Our Practice Areas

Banking and Finance

The attorneys at Crush & Varma Law Group PC have advised national and regional lending institutions and credit unions as well as private trusts. In addition to preparing or reviewing financing and security documentation for commercial lending, the firm advises on new forms of security and major financing.  This practice is complemented by the partners' experience in handling all aspects of project financing, loan negotiations, banking litigation and loan workouts both on the customer side and through more than 20 years’ experience in representing commercial lending institutions in all levels and varieties of financing transactions – equipment leasing, lines of credit (working capital and revolving), cross-border syndicated loans, mortgage loans (including SBA), letters of credit and swaps.

Representative Transactions

• Representation of Key Bank National Association and Provident Bank in connection with numerous commercial loans.

• Counsel to the lending syndicate for a $27 million syndicated loan to an Indian company, and guaranteed by its US holding, with syndicate partners out of London and Hong Kong.

Corporate, Contractual and Commercial Transactions

Crush & Varma Law Group provides creative, solution-based advice on various corporate, contractual and commercial law matters - including those relating to Banking, Finance & Securities; Private Equity; Competition; Exchange Controls; Insurance; Real Estate and Agriculture – including applicable federal, state and local laws. The firm advises clients on the formation and conduct of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures, and performs transactional services relating to the purchase, sale, financing and reorganization of companies. We have extensive experience in advising companies on the addition of new partners or shareholders, development of buy/sell agreements and pros and cons of restrictive covenants or non compete agreements. The services of the firm include assisting our clients in commercial arrangements such as distribution, franchising, licensing, manufacturing and equipment leasing.  

Representative Transactions

• Corporate reorganization of $12 million dollar not-for-profit social services agency and establishment of foundation and not-for-profit subsidiary.

• Asset Sale of $3 million dollar pharmacy business.

• Corporate structuring, construction financing and permanent loan financing on behalf of medical practice for construction of an $8 million dollar medical arts facility and leasing of the facility.

Wills, Trusts & Estates, Business Succession Planning

Crush & Varma Law Group PC advises its clients on various matters pertaining to Elder Law, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Wills, Probate and Trust Administration. The Trust and Estate lawyers at Crush & Varma provide advice on matters pertaining the impact of taxation both on the individual (whether will, trust, lifetime gifts or insurance) and in the business context (where a sale or buy-out or succession planning may be involved). Our estate administration and probate services are provided to implement these plans. We also advise clients in contested estate matters. The firm also assists clients in settlement of inter-family disputes and if necessary litigation in connection with estates. Our trust experience is broad ranging from simple to complex estate planning matters.

Health Care/Medical Services Delivery Law

The attorneys at Crush & Varma Law Group P.C. understand the healthcare industry.  Our medical services practice began over 20 years ago when firm lawyers were deeply involved in the general representation of local hospitals and physician groups. We advised on the initial corporate restructurings which brought about foundations, parent companies, joint ventures and clinical extensions, offshore insurance entities, for-profit subsidiaries, captive PC’s, and transition of employed emergency and radiology groups to private practice, the development of hospitalists, physician recruitment practices and loans, and through the ever-changing regulatory environment of Stark and its iterations and Anti-Kickback legislation on the federal level and fee splitting and referral issues of the states.  We are knowledgeable and remain available to assist our clients be proactive as rules and regulations for the new managed care model evolve including as they relate to Accountable Care Organizations (ACO’s) and Health Homes.  

We are able to advise our clients on the legal implications of their day-to-day

business developments and issues as they arise.   Typical services we have

provided have included:

• mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures

• corporate restructurings, formations and qualification of entities as
  not-for-profit and/or charitable

• employment law

• Regulatory Compliance: Assisting clients in understanding and complying with industry-specific data privacy regulations, such as HIPAA and HITECH for healthcare organizations and GLBA for financial institutions.

• physician recruitment agreements (both with hospitals and physician
  practices) including the development of employment contracts, incentives and
  partnership/shareholder buy/sell agreements, confidentiality and restrictive
  covenant agreements

• intellectual property

• medical director contracts

• development and financing of pharmacies, cancer centers, private practice
  offices, home health agencies

• equipment financing

• review and negotiation of state agency and federal contracts

• compliance and policy development and enforcement actions

• governance, bylaws, resolutions, D&O insurance, succession planning
  and recruitment

• deferred compensation arrangements and ERISA

Our Representative Clients Have Included:

• non-profit, proprietary health care systems

• retail and long term care pharmacies 

• durable medical equipment suppliers

• home health care companies

• ancillary services providers, such as ambulatory surgery centers,
  diagnostic and treatment centers, cancer centers (both infusion and radiation
  oncology).  

• physicians, physician groups and specialty provider associations

• practice management companies, billing companies, consumer billing
  advocates

• not-for-profit agencies providing supportive, diagnostic and mental health
  services, including clinical services, for persons with disabilities

• lenders and investors involved in health industry transactions

Representative Transactions

• Corporate structuring, construction financing, and permanent loan financing on behalf of medical practice for construction of $8 million dollar medical arts facility and leasing of the facility.

Information Technology, Intellectual Property – License and Franchise, Trademarks and Copyrights

In the developing areas of internet technology, multimedia, social media and computer law, Crush & Varma Law Group provides a range of services on the use and development of software from a legal perspective; production and distribution agreements for creative works; and protection of intellectual rights.  Our attorneys are available to advise on copyrights, trademarks and intellectual property licensing.  We prepare all levels of disclaimer language, advise on legal issues of website content and social media policy development and employer concerns of reputation management and employment issues – hiring, firing an discipline decisions related to social media usage and content.

Liquor Licensing – Breweries, Distilleries, Restaurants and Stores

Crush & Varma Law Group assists Breweries, Distilleries, Bars, Restaurants, Liquor Stores and Grocery Stores with regard to applications for permits and registration with New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) and with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Our attorneys has successfully represented clients in obtaining new licenses, transferring existing licenses upon sale of business, and approval of change of ownership, management or operations.

The Firm’s Liquor Licensing Practice Focuses on the Following Services:

• Manufacturer and Wholesale Licenses for Breweries and Distilleries with special focus on Microbreweries

• On-Premises Liquor License

• Liquor Store License

• Grocery Store Beer and Wine License

• Hotel Liquor License

• Brewer Tasting Permit Application

• Transfer of existing liquor license to the new entity upon sale of business

• Corporate Change Application upon change of owners, directors or managers

• Notification of changes in operation (e.g., hours, days, locations, managers, etc.)

• Advising on Statutory Disqualification for holding a liquor license.

• COLA applications.

Litigation

Litigation attorneys at Crush & Varma Law Group P.C. have an active litigation practice in all federal, state and local courts throughout the Hudson Valley and New York State, including Federal tax courts. The firm also participates in arbitrations, mediations, and government administrative proceedings. Our attorneys handle not only general commercial and business related disputes, but also have in-depth experience in the more specialized areas of construction law, development projects, debtor-creditor relations, wills, probate, trusts and estates litigation, commercial real estate disputes, corporate shareholder or partner disputes and litigation, intellectual property protection and infringement issues, employment law (discrimination, harassment, reputation management, social media), administrative law, and appellate practice.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Cross Border Transactions and Foreign Investments

Crush & Varma Law Group PC advises both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations on various legal aspects of Mergers & Acquisitions and Joint Ventures, right from the due diligence stage to financing future expansions. The attorneys at the firm have extensive experience in Technology Acquisitions and Stock and Asset Acquisitions, and have successfully closed numerous purchases and sales of IT Companies, Private and Family Owned Businesses and Technology Joint Ventures. The business lawyers at Crush & Varma have also advised clients, both sellers and investors, on Private Equity transactions, Patent and Trademark Licensing Agreements and Investment Agreements.

