Listmates,

Looking for recommendations for a tenant-side landlord-tenant attorney for a paid consultation, with the possibility of a contingency engagement.

The client is a rent-stabilized tenant in a large 421-a building in Long Island City. Her initial lease came with a multi-month COVID rent concession, and under the First Department's recent decision in Grey v LIC Development Owner (post-HSTPA concessions treated as effectively setting the rent base), subsequent renewals may have been calculated off the wrong base. Potential overcharge is roughly six figures including 9% interest, before any treble analysis.

She has been invited to join a proposed class action as a named plaintiff. Before committing, she wants an independent assessment of an individual claim, in particular whether treble damages are realistic given the willfulness question for pre-Grey conduct, and how the individual route compares to the class route.

On fees: she hopes to explore a contingency arrangement if the case proceeds, and will pay an hourly rate for the initial consultation. Someone with substantive rent-stabilization overcharge experience (Supreme Court and DHCR) in Manhattan or Queens would be ideal. Timing matters, as the class action decision is pending.

Thanks in advance.

Best, 

Xiaojun