Lay Law, P.C. - Attorneys

As an in-demand expert in real estate law, Clifford Lay has a wealth of knowledge and an advanced level of experience and professionalism far beyond his years. He is consistently praised by clients and colleagues alike for his skillfulness and his seamless efficiency in closing dozens of deals a week. He has become a sought-after authority in his field to whom other real estate attorneys come with challenging cases and question.

After graduating valedictorian from Elmont Memorial High School in Elmont, NY as the News 12 Scholar Athlete, Clifford graduated from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. There he completed a dual degree with a BA in Biology and Psychology and a Minor in Computer Science. From there, he pursued his law degree at Hofstra University School of Law. There he was elected president of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. He graduated with a JD with a concentration in corporate law in 2004. This was quickly followed by his admission to the bar in both NJ and NY in December 2004 and January 2005, respectively.
After graduating law school, Clifford joined Ptashnik and Associates as an associate attorney at this NYC-based medical malpractice defense firm.

Then in July 2005, Clifford joined Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP where he remained for over 15 years.  Clifford has represented banks, buyers, and sellers in thousands of real estate transactions. 

Education

• Hofstra University School of Law- J.D. (Concentration in Corporate Law), May 2004
• Johns Hopkins University – B.A. in Biology and Psychology, May 1997

Achievements

• Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association (President: 2002-2003)
• “News 12 Scholar-Athlete Award”; George Washington University Engineering Medal

Experience

• Lay Law, P.C., New York, NY Owner, May 2020 – Current
• Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP, New York, NY Senior Associate, July 2005 – May 2020
• Ptashnik & Associates, Associate, September 2004 – June 2005
• Hofstra University School of Law, Admissions Ambassador, August 2003 – May 2004
• Corporation Counsel, Law Clerk, June 2003 – August 2003
• Law Offices of William Cafaro, Law Clerk, June 2002 – May 2003
• Cooper & Dunham, Paralegal, March 2001 – July 2001
• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind,Wharton & Garrison, Temporary Paralegal, February 2001 – March 2001
• Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP, Senior Associate, July 2005 - May 2020

Bar, Court Admission and Licenses

• New York State Bar
• New Jersey State Bar

 Wilfred Glenn Romano is a founding member of Romano & Kuan and the head of the real estate department. Mr. Romano specializes in residential and commercial real estate law and the breadth of his experience distinguishes him from other real estate attorneys. Mr. Romano began his career as an associate at Deutsch & Schnieder PC specializing in foreclosures for both plaintiffs and defendants throughout New York State. The foreclosure work also required litigating in Landlord Tenant and Bankruptcy Court, giving Mr. Romano wide exposure to multiple areas of the law, which is key in negotiating and enforcing contracts involving multi-family and mixed–use properties. Mr. Romano moved to Liu & Choy as a real estate associate specializing in representing lending institutions and buyers and sellers in residential and commercial property transactions. During this time Mr. Romano was also in-house counsel for Summit Associates, a Title Insurance Agency underwriting for First American and Fidelity Land Title. As such, he developed expertise in underwriting guidelines for lenders and title insurance companies which is especially important to ensure that loans and titles are cleared quickly. Mr. Romano recently negotiated multi-million dollar office leases in Rockefeller Center, Chelsea, and Union Square, and closed on several multi-million dollar residential and commercial properties in NYC. He received his law degree at the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1991 and his bachelors degree at the University of California at Berkeley in 1988.