The State Environmental Quality Review Act, commonly referred to as SEQRA, is a state law that requires government agencies to assess the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a project to ensure balance and to protect the environment. In early 2025, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) released proposed SEQRA amendments which aimed to incorporate provisions of the Environmental Justice Siting…

This article is a continuation of the article titled “Transitioning ‘Tails’: A Veterinarian’s Journey” that was published in Issue Number 9 (2024) regarding a veterinarian’s exit strategy, and is the fifth and final in a continuing series that guide the reader through the sale process. This installment will briefly address the equity documents issued in connection by a consolidator or private equity (“PE”) backed buyer.…

This article is a continuation of the article titled Transitioning “Tails”: A Veterinarian’s Journey that was published in Issue Number 9, in 2024, regarding a veterinarian’s exit strategy. This is the fourth in a continuing series that guides the reader through the sale process. This installment focuses on the key agreements signed at closing—commonly referred to as “ancillary documents.” “Ancillary documents” are documents that relate…

This article is a continuation of the article titled Transitioning “Tails:” A Veterinarian’s Journey that was published in Issue Number 9, 2024, regarding a veterinarian’s exit strategy, and is the third in a continuing series that guide the reader through the sale process. This installment will briefly address the components of a purchase agreement. Regardless of who purchases your practice, a purchase agreement will always…

This article is a continuation of the article titled “Transitioning ‘Tails’: A Veterinarian’s Journey,” that was published in Issue Number 9, 2024, regarding a veterinarian’s exit strategy, and is the second in a continuing series that guides the reader through the sale process. This installment will briefly address the due diligence process. Whether you sell to a veterinary consolidator/private equity or an associate veterinarian, the…

The state has the authority to seize all or part of privately owned commercial real estate for public use by the power of eminent domain. Although the state is constitutionally required to provide just compensation to the property owner, it frequently fails to account for the property’s future development potential and the lasting impact the taking may have on its prospective use. A partial taking…

In New York, the doctrine of pure comparative negligence allows a party to recover damages even if they are partially or even mostly at fault. A plaintiff’s damages are reduced in proportion to their share of responsibility. This principle has important consequences when drafting indemnification clauses in construction contracts, where parties routinely seek to shift risk downstream. Owners typically attempt to transfer liability to general…