Criminal

Joseph L. Grosso began his career in criminal law when he joined the office of the Bronx County District Attorney, Mario Merola. As a senior trial attorney in the nation's first major offense bureau, he was responsible for the prosecution of recidivist individuals charged with serious, violent offenses. During his career as a prosecutor, Mr. Grosso became the Bureau Chief of the Indictment Bureau of Bronx County, having overall responsibility for all indictments that were presented to Grand Juries and obtained within the County.

Since leaving the public sector, Mr. Grosso applied his skills to the defense of individuals facing a wide variety of criminal charges involving all areas of the criminal law, including driving offenses, such as driving while intoxicated or impaired. During his career, Mr. Grosso tried over 100 felony cases to verdict. Mr. Grosso has the experience in all phases of the criminal law to vigorously and actively protect, preserve and defend the rights of those who are charged with violations of the law.

Litigation

Whether your business or personal life frequently brings you into contact with litigated matters or whether you find yourself in a unique and unfamiliar situation, almost everybody finds involvement in litigation to be stressful. The decision to litigate is not one to be taken lightly.  If you have had a legal action brought against you, the selection of defense counsel is one of vital importance. 

 This firm has successfully litigated thousands of cases over the course of 25 years ranging from disputes resulting from the sale or purchase of a business or real property to breach of contract actions and complex litigated estate matters to less complicated, but more common, problems, such as a dispute between a landscaper and a homeowner.

 In litigated matters there is no substitute for experience in and out of the courtroom.  With thousands of hours of courtroom time under his belt and even more spent in the office preparing for trial, JOSEPH L. GROSSO, P.C. has the expertise and experience to obtain the best possible outcome whether your concern is business or personal. The firm can provide complete litigation services from the preparation of initial or responsive pleadings, discovery demands and notices, depositions and other discovery devices, Court conferences and preparation of witnesses for trial and the conduct of the trial itself.  Despite what is shown on television, a trial is won or lost in an attorney’s office, during the preparation of the case for trial, and is not the product of courtroom theatrics.  Effective trial preparation begins with the very first client/attorney interview and continues through the last day of trial.

    Are you considering a lawsuit?  Have you been served with a Summons and Complaint or do you think that you might be served with one in the near future? 

Corporate & Business

JOSEPH L. GROSSO, P.C. is available to provide for your business organizational needs.  Discuss with us, in advance, the business structure that may best provide for your needs and concerns.  What is the best choice for you?  A corporation? A partnership?  Limited liability partnership?  Limited liability company?   Sole proprietorship?  Your choice of organization is a very important step not to be taken lightly.  Protection of personal and business assets is and should be of vital concern and is well worth investigating carefully.           

Most business arrangements and relationships involve to a greater or lesser extent contracts and contractual relationships.  A contract can be as simple as verbal agreement with a handshake or as formal as a multi page written document.  Leases, car purchases and even the purchase of fuel oil all involve entering into contractual relationships.  If you are beginning employment with a company, you may be asked to sign an employment contract. 

Many every-day contracts do not necessarily require the services of an attorney, but if you are at all uncertain about the meaning of the terms in the contract, you should consult with our firm.  If you are involved in a business, and are entering into a contract to lease equipment, such as a telephone system, automobiles, office or manufacturing space or hiring employees who will be required to enter into an employment contract, then consulting an attorney for guidance is most likely to be in your best interest.  Ultimate care and concern must be given to make sure that the language in the contract accurately reflects the agreement you wish to enter into, under the present and future circumstances you are likely to encounter.  Plan ahead…

WE CAN HELP YOU:

• Choose the most appropriate form of business organization and form the correct business entity with the proper State or Federal agencies.
• Guide you through the many decisions that are required at startup, including the election of Subchapter “S” taxation with both the State and Federal Governments.
• Make the decision whether any written agreements are necessary to provide for control of the business entity when there may be several partners, shareholders, or members, and provide an organized process by which a business may change the number of partners, members or shareholders.  Such agreements can provide for the orderly continuation of the business in the event of the death of any of the partners, shareholders or members.
• Prepare and file documentation with local or State governmental units when a business entity whishes to conduct business under a name that is different than the actual business entity name, commonly called a “DBA”.
• Coordinate business entity formation with an accountant of your choosing or refer you to one of several accountants with which the firm has had a long and successful relationship.
  

Landlord & Tennant Matters

The vast majority of relationships between landlords and tenants begin and end smoothly and amicably.  Sometimes, however, circumstances arise where the relationship can become strained.  This does not always mean that a landlord-tenant proceeding (eviction) must result.

  Whether you are the landlord or the tenant and if a problematical situation has arisen, you are urged to consult with our office.  Sometimes an agreement can be reached to allow the relationship to continue.  In those situations when no agreement can be reached the firm stands ready to protect the rights of the parties whether you are the landlord or the tenant.

