handling FHA, VA, 203K loans, and reverse mortgages to streamline the financing process.
