Samuel B. Moskowitz

 
 

Practice Focus and Experience


Sandy Moskowitz practices in the real estate, business, and litigation areas. He has extensive experience in a broad range of real estate matters, including title issues, leasing, development, conveyancing, and mortgage lending. Over his almost 30-year legal career, Sandy has developed an acknowledged expertise in all facets of condominium law, including both residential and commercial condominium development, operation, and financing. Sandy’s practice also includes real estate and business litigation, and the representation of closely held businesses. For four of the last five years, Sandy has been named a Massachusetts "Super Lawyer" from a poll of Massachusetts attorneys conducted by Law and Politics Magazine.

Representative Matters


  • Representation of over 40 condominium associations of various size and composition, including mixed-use and complex multi-tiered condominiums.
  • Representation of developers in creation of residential, commercial, and mixed-use condominiums.
  • Title claims work involving missing interests, faulty deeds, defective mortgage foreclosures, improperly amended condominium documents, and boundary disputes.
  • Litigation of boundary, easement, restrictive covenant, and title disputes; adverse possession claims; challenges to condominium development schemes involving phasing, land withdrawal, and affordable housing issues; and condominium construction defect cases.

Representative Reported Cases


  • Knott v. Racicot, 442 Mass. 314 (2004) - Seminal Supreme Judicial Court decision abolishing the ancient common law doctrine presuming consideration for contracts signed "under seal." Though decision was limited to option contracts, Court noted that logic of decision applies to other types of contracts as well.
  • Queler v. Skowron, 438 Mass. 304 (2002) - Supreme Judicial Court decision giving developers flexibility to use phasing and land withdrawal techniques in developing condominiums (overruling Levy v. Reardon, 43 Mass.App.Ct. 431 (1997), which limited those rights).

Professional


  • Distinctions: Peer review "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest bestowed rating; Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009.
  • Admitted: Massachusetts; Alabama; United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts; Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.
  • Member: Boston Bar Association; Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts; The Abstract Club; Community Associations Institute; Omicron Delta Epsilon.

Community Involvement


  • In 2008, elected a member of the Board of Directors of Greater Boston Legal Services.
  • Member of Legislative Committee and, in 2007, appointed Co-Chair of the Private Bar Advisory Committee of the Equal Justice Coalition.
  • Awarded the Adams Pro Bono Publico Award in June 2006 by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for his work creating and operating the Lawyer for the Day Program at the Boston Housing Court.
  • Appointed member of the BBA's Public Service Committee, which oversees all public service programs of the Bar Association.
  • Served as past chair of the Boston Bar Association's Real Estate Section and a member of the Section's Steering Committee since 1991.
  • From 1998 to 2008, served as Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association's Real Estate Section Pro Bono Committee, which created and operates the highly regarded Lawyer for the Day Program at the Boston Housing Court (volunteer lawyers advise unrepresented individuals with evictions and eviction defenses). In 2002, Sandy received the Denis Maguire Pro Bono Award for this work.

Publications and Speaking Engagements


  • Author of "Condominium-Related Liens" chapter in Massachusetts Real Estate Liens, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., 2001.
  • Has spoken on numerous panels for the Boston and Massachusetts Bar Associations, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, and Community Associations Institute.

News