Maximillian R. Mahalek
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” – Daniel Burnham (Architect and City Planner)
Max is an Associate in the Firm’s Land Use, Zoning & Development, and Digital Infrastructure groups. He counsels clients in a wide range of local and state permitting matters and regularly represents applicants before administrative and legislative bodies. He also guides clients through the SEQRA review process and provides counsel in relation to development agreements, easements, and deed restrictions.
While at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Max received the Distinguished Service Award from the highly regarded Land Use Law Center. Max also served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, Chief Judge for the Eastern District of New York, and interned for the Village of Ossining, NY Corporation Counsel, as well as for Johnson, Haslun & Hogeman, a boutique land use law firm in Greenwich, CT.
Education
- Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, J.D., magna cum laude, 2019
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of the Arts in Urban Planning, 2014
- Master of Urban Planning, 2015
Admissions/Courts
- New York
- Connecticut
Awards + Recognitions
- Super Lawyers® New York Metro Edition Rising Stars (2025)
- Recipient of the Distinguished Young Attorney Award, Pace Land Use Law Center (2025)
- Distinguished Service Award, Land Use Law Center, Elisabeth Haub School of Law (2019)
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America (2008)
Professional Associations
- American Planning Association, Planning & Law Division – Chair (2024–2026), Chair-Elect (2023–2024), Secretary and Treasurer (2020–2022).
- White Plains, NY Bar Association; Board Member, 2023-Present
Presentations + Publications
“New York State Wetlands Regulation Changes”
New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Annual Meeting
Panelist
January 16, 2025
“From Euclid to Darwin: The Unavoidable Evolution of Zoning in the Post-COVID-19 World”
New York State Bar Association Journal (2020)
From the Blog
Community Service
- Advisory Board Member; Urban Land Institute, Westchester/Fairfield Chapter (2021-Present)
- Fellow, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress (2019-2020)
Related Updates
Client Successes • Aug 19, 2025
Cuddy & Feder Secures Defense Verdict in Negligence Case
Cuddy & Feder’s litigation team, led by Kempshall McAndrew, secured a complete defense verdict in Bronx Supreme Court last week.
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News + Events • Nov 11, 2025
Cuddy & Feder Volunteers with Hillside Food Outreach Ahead of the Holidays
On Friday, November 7, members of Cuddy & Feder LLP volunteered with Hillside Food Outreach, helping reorganize the Hillside Food Pantry in preparation for one of its busiest delivery weeks of the year.
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Blogs • Sep 15, 2025
Implications of the Loper Bright Decision Part II
Established in 2024, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. 369 (2024) fundamentally changed how federal courts review agency interpretations of the law.
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