Joseph S. Goldsmith is a Partner at Kucker Marino Winiarsky & Bittens, LLP, where he advises owners, developers, investors, and commercial landlords on sophisticated real estate, regulatory, and land use matters. He is recognized for developing innovative legal strategies that maximize the value of real estate assets, preserve and enhance rental income, and navigate New York’s increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Joseph’s practice encompasses the laws, regulations, and administrative policies governing commercial leasing, rent-stabilized and rent-controlled housing, the New York Loft Law and Interim Multiple Dwellings (#IMDs), Certificates of No Harassment (#CONH), city, state, and federally subsidized housing programs, as well as cooperative and condominium ownership. He regularly represents developers, institutional and private owners, hotel operators, and commercial property owners in high-stakes regulatory proceedings, litigation, and transactional matters.

Widely regarded as one of New York City’s leading authorities on the Loft Law, Joseph has successfully represented clients in precedent-setting matters before administrative agencies and appellate courts, helping shape the legal framework governing New York’s evolving real estate landscape. His work has been featured in The Real Deal and other leading industry publications, particularly in connection with the Loft Law, rent regulation, Certificates of No Harassment, and administrative law.

In 2026, Joseph was appointed to the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Economic Development Committee, where he collaborates with industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders on initiatives influencing New York City’s long-term economic growth, housing policy, and commercial development. Through this role, he contributes to efforts that strengthen the City’s economic resilience, expand housing and business opportunities, and promote responsible development throughout the five boroughs.

Joseph earned his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law. While attending Hofstra, he participated in an international legal studies program in Shimla, India, culminating in a dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany and studied at Tel Aviv University, where he served as an Ambassador for the Lowy School for Overseas Students.

Joseph is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of New York, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers Association.

Representative Matters:

• Successfully obtained a landmark exemption from rent regulation following Kingston’s adoption of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). Represented the owner of a multi-unit residential property before the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), securing a determination that the property qualified for exemption from rent stabilization based upon substantial rehabilitation. DHCR granted the application, finding that the scope of rehabilitation satisfied the statutory threshold and restoring the owner’s ability to operate the property free from rent stabilization following Kingston’s 2022 adoption of the ETPA.
• Prevailed before the New York Court of Appeals in a precedent-setting Loft Law decision. Argued and won Aurora Associates v. Locatelli, 2022 NY Slip Op 00958 (2022), before New York’s highest court, addressing the important intersection of the Loft Law and the Rent Stabilization Law. The decision has been widely recognized within the real estate industry and was featured by The Real Deal and discussed by the Rent Stabilization Association in its RSA Reporter as a significant appellate decision affecting owners and practitioners throughout New York.