Joshua D. Brookstein

As partner in the Firm’s Land use and municipal law practice group, Mr. Brookstein concentrates his practice on zoning and land use planning, with a focus on the use and development of real property across Long Island.

Mr. Brookstein represents owners, developers, municipalities, religious institutions, and health systems in all aspects of land use and development. Mr. Brookstein has obtained site plan, variance, subdivision, sign, and conditional use approvals for residential, commercial, and not-for-profit clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Brookstein served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department, Family Court Division, where he handled felony and misdemeanor cases from inception through trial. Mr. Brookstein was also a member of the Special Victims Unit. Prior to earning his law degree, Mr. Brookstein had nearly ten years of experience as a teacher and Assistant Principal with the New York City Department of Education.

Mr. Brookstein has been selected to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list in the practice areas of General Litigation and Land Use/Zoning. In addition to Super Lawyers, Mr. Brookstein was recognized by Long Island Business News in 2020 as a 40 under 40 honoree. In 2018, he received the Leadership in Law Award from the Long Island Business News.

Mr. Brookstein is admitted to practice law in New York and before the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

He is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association where he previously served as a Director on the Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Association’s Community Relations and Public Education Committee. Mr. Brookstein founded, and currently serves as Chair, of the Community Relations and Public Education Committee’s School Engagement Subcommittee.

In this role, Mr. Brookstein spearheads efforts to develop and implement legal related programming with public and private schools throughout Nassau County. Under Mr. Brookstein’s leadership, the subcommittee launched Nassau County’s first elementary school mock trial program, collaborated with the Hon. Joseph F. Bianco and several school districts to enable students to attend and participate in naturalization ceremonies at the United States District Courthouse in Central Islip, and collaborated with the Baldwin Union Free School District, the New York State Unified Court System, and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office to create and launch Nassau County’s annual Legal Shadow Day. The event offers students the opportunity to visit a Nassau County courthouse, observe court proceedings, and meet with a variety of legal professionals, including the Nassau County District Attorney, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court clerks, court officers, and other staff. Following the court visit, students visit a law firm where they network with attorneys, paralegals, and other legal professionals.

Mr. Brookstein coordinates the Firm’s participation in the Nassau County Bar Association’s School Mentoring Program, and serves as a mentor at the W.T. Clarke Middle School. Mr. Brookstein is also a member of the Village of East Hills’ Kids in the Park Committee, and the New York State Bar Association.

He graduated from Muhlenberg College with his Bachelor of Arts in Business and Political Management. He later earned his Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University and Master of Education from Bank Street College of Education. Mr. Brookstein earned his law degree from New York Law School, where he was the Student Commencement Speaker and an Arthur Abbey Public Service Fellow.