About
“Because we believe that no client’s legal issues are the same, we put out the time and effort necessary to address each one of them individually.”
The Attorneys at Smyth Levenson LLP draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from handling various Landlord/Tenant, Real Estate, and Litigation matters.
ATTORNEYS
Partner
Christina Smyth
Prior to co-founding Smyth Levenson with Noah Levenson in October 2025, Christina successfully owned and operated Smyth Law PC for 11 years. Her landlord-tenant practice specializes in due diligence on behalf of buyers and sellers of multifamily properties in all boroughs. Christina’s roster of long term clients include owners, developers, family offices, private equity investors, foreign investors, and management companies. Christina’s knowledge of the rent laws enable her to guide clients through the Housing Court proceedings, as well as acquire and dispose of properties with reliable rent rolls and historic records. She handles all administrative proceedings at DHCR and DHPD, and has been successful in representing many owners with the Certificate of Non-harassment and Substantial Rehabilitation process.
Christina has served as one of two Landlord Representatives on the NYC Rent Guidelines Board since April 2022. Christina advocates tirelessly for fair and reasonable rent adjustments each year, to help owners of rent stabilized properties operate and maintain their buildings without financial distress.
Education
St John’s Law JD 2002
Fordham University 1996
BAR ADMISSIONS
NY, SDNY
Partner
Noah Levenson
Prior to co-founding Smyth Levenson LLP in October 2025, Noah E. Levenson established a New York City residential and commercial landlord-tenant practice at a boutique Manhattan law firm. Primarily representing owners of real estate, Noah’s clients include third party corporate property management companies, owners, developers, and cooperative and condominium boards, and hotels. Noah’s practice focuses on increasing his clients’ building’s profitability, by navigating all facets of the complex maze of the rent laws, through Housing Court summary proceedings, providing due diligence on the purchase and sale of multi-family buildings, expertise on rent regulation, administrative proceedings at the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DHPD), as well as enforcing owner’s creditor rights.
Education
New England Law | Boston 2010
The George Washington University, 2005
BAR ADMISSIONS
MA, NY, EDNY
Senior Litigation Associate
STEPHANE AVOUAC
Stephane concentrates his practice in civil litigation in Housing Court and Supreme Court in New York. Prior to joining Smyth Levenson LLP, Stephane worked at a legal services organization where he represented tenants in various housing-related legal proceedings, such as non-payment, holdover and illegal lockout cases.
In his free time, Stephane enjoys playing and watching soccer as well as rock climbing
Education
Science Po Undergraduate, 2015
Sciences Po Law School, 2018
Columbia Law School, 2019
BAR ADMISSIONS
NY, SDNY, EDNY
Senior Transactions Associate
HESKEL KAHEN-KASHI
Heskel joined Smyth Levenson LLP in August 2020 as an associate attorney. His practice focuses on counseling and representing clients in a wide variety of matters that include civil litigation, landlord-tenant law, administrative law, cooperative and condominium law, real estate transactions, leasing, and due diligence. Heskel began his legal career working at a mid-size law firm within its litigation department, handling a variety of civil and supreme court related matters. He is also fluent in Hebrew and Farsi.
Education
Boston University, 2016
New York Law School, 2019
BAR ADMISSIONS
NY
Associate
Georgia Ionescu
Before becoming a lawyer, Georgia gained valuable experience as a licensed real estate salesperson and property management office administrator, managing rentals, maintenance, and billing for a Manhattan portfolio. Georgia’s practice focuses on representing owners before the DHCR and in New York’s Housing Court and Supreme Court. Georgia earned her J.D. from Charleston School of Law, where she was inducted into Phi Delta Phi, the International Legal Honor Society. She holds a B.A. from the University of Connecticut. When Georgia is not practicing law, she loves reading, going to museums, and traveling.
Senior Paralegal
Deanna Puentes
Deanna Puentes has extensive experience in matters pertaining to the Rent Stabilization Law and Code, particularly regarding the due diligence necessary for the acquisition and sale of multi-family buildings. Her specialties include conducting compliance evaluations, assessing liability, and providing tax abatement information affecting the regulation of units.
Additionally, she regularly handles matters involving proceedings at the DHCR and Certificate of No Harassment applications.
Deanna holds a B.S. from Villanova University and has gained valuable knowledge of NYC’s market as a licensed real estate salesperson and through her studies at the Real Estate Institute at New York University.
Of Counsel
JOSHUA BUTNICK
In both federal and state courts in New York, Joshua has handled many cases involving landlord-tenant disputes, real estate, and general litigation. Joshua’s legal career started at a non-profit, where he gained practical experience in a fast paced legal services organization. Following that, Joshua was a solo practitioner before becoming ‘of counsel’ to a small law firm, where he continued to represent both people and corporations in a wide range of legal matters.
Education
St Johns University School of Law, 2008
The George Washington University, 2005
BAR ADMISSIONS
NJ, NY, SDNY, EDNY
Of Counsel
Andrew Briker
Andrew D. Briker is a seasoned Landlord-Tenant attorney with more than a decade of experience in Housing Court. Andrew graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in Political Science and Policy Studies. He worked as a consultant for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, overseeing their nationwide lead-based paint abatement program and helped to facilitate Fair Housing Act seminars. Andrew went on to study law at New York Law School, participated in the school’s criminal defense clinic and graduated with a J.D. in 2010. He began his Landlord-Tenant career as a summer intern for Housing Court Judge Marc Finkelstein. Andrew has extensive trial experience, handling many complex commercial and residential nonpayment and holdover matters.
Paralegal
Camille Sinanan-Ramrattan
Paralegal
Cherise Carter
Paralegal
Priya Patel
Paralegal
Joanndriz Melecio