Jillian N. Bittner

Partner

Partner

516-535-1700, ext. 104
jbittner@hwrpc.com
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Education

  • J.D., Pace University School of Law, Cum Laude

  • M.A., John Jay College of Criminal Justice, With Honors

  • B.A., State University of New York, Binghamton University, With Honors

Practice Areas

Administrative Law | Rent Regulation & DHCR | Appellate Advocacy

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Rent Stabilization Association
  • Nassau County Bar Association

Bio

Jillian N. Bittner is a member of the firm whose practice area is concentrated in the Administrative Law Department. She joined the firm as an associate in January 2014 after being a law clerk for two years prior.

Jillian is a vital part of the Administrative Law Department, where she has been successful in aiding clients challenge proceedings before the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), ranging from rent overcharge complaints to claims of succession rights. She has been extremely successful with regard to representing building owners in matters involving the Tenant Protection Unit (TPU), which since its inception has conducted audits of countless residential property owners.

Jillian is exceedingly knowledgeable in litigating Petitions for Administrative Review (PAR) before the DHCR, and Article 78 proceedings before the Supreme Court of the State of New York.  She has represented owners before the Supreme Court in complex class action lawsuits, particularly those stemming from the 2009 Roberts v. Tishman Speyer Props., L.P., 13 N.Y.3d 270, ruling and its progeny.  Jillian also has substantial experience in appellate practice, having successfully argued appeals before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Jillian has assisted clients in the preparation of lengthy and complex Substantial Rehabilitation Applications and Major Capital Improvement Rent Increase Applications, as well as J-51 Tax Abatement and Exemption Applications.

Jillian is routinely engaged in the performance of rent regulatory due diligence on behalf of potential purchasers of residential apartment buildings, pursuant to which she consults with purchasers to assess and limit liability exposure stemming from potential overcharge and deregulation issues while assessing property values. She also regularly conducts record review for owners seeking to ready their residential properties for sale, as well as those attempting to obtain financing, in order to maximize the property value.

She appears before the New York City Criminal Court and the Offices of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to address violations issued to building owners by the New York City Department of Buildings, the Fire Department and by the Department of Environmental Protection.

On November 2, 2022, Jillian lectured in the CLE seminar hosted by the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) and the New York County Lawyers Association, “Reviewing the Proposed Amendments to the Rent Stabilization Code,” presenting on DHCR’s 2022 proposed amendments to base date rent calculations in the context of rent overcharge complaints and the default formula.

On October 6, 2022, Jillian participated in a virtual roundtable discussion hosted by the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA), which reviewed all major changes contemplated by DHCR’s proposed amendments to the Rent Stabilization Code as published by DHCR on August 31, 2022.

On March 3, 2022, Jillian lectured in the CLE seminar hosted by the RSA and the New York County Lawyers Association, “DHCR Administrative Proceedings and Appeals,” speaking directly on how owners can successfully defend rent overcharge complaints filed with DHCR post-HSTPA.

On May 6, 2021, Jillian lectured in the CLE seminar co-hosted by the Rent Stabilization Association and the New York County Lawyers Association, “Navigating Landlord-Tenant matters in the Aftermath of CEEFPA, TSHA and the HSTPA,” speaking directly on post-HSTPA caselaw regarding the retroactive application of the Act, which entailed a review of Matter of Regina Metropolitan Co., LLC v. New York State Div. of Hous. & Community Renewal, 35 N.Y.3d 332 (2020).

Jillian was published in the February 2017 edition of the RSA Reporter as a co-author of “An Owner’s Guide to the Fundamentals of Major Capital Improvements.”  She was also published in the June 2017 New York Housing Journal for her contribution to the “Housing Court Appellate Update,” with colleague Jeremy Poland of the firm.

She was the co-author of “New Amendments to the Rent Stabilization Code and Recommendations” published by the New York Housing Journal in February 2014, alongside senior member and firm co-founder Niles C. Welikson, and Randi B. Gilbert, also a member of the firm.