 If you are a landlord, we invite you to contact us to discuss whether an ongoing relationship is beneficial on a larger scale or on a case by case basis.  If you are a tenant and think that the landlord may be preparing to commence a landlord tenant proceeding, you should consider consulting our office before any suit is commenced.

Residential Real Estate

With over 25 years of experience in handling residential real estate maters, the firm is ideally suited to assist those who are buying or selling their first home or to assist those who have been through the process many times.  We invite you to call us and meet with us when a decision is made to buy a home whether it is a resale or new construction, condominium or cooperative apartment.  Through a network of real estate professionals – including real estate and mortgage brokers, home inspection engineers and a variety of lenders, both institutional or private, we can offer suggestions and advice on how to avoid many of the problems associated with buying or selling residential real estate. 

 WE CAN PROVIDE THESE SERVICES:

• Prepare and negotiate contracts of sale.
• Assist in the selection of home inspection and termite inspection professionals.
• Refer clients to mortgage and banking professionals to ensure that all possible financing options are fully explored and the best possible financing is obtained.
• Arrange for title examination and title insurance, as well as property surveys as needed and resolve title issues to ensure clear title passes with a minimum of time and expense.
• Assist buyers in obtaining property hazard insurance consistent with the requirements of mortgage lenders.
• Attend the closing of title and arrange for the presence of those professionals that are necessary to result in a prompt and expeditious closing transaction.
  

Commercial Real Estate

There is no question that buying, selling or leasing commercial real estate properties is a very important decision and can involve many important and sometimes complicated issues.  We can offer the perspective buyer, seller or tenant guidance through a myriad of possible issues including zoning, land use, certificates of occupancy, ground water issues and the terms of and renewals of leases.

Experienced in assisting buyers, sellers and those leasing real property for commercial use in the five boroughs of the City of New York, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the firm stands ready, willing and able to assist you in all phases of a transfer or leasing of real property.  We have available to us a wide network of commercial real estate professionals that can address all of your concerns.  Put the whole team to work for you the minute you decide to buy, sell or lease.

WE CAN PROVIDE THESE SERVICES:

• Preparation negotiation of commercial contracts of sale as well as initial leases and lease extensions of commercial properties.
• Assist buyers and sellers and prospective lessees in obtaining professional engineering inspections of commercial structures as well as the all-important environmental evaluation of soil and ground water that is becoming increasingly important in the purchase or leasing decision.
• Financing is among the most important issues facing those who are considering purchasing commercial property.  We work with clients’ lenders or assist our clients in locating a mortgage professional with the ability to maximize the purchasing power of the client.
• The closing on a commercial property is often a stressful and time-consuming process, whether buying or selling.  The firm’s 25 years of experience can often go a long way in relieving the stress associated with closing the deal.
• Before and after the sale, the firm stands ready to assist our clients in securing contractors to perform renovations or modifications, prepare and filing zoning change applications or certificate of occupancy changes, and obtain building permits and other authorizations that may be required to maximize the utility of the property.

Trusts & Estates

            At one time or another, all of us consider the need to plan for the future.  Whether your needs may ultimately be a simple Will or an Estate Plan to take maximum advantage of estate planning techniques, it is in your best interest to give thought to these concerns now.  The firm offers estate planning advice to enable you to manage your affairs and reduce estate and related taxes and to take full advantage of the phase-in of the reduction of State and Federal Estate tax rates.

  The firm also offers complete services in the Probate of decedent’s estates for those who have passed on leaving a Will and the Administration of estates for those who did not have a Will.  The firm has handled and continues to handle simple and complex estates in the five boroughs of the City of New York and Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Filing of  Probate or Administration petitions, obtaining letters testamentary or letters of administration, filing of asset inventories, accounting procedures and finalizing  estates are all within the services provided by this firm. 

            Whether your concerns involve long term planning or the recent loss of a loved one, you can rely on the expertise and experience of JOSEPH L. GROSSO, P.C.

 WE CAN HELP YOU:

• Prepare a will to distribute your assets as you wish.
• Prepare health care proxies and “living wills” to enable our clients to designate those who will have  the power to make health care decisions.
• Analyze your asset structure to determine if a variety of estate planning tools, such as inter-vivos trusts will be of benefit to the client and the clients’ heirs.
• Determine if an Elder law specialist is necessary and appropriate to carry out the wishes of the client, arrange for a referral to an Elder law attorney or cooperate with an Elder Law specialist of the client’s choosing.
• Prepare and file Probate and Administration proceedings.
• Conduct accounting proceedings as required by the facts of a particular estate.
• Aggressively pursue litigation if warranted and assist in dispute resolution procedures to avoid litigation if appropriate.
• Advise executors and administrators as to their responsibilities and assist them in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.