WWBA December 2021/January 2022 Newsletter

WWBA 

news 

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 

www.wwbany.org 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

WWBA HOLIDAY SPARK REVIVED! 

Jennifer Netrosio Johnson, Jessica Piperis and Jill Oziemblewski 

O 

n December 8, 2021, one 

hundred WWBA members 

and guests once again 

filled the beautiful ballroom of the 

C.V. Rich Mansion, of The Woman’s 

Club of White Plains, to celebrate 

the spirit of the holiday season and 

the end of a challenging year. The 

energy of connecting in person with 

colleagues and friends, law students 

and new lawyers, was widely appreciated 

and truly a joy. As in years 

past, many wore red and joined for 

a group photo. Unlike years past, 

but critical to our gathering safely for 

the festivities, all wore masks as we chatted, networked, and shopped. 

Thanks are due to extraordinary party organizers Jennifer Netrosio Johnson 

and Jessica Piperis, who worked creatively and devotedly to arrange both practical 

and celebratory details, including a spirited raffle and food stations with 

“to go” options, and also developed a backup plan in the event public health 

developments led us to pivot to an online party platform. 

As always, the WWBA’s Annual Holiday Party presents an exciting opportu- 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

DECEMBER 2021/ 

JANUARY 2022 

Retirement Assets in 

Divorce Proceedings CLE 

(page 4) 

An Interview with 

Wendy Marie Weathers 

(page 5) 

WWBA News 

(page 8) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 10) 

SAVE THE DATE 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

continued on page 6 ➥ 

WWBA BOARD OF 

DIRECTORS MEETING 

January 5, 2022 

WWBA BOOK CLUB 


UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL 

HARASSMENT IN THE 

#METOO ERA 


BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 


ADULT USE CANNABIS 

CLE PROGRAM 

JANUARY 27, 2022 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

As you are 

reading this, New 

Year’s Eve has come 

and gone. The 

champagne bottles 

are empty, the confetti 

has been swept 

away, and many of 

the New Year’s resolutions 

(I’m talking 

Amanda C. Fried 

to you, my hard-to-kick sugar habit) 

have already been broken. But as I 

write this in mid-December, I am still 

deep in thought as to my goals for 2022 

and, because I am a big proponent of 

accountability, I thought I would share 

a few with you. 

1. Be Kind. Especially to Yourself 

ourself. 

I recently saw a TikTok (mock away, folks, 

but go watch @tylerjhorvath) about replacing 

your self-critical monologue 

with an NBA-interview-style dialogue. 

It goes something like this: 

Critical Brain: Some people are saying 

you might be a failure at this job. 

What do you have to say for yourself, 

hm? 

Response: People are, uh, entitled to 

their opinions. We focus on what we 

can control, you know? 

It is easy to speak ill of another, 

particular when that “other” is yourself, 

but we are all doing the very best we 

can in this exhausting are-we-donewith-COVID-yet 

world, and a little grace 

goes a long way. 

2. Ask for Help. I am...um...stubborn. 

And a bit of a control freak. But part of 

“doing the very best I can” means knowcontinued 

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

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WWBA Member Newsletter 

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 

Published Monthly by the 

Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, a Chapter of 

the Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

~ 2021/2022 Officers and Directors ~ 

President AMANDA C. FRIED 

President-Elect ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS 

Vice Presidents 

NATANYA L. BRIENDEL JENNIFER L. GRAY JULIE P. PASSMAN 

Treasurer 

DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER Recording Secretary AMANDA K. RIEBEN 

Corresponding Secretary JILL OZIEMBLEWSKI 

Immediate Past ast President 

HON. LISA MARGARET SMITH 

Elected Directors Westchester Board 

KIM BERG ROBIN D. CARTON LISA M. DENIG 

ANNETTE HASAPIDIS ALISON SLOTO 

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

LUCIA CHIOCCHIO JACQUELINE HATTAR ANN M. McNULTY 

ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI ADRIENNE ORBACH 

SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND JANEEN THOMAS 

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS 

© Copyright 2022 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: Jill Oziemblewski • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501 

2021-2022 WWBA Committee Chairs 

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

By-Laws ............................................................................... Kim Berg 

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

Criminal Law ................. Elizabeth Gazay, Amy Puerto, Christine Paska 

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

Amanda Rieben 

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

Judicial Screening ........... Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Kimberly C. Sheehan 

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

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

Legislation .................. Natanya L. Briendel, Angela Morcone Giannini 

Matrimonial ...... Robin D. Carton, Andrea Friedman, Jennifer Jackman 

Annual Dinner ............................................... Robin D. Carton, Amanda Fried 

Jennifer L. Gray, Jennifer Johnson 

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

Appellate Practice ........... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Heather Gushue 

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

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

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

Breast Cancer Awareness ............. Adrienne J. Orbach, Hon. Sandra A. Forster 

Collaborative Law ......... Kathleen Donelli, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Lynn J. Maier 

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

Construction Law ............................................. Aisling Brady, Rachel Geraghty 

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

Cyber Law ........................................................................................... TBD 

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

Domestic Violence ........................ Marian Genio, Beth Levy, Stacey Neumann 

Education ................... Allison Morris, 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, Jennifer L. Gray, Katherine Zalantis 

Gender Dynamics ................................................................................ TBD 

Holiday Party and Boutique .............. Jennifer Netrosio-Johnson, Jessica Piperis 

Immigration ................... Karin Anderson, Elizabeth Mastropolo, Mayha Ghouri 

Insurance ............................................. Michelle Kolodny, Julie A. Mickiewicz 

Intellectual Property .............................. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Theresa Nugent 

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

Litigation .................... Angela Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar, Rebecca McCloskey 

Long Range Planning ...................................... Lisa M. Denig, Linda Markowitz 

Mediation ..................... Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Abby Rosmarin, Lisa M. Denig 

Mentor ............................................ Kim Berg, Sherry Bishko, Christine Paska 

Past Presidents ...... Angela Giannini, Deborah Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

Practice Management ................................................. Wendy Marie Weathers 

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

Membership ............................................ Sherry Bishko, Marian Genio 

Networking ........................................ Jennifer Netrosio, Jessica Piperis 

New Lawyers ............................................ Katie Wendle, Aisha Scholes 

Professional Development .. Susan Edwards Colson, Stephanie Melowsky 

Programs .......................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Amy Puerto 

Public Relations ............................................................ Lisa M. Denig 

Real Property ....... Anne R. Aicher, Allyson Lanahan, Robbin E. Sweeney 

Sponsorship .............................. Susan Colson, Deborah Farber-Kaiser, 

Meredith Kenyon 

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

Trusts & Estates ........... Nancy J. Rudolph, Karen J. Walsh, Lonya Gilbert 

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

Social Media ........................................................................................ TBD 

Technology/Website .................................... Theresa Nugent, Janeen Thomas 

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

Women in Leadership ........................................................................... TBD 

WWBA 

Representatives 

Network of Bar Leaders ............................................ Angela Morcone Giannini, Robin Carton 

Pace Board of Visitors .......................................................................................... Lisa Denig 

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

WWBA Representative Director to the WCBA Board ........................................... Jennifer Gray 

WBASNY Vice President .............................................................................. Shari R. Gordon 

WBASNY Judiciary/Courts Committee ......................... Gail M. Boggio (Rep), Lisa Bluestein (Alt) 

WBASNY Nominations Committee ......................... Lisa M. Bluestein (Rep), Gail M. Boggio (Alt) 

WBASNY Awards Committee ...................................................................... Deborah Scalise 

WBASNY Chapters-Membership Committee ..................................................... Sherry Bishko 

WBASNY Family/Matrimonial Law Committee .............................................. Jennifer Jackman 

WBASNY Fundraising Committee ............................................................... Andrea Friedman 

WBASNY ERA/Women’s Civil Rights ........ Kim Berg (Co-Chair), Susan Mills Richmond (Member) 

WBASNY Labor and Employment Law Committee ..................................................... Kim Berg 

WBASNY Legislation Committee ................................................................. Natanya Briendel 

WBASNY LGBTQ+ Committee ................................................................. Adrienne Orbach 

WBASNY Domestic Violence Committee ............ Susan Pollet (Co-Chair), Alayne Katz (Member) 

WBASNY Press and Public Relations Committee .............................. Angela Morcone Giannini 

WBASNY Children’s Rights Committee .................................................................. Joy Joseph 

WBASNY Long-Range Planning Committee .................................................... Linda Markowitz 

WBASNY Diversity Committee ...................................................................... Janeen Thomas 

WBASNY CLE Liason Committee ................................................................. Ann M. McNulty 

WBASNY JALBCA Committee .................................................................... Sandra A. Forster 

WBASNY Convention Committee ............................................................... Adrienne Orbach 

WBASNY Equal Opportunity in the Profession Committee .......................................... Kim Berg 

WBASNY Sex Traficking Committee ....................................................... Sarah Ross-Benjamin 

WBASNY Access to Justice Committee .......................................................... Rachel Halperin 

WBASNY Collaborative Law Committee ........................................................ Kathleen Donelli 

WBASNY Education/Title IX Committee ......................................................... Sarah Richmond 

WBASNY Health Issues & Reproductive Rights Committee ................................ Sara Hechtman 

WBASNY Intellectual Property Committee .................................................. Elizabeth Barnhard 

WBASNY Women’s Judges Committee .................................................... Lisa Margaret Smith 

WBASNY Criminal Law Committee .................................................................. Sherlyn Pulver 

9th Judicial District Representative .................................... Lisa Margaret Smith, Amanda Fried 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

Turn to page 9 

for a fun little 

crossword puzzle 

that shines a 

spotlight on some 

of our members 

and their 

extraordinary 

accomplishments 

(and turn to the 

back page for 

the answers). 

ing that insisting on doing it all by myself 

is, not only foolish, but impossible. Thankfully, 

I do not have to. I have the most 

incredible Board of Directors and a dream 

of an Executive Committee. The moment I 

dare to ask “Could someone...”, I hear a 

chorus of “Don’t worry, I can!” roaring back 

at me. I know that the Thanksgiving column 

focused on gratitude, but I continue 

to be amazed by the endless support. 

3. Be Fearless. 

(Here’s lookin’ at you, 

my fellow Swifties!) Like so many others, I 

am affected by what the masses refer to as 

Seasonal Affect Disorder, but what I prefer 

to call the Winter Doldrums (a childlike 

throwback to the Phantom Tollbooth), and 

it is easy for me to get stuck in the overwhelming 

drudgery. But, as my mother recently 

reminded me, life is about living and 

not about surviving, so it’s time to take 

some chances and risk a flop (or ten). This 

month, we’re trying something new – a 

non-scientific experiment, if you will. Turn 

to page 9 for a fun little crossword puzzle 

that shines a spotlight on some of our members 

and their extraordinary accomplishments 

(and turn to the back page for the 

answers). 

That’s all for this year, folks. It looks 

like I’ll be saving the sugar-craving battle 

for 2023. Ice cream, here I come! ◗ 

Editor’s Note 

“When there is nothing left to lose, we find the true self – the self that is whole, 

the self that is enough, the self that no longer looks to others for definition, or 

completion, or anything but companionship on the journey.” 

~ Elizabeth Lesser 

Making Dates and Getting Published 

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 10th 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 Jill Oziemblewski at jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com. 

❑ 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 Jill Oziemblewski at jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com to schedule a WWBA sponsored 

or co-sponsored program, including committee meetings, CLE programs, etc. 

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Jill Oziemblewski, proceed with planning your program 

and creating your flyer. 

❑ Flyers must be approved by the Programs Committee. In advance of the 10th 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 Jennifer Robinson, following the guidelines above. 

Contacts 

Jill Oziemblewski, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com 

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

Amy Puerto, Programs Committee Co-Chair: amy.puerto@yahoo.com 

Amanda C. Fried, President: president@wwbany.org 

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

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org 

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

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Classified – office space, furniture/equipment, employment & situation wanted (up to 5 lines) 

Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue 

Back Cover (3/4 page) 

5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue 

Deadline for all ads is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations. 

Contact Jill Oziemblewski at secretary@wwbany.org for any questions regarding advertising. 


Page 3

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Matrimonial Committee CLE Instructs on Distribution 

of Retirement Assets in Divorce Proceedings 

So Much to Gain, So Difficult to Ascertain 

Jill Oziemblewski 

WWBA Corresponding Secretary 

On December 15, 2021, the WWBA 

Matrimonial Committee presented “What 

Judges Expect You to Know When Dealing 

With Retirement Assets,” a focused, 

virtual CLE program on the significant but 

often grossly oversimplified and misunderstood 

area of handling the discovery and 

distribution of retirement assets in divorce 

proceedings. The program, with over 40 

attendees, was moderated by Andrea B. 

Friedman, Esq., co-chair of the Matrimonial 

Committee and a partner at Friedman 

& Friedman, PLLC, Attorneys at Law. The 

speakers were Denisa Tova-Liebman, MBA, 

a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce 

Financial Analyst, Certified Qualified 

Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) 

Specialist, and Founder and CEO of TOVA 

QDRO & Retirement Valuation Consultants, 

LLC, and The Honorable Lewis J. 

Lubell, Justice of the Supreme Court, 

Westchester County, and Supervising Judge 

of Matrimonial Matters in the 9th Judicial 

District. 

The program first addressed the level 

of due diligence required to properly secure 

a client’s share of retirement benefits, 

emphasizing the importance of correctly 

identifying retirement plans from the beginning 

of negotiations, ideally in the preliminary 

conference order, and determining 

the optimum time to value them. Practitioners 

were advised to identify each type 

of retirement asset individually, specifically, 

and accurately. The speakers discussed 

the use of discovery, particularly the issuance 

of subpoenas and the undertaking 

of depositions, as significant tools for revealing 

whether and what retirement assets 

exist and for determining which portions 

were pre-marital or marital. Judge 

Lubell mentioned that it was not rare for a 

court to refer the latter determination to a 

neutral professional, and added that the 

issue may be resolved as part of a stipulation 

presented to the court. 

The program next instructed on how 

to avoid mistakes in settlement agreements, 

covering topics such as the importance of 

asking for the right information during 

negotiations, and, correspondingly, verifying 

that the information is accurate; when 

to utilize “the Majauskas formula” 

(Majauskas v Majauskas, 61 NY2d 481 

[1984]), or the coverture formula for determining 

a spouse’s share of pension benefits; 

the dangers of oversimplifying the 

division of retirement assets with equalization 

language; and the intricacies of addressing 

survivorship benefits. 

Finally, the speakers discussed recent 

case law that might affect the analysis of 

marital vs. non-marital retirement assets. 

The program concluded with all speakers 

addressing questions from the attendees, 

which was immensely helpful to all those 

who attended. ◗ 

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Page 4 


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An Interview with Wendy Marie Weathers 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When and why did you 

become involved in the 

WWBA? 

A: In 2010, when I moved my 

career back to Westchester, I 

was immediately invited to join 

the WWBA by my mentors 

Jody Fay and Dawn Kirby. I 

was welcomed with enthusiasm 

and support. I sought 

inclusion and collaboration 

with other attorneys, which I 

found to be invaluable. 

Q: Which activities and positions 

of the WWBA have 

you participated in? 

A: Upon joining the WWBA, 

I immediately became a member 

of the Bankruptcy Committee. 

Shortly thereafter, in 

2011, Past President Lonya 

Gilbert appointed me as a 

Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy 

Committee along with Susan 

Mills Richmond. One year 

later, I was appointed to be 

Co-Chair of Law Practice 

Management along with 

Jamieson Keiser. We collaborated 

with the Westchester 

County Bar Association in 

numerous activities including 

presenting and attending CLE 

classes. I also have had the 

pleasure to attend several 

NYSBA and WBASNY events 

supporting WWBA members 

honored at them. 

Q: What would you like to 

see the WWBA accomplish 

in the future? 

A: Like many local bar associations, 

collaboration is key 

to fostering and maintaining 

relationships. This past year 

has taught us that. Isolation 

is debilitating. Expanding the 

Mentor/Mentee program 

would be a great accomplishment. 

To be a mentor to the 

“Sharing experiences and having the 

opportunity to work together allows the lift 

to not be so heavy. It may sound cliché – we 

can do so much more together than we can 

alone, professionally and personally.” 

next generation of lawyers is rewarding 

and invaluable to the 

practice of law. Sharing experiences 

and having the opportunity 

to work together allows the 

lift to not be so heavy. It may 

sound cliché – we can do so 

much more together than we can 

alone, professionally and personally. 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career. 

A: My legal career began in the 

Kings County District Attorney’s 

office in 1996. Having gotten 

the taste and love for the courtroom, 

I transitioned to private 

practice, where I have represented 

both institutional lenders 

and borrowers in all aspects of 

the mortgage banking industry 

and residential foreclosures for 

over 20 years. As a result of the 

relationships that were fostered 

over my decades of practice, I 

am now a partner in an amazing 

law firm – Clair Gjertsen & 

Weathers, PLLC – which is a collective 

tribute to the legacy Ira 

S. Clair built over the last 40 

years. We primarily focus on 

foreclosure defense, consumer 

bankruptcy and landlord tenant. 

We guide foreclosure defense 

clients through the legal process 

while educating them about their 

options and reducing their anxiety 

of the unknown. We have 

filed hundreds of Chapter 7 and 

Chapter 13 cases leading to discharges 

in the SDNY and EDNY, 

and in Connecticut. I am also 

a Court-Appointed Referee for 

Westchester, Rockland, Orange, 

Putnam, Dutchess County 

Foreclosure Actions. 

Q: What advice do you have 

for new lawyers entering the 

profession? 

A: I have three pieces of advice, 

the first is that it is important 

to have mentors. Find one 

or two people who really care 

about your getting the right experience 

and being there and 

available for questions. I 

wouldn’t be where I am today 

without having those certain 

people in my life pushing me. 

The second piece of advice is to 

show up and listen. The skill of 

listening is key to understanding 

your clients so you can be 

an effective advocate. My last 

piece of advice is to keep yourself 

busy and take advantage of 

all the experiences and opportunities 

available. While I was 

in school, I worked, and I aimed 

to have different experiences to 

learn from. I was always juggling 

and balancing. I would 

attend CLEs as a student and 

network with attorneys. Take advantage 

of what the Bar Association 

can do for you and what 

you can do for the Bar. Put your 

name out there and network. 

Don’t be afraid; get involved! 

Q: How have you balanced 

family responsibilities and your 

legal career? 

A: That’s a good question! I 

have had tremendous support 

through my networks while I 

balanced being a single mom 

of two daughters and managing 

law firms. Having lost my 

mother and biggest cheerleader 

when she was only 57 years old, 

I was determined to make her 

proud. My mom and dad sacri- 

Wendy Marie Weathers 

ficed their lives to instill the 

importance of education and 

I am so grateful for their love 

and support. Now, the balance 

is easier since my girls 

are 19 and 16. Having ownership 

in a firm allows me to 

balance my priorities. I also 

think that the pandemic taught 

us all the importance of family 

and work balance. 

Q: When you are not lawyering, 

which community activities 

and other interests do 

you pursue? 

A: I have always been in pursuit 

of public service and volunteer 

work. In the past year, 

I served as the President of the 

Westchester County Bar Association 

(WBCA) and initiated 

the Community Recovery 

Task Force, which provided 

resources to aid in the economic 

recovery by discussing 

topics like what happens if 

you’re furloughed, information 

about PPE, PPP, small 

business loans, etc. I love 

spending time with my girlsthey 

keep me young, trendy 

and humble. And when I am 

not with them, I have fun with 

my significant other-hiking, 

day trips on a motorcycle, 

cooking, and gardening on 

my first zen garden. ◗ 


Page 5

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

WWBA HOLIDAY SPARK REVIVED! 

from page 1 

nity for holiday shopping 

among artisan vendors and 

resellers, each displaying 

colorful and unique designs, 

jewelry, clothing, scarves, 

handcrafted soaps and 

more. This year we supported 

eight local businesses 

in this endeavor and truly 

benefitted from their presence 

at the party and the 

opportunity to buy creative 

gifts, mostly for others if 

some for ourselves . . . 

The WWBA Holiday 

Party Committee, along with 

President Amanda Fried and 

the entire organization, 

wishes to extend our heartfelt 

thanks to each and every 

vendor who showed up 

to serve our community, to 

each and every sponsor who 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

made the event possible (recognized 

on the following 

page), and to our many 

members and volunteers 

who supported the effort. 

Wishing you all a 

happy, healthy, and prosperous 

New Year. ◗ 

Page 6 


The Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

Gratefully Acknowledges 

Our Emerald Sponsor 

Sterling National Bank 

Our Platinum Sponsor 

Walsh & Amicucci LLP 

 

Our Gold Sponsors 

Goldschmidt & Genovese, LLP 

Gould & Berg, LLP 

Keane & Beane, P.C. 

Rosenthal & Markowitz, LLP 

Sigma Valuation 

Our Silver Sponsors 

Carton & Rosoff PC 

Financial Research Associates 

Glassman & Brown, LLP 

Leason Ellis LLP 

Shari R. Gordon, Esq. 

WFG National Title Insurance Co. 

Our Bronze Sponsors 

Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP 

Clair Gjertsen & Weathers PLLC 

David Evan Markus, Esq. 

Gerald DeFeo, CPA 


Page 7

Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ Lisa M. Denig, Esq., has been appointed as Counsel to New 

York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Denig, a past president of the 

WWBA, was formerly the Special Counsel for ADR Initiatives for the 

Courts Inside NYC and also served 8 years in the Westchester County 

District Attorney’s Office. 

❑ Patricia L. . Angley, , Esq., Senior Staff Attorney at the Legal Services 

of the Hudson Valley, was recently appointed as Adjunct Professor 

for the Equal Justice America Disability Rights Clinic, under the 

auspices of John Jay Legal Services, Inc., at the Elisabeth Haub School 

of Law at Pace University for the spring 2022 semester. Patricia is looking forward to 

working collaboratively with WWBA membership for the benefit of the law students participating 

in this clinic. 

❑ The law firm of Cuddy & Feder LLP is pleased to announce that WWBA member 

Kristen M. Motel Esq. – an associate in the firm’s Land Use, Zoning & Development, 

Energy & Environmental, and Telecommunications and Cannabis Law groups – was 

honored with the 2021 Millennial & Gen Z Award, presented by Westfair Communications 

on November 18, 2021. Millennials represent half of the workforce, and it is 

predicted that by 2025, Gen Z will make up about 27 percent of the workforce in the 

world. The Millennial & Gen Z Award celebrates this new era in the workforce and 

recognizes those who are leaving their footprints in the technology and business communities 

of Westchester and Fairfield counties. 

Kristen will be a featured speaker at the upcoming January 27, 2022 CLE program 

on Cannabis Law. She has previously served as a WWBA Vice President and State 

Director. Currently she is a member of the Environmental & Land Use and New Lawyers 

Committees, and she mentors Pace Law School students to positively impact the development 

of the legal profession. To read more about Kristen’s practice, experience, and deep 

involvement in leadership initiatives, please refer to: https://www.cuddyfeder.com/newsevent/kristen-motel-to-receive-westfair-communications-millennial-gen-z-award/. 

The WWBA congratulates its members on these terrific appointments 

and notable award, and we wish them well. 

❑ On October 2, 2021, a small group of WWBA members 

joined together in White Plains for the Women’s March for Reproductive 

Rights. The March, which was held in hundreds of 

cities around the United States, featured speakers from state and 

local government, Planned Parenthood, and other women’s organizations. 

❑ Susan L. . Pollet 

ollet’s second children’s book, entitled “William 

Wondered Whether Worrying Was Worth It,” was just published 

in time for holiday shopping and to spread good feelings. The 

book ponders a list of certain things that William’s family worried 

about when he was an infant, toddler, and preschooler. The 

illustrations show each of those worries, with a corresponding 

solution. After contemplating it all, William decided that some 

worrying was worth it because it showed how much his family 

loved him, and he, in turn, learned how to love them from their 

good example. Susan hopes the book brings joy to all-children 

and parents alike. 

Susan’s other titles, all available on Amazon, include: Not 

so Surprise Endings; Grey Divorce: From Pain to Peace; Women 

in Crisis: Stories From The Edge; Through Walter’s Lens; Lessons in Survival: All About 

Amos (Available on Amazon #WritingCommunity); and Juliette Rose’s Dream of Becoming. 

◗ 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2021 TO MAY 31, 2022. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2021 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 8 


Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

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

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 

WWBA CROSSWORD 

This crossword puzzle, created by our President, Amanda C. 

Fried, shines a spotlight on some of our members and their extraordinary 

accomplishments. The answers are printed on the back page. 

ACROSS 

1. 2021 Holiday Party mastermind #1 

6. Author of "William Wondered Whether Worrying Was Worth It" 

7. Hosting this year’s WWBA Talent Show 

9. Current WWBA President-Elect 

11. Winner of 2021 Holiday Party raffle 

12. January 27, 2021 WWBA program speaker 

13. WWBA Member & Lead Speaker Hot Employment Issues for 2022 

DOWN 

2. 2021 Holiday Party mastermind #2 

3. President of WWBAF 

4. WWBA Candidate for WBASNY officer position 

5. WWBA Holiday Party platinum sponsor 

8. WWBA Member Nominated for WBASNY Marilyn R. Menge Award 

10. WWBA Member & General Counsel to NYS Dept of Health 


Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WWBA Board of Directors 1/05/22 

Meeting 

5:30 p.m. 

WWBA Book Club 1/19/22 

6:00 p.m. 

WWBA Employment Law 

Committee in collaboration 

with Federal Bar 

Association, Southern 

District of New York 

Chapter 

WWBA Domestic Violence 

Committee in collaboration 

with The Pace Women’s 

Justice Center, and Hope’s 

Door 

WWBA in collaboration 

with White Plains Bar 

Association and Westchester 

County Bar Association 

WBASNY Board of 

Directors Meeting 

1/20/22 

5:30 p.m. to 

7:00 p.m. 

1/25/22 

1:00 p.m. to 

2:00 p.m. 

1/27/22 

5:30 p.m. to 

7:30 p.m. 

1/29/22 

10:00 a.m. to 

3:00 p.m. 

Zoom 

In Person (White Plains) 

or Zoom 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Book Selection: “Black 

Like Me” by John 

Howard Griffin 

Grab Them By The 

Workplace: 

Understanding Sexual 

Harrassment in the 

#MeToo Era — 1.5 

CLE credits in 

Professional Practice 

and/or Diversity 

pending approval 

This program examines 

the complex dynamics 

underscoring domestic 

violence and the tragic 

cases that led to the 

development of the 

Westchester County 

Domestic Violence 

High Risk Team 

New York Adult Use 

Cannabis: What You 

Need to Know—2.0 

CLE credits in 

Professional Practice 

Email Lisa Denig to RSVP or for 

the Zoom link at 

lisadenig@yahoo.com 

See www.wwbany.org for QR 

Code to Register 

FREE 

RSVP by 1/24/22 online at 

www.wwbany.org or email 

executivedirector@wwbany.org 

FREE to WPBA, WWBA, and 

WCBA Members ($20.00 for Non- 

Members) 

RSVP by 1/21/22 by email to 

asienty@hollislaidlaw.com 

WWBA is a chapter of WBASNY, which is an approved provider of CLE credit. Full and partial scholarships for CLE programs based 

on financial need are available. For information on the guidelines and procedures for applying, please contact the person running 

the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise. 

Unless otherwise indicated, events are for WWBA members and invited guests only. 

The opinions expressed by any program presenter are the presenter’s own, and do not reflect 

the official position of the WWBA. 

Answers to the WWBA Crossword Puzzle printed on Page 9: 

1. Jen Johnson 2. Jess Piperis 3. Susan Brown 4. Shari Gordon 5. Walsh and Amicucci 6. Susan Pollet 7. Allison Sloto 

8. Lisa Bluestein 9. Elizabeth Marcus 10. Kathy Marks 11. Jill Oziemblewski 12. Kristen Motel 13. Kim Berg 

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE 

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE 

Connect 

with 

us 

THE WWBA MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR 

2021-2022 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2021. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA December 2021/January 2022 Newsletter

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