Connecticut Divorce Attorneys - Goldman Gruder & Woods

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Archived Articles

Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC Opens Greenwich Office

Litigator Howard Wolfe Joins Firm as Resident Member of

Greenwich Office

GG&W welcomes Neil A. Lippman as Member

Department

GG&W Expands Offices and Communications Systems

Gary R. Khachian Named Principal

Matthew B. Woods Continues as Milford Trial Counsel

Michael L. Goldman Named Director And Officer

GG&W Becomes Counsel To The Greater Norwalk Council For The Arts

Stephen E. Tower joins GG&W as a Member

Healthcare Lawyer and Litigator Angelo Maragos joins GG&W

Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC Opens Greenwich Office

The law firm of Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC opened its Greenwich office at 125 Mason Street on September 1, 2002. Howard Wolfe, the firm's newest Member, will be the resident Member of the office.

The Greenwich office serves two purposes. First, Attorney Wolfe will continue to service his client base. While well known as a litigator, Howard also handles business and real estate transactions for real estate professionals, business owners and individuals.

The Greenwich office will also service the firm's fast-growing Greenwich client base. Kenneth Gruder's real estate clients and Michael Goldman's corporate and real estate clients from the Greenwich area will find the office to be conveniently located (with ample parking), in the heart of Greenwich's downtown business district.

"My corporate and real estate client base will benefit from Michael Goldman's and Ken Gruder's expertise and the firm's infrastructure," says Attorney Wolfe. Attorney Goldman confirms, "Howard's long-time Greenwich contacts have been doing business with many of Ken's and my contacts for years. We can provide more services to more people by teaming with Howard and making Greenwich a central part of our practice."

Litigator Howard Wolfe Joins Firm as Resident Member of Greenwich Office

Howard R. Wolfe joined the firm as a Member on September 1, 2002. Formerly a partner in a prominent Greenwich firm, Albert, Ward and Johnson, P.C., Howard will continue to provide service to his same client base in Greenwich, while also offering his clients expanded representation in business-related and real estate matters. Attorney Wolfe's experience includes business and commercial litigation, foreclosures, real estate title disputes, landlord and tenant litigation (including commercial and residential evictions), construction litigation and contract disputes. While adept at real estate closings and business matters, Howard will be teaming with Michael Goldman and Ken Gruder to increase the scope of such representation while maintaining close personal contact with his clients.

"Howard is both a fierce litigator and a pragmatic, kind person", states Managing Member Michael Goldman. "A firm can never have enough excellent litigators, and Howard's expertise complements the skills of Matthew Woods and Neil Lippman. Furthermore, our having three experienced litigators will also enable the firm to handle certain types of cases we have previously declined to take for client service reasons."

Goldman Gruder & Woods Welcomes Neil A. Lippman as Member

Neil A. Lippman joined the firm as a member on November 12, 2001. Formerly a founding and named partner in a New Haven firm, Neil brings his litigation skills and sizable client base to Goldman Gruder & Woods. A magna cum laude graduate of University of Miami School of Law (with Order of the Coif distinction), Neil has litigated commercial disputes involving breach of contract actions, evictions, and foreclosures in the Connecticut state and federal courts for over 12 years. His past experience in both a large and a boutique law firm has equipped Attorney Lippman with the types of skills necessary to service his existing clients and the firm's client base.

"Being able to work together with Neil will allow our firm to handle more cases simultaneously," emphasizes Matthew Woods, chairman of the Litigation Department. "We both have strong experience in commercial and employment litigation matters, so we can cross-cover on many matters without reducing the skills which our clients expect."

Over the past five years, Neil also developed a strong real estate clientele. Joining Goldman Gruder & Woods' well-known and industry-wide respected attorneys and paralegals allows Attorney Lippman to expand his real estate practice and better serve his real estate clients.

Goldman Gruder & Woods Expands Offices and Communications Systems

Goldman Gruder and Woods has extended its lease at 200 Connecticut Avenue, in Norwalk, for an additional ten years and simultaneously expanded into more than 1600 square feet of adjacent office space. Most of our paralegals now have their own offices, and we have added 2 conference areas. To meet our growing technology needs, the firm has installed a new telephone system and expanded our computer capabilities. All attorneys and staff are now serviced by an internet T-1 providing all personnel with continuous internet access. All attorneys and staff now have their own email addresses (click here for list of addresses). While meeting and speaking with clients is our favorite part of our law practice, we recognize that many clients are becoming more reliant on communication through email. We will still have the same direct dial telephone numbers for all lawyers and staff (click here for list of direct dial numbers for lawyers and paralegals), so we still have the same telephone access for clients who so prefer.

Gary R. Khachian Named Principal

Gary R. Khachian was named a principal of Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC on January 1, 1999. He had previously been affiliated with the firm on an Of Counsel basis.

"My corporate and real estate clients are now better represented than ever, since I now have two partners who are experts in these fields", states Attorney Khachian. "At the same time, the fees charged to our litigation clients are being reduced because Matt Woods and I can coordinate many court assignments together."

Attorney Khachian's experience in his family's real estate management and development business have also afforded Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC the opportunity to increase its landlord/tenant representation. His family's longtime affiliation with Norwalk has cemented the firm as a Norwalk fixture. Gary has continued the Norwalk tradition started by his grandfather, who founded a shoe factory in South Norwalk nearly 60 years ago, and Gary's father, who founded and owns a Ford Dealership in Downtown Norwalk.

Matthew B. Woods Continues as Milford Trial Counsel

The City of Milford is fortunate to have appointed Matthew B. Woods as its Trial Counsel. In this capacity, Attorney Woods handles the City's property tax appeals, zoning appeals, and other litigation matters. "This work enables me to make a contribution to my own community while becoming a leading practitioner in zoning appeals and tax appeals in the State of Connecticut," Attorney Woods points out, "Moreover, I am able to represent property owners and developers in any other Connecticut municipality in these matters."

Michael L. Goldman Named Director And Officer Of The First Connecticut Capital Corporation

On October 20, 1998, the Shareholders of The First Connecticut Capital Corporation, a publicly held lending company located in Shelton, Connecticut, named Michael L. Goldman to its Board of Directors, and the Board voted Michael Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. The Company's General Counsel, Attorney Goldman also was appointed to the Loan Committee.

Attorney Goldman reports, "I have been involved in the mortgage lending business for all of my adult life, as attorney and a principal in several family businesses. As I already close the mortgage loans for First Connecticut and have for years assisted the Company on virtually all issues, I can be an active board member and help guide the Company's growth and prosperity very naturally. This position allows me to be involved with great people and a well-run company without having to act only as a lawyer."

Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC Becomes Counsel To The Greater Norwalk Council For The Arts, Inc.

The Greater Norwalk Council For The Arts, Inc. now counts Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC as one of its supporters. Michael L. Goldman incorporated the Council and drafted its bylaws. Attorney Goldman has been named to the Council's Advisory Board.

Gary Khachian, another member of the Firm, represented the Council in its efforts to lease and renovate an antiquated carriage house, located in Cranbury Park, for adaptive reuse as a center for performing arts productions. Attorney Goldman worked with the Council and Attorney Khachian on the Council's presentation to the City of Norwalk.

"The Council is comprised of members of different visual and performing arts groups in the greater Norwalk area," states Attorney Goldman. "Therefore, its representation requires sufficient breadth to satisfy the needs of different artistic groups. Since I have always enjoyed the visual and performing arts but had no intrinsic ability myself, I am delighted to contribute to the Arts in my own particular way."

Stephen E. Tower joins Goldman Gruder & Woods as a Member

Stephen E. Tower has joined the firm as a member. He brings the firm a strong client base and over 25 years of experience as a banking, finance and real estate attorney, having been a founding and named partner at another preeminent firm in Fairfield County for the past 11 years.

Steve previously worked with firm attorneys Michael Goldman and Kenneth Gruder years ago, and their re-partnering increases the firm's ability to provide breadth and depth to its real estate and business laws practice. "Steve has a large and enthusiastic client base, and he is great to work with," states Michael L. Goldman. "As our business becomes more competitive, we need a greater critical mass of productive lawyers who are easy to work with. Otherwise, we cannot possibly satisfy all of our clients."

"Steve meets these needs for us, and we meet the same needs for Steve, needs he could not get addressed elsewhere," states Ken Gruder, Chairman of the firm's Real Estate Department.

Healthcare Lawyer and Litigator Angelo Maragos joins Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC.

With a practice in both Connecticut and New York, Angelo P. Maragos has joined Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC as a member of the firm. Attorney Maragos brings his eleven years of complex civil, commercial and domestic relations litigation experience. His practice areas include personal injury and defective products litigation, health care law and health care litigation.

Attorney Maragos serves as counsel to many long term health care providers in Connecticut and New York. He chairs the firm's Health Care practice, emphasizing issues involving resident's rights, reimbursement, Medicare and Medicaid regulations, compliance, certificates of need, The Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA), and employment related matters and litigation.

Attorney Maragos also has considerable family law experience and heads the firm's Family Law practice.

Angelo received his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law after having earned his undergraduate degree from University of Connecticut. Attorney Maragos speaks fluent Greek and assists many Greek clients in real estate and business transactions, often working in team with the firm's other attorneys. He is married to Sophia Papadopoulos and has two children.