By GREGORY ZELLER //
A relatively quiet stretch has been disrupted by another merger of powerhouse Long Island law firms.
Uniondale-based Forchelli Deegan Terrana announced Thursday that it has welcomed the attorneys and staff of Koeppel Martone & Leistman, a Mineola-based powerhouse of regional real estate law.
Koeppel Martone Senior Partner Donald Leistman will maintain that title under the FDT banner and co-chair a new supersized Tax Certiorari Practice Group with Forchelli Deegan Terrana Co-Managing Partner John Terrana.
“Throughout the years, I have worked both with and against members of [Koeppel Martone],” Terrana said Thursday. “I have always been impressed by their professionalism and the quality of their work.
“I am excited to have them join us,” the partner added.
Put ‘er there, partners: Forchelli Deegan Terrana commanders (from left) Danial Deegan, John Terrana, Donald Leistman and Jeffrey Forchelli.
Founded in 1963, Koeppel Martone boasts one of New York State’s largest tax certiorari practices. With 150 attorneys and staffers now in the FDT fold, the merger results in the “preeminent real estate tax law firm in New York State,” according to a statement from Forchelli Deegan Terrana, with “tremendous opportunities and benefits to the firm’s clients.”
The union also continues the 2022 merge-a-thon among regional law firms, with several long-established practices plunging into post-pandemic expansion mode.
Earlier this year, the LI law merry-go-round was in full swing: Multinational Greenberg Taurig – consistently ranked among the largest U.S. firms – announced two new Long Island offices; Syracuse-based Bond, Schoeneck & King acquired the attorneys and business of Melville-based Lazer Aptheker Rosella & Yedid; and Uniondale’s Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz absorbed Garden City firm Weinstein, Kaplan & Cohen, among other 2022 mergers.
Since the Bond/Lazar union was announced in May, things have been relatively quiet. But with all that strategic growth happening, FDT is always on the watch for the right expansion opportunity – and adding an esteemed real estate firm like Koeppel Martone was a great fit, according to Forchelli Deegan Terrana Chairman and Co-Managing Partner Jeffrey Forchelli.
“We are very excited to be joined by [their] attorneys and staff,” Forchelli said in a statement. “We will make each other better, and all of our clients will benefit greatly as a result.
“The future is bright.”
