Biography

Darlene Fairman's practice includes a wide range of civil litigation with emphasis on complex commercial and real estate litigation in New York's state and federal courts. 

Art Law

Beginning with the successful representation of the Republic of Turkey in recovering the "Elmali Hoard" of rare and valuable ancient silver coins, Darlene has represented Turkey in matters seeking the return of looted cultural property. In addition, she has represented the heirs of world-renowned Russian artist Kazimir Malevich in their litigation against the City of Amsterdam to reclaim his artworks. This litigation was successfully settled in 2008 when the City of Amsterdam returned five paintings to them.

Darlene has been involved in Holocaust looted art matters, has represented art dealers and galleries in various matters and has successfully represented a jewelry designer in a copyright dispute.

Complex Commercial and Real Estate Litigation

As a result of Darlene’s broad based experience as a real estate litigator, she has had the opportunity to work with nursing home owners and operators, commercial and affordable housing developers, title insurance companies and the Real Estate Board of New York in connection with a variety of thorny issues including zoning and governmental disputes, challenges to local laws, environmental issues and fraudulent transfers. Her complex commercial experience in both State and Federal courts, at both the trial and appellate level, includes a wide variety of matters including breach of contract, business divorce, family and partnership disputes, and economic torts including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference claims. Darlene also has experience with accounting and accountants' malpractice matters.

Darlene's representative matters include:

  • Represented purchaser of $80 million Long Island City mixed-use property in breach of purchase agreement action
  • Represented purchaser of $155 million corporate division in breach of purchase agreement action 
  • Successful litigation to preserve the lien of a mortgagee whose borrower was revealed to be the knowing recipient of a fraudulent transfer of the mortgaged property
  • Represented the owner of a former inactive hazardous waste site in connection with litigation over a seawall built at the site and the sale of the property
  • Represented a major affordable housing developer and operator in a dispute with the New York City Housing Authority
  • Litigation of a partnership dispute involving the sale of six low income housing developments
  • Represented the Real Estate Board of New York in its successful lawsuit against the New York City Council to overturn Local Law 79
  • Successfully represented a developer in litigation over its right to convert a building it purchased from office/retail use to mixed office/retail and residential use
  • Represented a nursing home owner and operator in numerous business and real estate concerns, both transactional and litigation
  • Litigation of trusts and estates matters in Surrogate's court
  • Represented former executive in litigation over alleged use of confidential information.