Jeffrey D. Forchelli founded the law firm, which is now known as Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP, in 1976. He serves as Chairman of the Firm and Co-Managing Partner. Mr. Forchelli chairs the firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice group and co-chairs its Real Estate practice group. His extensive practice concentrates on complex real estate and land use matters, including litigation and tax certiorari for major real estate developers and national corporations.

He is a Trustee of Brooklyn Law School and formerly served as a Trustee of Wagner College, where he also served as the Vice Chairman of the Board. He served as a Counsel to the New York State Assembly, as a Director of Security Title and Guaranty Company, and as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps.

In 2023, Mr. Forchelli was selected for inclusion in Long Island Business News’ Long Island Business Influencer in Law, which honorees were chosen exclusively based on their outstanding achievements and standing in the legal community.

In 2021, Mr. Forchelli was selected for inclusion in Long Island Business News’ Power 25 Law list, which recognizes the region’s top lawyers.

Mr. Forchelli was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in American Law (8th Edition) and is consistently included in the “Who’s Who in Law” listing by Long Island Business News. He has been selected to New York Metro Super Lawyers lists (Land Use & Zoning). Annually since 2018, Mr. Forchelli has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list (Land Use & Zoning Law).

In 2003, Mr. Forchelli endowed his first chair at Brooklyn Law School. He later endowed a second chair in 2004 in honor of his father, Don Forchelli, who was also a lawyer. In 2005, Brooklyn Law School celebrated the opening of the Jeffrey D. Forchelli Conference Center, named in his honor. He also received the National Alumni Association Award for “Excellence in Business” from Wagner College.

In 2009, Mr. Forchelli and his wife, Sadie, were honored by St. Francis Hospital at its annual Challenge Ball. Under the auspices of the Diocese of Brooklyn, he was the recipient of the 2011 Frederic Ozanam Award. He has been honored by Hempstead Plains at Nassau Community College, The Center for Developmental Disabilities, the Nassau County Bar Association’s WE CARE Annual Golf and Tennis Classic, and The INN—Interfaith Nutrition Network.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Land Use & Zoning
• Litigation
• Real Estate
• Environmental
• Municipal
• Tax Certiorari

EDUCATION

• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1969
• Wagner College, B.S., 1966

ADMISSIONS

• New York State Bar
• United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Brooklyn Law School (Trustee)
• Wagner College (Trustee and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees)
• Member, St. Francis Hospital Foundation Board
• Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District (former Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees)
• Nassau Community College (former Trustee)
• Nassau County Republican Executive Committee (Vice Chairman and Executive Committeeman)
• AV-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell