Our Team
Howard Goldman
Howard Goldman has been practicing land use law in New York City since 1980, when he was appointed Deputy Counsel to the Department of City Planning. He was subsequently a land use partner at two prominent law firms before opening the Law Offices of Howard Goldman, PLLC in 1999 and Goldman Harris LLC in 2008. Prior to moving to New York in 1980, Howard practiced as a land use and environmental attorney in Juneau and Anchorage, Alaska.
Howard is recognized by Chambers and Partners in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (New York) as a “practitioner who is well-versed is land use and zoning matters” and who “possesses additional expertise in the environmental aspects of real estate developments.” Howard’s clients reported to Chambers and Partners that he is “knowledgeable and experienced in the intricacies of zoning and land use regulations and provides practical advice.”
Howard is an Adjunct Professor at New York Law School and the author of numerous articles. He has recorded several CLE lectures for Lawline.
Education:
J.D., State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 1975
B.A., State University of New York at Buffalo, ad hoc major in Environmental
Studies, summa cum laude, 1972
Admissions:
New York State Bar, 1976
Alaska Bar, 1978
Caroline Harris
Caroline became Associate Counsel at the Department of City Planning in 1983. Subsequently, she was an associate and, later, land use Counsel at several prominent law firms before co-founding GoldmanHarris in 2008.
Caroline is a leading authority on development rights deals and zoning lot mergers. She co-authored “Airspace and Development Rights,” a chapter in Real Estate Titles: The Practice of Real Estate Law in New York (NYS Bar Association, 3rd ed., 2019), has authored numerous other articles, and has a strong real estate transactional background. After law school, she clerked for the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in Houston, Texas.
Caroline is recognized by Chambers and Partners in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (New York) for her “expertise advising on the zoning implications of development projects” and "notable experience in air rights-related matters.” Caroline’s clients have described her as “proactive and responsive,” an attorney who “provides excellent guidance and counsel,” and “detail-oriented and very knowledgeable.”
Caroline teaches Continuing Legal Education for PLI and Lawline. A staunch advocate for women in the law, she established an endowment for leadership in the laws and policies for women and minorities at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and is active in organizations that support women professionals.
Education:
J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, 1979 (Asper Fellow)
B.A., Trinity College, 1975
Studied Urban Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1974
Studied at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1974
Admissions:
New York State Bar, 1983
Texas Bar, 1980
Eric Vath
Eric specializes in real estate development, with a focus on New York City zoning, land use, and planning matters. He regularly advises clients in connection with zoning due diligence, zoning lot development agreements, opinions, and land use regulations, and the application process with a variety of governmental agencies, including the New York City Department of City Planning, the New York City Department of Buildings, and the New York City Department of Finance. He has been involved in a wide range of as-of-right and discretionary approvals in New York City, including large-scale plans, special permits, as well as rezonings and zoning text amendments. Eric is admitted in New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
Prior to joining GoldmanHarris, Eric practiced law in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, handling major litigation and discovery for real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, and pharmaceutical matters. In addition, Eric previously worked at Milrose Consultants, handling zoning, code and regulatory compliance. He also has nearly seven years’ experience in the practice of architecture.
Eric received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law, where he was awarded the Milton C. Sharp Memorial Award for highest grades in land use planning. In addition, he received his Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning.
Education:
J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law, 2007
B.Arch., University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, 2001
Admissions:
Pennsylvania Bar, 2007
District of Columbia Bar, 2009
New York State Bar, 2022
Diane Luebs
Diane Luebs joined GoldmanHarris in October 2022 as a Planning and Development Specialist.
Prior to joining our firm, she was employed as a Code and Zoning Specialist, and Interim Director of Code and Zoning, at the NYC office of a leading provider of zoning and building code consulting and permit expediting. In this capacity, she analyzed and interpreted the NYC Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, prepared reports on zoning compliance, reviewed architectural plans, drafted ZRD1/CCD1 requests to DOB, collaborated with architects to develop code compliant designs, facilitated the approval of DOB applications, and consulted on projects from design through construction document approval. Her projects included, without limitation, a range of uses such as high-rise office buildings, residential buildings, life sciences labs, warehouses and distribution centers, POPS, retail spaces, parking facilities, and community facilities. Diane also worked at an innovative tech start-up reviewing and creating zoning massings.
Diane received a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Research from Cornell University, a Master of Urban Planning from Hunter College, and was an intern in the Manhattan Office of the Department of City Planning.