Charles G. Moerdler
Senior Counsel
Charles Moerdler’s broad-based litigation practice includes concentrations in real estate and land use, health care, international law, labor law and administrative law. He also has extensive experience in state and federal appellate practice.
Charles has represented many of New York’s leading real estate developers and owners, as well as real estate trade organizations, in a variety of contexts, including antitrust, land use and zoning and brokerage and contract disputes. He has served as outside general counsel to one of the largest hospitals in the country, one of the nation’s largest health maintenance organizations and a major New York City daily newspaper, for which he has also served as a director. He regularly counsels Austria’s largest bank in international litigation and served as board chairman of its U.S. subsidiary. He acts for Austria’s largest electricity and power enterprise and one of its largest realtors, and has represented other major European companies.
Charles also represents the American Federation of Teachers and has served as lead negotiator for municipal labor unions, including the United Federation of Teachers and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. He has been appointed by federal courts to serve as a special master to resolve complex disputes, including ERISA, securities and antitrust matters, and has served as a private arbitrator and mediator in a variety of contexts.
Charles has extensive public sector experience. He serves as a board member of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, including Metro North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, NYC Transit Authority and Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority; as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Housing Development Corp.; and has served on the board of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. He was Commissioner of Housing and Buildings of the City of New York; a real estate and development consultant to New York City Mayor John Lindsay; a member of the city’s Air Pollution Control Board; and chairman and commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund.
Charles has been recognized by The Legal 500 as a leader in dispute resolution and by Best Lawyers.
- Bronx Power 100, City & State New York
- Best Lawyers
- The Legal 500
- Board Member, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (including boards of NYC Transit, Metro North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, NY Bus Company), 2010-present
- Chair, Bridges and Tunnels Committee, 2016-present
- Chair, Procurement Reform Task Force
- Member, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, 2010-2012
- Member and Gubernatorial Appointee, New York City Housing Development Corp., 1997-present
- Commissioner and Chair, New York State Insurance Fund
- Member and Labor Representative, New York City Board of Collective Bargaining, 2000-present
- Member, New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department
- Member, Committee on Attorney Grievances, 1998-2004, 2006-2011, 2015-present
- Member, Committee on Character and Fitness, 1977-present
- Vice Chairman, Committee on Character and Fitness, 1998-present
- Member, New York City Residential Mortgage Insurance Corporation, 1998-present
- Member, American College of Special Masters
- Member, Editorial Board, New York Law Journal, 1986-present (emeritus)
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Trustee, St. Barnabas Hospital, 1986-present
- Member, American Jewish Congress
- Co-Chairman, Governing Council, 2008-2010
- Senior Vice President, 2004-2007
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
J.D., Fordham University, 1956; Associate Editor, Fordham Law Review, 1955
B.A., Long Island University, 1953
Charles Moerdler’s broad-based litigation practice includes concentrations in real estate and land use, health care, international law, labor law and administrative law. He also has extensive experience in state and federal appellate practice.
Charles has represented many of New York’s leading real estate developers and owners, as well as real estate trade organizations, in a variety of contexts, including antitrust, land use and zoning and brokerage and contract disputes. He has served as outside general counsel to one of the largest hospitals in the country, one of the nation’s largest health maintenance organizations and a major New York City daily newspaper, for which he has also served as a director. He regularly counsels Austria’s largest bank in international litigation and served as board chairman of its U.S. subsidiary. He acts for Austria’s largest electricity and power enterprise and one of its largest realtors, and has represented other major European companies.
Charles also represents the American Federation of Teachers and has served as lead negotiator for municipal labor unions, including the United Federation of Teachers and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. He has been appointed by federal courts to serve as a special master to resolve complex disputes, including ERISA, securities and antitrust matters, and has served as a private arbitrator and mediator in a variety of contexts.
Charles has extensive public sector experience. He serves as a board member of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, including Metro North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, NYC Transit Authority and Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority; as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Housing Development Corp.; and has served on the board of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. He was Commissioner of Housing and Buildings of the City of New York; a real estate and development consultant to New York City Mayor John Lindsay; a member of the city’s Air Pollution Control Board; and chairman and commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund.
Charles has been recognized by The Legal 500 as a leader in dispute resolution and by Best Lawyers.
Services
Honors & Awards
- Bronx Power 100, City & State New York
- Best Lawyers
- The Legal 500
Memberships
- Board Member, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (including boards of NYC Transit, Metro North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, NY Bus Company), 2010-present
- Chair, Bridges and Tunnels Committee, 2016-present
- Chair, Procurement Reform Task Force
- Member, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, 2010-2012
- Member and Gubernatorial Appointee, New York City Housing Development Corp., 1997-present
- Commissioner and Chair, New York State Insurance Fund
- Member and Labor Representative, New York City Board of Collective Bargaining, 2000-present
- Member, New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department
- Member, Committee on Attorney Grievances, 1998-2004, 2006-2011, 2015-present
- Member, Committee on Character and Fitness, 1977-present
- Vice Chairman, Committee on Character and Fitness, 1998-present
- Member, New York City Residential Mortgage Insurance Corporation, 1998-present
- Member, American College of Special Masters
- Member, Editorial Board, New York Law Journal, 1986-present (emeritus)
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Trustee, St. Barnabas Hospital, 1986-present
- Member, American Jewish Congress
- Co-Chairman, Governing Council, 2008-2010
- Senior Vice President, 2004-2007
Admitted To Practice
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
J.D., Fordham University, 1956; Associate Editor, Fordham Law Review, 1955
B.A., Long Island University, 1953