Abbey F. Goldstein

Abbey was born and raised in Brooklyn. He attended St. John’s University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 and his J.D. in 1970. His first job as an attorney was with the Legal Aid Society’s youth division in Queens County. In 1973 he went into private practice with a friend. Their firm, Ascher & Goldstein, became active in Queens politics, and their involvement in community affairs led to their representation of tenants’ associations. As the conversion of rental properties into cooperatives became widespread, Abbey began to represent tenant groups in their negotiation with sponsors, and, as time passed and resident-shareholders began to take control of boards of directors, he started to represent cooperatives. In 1983 Abbey began a practice with his wife, Claire Greenlaw.