Kevin B. McGrath is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Land Use & Government Relations Practices.  Mr. McGrath focuses on matters relating to New York City Government, and all aspects of real estate, planning and zoning issues, with substantial experience in the area of property tax certiorari.  Mr. McGrath has amassed significant insights into the New York real estate industry in his over 40 years of legal practice, and helped shape the skyline of New York.

Prior to joining Phillips Nizer, Mr. McGrath was a partner at two New York law firms.  Mr. McGrath was a protégé of the late New York City legal legend William A. Shea, at which time he headed Shea & Gould’s New York City Administrative and Governmental Law Section.  During his legal career, Mr. McGrath has served as an advisor to both former New York Governor Hugh Carey and former New York City Mayor Abraham D. Beame.  Mr. McGrath was a Contributing Author to New York Civil Practice (Text SCPA) by Cox, Arenson and Medina, 1974 and a Lecturer with the Practising Law Institute. 

Mr. McGrath has been involved in Zoning variances before the Board of Standards & Appeals and the Landmarks Preservation Commission on matters involving The Palace Hotel, The American Home Products Building, Alexander’s mall in Rego Park, Goldman Sachs New York City Corporate Headquarters, Queens Crossing, WayWest Development Corporation and the Jane Street Development.  Recently his appearance before the New York City Board of Standards and Appeal involved requested relief relating to bulk, use and parking variances and special permits for fitness centers (Adult Physical Cultural Establishments) and parking.

In addition to lecturing on the New York State Alcohol Beverage Law and Liquor Authority practices, Mr. McGrath has represented a varied group of applicants before the State Liquor Authority. His practice before the State Liquor Authority in obtaining licenses for retail and on-premises consumption establishments, as well as cabarets, has spanned more than thirty years.

Mr. McGrath is involved in transactional real estate and has represented clients in condemnation proceedings initiated by the City of New York, State of New York and quasi governmental agencies in New York State.

In his tax certiorari practice, Mr. McGrath has obtained some of the City’s largest real estate tax reductions for multi-million dollar property owners, developers, and managers of commercial, retail and residential buildings.  Besides having a client list which includes Circle Line Yachts, Cablevision, Madison Square Garden, Pyramid Management Group, Vornado Realty Trust, and Metromedia, he has appeared before virtually every New York City agency as well as the New York City Planning Commission.

Mr. McGrath  has served as a member of, and sits on numerous committees for various local organizations and businesses, including the Regional Board of Directors of the Bank of New York, and the Board of Directors of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. He has served on the Board of Directors of Inward House and as a Trustee for the Pension Fund for the Employees of Inward House for over 20 years. 

Professional Memberships:

• Association of the Bar of the City of NY
• Bronx Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association