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Atty. Mark I. Zelko

Atty. Mark I. Zelko

Mark Zelko focuses his practice on litigation, dispute resolution, construction and development, and real estate transactions and management. Mark serves as East Coast Chair of the Construction Practice Group.

New York New York 30 Years Experience 30 year
Call (917) 473-1355

Profile Summary

About Mark I. Zelko at a glance

Mark I. Zelko is a Partner based in New York, New York, practforg at Leech Tishman. They haand 30+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1996. Admitted to practice in New York (1996), U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (1999), and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (1999). Educated at Boston University (J.D., 1995) and Boston University (B.A., 1992). Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Mark Zelko focuses his practice on litigation, dispute resolution, construction and development, and real estate transactions and management
  • Mark serves as East Coast Chair of the Construction Practice Group
  • For over 25 years, Mark has practiced in the areas of complex commercial and shareholder litigation, construction law, real estate, and commercial transactions
  • He has counseled and represented clients in a broad range of industries ranging from multinational Fortune 500 and publicly-traded companies to start-up ventures and small businesses
  • Given his extensive litigation & transactional experience, Mark often serves as outside general counsel to his clients
  • Mark works closely with his clients as soon as potential litigation emerges to resolve claims within the client’s fiscal constraints and business objectives
  • His experience in complex litigation provides him with a unique perspective and invaluable insight in negotiating construction, real estate, and commercial transactions for his clients so that they may avoid transactional pitfalls and reduce the risk of adverse litigation in these ventures
  • Mark has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts, appellate courts, and in arbitration proceedings and mediation
  • In his litigation practice, he focuses on complex commercial and shareholder litigation matters, including construction litigation, shareholder derivative actions in closely held corporations, “business divorce” and partnership disputes, breach of contract claims, and commercial lease actions
  • In his construction practice, Mark routinely represents developers, property owners, general contractors and subcontractors, and utilizes this wide experience to counsel his clients so that they may confidently navigate the challenges and risks of each project
  • He advises clients in all aspects of construction during the course of their projects, including change order issues, delays, non-payment claims and liens, defective construction, project close-out issues, and termination
  • Mark also counsels project owners and adjacent owners regarding access to neighboring properties for construction projects and negotiates license agreements for access and protection under the RPAPL §881 framework
  • In the arena of construction litigation, Mark has litigated a myriad of construction matters, including defective construction, delay damages, lien and payment disputes, trust fund diversion claims, improper underpinning of adjacent buildings and RPAPL §881 actions for access to and protection of adjacent properties during construction
  • Mark speaks fluent Italian and holds dual citizenship between the United States and Italy
  • He has spent considerable time in Italy and his understanding of the culture and business environment provides him with a unique perspective in representing both Italian clients doing business in the United States and American clients doing business in Italy and the European Union

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in New York

Practforg law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantiand law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantiand law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

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Frequently Asked

Common questions about Mark I. Zelko

Where is Mark I. Zelko's law office located?
Mark I. Zelko's law practice is located in New York, New York. The firm is Leech Tishman. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
How long has Mark I. Zelko practiced law?
Mark I. Zelko has 30+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1996.
Where did Mark I. Zelko go to law school?
Mark I. Zelko earned their education at (J.D., 1995); (B.A., 1992).
How can I contact Mark I. Zelko for a consultation?
You can contact Mark I. Zelko directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D.
Boston University
- 1995
B.A.
Boston University
- 1992

Bar Admissions

New York
Admitted: 1996
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Admitted: 1999
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Admitted: 1999

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