James G. Greilsheimer

James G. Greilsheimer represents clients in condemnation and government-related litigation at the federal, state and local levels. Jim also advises clients concerning the sale of their properties to the government in lieu of condemnation. He leads Kramer Levin’s multidisciplinary condemnation practice, which provides tax, land use, environmental, real estate and litigation advice to property owners and lessees before and after condemnation.

Among his most recent notable work, Jim secured, after trial and an appeal, an award in excess of $100 million for the owners of commercial property on lower Broadway in connection with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA's) building of the Fulton Street Transit Center next to Ground Zero, and he obtained, on the eve of trial, a settlement in excess of $20 million for the owners of commercial property condemned by the MTA for the construction of the Second Avenue Subway. He represented 60 owners of three condominium and cooperative buildings in the sale of their apartments in lieu of condemnation for the development of Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, and obtained settlements in excess of $100 million for owners in condemnation proceedings relating to waterfront properties in Williamsburg. His client, the owner of the adjacent property, received a settlement of $160 million in lieu of condemnation. He currently represents the owners of condemned properties in Queens County that required environmental remediation at the time of taking. Jim has also provided condemnation and relocation advice to developers, including the developer of the MetroTech site in Brooklyn.

Jim served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1963 to 1968 and was the chief of the Condemnation Unit. From 1974 to 1980, he served as the litigating assistant corporation counsel and then as first assistant corporation counsel of the city of New York during the city’s fiscal crisis. At various times, he has served as condemnation counsel for government agencies, including the New York City School Construction Authority, the Empire State Development Authority, the MTA, Amtrak, the New York Convention Center and the New York City Housing Authority, and for several utility companies that have the power to condemn.

Experience

Represents the owners of condemned properties in Queens County requiring environmental remediation at the time of taking.
Secured after a trial and an appeal an award in excess of $100 million for the owners of an assembled commercial property on lower Broadway in connection with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s building of the Fulton Street Transit Center next to Ground Zero.
Secured on the eve of trial a settlement in excess of $20 million for the owners of commercial property condemned by the MTA for the Second Avenue Subway.

Secured substantial awards for the owners of commercial properties in Long Island City and Manhattan to facilitate the East Side Access Project connecting the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Station.
Represented 60 owners of three condominium and cooperative buildings in the sale of their apartments in lieu of condemnation to the developer of Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.
Obtained settlements in excess of $100 million for the owners of waterfront properties in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Secured a $20.7 million award, plus interest, for a Nassau County property owner in an eminent domain dispute regarding land that required environmental remediation at the time it was taken. The award followed an 18-day bench trial and represented the full amount of the damages sought by the client.
Provided condemnation and relocation advice to the developer in connection with the acquisition of and securing possession of the properties for the MetroTech site in Brooklyn.
Served as condemnation counsel for government agencies, including the New York City School Construction Authority, the Empire State Development Authority, the MTA, Amtrak, the New York Convention Center and the New York City Housing Authority, and for several utility companies that have the power to condemn.

Credentials

Education

LL.B., Harvard Law School, 1962
B.A., Princeton University, 1959

Bar Admissions

New York, 1963
District of Columbia, 1969

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S.C.A., 2nd Circuit
U.S.C.A., Federal Circuit
U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
New York County Lawyers' Association