WWBA February 2019 Newsletter - M

♥ SPECIAL ISSUE IN RECOGNITION OF HEART HEALTH MONTH ♥ 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

FEBRUARY 2019 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 


WWBA 

NYSBA HONORS DEBORAH SCALISE WITH 

RUTH G. SCHAPIRO MEMORIAL AWARD 

W 

Remarks of Deborah Scalise on Receiving the New York ork State Bar 

Association Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award 

Thank you so very much for this wonderful honor. The Ruth G. Schapiro Award 

means that you, my colleagues, believe in, and trust in, me. While I have had the 

good fortune to have met and worked with some of the past winners of this award, I 

wish that I could have known Ruth G. Schapiro, the lawyer, and the woman. 

I understand that she was a nationally regarded tax lawyer, the first female partner 

at Proskauer; was active in NYSBA, as the first chair of the Committee on Women in 

the Law, the chair of the Tax Section and the Finance Committee. She was also one of 

the first women to serve on NYSBA’s Executive Committee. Notably, she paved the way 

for me and others due to her contributions to the concerns of women through pro bono 

services, writing, service to bar associations or community organizations. 

continued on page 4 ➥ 

Sights and Scenes from the 


(page 5) 

An Interview with 

Jennifer Robinson, Esq. 

(page 6) 

Litigatyion Tip: The Driver 

and Family Protection Act 

(page 9) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 12) 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

e are so proud of our WWBA 

member, Deborah Scalise, who 

is the 2019 recipient of the Ruth 

G. Schapiro Memorial Award given by 

the New York State Bar Association’s 

Committee on Women in the Law. Scalise 

received the award on January 18, 2019 

during the State Bar Association’s Annual 

Meeting in New York City. It recognizes 

a State Bar member for outstanding contributions 

to addressing the concerns of 

women. 

SAVE THE DATE 

PINK & TEAL SEMINAR 

March 14, 2019 

White Plains, New York 

DISCUSSION OF THE 

2018 AMENDMENTS TO 

THE FEDERAL RULES OF 

BANKRUPTCY 

PROCEDURE 

March 28, 2019 


A TOWN HALL WITH 

WOMEN LEADERS IN 

POLITICS 

April 4, 2019 


PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

Every February our 

monthly Newsletter 

goes “red” for 

American Heart 

Month. As you may 

recall, this year I 

formed a Wellness 

Committee the focus 

of which is to provide 

access to edu- 

Kim Berg 

cational information, seminars and 

events aimed at keeping us focused on 

starting and maintaining healthy habits, 

as well as promoting our mental and 

physical well-being. 

I saw a post on social media a few 

days ago pertaining to mothers and the 

endless responsibilities they have – both 

in and out of the home. The message 

was clear: when a mother asks for help, 

says she is tired, looks to take a “break,” 

or wants a few minutes for herself, this 

does not mean that she is a selfish or no 

good mother incapable of child rearing 

or balancing her responsibilities. The 

expectations placed upon mothers are 

similar to the expectations placed on us 

as lawyers. I still find in 2019 that societal 

opinions can often lead to unfair 

judgments about our efforts to achieve 

work-life balance and even more so can 

lead us toward placing undue pressure 

on ourselves because we feel like if we 

cannot “do it all” we are failures. 

I also still see that, especially with 

women, we are usually the caretakers of 

everyone except for ourselves. This could 

be caretakers for our children, aging 

parents, ill family members, and of 

course our clients. The mentality of putcontinued 

on page 3 ➥ 

Page 1 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association is a Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

WWBA Member Newsletter 


Published Monthly by the 

Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, a Chapter of 

the Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

~ 2018/2019 Officers and Directors ~ 

President KIM BERG 

President-Elect ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI 

Vice Presidents 

HON. LISA M. SMITH AMANDA C. FRIED KRISTEN MOTEL 

Treasurer 

NATANYA L. BRIENDEL Recording Secretary SHERRY BISHKO 

Corresponding Secretary ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS 

Immediate Past ast President 

LISA M. DENIG 

Elected Directors Westchester Board 

SUSAN EDWARDS COLSON LISA M. DENIG LONYA A. GILBERT 

JENNIFER L. GRAY JACQUELINE HATTAR 

State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York 

ROBIN D. CARTON LUCIA CHIOCCHIO DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER 

MARIAN GENIO THERESA A. GIROLAMO ANNETTE G. HASAPIDIS 

SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND JENNIFER ROBINSON 

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS 

© Copyright 2019 Westchester Women’s Bar Association. All rights reserved. 

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) only and do not reflect the official position of the Association. 

Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth Z. Marcus • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501 

2018-2019 WWBA Committee Chairs 

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S 

By-Laws ............................................. Hélène Côté, Anna L. Georgiou 

Corporate & Commercial ................ Lisa M. Bluestein, Virginia Trunkes 

Criminal Law ........... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Amy Puerto 

Families’, Children & the Courts .......... Joy S. Joseph, Lauren Morrissey 

Amanda Rieben 

Grievance/Ethics ................................................... Deborah A. Scalise 

Judicial Screening ............... Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Loren I. Glassman 

Judiciary ........................................................ Hon. Linda S. Jamieson 

Lawyering & Parenting .......................... Joelle M. Burton, Jennifer Gray 

Legislation ...................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Kitley Covill, 

Angela Morcone Gianinni 

Matrimonial ...... Robin D. Carton, Dolores Gebhardt, Lonya A. Gilbert 

Annual Dinner ................... Kim Berg, Lisa M. Denig, Robin D. Carton, 

Amanda C. Fried, Andrea Friedman, Angela Morcone Giannini, 

Jennifer L. Gray, Jennifer N. Netrosio, Katie Wendle 

Annual Dinner Souvenir Journal ............................... Andrea Friedman 

Appellate Practice ......................... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Mark C. Dillon, 

Hon. Sondra M. Miller 

Archive & Historian ...................................................... Susan L. Pollet 

Awards .............................. Elizabeth Barnhard, Deborah Farber-Kaiser 

Bankruptcy .................... Susan Mills Richmond, Wendy Marie Weathers 

Breast Cancer Awareness ....................................... Adrienne J. Orbach 

Collaborative Law ............................ Kathleen Donelli, Michelle Lewis, 

Lynn J. Maier, Hon. Sondra M. Miller 

Community Outreach ... Deborah A. Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

Construction ............................................. Aisling Brady, Sushmita Roy 

Continuing Legal Education ..................................... Ann M. McNulty 

Cyber Law .............................................................. Georgea Mancuso 

Diversity and Inclusion ............. Jacqueline Hattar, Stephanie Melowsky 

Domestic Violence ................................ Natanya L. Briendel, Beth Levy 

Education Law ........................ Adrienne J. Arkontaky, Julie P. Passman, 

Susan Mills Richmond 

Elder & Health Law & Reproductive Rights ....... Elizabeth A. Cumming, 

Moira Laidlaw 

Employment Law .................................................. Kim Berg, Sara Kula 

Environmental & Land Use .......... Lucia Chiocchio, Anna L. Georgiou, 

Jennifer L. Gray, Katherine Zalantis 

Gender Dynamics ....................................... Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman 

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A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S 

Membership ....................... Sherry Bishko, Marian Genio, Kristen Motel 

Networking ...................... Jennifer Robinson, Alsion Sloto, Erica Sattler 

New Lawyers ................................... Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Katie Wendle 

Professional Development .. Susan Edwards Colson, Stephanie Melowsky 

Programs .................................. Natanya L. Briendel, Amanda C. Fried 

Public Relations ............................... Joelle M. Burton, Jennifer L. Gray 

Real Property .................................. Michelle Murphy, Allyson Lanahan 

Sponsorship ......................... Lucia Chiocchio, Susan Edwards Colson, 

Marian Genio, Deborah Farber-Kaiser 

Taxation ........................................................... Patricia Rusch Bellucci 

Trusts & Estates ............................... Gail M. Boggio, Nancy J. Rudolph 

Karen J. Walsh 

Golf Outing .................................. Gail M. Boggio, Adrienne Orbach 

Holiday Party and Boutique ...... Dolores Gebhardt, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Immigration ........................................ Nicole Feit, Laura A. Rosmarin 

Insurance Law .............................................................................. TBD 

Intellectual Property .. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Theresa O’Rourke Nugent 

Judgment Enforcement & Collections ...................... Daniel F. Florio, Jr. 

Litigation ....................... Angela Morcone Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar 

Kimberly Sheehan 

Long Range Planning ............... Susan Edwards Colson, Lisa M. Denig 

Linda Markowitz 

Mediation ........................... Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Lauren S. Morrissey 

Donna Erez Navot, Abby Rosmarin 

Past Presidents ............ Jane Bilus Gould, Mary F. Kelly, Linda Markowitz 

Practice Management ......... Jamieson L. Keiser, Wendy Marie Weathers 

Pro Bono ........................................... Marian Genio, Natalie Sobchak 

Social Media .................................. Kristen Motel, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Technology/Website .......... Donna E. Frosco, Theresa O’Rourke Nugent 

Wellness ................................ Jennifer Netrosio, Susan Mills Richmond 

Women in Leadership ............................................ Adrienne Arkontaky 

Network of Bar Leaders ................................................................. TBD 

Pace Board of Visitors ....................... Gail M. Boggio, Lonya A. Gilbert 

WBASNY Judicial Screening Committee ................. Gail M. Boggio, 

Lisa M. Bluestein 

WBASNY Nominations Committee .... Gail M. Boggio, Lisa M. Bluestein 

WWBA Foundation President ...................................... Susan S. Brown 

WWBA Representative Director to the WCBA Board .. Dolores Gebhardt 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“The expectations 

placed upon mothers 

are similar to the 

expectations placed on 

us as lawyers. I still 

find in 2019 that 

societal opinions can 

often lead to unfair 

judgments about our 

efforts to achieve worklife 

balance . . . 

ting our self-care last, and often completely 

forgotten, adversely impacts both our mental 

and physical wellness. Of course, this 

type of mentality does not discriminate as 

its ill effects are born equally by men and 

women. 

Historically, heart disease was often 

thought of as a “man’s disease.” However, 

almost the same number of women and men 

die each year of heart disease in the United 

States. That being said, the symptoms for 

men and women can be very different. 

According to the CDC, heart disease 

is the leading cause of death for women in 

the United States, killing 289,758 women 

in 2013. That amounts to about 1 in every 

4 female deaths. Almost two-thirds 

(64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary 

heart disease have no previous symptoms. 

While some women have no symptoms, 

others may experience angina (dull, 

heavy to sharp chest pain or discomfort), 

pain in the neck/jaw/throat or pain in the 

upper abdomen or back. Women are more 

likely to describe chest pain that is sharp, 

burning and more frequently have pain in 

the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back. 

These symptoms may occur during rest, 

begin during physical activity, or be triggered 

by mental stress (emphasis added). 

See National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. 

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of 

Heart Disease? [July 19, 2013] 

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/ 

hdw/signs.html 


Editor’s Note 


“Do the best can you until you know better. Then when you know better, 

do better.” 

~ Maya Angelou 

Making Dates and Getting Published 

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 12th of the month prior to publication (submissions 

received after the deadline are subject to the discretion of the editor). 

❑ Send submissions as email attachments to Elizabeth Z. Marcus at secretary@wwbany.org. 

❑ Articles should be 1,000 words or fewer. Remove all pagination, headers, footers or other 

formatting, other than bold, underline or italics. Authors are encouraged to submit photographs 

for publication with their submissions and include a short biographical statement with 

their submissions. 

