When a dental practice deal goes from negotiation to litigation without warning, the difference between protecting your practice and losing access to it can come down to which attorney picks up the phone. Mandelbaum Barrett PC demonstrated the value of having both skilled transactional counsel and experienced litigators working together, delivering a significant victory for a New York City dental practice client in a high-stakes dispute over shared practice space.
The engagement began as a real estate transaction: Casey Gocel, a partner in the firm’s National Dental Law Group, spent over a year negotiating a shared space agreement for a dental practice located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, with views of Central Park. The client and another dental practice had initially purchased the space with the intention of joining practices, but the parties could not reach mutually agreeable terms. Gocel proceeded to negotiate in good faith on behalf of the client, working to structure an arrangement under which each practice would have dedicated operatories and shared access to laboratory, sterilization, reception, and administrative spaces, as well as certain shared medical equipment.
When Negotiation Gave Way to Litigation
As the other practice encroached upon the shared space and refused equitable terms, it became clear that litigation would be necessary to protect the client’s rights. Gocel contacted partners Joshua Bauchner and Jed Weiss in the firm’s New York office at a critical moment: the very next day, the opposing party filed an emergency application for temporary restraints seeking to shut the client’s practice out of the space entirely.
Bauchner and Weiss moved quickly, opposing the emergency application and securing the space the client needed to continue operating its practice without interruption. The speed of the response and the quality of the legal work made the difference in a situation where any delay would have had serious consequences for the client’s business.
The Client’s Perspective
“They were incredible,” said the client, Dr. Alex Volchonok. “I’ve worked with Casey for years and was trepidatious about litigation. Josh and Jed immediately stepped into the breach, kept me well informed, even over the Thanksgiving holiday, and ensured my practice would continue without interference or interruption. I could not be happier with the firm’s representation and ability to quickly transition from negotiation to litigation mode to protect my rights.”
The outcome reflected the firm’s ability to mobilize quickly across practice groups when a client faces an urgent legal situation. The coordination between transactional counsel and litigation counsel, and the quality of work in both roles, is what Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s dental clients have come to rely on when a practice matter becomes contentious.
National Dental Law at Mandelbaum Barrett PC
Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s National Dental Law Group has handled thousands of dental practice transactions over more than two decades, representing dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, and pediatric dentists throughout New York, New Jersey, and nationally. The group’s attorneys bring deep knowledge of the business and legal dimensions of dental practice to every engagement, whether it involves a practice acquisition, a shared space arrangement, or a dispute that requires litigation to resolve.
The group works closely with dental consultants, management companies, and other industry professionals, and has developed the industry connections and practice-specific knowledge that allow the firm to advise dental clients on the full range of legal issues they may face throughout the life of their practice.
Litigation at Mandelbaum Barrett PC
The firm’s Litigation Department handles matters in New York and New Jersey state and federal courts, with a team of attorneys prepared to advocate for clients through every stage of a dispute. The group works toward favorable resolutions wherever possible but stands ready to litigate aggressively when clients’ rights require it. In this matter, Bauchner and Weiss demonstrated the kind of rapid-response capability that makes the difference in a business emergency.
For dental professionals facing a practice dispute, shared space conflict, or any legal matter that may require both transactional and litigation support, Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s National Dental Law Group and Litigation Department are prepared to work together on your behalf. Contact the firm through the contact page. Our attorneys are ready to help protect your practice.
These stories are successful case results from our attorneys. Please note that results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.