Magda L. Cruz

About

MAGDA L. CRUZ joined Belkin · Burden · Goldman, LLP in 1989, and became a Partner in 1993.  She heads the firm’s appellate practice with Partner, Sherwin Belkin.

Ms. Cruz is an appellate litigator, admitted to practice in all New York State and Federal courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.  Ms. Cruz is experienced in real estate matters, contract disputes, statutory and regulatory construction, and complex litigation matters in these areas. She was recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the “Notable Women in Law for 2019.”

Ms. Cruz is a 1985 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where she was an editor of two law reviews: the American Criminal Law Review and the Immigration Law Reporter. Prior to law school, Ms. Cruz attended Pace University – NYC Campus, where she graduated in 1982, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Management.

Ms. Cruz served on the New York City Housing Court Advisory Council from 2000 to 2002, and as an Owners’ Representative on the New York City Rent Guidelines Board from 2007 to 2017. She is member of the Bar Association of the City of New York, and serves on the boards of the Chamber Music Center of New York and the Brooklyn Youth Music Project.  She was recognized as a Notable 2022 Hispanic Leader by Crain’s New York.

Ms. Cruz has been licensed by the State of New York since 2004 to instruct real estate qualifying and CLE courses.  She has served on bar association CLE panels involving real estate and rent regulatory topics, as well as in planning professional development workshops for NYC lawyers.

Ms. Cruz is bilingual, with fluency in writing, reading and speaking Spanish.