❑ Materials submitted allow the WWBA a limited copyright and full permission to reprint the 

material in any WWBA publication or on its website without additional consent. 

❑ Photographs must be high-resolution (150 dpi or more) and the subject and all persons in 

each photograph must be fully identified. 

PROGRAM SCHEDULING 

❑ First visit the WWBA website: www.wwbany.org and click on the calendar at the home page to 

view scheduled programs. Conflicts in scheduling will be assessed on a case by case basis, with 

priority for early submissions. 

❑ Contact Elizabeth Z. Marcus at secretary@wwbany.org to schedule a WWBA sponsored or cosponsored 

program, including committee meetings, CLE programs, etc. 

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Elizabeth Z. Marcus, proceed with planning your 

program and creating your flyer. 

❑ Flyers must be approved by the Programs Committee. In advance of the 12th of the month, 

please send your flyer to the Program Committee Co-chairs for review and copy the Executive 

Director. Once approved, please send your final flyer to the Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos 

and the President for publication on the website calendar and the newsletter calendar. The 

final flyer will also be emailed to the membership. 

❑ We will also consider publicizing programs from outside organizations that may be of interest 

to our members. 

❑ Post-event: You may report on the success of your program and provide photographs of the 

speakers and participants that can be included in an upcoming newsletter. Send your submission 

to Elizabeth Z. Marcus, following the guidelines above. 

A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s 

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Contacts 

Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: secretary@wwbany.org 

Natanya L. Briendel, Programs Committee Co-Chair: tanyabriendel@gmail.com 

Amanda C. Fried, Programs Committee Co-Chair: afried@cartonrosoff.com 

Kim Berg, President: president@wwbany.org 

Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com 

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org 

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Deadline for all ads is the 12th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations. 

Contact Elizabeth Z. Marcus at secretary@wwbany.org for any questions regarding advertising. 

Page 3

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NYSBA Honors Deborah Scalise with Ruth G. Schapiro 

Memorial Award 

from page 1 

I know that along with her 

family, some of the past recipients 

are here, so I ask they and 

the family and past recipients 

stand and be recognized. I 

would not be here today without 

Ruth and all of you having 

paved the way for me and other 

women to come. 

As a kid growing up in 

Brooklyn, I never dreamed that 

I would be here. I would not 

be here today without the good 

fortune to have known people 

who have mentored and supported 

me along the way. I also 

admired some leading women 

in the law. I may not have 

known some of them, but they 

nonetheless inspired and continue 

to inspire me. 

As to the latter, Supreme 

Court Justice Sandra Day 

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O’Conner is my hero. So, if 

you don’t mind, I will quote her 

twice today, first for personal 

reasons and later with the hope 

of inspiring us all. 

Justice O’Connor once 

said: 

“We don’t accomplish anything 

in this world alone . . . 

and whatever happens is the 

result of the whole tapestry 

of one’s life, and all the 

weavings of individual 

threads from one to another 

that creates something.” 

Like everyone here, my first 

individual thread was my Mom, 

Frances, who recently passed 

away. She was limited by the 

era she grew up in, as well as 

her life circumstances. She did 

not have the opportunity for 

education, but she ensured that 

I did. 

A single mother of four at 

the age of 22, she started out 

on welfare. Nonetheless, she 

persevered to become an entrepreneur. 

However, it took 

years of hard work, as she was 

not educated, and in the 

1960’s, there were no pro bono 

lawyers to help her deal with 

lack of child support payments 

or a bad landlord. 

When she was upset due 

to one of these issues, I asked 

her “Why?” or commented that 

what had happened was “not 

fair.” I now realize that it added 

to her burden, but she took the 

time to respond. 

Mom’s reply was “Life is 

not always fair.” 

How many of you became 

lawyers because you wanted to 

help others because something 

happened that was “not fair?” 

These were the threads that 

motivated me to become a lawyer. 

I wanted to help people 

ask “why?” and to advocate for 

them when life was “not fair.” 

Thank you, Mom, for teaching 

me to persevere; to strive to be 

better and to do better in the 

face of adversity. 

I started out as a prosecutor, 

and later started my own 

law firm. More recently, I have 

been engaged in doing some 

Pro Bono work for my friends 

at the Hudson Valley Legal Services. 

However, even though 

there are rewards associated 

with the legal work, I knew there 

had to be more to it than just 

winning a case. Indeed, I 

needed more. I was looking to 

find my voice and other 


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SIGHTS AND SCENES FROM THE WWBA 

The WWBA Paints the Town 

On January 24, 2019, the WWBA’s Networking Committee 

hosted “Paint Night” at Muse Paint Bar in White Plains. The event 

brought WWBA members together for a fun-filled night of painting, 

networking, and more! ◗ 

Informative Program on Student Residency 

Julie P. Passman 

Co-Chair WWBA Education 

Committee 

On October 30, 2018, the WWBA 

Education Committee hosted a program 

addressing Student Residency. Stephanie 

Roebuck, Esq., a member of Keane & 

Beane, P.C., presented a thorough and 

engaging presentation on students’ eligibility 

to attend public school, the elements 

of residency under New York law, 

the types of documentation to establish 

residency, and many of the complex issues 

surrounding eligibility determinations. 

Ms. Roebuck addressed the rights 

to attend public school for students who 

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are homeless, living in foster care, and 

whose parents are divorced. This 

roundtable program was very well attended 

by parent attorneys, school district 

attorneys and impartial hearing officers 

and featured a dynamic and interactive 

discussion on the full range of 

student residency issues. ◗ 


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New York State Bar Association Honors Deborah 

Scalise with Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award 

from page 4 

likeminded lawyers with purpose. So, I 

joined several bar associations because 

they were places that allow lawyers to grow 

through educational and networking activities. 

I loved their newsletters but often 

did not have time to participate. 

That changed when I was invited to 

join the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, 

or the WWBA. I attended my first 

meeting when my daughter, Marcella was 

a baby. That was in 1992. I had moved 

to Westchester from Brooklyn, yet they welcomed 

me, and I found a new place to 

call home. A home with articulate, strong, 

and funny colleagues, who cared about 

being lawyers; who cared about the issues 

relating to women lawyers; and who cared 

about the rights of women and children. 

Throughout the years, the WWBA 

along with our Parent organization, 

WBASNY have been a voice for these issues. 

And, this voice has spread to other 

associations, so much so, that NYSBA’s 

Women in the Law Committee has been 

reformulated to be the Women in the Law 

Section. 

I have had the good fortune of having 

all three groups, as threads in my tapestry. 

We have diversity of age, of practice 

areas, of cultures, and of location. But we 

share common goals, which are met 

through much discussion and argument. 

Ultimately, we find that common ground 

to advocate for what we feel is just for our 

constituency: women in the law, women 

and children. These groups have enabled 

me to grow as a lawyer; by appointing me 

to Committees to voice my opinions (if you 

know me, I always have one); by allowing 

me to teach and assist in rule changes to 

CLE; and by allowing me the gift of participating 

in Community Outreach. I can 

count on these colleagues in good times 

and bad times - be it to discuss a legal 

issue, or a personal one. I know that they 

have been, and will be, there. I have done 

my best to reciprocate. 

So, I ask that my WWBA, WBASNY 

and NYSBA Women in the Law Section 

colleagues stand and be recognized. 

Thank you all, because without you as 

threads in the tapestry of my life, I would 

“We should be committed to using our legal knowledge 

and skills, to further our profession, and thereby, the 

legal system as well as the public good . . . While most 

lawyers strive to adhere to the highest ethical standards 

of conduct and to protect our clients’ interests, we 

should also be committed to public service by volunteering 

to further the goals of women, families, and children.” 

not be here today. Special thanks to Elizabeth 

Barnhard, Chair of the WWBA 

Awards Committee, as well as the WWBA, 

WBASNY and the Women and the Law 

Section in supporting me for this award. 

There are, of course, others who are 

part of the tapestry of my life, I thank my 

partner Sarah Jo Hamilton, who became 

an instant friend, mentor and thread, the 

day she interviewed me for a job in 1990. 

Little did we know, that day was the start of 

a new career for me in the world of ethics 

and professional responsibility, or, that we 

would later start our own firm, owned and 

operated by women! We also have a wonderful 

support system in our staff. Jo and 

Staff please stand and be recognized. 

Some of my family threads are also 

here, please stand. My sister Jeanine who 

always takes the time to listen to my latest 

stories and support me. 

Likewise, I want to express my love and 

gratitude to the essential and primary 

threads in my tapestry, my husband, Jim, 

and our adult children, Marcella and Nick. 

I thank God for you every day. 

Jim is a wonderful lawyer, husband 

and father. Over the years, Jim not only 

supported me, but continues to believe in 

me. He encouraged me to think big and 

start my own firm. He is my soul mate, 

and a true partner in raising our children, 

Marcella and Nick, ensuring that they were 

taken care of when I was busy with a CLE 

or Community Outreach. 

As to Marcella and Nick, they too indulged 

these activities. I am very proud of 

the people they have become. They are 

independent and caring. Marcella is now 

a teacher and head track coach at Rye 

Neck High School, and Nick is in his third 

year at UCLA, and he will be an accountant. 

I note that they continue to teach me 

about life. They keep me up to date on 

technology as well as terminology! And, 

please indulge me for a bit of bragging 

rights about the Rye Neck High School 

Mock Trial team that I have had the pleasure 

to co-coach with Marcella and the 

Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith for the past three 

years! 

While the thank-yous are nice and you 

now know about the tapestry that led me 

here today, I want to leave you with food 

for thought, about what, we, as lawyers, 

should do in furtherance of the reputation 

of the legal profession. To that end, I do 

have another quote from the Justice 

O’Conner: 

“To me, the essence of professionalism 

is a commitment to develop 

one’s skills to the fullest and to apply 

them responsibly to the problems at 

hand. 

Professionalism requires adherence 

to the highest ethical standards of conduct 

and a willingness to subordinate 

narrow self-interest in the pursuit of the 

more fundamental goal of public service. 

Because of the tremendous power 

they wield in our system, lawyers must 

never forget that their duty to serve 

their clients fairly and skillfully takes 

priority over the personal accumulation 

of wealth. 

At the same time, lawyers must temper 

bold advocacy for their clients with 

a sense of responsibility to the larger 

system which strives, however imperfectly, 

to provide justice for all.” 


Page 6 


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An Interview with Jennifer Robinson, Esq. 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: Why did you become a 

member of the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association? 

A: I became a member of 

the Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association for several 

reasons. 1) As a newly admitted 

attorney, I wanted to 

be a part of an organization 

that fosters professional 

growth and development 

for women in this 

profession; 2) I wanted to 

meet like-minded people 

to share my experiences 

with, have fun with, and 

likewise, learn from; 3) I 

wanted to get to know 

more people and step outside 

of my “comfort zone.” 

Q: In which ways have you 

participated in the activities 

of the organization? 

A: This year I was chosen 

to serve as a State Director 

for the WWBA and Co- 

Chair the Networking 

Committee. I have participated 

in past CLEs through 

the WWBA and am very 

much looking forward to 

an exciting year ahead. 

“Do not let yourself be intimidated 

by more experienced attorneys. 

While they may have more experience 

practicing, a fresh set of eyes is 

just as valuable.” 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career. 

A: I graduated from Pace 

Law School in 2016 and began 

working as an Associate 

with Silverman & Associates 

in White Plains shortly thereafter. 

My practice focuses on 

the defense of school districts 

and municipalities in New 

York’s state and federal 

courts. 

Q: What do you hope to accomplish 

professionally in the 

future? 

A: Professionally, I’d just like 

to build a reputation in the 

legal community where I am 

well respected. I’d like 

people to think of me as a 

go-to when they need help 

or advice. I have been very 

lucky to be surrounded by 

such great mentors fresh out 

of law school. I hope to be 

that to someone else one day 

and “pay it forward.” 

Q: Which activities are you 

involved in when you are not 

practicing law? 

A: I love to read and binge 

watch Netflix/Hulu. Sometimes 

you just need to unwind 

with a good book or guilty 

pleasure TV show. I’m not 

ashamed to admit that I follow 

all sorts of puppy accounts 

on Instagram and am 

still trying to convince my significant 

other to get me a 

Corgi. I think he will eventually 

come around! In terms 

of charity/fundraising, I also 

participate in the annual Light 

the Night walk in support of 

the Leukemia and Lymphoma 

Society. 

Q: How have you balanced 

your work and family life? 

A: Hmm . . . I am still trying 

to figure that part out. I think 

the best advice I have thus 

far, is to try and get as much 

as you can done during the 

Jennifer Robinson, Esq. 

week, so that when the 

weekend rolls around, you 

can take your mind off of 

work and just relax. If even 

for half the day!! 

Q: What advice do you 

have for women lawyers entering 

the legal profession? 

A: Do not let yourself be intimidated 

by more experienced 

attorneys. While they 

may have more experience 

practicing, a fresh set of 

eyes is just as valuable. Every 

day that passes, you 

learn more and more. One 

day, you will be the seasoned 

attorney mentoring a 

recent grad. Be confident in 

all that you do. ◗ 


from page 3 

Citing to a prior 2011 

study, the CDC reports that 

high blood pressure, high LDL 

cholesterol, and smoking are 

key risk factors for heart disease. 

However, also noted is that 

other medical conditions and 

lifestyle choices can also put 

people at a higher risk for heart 

disease, including: diabetes; 

being overweight; poor diet; 

physical inactivity and excessive 

alcohol use. Among the recommendations 

for monitoring 

blood pressure and cholesterol, 

quitting smoking, limiting alcohol 

intake, are equally important 

recommendations to make 

healthy food choices and engage 

in physical activity. Critically, 

the CDC recommends 

that to reduce your risk of heart 

disease lower your stress level 

and find healthy ways to cope 

with stress. 

As you all probably know 

by now, I have practiced martial 

arts for the past eight years. 

I have seen not only felt the 

physical benefits of this form of 

“exercise” but mentally it helps 

me cope with the daily stress of 

my professional practice, caring 

for my children, taking care 

of my family and household, 

and managing my other life 

commitments. 

The bottom line is that you 

have to find what works for you 

individually. Perhaps I can suggest 

yoga!! If you are currently 

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a yoga practitioner or, like me, 

have never tried it, come join 

the Wellness Committee for our 

February Hearty Healthy Program 

on February 11, 2019 at 

6:00 p.m. Jennifer Netrosio, 

Wellness co-chair, has generously 

agreed to provide a free 

Yoga seminar followed by a 

short networking meet and greet 

at Lifetime in Westchester. 

Another way for you to get 

physical activity while at the 



Page 7

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NYSBA Honors Deborah Scalise 

from page 6 

I’m sure we can all agree 

that the law is constantly evolving. 

There are many areas of 

practice that did not exist when 

I was admitted to practice in 

1988. Even so, the more that 

things change, the more they 

remain the same, because 

women and children are still not 

treated fairly or equally. 

We should be committed 

to using our legal knowledge 

and skills, to further our profession, 

and thereby, the legal 

system as well as the public 

good. As you may know, I 

practice in the area of ethics 

and professionalism. While 

most lawyers strive to adhere to 

the highest ethical standards of 

conduct and to protect our clients’ 

interests, we should also 

be committed to public service 

by volunteering to further the 

goals of women, families, and 

children. 

Lawyers have fought hard 

for changes to laws and perception, 

so that laws have been 

continuously modified and 

modernized along with cultural 

views. 

For instance, some of us 

here today are working parents, 

while others may have opted to 

stay home to raise children, and 

later returned to work. We have 

learned that one choice is not 

necessarily better than the other, 

and that every one of us has 

chosen a path that we feel is 

right. The difference being, that 

due to the work of our 

foremothers like, Justice 

O’Connor, Ruth G. Schapiro, 

the Honorable Judith Kaye, the 

Honorable Betty Weinberg 

Ellerin, the Honorable Sondra 

Miller, the Honorable Gail 

Prudenti, and the Hon. Janet 

DiFiore, to name a few, there 

are now choices, where there 

used to be expectations. There 

“There is no longer an expectation 

that women remain home to raise 

children. Men may opt to stay 

home to raise their children. 

Today, there is no limitation, to 

what anyone can choose to do.” 

is no longer an expectation that 

women remain home to raise 

children. Men may opt to stay 

home to raise their children. 

Today, there is no limitation, to 

what anyone can choose to do. 

And, Title IX was enacted 

while I was in high school in 

1972, so that sports programs 

for female students receive comparable 

funding to that given 

to male students. Having a 

daughter for an athlete and 

now a coach, I witnessed some 

progress due to this law. But 

there is still much to be done - 

just look at the disparity in funding 

between men and women’s 

college teams or the pay scale 

of professional athletes who 

play basketball or soccer. 

Culturally, we have seen 

changes to the family unit. 

Children are our future and they 

learn what they live. Regardless 

of the gender of their parents, 

if they live in loving homes 

free of abuse, in turn, they will 

be loving parents. 

If we choose to have a 

family, there is an increasing 

recognition that a flexible 

schedule or “flex time” works. 

Flex time works because the 

participants, the employer and 

the employee, recognize that a 

professional need not sit in a 

traditional office setting to get 

the job done. They can 

telecommute or work part-time. 

