Virginia K. Trunkes

Virginia K. Trunkes advocates on behalf of developers; apartment building, brownstone and condominium unit owners; cooperative boards of directors; construction managers, contractors and subcontractors; and design services professionals in negotiating their business contracts and adjacent-owner license access agreements. She is a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group.
As former Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee, Virginia has a broad overview of all issues implicating construction projects, including insurance and regulatory issues, which inform her practical approach in negotiating parties’ respective obligations. Coupled with her demonstrated collaborative and project-oriented spirit, she is skilled at bringing parties together to arrive at practical solutions to effectuate their deal while still protecting their interests.
When complex disputes do arise, and when alternative dispute resolution cannot be achieved, Virginia litigates in state and federal courts, where she advocates fiercely on her clients’ behalf. Common litigation issues include any and all construction disputes, including construction and design defects, bond claims, mechanic’s liens, delay and lost productivity claims, and claims arising from force majeure events. In addition to her construction specific litigation experience, Virginia has handled civil matters ranging from contractual breaches, fiduciary obligations, licenses, the right to access, boundaries (trespass and encroachment), Zoning Lot Development Agreements, and interpretation of and compliance with administrative regulations. Virginia’s several years as a Court Attorney at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Department, enhance her ability to navigate and sift through granular details while communicating to judges the core factual issues and persuasive legal arguments.
Virginia performs volunteer work with organizations such as the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert, the Westchester Women's Bar Association, where she co-chairs the Corporate and Commercial Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the White Plains Bar Association. She has published articles in numerous bar journals and newsletters, examining legal topics du jour and exploring their potential directions and reach.

Professional Associations

American Bar Association
Forum on the Construction Industry

Construction Lawyers Society of America
Fellow

New York City Bar Association
Committee on Construction Law, Past Chair
Former Delegate to New York State Bar Association (House of Delegates)
Committee on State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction (2010 - 2013)
Committee on Real Property Law (2008 - 2010)

Professional Women in Construction

JALBCA (Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert)
Member, Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Membership Committee

Westchester Women's Bar Association
Co-Chair, Corporate & Commercial Committee

White Plains Bar Association
Board of Directors

Westchester County Association
Real Estate Task Force (2017 - 2019)

New York State Bar Association
Commercial and Federal Litigation Section (2013 - 2017)

Publications

"Court Allays Tensions in Underpinning Dispute," published in New York Law Journal (8/13/2019) - view more