Our Attorneys
Douglas F. Wasser
Partner
Practice Areas
Douglas F. Wasser is a Partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., where he is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Fine Art Law Groups. With over 40 years of extensive real estate and general business law experience, Doug represents parties who are leasing or subleasing office space, including space in Class A buildings, net leasing buildings and vacant land, leasing or subleasing retail space, buying, selling, operating and improving commercial properties, work-outs, buying or selling businesses, purchasing or selling hotels or conducting business as a hotel franchisee, and obtaining or refinancing commercial mortgage debt.
Doug has helped international conglomerates, owners and operators of hotels, office buildings, apartment buildings, former factories, airport hangars, hospitals, academic campuses, warehouses as well as medical and dental practices, law firms, small and medium sized businesses, including cannabis businesses, with their real estate needs.
Doug helps condominium, co-operative apartment buildings and homeowner’s associations with any number of issues, including co-op/condo management relations, elections, common area sales and leases, commercial space leasing, underlying building financing, sponsor matters, trust-owned apartments, neighbor access (under NYC Local Law 11), proprietary lease or by-law amendments, vendor contracts, litigation, and annual and special meetings.
Doug has been a quoted source on emerging trends in real estate for more than 35 times in the New York Times Real Estate Section, as well as in various other print and online media.
Doug’s practice also includes Fine Art Law, having represented the world’s largest auction house for many years. Doug represents all parties in the fine art world, including auction houses, investors, collectors, estate and trust fiduciaries, advisors, artists, galleries, and others. Among other things, Doug helps with issues of title and ownership, private sales, warranties, provenance, fraud, undue influence, conversion, theft, cultural heritage and antiquities.
PUBLISHED CASES: Skyview Motel, LLC v. Wald (March 22, 2011) NY Appellate Division/Second Department
PROFESSIONAL PANELS: Legal Issues for Artists and Patrons: Arts Lawyers Address Questions of Vital Interest to Arts Professionals; Salmagundi Art Club, New York, New York, January 21, 2015
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Media Appearances:
NEW YORK TIMES:
1. May 26, 2013, Mortgages – Reducing Refinancing Expenses
2. June 10, 2012, Real Estate Q & A – Life Estate and Future Sale
3. April 1, 2012, Real Estate Q & A – A Two-Family with Three Units
4. December 17, 2010, Real Estate Q & A – Holding the Deposit in a Lease Purchase;
5. July 2, 2010, Real Estate Q & A – Reading the Fine Print of a Condo Lease
6. March 5, 2010, Real Estate Q &A – Misclassifying a Certificate;
7. September 29, 2009, Real Estate Q & A – Keep the Money Bag Home, Please;
8. August 7, 2009, Real Estate Q & A – Returning a Deposit with Accrued Interest;
9. July 17, 2009, Real Estate Q & A – Certain Trees Are Protected;
10. March 29, 2009, Real Estate Q &A – Going After Deed Fraud;
11. January 14, 2009, Real Estate Q & A, – Does a Mortgage Tax Apply in a Refinancing;
12. September 4, 2008, Real Estate Q & A, – Paying a Mortgage Tax on Home Refinancings;
13. September 11, 2007, Mortgage Q & A – Mortgage Taxes and Lines of Credit;
14. July 31, 2007, Mortgage Q & A – The Complexities of Recording Taxes;
15. July 3, 2007, Mortgage Q & A – Reducing a Mortgage Tax;
16. April 10, 2007, Mortgage Q & A – Does a Mortgage Tax Apply to a Refinancing?;
17. January 21, 2007, Your Home – When Friends buy a House Together;
18. August 14, 2005, Q & A – Passing Along Tax Credits in a Co-op;
19. October 31, 2004, Your Home – How to Abandon an Underground Tank;
20. March 14, 2004, Q&A – A Condo Fee for an Open House;
21. December 1, 2002, Your Home – Tax Breaks for Owners Of Co-ops;
22. October 21, 2001, Q&A – Condo Owner with 20 Apartments;
23. March 18, 2001, Q&A – A Building Going Up Next Door;
24. July 30, 2000, Your Home – Warranties for New Houses;
25. June 18, 2000, Q&A – Rules on Taking a Roommate;
26. July 30, 2000 – Your Home: Warranties for New Houses;
27. June 20, 1999, Q&A;
28. February 7, 1999, Your Home – Disposing of a Paid Up Mortgage;
29. March 29, 1998, Your Home – Buying a House in Foreclosure;
30. December 14, 1997, Your Home – Homeowner Tax Cuts in New York;
31. November 2, 1997, Your Home – Mortgage Transfer Savings;
32. June 22, 1997, Mortgage Recording Taxes;
33. October 5, 1997, Real Estate Q & A,;
34. December 15, 1996, Q&A;
35. October 6, 1996, Q&A;
36. April 28, 1996, Your Home – Lowering Taxes on a Mortgage;
37. January 13, 1991, Talking: Co-op Shares; Lenders Tighten the Rules
Publications
- Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. Announces Launch of Fine Art Law Practice Group!
- The Latest Hurdle for New York Cannabis: Injunction Prohibits Review of Provisional Retail Applications
- New York Law Protects Artists From Art Dealers
- Fine Art Bidders Beware (Know the Terms of Sale Before Bidding)
- 6 Representations and Warranties Art Buyers Must Have
- Six Must-Have Representations and Warranties for Art Buyers
- A Tenant-Shareholder’s Rights to Inspect Board Minutes
- Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. Welcomes Attorneys Douglas Wasser & Adam Russ
Education
State University of New York , Buffalo School of Law, Buffalo, New York, /J.D.
Queens College of the City University of New York, Queens, New York, 1977/B.A.
Honors: Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities