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Robert S. Cook, Jr. has extensive experience in the laws governing the development of land and use of buildings in the City of New York, particularly the Zoning Resolution and Landmarks Law. He has represented private developers and not-for-profit organizations, including educational, health care and religious institutions. He is often asked by other law firms to advise them on the land-use aspects of their real estate transactions.
Mr. Cook practices before the City Planning Commission, Board of Standards and Appeals, Landmarks Preservation Commission and City Council, as well as other City agencies, including the Departments of Buildings, Transportation, Environmental Protection and Finance, and the New York City Art Commission.
He has obtained approvals for development projects in all five boroughs and has negotiated and drafted documents for the sale or purchase of development rights, restrictive declarations, conservation easements and street mapping agreements.
Mr. Cook serves as a director, vice president and chairman of the Zoning Committee of Citizens Housing and Planning Council. Mr. Cook was appointed by Gov. Cuomo to the New York State Freshwater Wetlands Appeals Board, on which he served for several years, and served as chairman of the Committee on Land Use Planning and Zoning of the New York City Bar Association.
Mr. Cook started his career in land-use law at the firm of Tufo & Zuccotti, which subsequently merged into Brown & Wood, where he became a partner. When the land-use practice at Brown & Wood disbanded, Mr. Cook moved to DeForest & Duer, where he headed the land-use practice. He joined the lawyers of DeForest & Duer who moved to Anderson Kill, when DeForest & Duer dissolved. He was a consultant to The Denver Partnership in connection with zoning for Denver's Lower Downtown area.
Mr. Cook is rated "AV," the top rating, by his peers as listed in Martindale Hubbell.
Publications
"Zoning for Hotels and Motels in New York State," Focus (Industry News), published by the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (August 2010)
"Land Use - What You Need to Know if You Own or Plan to Buy or Rent Real Estate in New York City," Trade with Italy, The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Journal, Year XI, Volume 31 (November 27, 2009)
"Land Use Questions to Ask When Buying or Financing Real Estate," The Real Estate Finance Journal (Spring 2009)
"A Foreigner's Guide to New York City Land Use Law," Interleges (Winter 2008/2009)
"Finding clarity on the legal definition of what constitutes a hotel," Real Estate Weekly (December 31, 2008)
"Building The Big Box In The Big City," Retail Law Strategist (July 2006)
"Getting in the Zone for Development Right Transfers," Real Estate Weekly (December 21, 2005)
"Zoning for Hospitals: New York Continues Favorable Treatment," AKO Hospital Construction Newsletter (Spring 2005)
"New York Considers Plans for Area West of Midtown," AKO Real Estate & Constructions Advisor (Spring 2003)
"Zoning for the New Century: A 50 year perspective" (1999) (contributor)
"The Treatise on Environmental Law," New York State Bar Association (1992) (contributor)
"Innovative Zoning Tools for Downtowns," Managing Design and Development, Technical Bulletin Number 1 (1981)
"Zoning for Downtown Urban Design," (book) D.C. Heath and Company (1980)
Bar Admissions
New York
Memberships
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Environmental Law Committee, 1979-1982; Committee on Land Use Planning and Zoning, 1994-2000; Chair, 1997-2000)
Education
Yale Law School, LL.B.
Amherst College, B.A. cum laude
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