Portrait of Franklyn Snitow

Franklyn H. Snitow

Principal

Franklyn H. Snitow focuses his practice on commercial litigation, real estate, labor and employment and corporate matters and family and matrimonial law.

Franklyn served as an assistant district attorney in the Rackets Bureau of the New York County District Attorney's Office under District Attorneys Frank S. Hogan and Robert M. Morgenthau. In 1985, Franklyn successfully argued the landmark RICO case of Sedima v. Imrex before the United States Supreme Court. He also served as counsel in a number of high-profile litigations, including the federal civil rights class action suit filed by the residents of Crown Heights against the City of New York for damages sustained during the racial violence of August 1991.

Franklyn has represented the Office of the New York State Attorney General and Department of Law in significant First Amendment employment cases. In Lightman v. Flaum, he represented members of the clergy from case inception through to the New York State Court of Appeals in a matter involving First Amendment issues and clergy-penitent privilege.

Franklyn has served as president of Bris Avrohom, president of the Queens Jewish Center and a member of its Executive Board, and vice president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations. He is also a member of the Federal Bar Council and New York State Bar Associations. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, an honor that recognizes his outstanding skill and integrity in the practice of law.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully defended, on constitutional grounds, a defamation suit brought against a community rabbinical organization, The Vaad of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, relating to the Kosher supervision of a restaurant.

    Education

    • New York Law School (J.D.)
      • Phi Delta Phi
    • American University (B.A.)

    State Bar Admissions

    • New York

    Admitted in New York. Not Admitted in Maryland. All Maryland practice supervised by a Maryland Attorney.

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • United States Tax Court

    Recognitions

    • AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell

Firm Highlights

  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Podcasts
    Art Appraisal and Market Value with David Shapiro
    How do you determine the value of a work of art—and what happens when that valuation impacts taxes, insurance, estate planning, or an artist’s legacy? On this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler, trust and estates attorney at Offit Kurman, welcomes David Shapiro of David Shapiro Fine Art, a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America specializing in post-war and contemporary art, with accreditation in impressionist and modern art. David shares insights into the art appraisal process, explaining the differences between fair market value, retail replacement value, and marketable cash value. He discusses how appraisers evaluate unique works using comparable sales, provenance, condition, exhibition history, and other factors that influence value. The conversation also explores the role of art advisors in buying and selling artwork, strategies for expanding an artist’s presence in a global market, and the complexities of valuing large collections for estate and tax purposes. David explains how a work’s history and the story behind it can influence its market performance—and why thoughtful planning and organization are essential to preserving an artist’s legacy. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The differences between art appraisal methods and why the type of valuation matters. What collectors need to know about appraisals for insurance, charitable donations, and tax purposes. How provenance, condition, and comparable sales influence an artwork’s value. How art advisors help collectors navigate auctions, negotiate terms, and maximize sale opportunities. Why artists should cultivate relationships and exhibition opportunities across multiple markets. How blockage discounts can affect the valuation of large artist estates. Why documenting an artwork’s history can make a meaningful difference in its market performance. Whether you’re an artist, collector, estate planning professional, or art enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insight into the intersection of art, valuation, and legacy planning.  Listen to The Legal Canvas for more conversations exploring the intersection of estate planning, taxes, and the creative arts.