This arrangement is efficient, 

because the employer gets an 

experienced, knowledgeable 

and loyal employee. In turn, 

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the employee is appreciative to 

have the flexibility to deal with 

family needs, they are also productive 

and conscientious. 

Having part-time employees 

also allows the employer to reduce 

office overhead and prorate 

salaries. Legal employers 

should be urged to utilize flex 

time because of its benefits to 

the employee, the employer and 

the economy. 

Today, there are also 

greater educational opportunities, 

so our daughters and sons 

have unlimited career choices. 

Our challenge has always 

been, and continues to be, that 

such changes will allow future 

generations to accept these 

changes as the norm. 

Yet, there are still some statistics 

that reflect that we need 

to do more. For instance, while 

we have more women judges, 

they account for only 20% of 

the Federal Bench. Likewise, 

although 2019 brought us more 

women in the United States 

Congress, they only comprise 

23.7% of the 535 members. 

These numbers are not representative 

of the population. 

And, no statistics are needed 

to report that we have never 

elected a woman as President 

of the United States, or the 

Governor of New York, for that 

matter. Why? 

I would also be remiss if I 

did not urge you to think about 

using our voices to speak out 

about the gun violence that has 

become an unfortunate daily 

thread in our lives. In 2018, 

there were 94 school shooting 

incidents alone, almost doubling 

the previous high, of 59 

school shootings in 2006. We 

also witnessed shootings in 

churches, synagogues and 

concert venues. It is a sad commentary 

that no one is safe in 

our schools, houses of worship, 

our workplaces, or even when 

attending a concert. Much of 

the violence emanates from 

prejudice. Why? 

Lawyers should not sit idly 

by as mere witnesses. As we 

have done in the past, we 

should use our knowledge and 

voices responsibly to address 

what has become a plague to 

our society. 

As members of the legal 

profession, Justice O’Connor 

urged us to “meet the fundamental 

goal of public service.” 

We must teach our children 

that they too can be heard and 

that anyone can persevere to 

do anything if they are qualified. 

If we continue to advocate 

for the public good, we 

may live to see the day where 

discrimination, based on gender, 

race, or other bias, no 

longer plays any role in our 

lives. 

In closing, I again ask 

“How many of you became lawyers 

because you wanted to 

help others because something 

happened that was “not fair?” 

If you still feel this way, 

don’t be afraid to ask why; don’t 

be afraid to advocate for others 

when life is not fair; and 

don’t be afraid to voice your 

opinions. Perhaps most importantly, 

don’t be afraid to join 

others to create a larger and 

louder voice for change. Doing 

so, will surely enrich the 

tapestry of your life. 

Thank you again for this 

award and for listening. ◗ 

Page 8 


February Litigation Tip 

✦ TOPIC: THE DRIVER AND FAMILY PROTECTION ACT 

The Driver and Family Protection Act was recently signed by the Governor to provide 

further protection for New York drivers and their families involved in automobile accidents 

where there are personal injuries. This law concerns insurance coverage for accidents 

involving uninsured and underinsured vehicles known in the industry as UM/ 

SUM coverages. Our Lit Tip addressed this coverage in the past and this new law 

makes the coverage automatic on all new automobile insurance policies. 

For those unfamiliar, uninsured coverage provides coverage in the event the tortfeasor 

vehicle has no liability insurance for the accident and injuries. Underinsured coverage, 

sometimes also referred to as supplementary uninsured coverage, provides coverage for 

the circumstance when the tortfeasor vehicle does not have enough liability coverage to 

fully compensate for the injuries suffered in the accident. Many people confuse liability 

coverage with uninsured /underinsured coverage. Liability coverage protects you when 

you are the tortfeasor and are responsible for the accident and injury to another. Liability 

coverage on your policy does not afford you coverage for your injuries or your 

family member’s injuries caused by the tortfeasor. Here is an example: in New York the 

minimum liability coverage limits on automobile policies is $25,000/50,000. If you are 

involved in an automobile accident and the tortfeasor has the minimum coverage of 

$25,000 and your injuries are worth $250,000 you would be limited to the tortfeasor’s 

liability coverage of $25,000 if you did not have underinsurance coverage. However, if 

your automobile policy has underinsurance coverage of $250,000, you will be able to 

collect the $25,000 from the tortfeasor’s liability coverage and $225,000 from your own 

underinsurance coverage. (Underinsurance does have a set-off provision for the amount 

collected from the tortfeasor and that amount must be exhausted to trigger underinsurance. 

There must also be consent of the underinsurance carrier to settle). 

This new law requires insurance companies to inform consumers about UM/SUM coverage 

and automatically provides the coverage on all new automobile policies in New 

York unless the insured decides to “opt-out” of the coverage. Of note, premiums for 

uninsured/underinsurance are typically much less than liability premiums, so it is quite 

affordable. NY drivers and their families who suffer injuries in automobile accidents 

are now more fully protected. Tip: As we are commencing a new year, it is a good time 

to check the liability and uninsured/underinsured coverage limits on your auto policy. 

Written by Angela Morcone Giannini, Co-Chair, Litigation Committee 

Other Co-Chairs: Jacqueline Hattar & Kimberly Sheehan 


Page 9

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Chapter News and Announcements 

Classifieds 

❑ Trusts-Estates Attorney (Part time contract position) wanted with estate litigation skills. 

Minimum 3-5 years’ experience. Remote work/flex-time available. Skills in real estate, 

Medicaid, complex planning and other general practice matters a plus. Office located in 

Briarcliff Manor. If interested, please send your resume to susan@susanparkerlaw.com ◗ 

Community Outreach: Mock Trial Judges 

Wanted for Winter/Spring 2019 

The NYSBA 2019 High School Mock Trial Competition is are about to begin. We 

are looking for lawyers to serve as Judges in the Competition. In exchange for your time 

you will not only earn CLE Credit but you will enjoy watching and helping the lawyers 

of the future as they try a case. If you are interested contact: Marisa Klein, Coordinator, 

WCBA Mock Trial, Westchester County Bar Association, 4 Westchester Park Drive, 

Suite 155, White Plains, NY 10604; Cell: (203) 581-4708; e-mail: 

westchestermocktrial@gmail.com. ◗ 


from page 7 

same time balancing family responsibilities is to come to our family friendly ice skating 

event at Hommocks in Mamaroneck on March 3, 2019 – also put together by our 

Wellness Committee. Bring your family, bring a friend, or just bring yourself for what is 

surely going to be a fun time for all! 