The firm has experience, requisite knowledge and skill sets to advise clients on cross-border transactions, with specific emphasis on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Acquisitions, Technology Joint Ventures, Foreign Collaborations, Restructuring and Divestitures in India. With extensive country specific knowledge and attorneys licensed in India, the firm has the capabilities to advise on Indian laws, draft and negotiate transactional documents, and liaison with government and quasi-government bodies like the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The firm also has strong relationships with overseas counsels with relevant experience in international transactional legal practice.

A Suggestive List of Transactions Handled By Our Attorneys Includes:

• Stock Acquisition of a $30 million dollar company in the testing, scanning and scoring business with revenues generated through contracts with State agencies and large publishers.

• Foreign Direct Investment in Information Technology Companies in India.

• Buy-out of Canadian joint venture partner of a US shipping company.

• Counsel to the lending syndicate for a $27 million syndicated loan to an Indian company, and guaranteed by its US holding, with syndicate partners out of London and Hong Kong.

• Complex estate administration with litigation and real estate in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

• IRS tax complexities of foreign-based real estate for US employed foreign nationals.

Not-for-Profit Corporation Law

A significant portion of corporate work at  Crush & Varma Law Group PC comprises providing advice to a variety of not-for-profit clients, from formation through real estate development, mergers, sales and government contracts, charitable filings at both the state and federal level (both CHAR filings and Form 1023 to obtain your 501(c) designation), etc. Few firms understand the nuance and the complexity of the practice of not-for-profit law, particularly with licensed entities, as we do. We also provide advice on the development of specialized deferred compensation arrangements for key executive employees vital in the retention of this critical component of management. Our attorneys have advised on all levels of board governance, fiduciary responsibilities, D&O coverage and compliance with related policy and procedure development.

Representative Transactions

• Structuring and formation of not-for-profit institutional pharmacy serving the needs of persons with disabilities in Rockland, Orange and Sullivan Counties.

• Complex merger of three not-for-profit state funded social service corporations, coupled with an acquisition of assets from a separate not-for-profit corporation.

Real Estate – Commercial and Residential

The attorneys of Crush & Varma Law Group P.C. advise developers, lenders and borrowers with respect to finance, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of property as well as with transactions from simple and complex commercial leases, residential home loans to real estate development projects, affordable housing projects, leasehold mortgages, conduit loans, securitized loans, like-kind exchanges, sale leaseback transactions, and public/private joint ventures. The firm assists its clients in regard to due diligence, development, construction, permitting, pilot agreements, rights of way, covenants and easements. We also handle a variety of real estate lawsuits, including municipal disputes, mortgage foreclosures, boundary line disputes, adverse possession, tax certiorari proceedings, condemnation, loan enforcement, loan workouts, bankruptcy, contract actions, title issues, and landlord tenant disputes.

Taxation – Income, Gift, Estate and Sales/Use

The tax department at de Ramon Crush advises its corporate clients, trust funds and private clients on issues involving taxation – corporation taxation, income and sales taxation, estate taxation, taxation of property, the tax consequences of pensions and employment arrangements and the settlements of disputes.  Our tax attorneys work carefully in structuring complex business ventures to preserve tax advantages. Tax advice is also provided for not-for-profit corporations with their specialized structural needs and with respect to issues of unrelated business taxable income, which may affect tax-exempt status.  The firm assists clients in negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance on behalf of clients and dispute resolution.  We also advise clients on issues of international taxation related to their immigration status and work and real estate or other property holdings within the United States or abroad.

Wills, Trusts & Estates, Business Succession Planning

Crush & Varma Law Group PC advises its clients on various matters pertaining to Elder Law, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Wills, Probate and Trust Administration. The Trust and Estate lawyers at Crush & Varma provide advice on matters pertaining the impact of taxation both on the individual (whether will, trust, lifetime gifts or insurance) and in the business context (where a sale or buy-out or succession planning may be involved). Our estate administration and probate services are provided to implement these plans. We also advise clients in contested estate matters. The firm also assists clients in settlement of inter-family disputes and if necessary litigation in connection with estates. Our trust experience is broad ranging from simple to complex estate planning matters.