The Brooklyn Bar Association recently held a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar led by attorney Jimmy Lathrop, a trustee of the association and a respected attorney in Brooklyn. Titled “Provisional Remedies and Equitable Relief in Supreme Court Real Estate Litigation,” the lecture aimed to provide valuable insights for both novice and experienced attorneys.

Lathrop’s presentation focused on initiating actions and special proceedings in the Supreme Court to secure equitable relief in real estate litigation. The seminar covered a broad range of topics essential for real estate practitioners, including client intake and retention, case evaluation, risk management, and the operations of the ex parte office in Kings County. Lathrop also discussed emergency application practices, relevant statutes, injunctions, temporary restraining orders and mortgage foreclosure prevention.

“When a client comes in with a problem, it often involves complex inquiries that don’t happen every day,” Lathrop said. “You need to explain to them that you require time to consider the issue carefully, as making guarantees is not advisable. Clients always ask for a guarantee, and the only assurance I can give them is that if they don’t take any action, I can guarantee they will find themselves in trouble.”

Additional subjects included the appointment of receivers, injunctions for housing court non-payments and holdovers, equitable remedies in deed theft cases, declaratory actions on apartment legality and rent regulation, and litigation involving illegal cannabis shops. Lathrop also addressed emergency access orders for inspections and repairs and Department of Building emergency demolition proceedings.

In his lecture, Lathrop emphasized the importance of managing client expectations, conducting thorough conflict checks, and adhering to ethical standards such as confidentiality and candor. He highlighted practical aspects of working with the Ex Parte Office and the use of Orders to Show Cause (OSC) in securing urgent judicial relief.

“The ex parte office is where you request the court to take action on urgent matters such as evictions, foreclosures, or adoptions,” Lathrop said. “In a city where many things don’t work properly, the ex parte office works properly. A little kindness there goes a long way.”

The seminar was well-attended, with a diverse audience of attorneys ranging from beginners to seasoned professionals, all benefiting from Lathrop’s practical advice and extensive experience as a trial attorney.

Lathrop has been advocating for individuals and small businesses in Brooklyn for nearly two decades, specializing in real estate litigation, family court, criminal defense, landlord/tenant matters and guardianship proceedings. After graduating from Brooklyn Law School in 2002, Lathrop quickly established himself in the legal community, being admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, as well as several federal courts.

In 2007, Lathrop moved to Park Slope and became active with the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association and the Brooklyn Bar Association. From 2009 to 2014, he directed the Mortgage Foreclosure Intervention Project, training volunteer lawyers to defend homeowners. He also serves in the Guardian Ad Litem Program, assisting tenants in housing disputes, earning the 2015 Pro Bono Award from Judge Fern Fisher.

Lathrop has held leadership roles within the Brooklyn Bar Association, including chair of the Young Lawyers Section and a Board of Trustees member. He now chairs the General Practice Section. Additionally, he served as Downstate Membership Chair for the NYSBA’s Real Property Section.