In addition, in an effort to help continue to educate our members, the WWBA will 

be hosting a free event at lunchtime on March 14, 2019 presented by Share Cancer 

Support as part of their “Pink and Teal” seminars. The seminar is aimed at developing 

educational awareness on both breast (“pink”) and ovarian (“teal”) cancers. 

In addition to these programs, please keep a close eye on our ever changing 

WWBA calendar for the remainder of this year, which can be found at our website 

wwbany.org/Calendar-and-Events. There are numerous programs and events already 

planned well into April and I have no doubt that you can certainly find one or 

more programs of interest to you. We have our: monthly Women in Professional 

Transition meetings the first Friday of every month; Book Club bi-monthly meetings the 

next of which is on March 14th; continuing legal education courses in areas of ethics 

on February 6th and cyber law on March 27th; roundtable discussions such as about 


Cassini & Cassini LLP Hires WWBA Member 

Michele A. Luzio as Counsel 

Cassin & Cassin LLP, a law firm specializing in real estate, real estate finance and 

trusts and estates, today announced the hiring of Michele A. Luzio as Counsel effective 

immediately. Ms. Luzio serves as Co-Chair of the WWBA’s Real Property Committee. 

She is based in the firm’s Purchase, New York office. 

At Cassin, Ms. Luzio will draw on her more than 20 years of experience representing 

owners and developers in connection with the acquisition, financing, development, 

leasing and sale of residential and commercial properties, as well as representing 

small business owners with respect to their corporate needs including, without 

limitation, business asset purchase agreements, lease agreements, joint venture agreements, 

and more. In addition to working on a myriad of transactions, she will supervise 

and help grow Cassin’s residential transactional group and will focus on mentoring 

young female attorneys as part of the Women at Cassin program. Ms. Luzio’s longtime 

paralegal, Susanna Shum, has also joined the firm. 


Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2018 TO MAY 31, 2019. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2019 is the closing date in 

order to count the WWBA members 

towards our certification to WBASNY and 

assure our number of delegates. 

Renewing before this date will allow our 

Westchester Chapter (WWBA) to continue 

to be a strong presence in our statewide 

organization (WBASNY) while you will 

enjoy its many benefits, events, 

newsletter and CLE programming. 

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, 

Elisabeth Campos 

It is easy to renew by going to the 

WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org. 

You can use a credit card or 

PayPal to make payment. 

Page 10 


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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association proudly welcomes our newest members: 

KRISTEN BROWDE, ESQ. 

ROBIN FRANKEL, ESQ. 

MEGHA SLATHIA 

Browde Law, P.C. 

Student 

604 Quaker Road 

KERIANNE MORRISSEY 

Chappaqua, NY 10514 

Student 

TANESIA M. WALTERS 

kpb@browdelaw.com 

Student 

NANCY CIFONE, ESQ. 

Law Office of Nancy Cifone 

 

670 White Plains Road, Ste. 121 

Scarsdale, NY 10583 

nancy@cifonelaw.com 

Cassini & Cassini LLP Hires 

Michele A. Luzio as Counsel 

from previous page 

“We couldn’t be more excited 

to welcome Michele to the 

firm and are confident she’ll be 

a valuable asset to the team as 

we continue to grow,” said 

Michael Hurley, Managing 

Partner of Cassin & Cassin. 

“Michele is an exceptional attorney 

- her career has spanned 

virtually every practice area we 

have, allowing us to benefit tremendously 

from her level of experience, 

knowledge and expertise.” 

Prior to joining Cassin, Ms. 

Luzio spent more than two decades 

in private practice, handling 

litigation and transactional 

work. Before that, she 

spent 10 years as an Assistant 

District Attorney, first in Kings 

County and then in Queens 

County. 

“I can’t imagine a better 

place than Cassin & Cassin to 

embark on this new stage of my 

career,” Ms. Luzio added. 

“Aside from its outstanding 

reputation, what really sets 

Cassin apart from other law 

firms is its collaborative and 

supportive culture - I’m amazed 

at how welcoming every member 

of the team has been. I look 

forward to learning from them 

and supporting the firm during 

its next phase of growth.” 

Ms. Luzio received her Juris 

Doctor from Brooklyn Law 

School and her Bachelor of Science 

from CUNY, John Jay 

College of Criminal Justice. 

She is admitted to practice in 

the State of New York and is 

Co-Chair of the Westchester 

County Women’s Bar Association 

Real Property Committee 

and a member of the 

Mamaroneck Harrison 

Larchmont Bar Association and 

the Westchester County Bar 

Association. 

In 2019, Cassin & Cassin 

is poised to continue the 

growth trajectory it experienced 

throughout 2018 - during 

which the firm expanded its 

Purchase, New York office and 

currently occupies approximately 

10,500 square feet. ◗ 

About Cassin & Cassin LLP 

Cassin & Cassin LLP, a law firm with 

three offices in New York and Dallas, 

has over three decades of experience 

providing the highest quality of service 

to our clients. Our attorneys focus 

on real estate law, representing 

lending institutions, investment funds, 

developers, small to medium size companies 

in all aspects of financing, buying, 

selling, leasing and development. 

In addition, our well-established Trust 

& Estates practice advises individuals 

on estate planning and administration, 

residential real estate financing 

and the formation of limited liability 

companies and private foundations. 

