Highly Experienced Business, Non-Profit and Religious Organization Lawyer
TESTIMONIALS
Michael O'Neill, NY
“Almost twenty years ago my relationship with Irene started as a client. Today we're also friends. It is rare to find a lawyer who is as passionate about her client's work as her own. She is professional, responsive, strategic, proactive and fiercely protective. A lot of people respect their lawyers for getting them out of trouble. I respect Irene because she kept me from getting into trouble in the first place. Everyone I have referred to Irene has thanked me."
Chris Whitford, NY
“Irene has repeatedly demonstrated the utmost competency as a legal adviser amidst highly complex circumstances within a diversity of business needs. She responds quickly to all requests and can be trusted to work with the utmost integrity. She has faithfully provided us with wise legal counsel for over 20 years.”
Kim Wales, NY
"I am writing this letter with great pleasure to recommend Irene Zelnick as a seasoned attorney, negotiator, and business advisor. Irene is a dynamic, extremely bright person and has the rare blend of analytical and inter-personal savvy with a keen eye for detail. Whether she is negotiating complex M&A deals, drafting contracts for start-up or ongoing businesses or advising her clients with respect to legal/business issues, her meticulous approach to problem solving, and particularly to problem avoidance, is exceptional. Irene practices “preventive law” by providing protections for her clients before problems arise."
Nik Ives, CT
"Irene Zelnick is a highly experienced negotiator, contract attorney, and arbitrator. Her substantial legal experience covers a broad business landscape, from small startups and non-profits to corporate finance and M&A. Irene is the kind of attorney who makes absolutely certain every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed. She has a keen eye for detail, and a sharp mind for subtleties and traps. If you need a legal warrior on your side of the table, you can’t do better. I highly recommend her for her sage organizational advice, her ability to anticipate and prevent disasters, and her impeccable skill at drafting and negotiating all kinds of contracts and agreements, from the simple to the complex. She’ll build a bulletproof shield around you, and keep you and your business out of trouble. She is a lawyer with great expertise and high integrity."
Peter Hart, NY
"Working with Irene Zelnick proved to be an exceptional experience. Irene’s ability to creatively think outside the box has resulted in the resolution of problematic issues which otherwise would not have turned out with such positive outcomes. Irene’s insight, professionalism, and attention to existing details – as well as her seemingly fore-knowledgeable understanding of future possibilities – is second to none. She is not only creative, she is a person of high integrity."
Angela Hart, NY
"Irene handled complex issues for me when one of our business partnerships ended. Her negotiating skills and compassion for the client are a true treasure. It was great to know we always had a 'watchful eye' on the full picture and that Irene always 'had our back' when she prepared our documentation."
Lisa Whitney, NY
"Irene is one of the best lawyers with whom I have ever worked. She is a brilliant negotiator and precise drafter of complex contracts and corporate documents. She is fully aware of the business necessities of her clients and can quickly respond to their needs. Irene is a technically proficient lawyer but, perhaps more importantly, she can understand and react to the business realities of each situation and respond in a meaningful manner. Additionally, Irene has a high degree of integrity. She is completely trustworthy."
Lourine Clark, NY
“Irene has been a godsend (literally) with a couple of very tricky non-profit situations where I was involved as a Board member. She shoots straight,and knows what she is talking about. She would help me to see where I was not thinking as clearly, or really as tough, as I needed to be. Her outside perspective helped not only the organization but me personally too. I am a better leader from having had the privilege of Irene at my side. And one last thing … her responsiveness is incredible … she was really in the mess with me and my colleagues, day or night.”
Tim and Kathy Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NY
“Irene Zelnick was our first guide to the complexities of living, renting, and beginning a church in NYC. She negotiated all our rental leases. She was so competent that on one important occasion when we were mired in talks with lawyers for a major city educational institution, their vice president asked Irene to draft the lease proposal because she was clearly more able than their own counsel! Irene's advice was always timely, pertinent, and wise. She saved us from many missteps professionally, and we were very comfortable asking her for personal legal help, such as making our wills, as well.”
Liane Nikitovich, NY
"Irene Zelnick doesn't miss a thing. She is detail oriented as well as quick to see the big picture. Her work for me as a lawyer was invaluable and she has saved me from many a legal misstep."
Cheri Claire Bachofer, NY
“Irene’s legal services were a God-send during an unprecedented season of change in our nonprofit organization. She went above and beyond, delivered wise counsel, and delivered timely results. If you have an opportunity to work with Irene, do it!”
Stephanie Strom, NY
“It is my great pleasure to recommend Irene Zelnick as a highly skilled lawyer and legal adviser. She creatively drafted a novel sort of contract for me, taking time to understand the peculiarities of what I needed and craft a document that worked for me and my counterparty. I so appreciate her straightforward, professional approach to her work and her attention to detail and nuance. Most importantly, she has integrity and strong moral principles.”
Galen R. Hogenson, WA
“While I had some occasion to work with Irene in New York, my real exposure to her as a very fine person and as an outstanding and uniquely qualified attorney in the area of business startups, divestitures, etc., was during the sale of the business operations of our [Fortune-100 Company] in Italy to the [publicly owned Italian] Corporation. Irene negotiated all of the legal terms and drafted all of the agreements included in that very complex transaction. She accomplished her work in Italy in a manner that gained her the deep respect of all of us, including Italian bankers and businessmen who had been involved in negotiating many very high level international business agreements. I highly recommend your consideration of Irene Zelnick.”
Rob Depue, NY
“When some challenging personnel issues arose a few years ago we were referred to Irene as someone who had the combination of legal expertise and wise business advice that we needed. We certainly were not disappointed. While Irene, of course, handled the legal issues swiftly she really shined in her advisory role. She offered us options and perspective on how best to handle the personnel issues we faced from both a legal and management perspective. That gave us the knowledge and confidence we needed at that time and brought the issues to resolution quickly. I would not hesitate to recommend her to another organization.”