For more information, visit 

www.cassinllp.com. 


from previous page 

the amendments to the Bankruptcy 

Rules on March 21st; 

and many more to be added to 

this already impressive list in the 

coming days. 

Finally, I am very proud to 

say that my vision for a WWBA 

mentorship program is being 

strengthened all due to the 

fabulous work of our WWBA 

Membership co-chairs and the 

many WWBA members who 

have volunteered their time to 

serve as Mentors. To date, our 

WWBA Mentors have all been 

paired with a Pace Law School 

student. Each of these over 90 

students have joined the WWBA 

and signed up for the 

mentorship program. 

Through the WWBA 

mentorship program, we are 

continuing to provide access to 

lawyers, judges, and legislators 

used to staff panels at Pace for 

the students to satisfy their professional 

development credit requirements. 

This exposes them 

to positive role models and potential 

mentors in our community. 

Many of our mentors have 

graciously invited their mentee 

to WWBA events and we even 

had several mentees attend the 

state wide WBASNY meetings 

this year. Suffice it to say that 

the feedback from both our 

mentors and mentees has been 

overwhelmingly positive. I was 

able to meet and speak with 

many at the WWBA Holiday 

Party on December 12, 2018 

and they all shared how incredibly 

thankful they were to the 

WWBA for establishing this program. 

I firmly believe that our 

WWBA future will be in good 

hands if we are able to help 

these law students visualize the 

importance of joining our wonderfully 

unique and supportive 

organization and in recognizing 

the rewards that active 

membership in the WWBA provides. 

Looking back to the 

address I gave at the WWBA 

annual dinner on June 6, 2018: 

the future path for our organization 

must be plotted and we 

must lay a solid foundation for 

that future now if the WWBA is 

to continue to succeed. Your 

help as mentors catapults the 

WWBA “team effort” toward 

solidifying not only our presence 

in the Westchester community 

but also in demonstrating the 

continued need for and relevance 

of a women’s bar association 

in the future. Amazingly 

the demand for mentors 

has exceeded the supply and 

we are in need of more mentors 

ASAP!!!! Please consider 

volunteering as a mentor and 

if you are able to do so send 

me an email to let me know at 

kberg@gouldberglaw.com. 

Thank you! ◗ 


Page 11

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

COMMITTEE DATE/TIME PLACE TOPIC RSVP (also online at www.wwbany.org) 

WWBA Women in 

Professional Transition 

Project 

3/1/19 

1:00 p.m. 

Board of Directors Meeting 3/6/19 

5:30-7:30 p.m. 

A FREE Series presented by 

WCBA’s New Lawyers 

Section, WWBA, and the 

NY State Trial Lawyers 

3/13/19 

12:30 p.m. 

WWBA 3/14/19 

12:30 p.m. 

Registration and 

lunch 

12:30 p.m. 

1:00-2:00 p.m. 

Program 

WWBA Book Club 3/14/19 

6:00 p.m. 


Bankruptcy Committee 

Board of Directors and 

General Membership 

Meeting 

WWBA Diversity & 

Inclusion Committee and 

Litigation Committee 

WWBA Women in 


Project 

3/28/19 

5:30 p.m. 

Networking and 

Registration 

6:00-7:00 p.m. 

Program 

Light 

refreshments will 

be served 

4/4/19 

Board Meeting 

5:30-6:00 p.m. 

General 

Membership 

Meeting 6:00- 

7:30 p.m. 

Light supper 

provided 

4/5/19 

1:00 p.m. 

445 Café 

445 Hamilton Ave. 

White Plains, NY 

(Parking is available in 

the garage next door; 

follow signs for “office 

parking”) 

BNY Mellon 

701 Westchester Ave. 


Westchester County 

Courthouse, 

Attorney Lounge, 2nd 

Floor 

111 Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr. Blvd. 


Welby Brady & 

Greenblatt, LLP 

11 Martine Avenue, 

Penthouse 


Lisa M. Denig’s Home 

Valhalla, NY 

120 Bloomingdale Road, 

Suite 400 


Wilson Elser 1133 

Westchester Avenue 

(Westchester Conference 

Room) 


Enter through Parking 

Lot Section C – 

Reception desk located 

on 1 st Floor 

445 Café 

445 Hamilton Ave. 


(Parking is available in 

the garage next door; 

follow signs for “office 

parking”) 

“First Fridays” with the 

WWBA’s Women in 


Project 

Brown Bag Lunch 

Series featuring the 

Hon. Linda S. Jamieson 

with special guest, Hon. 

David F. Everett, JSC, 

presiding in 

Matrimonial Part 

Pink & Teal Seminar 

What Do You Really 

Know About Breast and 

Ovarian Cancers? 

Eighth Meeting of the 

WWBA Book Club 

Book: 

“An American 

Marriage” by Tayari 

Jones 

Roundtable Discussion 

of the Newly Enacted 

2018 Amendments to 

the Federal Rules of 

Bankruptcy Procedure, 

effective December 1, 

2018 

“A Town Hall with 

Women Leaders in 

Politics” 

This program will 

address issues that 

concern women, 

children, and families 

Guest Panelists: Hon. 

Andrea Stewart- 

Cousins, Hon. Catalina 

Cruz, and Hon. Shelley 

Mayer 

“First Fridays” with the 

WWBA’s Women in 


Project 

No RSVP necessary 

For more information go to 


For questions or if you are not able 

to attend contact: 

Kim Berg at 

president@wwbany.org 

RSVP online at 

www.wcbany.org 

Register online at 


WWBA Book Club 



Questions: Contact Susan Mills 

Richmond at smillsrich@aol.com 


www.wwbany.org or 

via email to 

executivedirector@wwbany.org 

No RSVP necessary 

For more information go to 


REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE 

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE 

Connect 

with 

us 

THE WWBA MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR 

2018-2019 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2018. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA February 2019 Newsletter - M

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