WWBA October 2022 Newsletter

SPECIAL ISSUE IN RECOGNITION OF BREAST CANCER AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 

WWBA 

news 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

OCTOBER 2022 

www.wwbany.org 

Kim Berg Sworn in as SDNY 

Magistrate Judge 

Lisa Margaret Smith, United States Magistrate Judge, retired 

O 

n September 12, 2022, 

long-time WWBA member 

and Past President Kim Berg 

was sworn in as the newest Magistrate 

Judge for the Southern District 

of New York. She was sworn in by 

District Judge Kenneth M. Karas at 

the Federal Courthouse in White 

Plains, before her family, close professional 

colleagues, and other district 

and magistrate judges. Magistrate 

Judge Berg will serve part time, succeeding Magistrate Judge Martin R. 

Goldberg, who has held the part time position for thirty years. In her new position 

Magistrate Judge Berg will assist the district judges in handling criminal cases that 

have occurred on federal lands in the northern part of the Southern District, including 

the West Point Military Academy (civilian matters only), the Roosevelt Home, 

and Veterans Hospitals, among other locations. 

Magistrate Judge Berg graduated from Pace University School of Law cum 

laude in 1995, and earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Pace University in 

1992. She is a founding partner of the White Plains firm Gould & Berg, LLP, 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 


A Night of Networking with 

the WWBA 

(page 4) 

Autum Afternoon at 

Wilkens Farm 

(page 5) 

An Interview with 

Beth Levy 

(page 7) 

Upcoming Events 

(Page 10) 

SAVE THE DATE 

MAKING STRIDES 

AGAINST BREAST 

CANCER 

October 16, 2022 

LAW LIBRARY E- 

RESOURCES AND 

REMOTE SERVICES CLE 


GUARDIANSHIP 

COMPLIANCE 

PROCEDURES CLE 


INTERNET RESEARCH 

RESOURCES CLE 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

continued on page 6 ➥ 


PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

As many of us 

spent September 

getting back into 

the swing of things 

– back to school, 

back to routine, 

back to wearing 

jackets! – true to 

form, the WWBA 

was back at it. And 

back at it we were! 

Elizabeth Z. 

Marcus 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

hit the ground running and 

took September by storm. 

We held our monthly board 

meeting, kicked off the return of our 

Women in Professional Development 

Series (a special shout out to 

Sakeena Naqvi for bringing back 

this important and meaningful program!), 

and as usual, delivered with 

our lively and popular Book Club. 

Of note too, we welcomed 14 new 

board members! Welcome 

Stephanie Baehr, Judith Bachman, 

Michelle Calvi, Tracy Forrest, 

Theresa Girolamo, Annmary Ittan, 

Rebecka Levitt, Elise Mahover, 

Sakeena Naqvi, Diona Piazza, 

Joanne Romano, Wanda 

Steinmann, Michelle Tarson, and 

Joanna Tulman. I look forward to 

working with you, and thank you for 

the unique and fresh perspective 

each one of you brings to the 

WWBA. Welcome to the family! 

September also saw the return 

of our annual “A Night of Networking” 

event, which is near and dear 


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 


Published Monthly by the 

Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, a Chapter of 

the Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

~ 2022/2023 Officers and Directors ~ 

President ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS 

President-Elect AMANDA K. RIEBEN 

Vice Presidents 

SHERRY A. BISHKO NATANYA L. BRIENDEL JULIE P. PASSMAN 

Treasurer 

DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER Recording Secretary CHRISTINE PASKA 

Corresponding Secretary JILL OZIEMBLEWSKI 

Immediate Past ast President 

AMANDA C. FRIED 

Elected Directors Westchester Board 

ELIZABETH BARNHARD KIM BERG ROBIN D. CARTON 

SHARI R. GORDON SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND 

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

ELIZABETH CUMMING ANDREA B. FRIEDMAN ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI 

JENNIFER L. GRAY JACQUELINE HATTAR ANN M. McNULTY 

HON. LISA MARGARET SMITH WENDY MARIE WEATHERS 

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 

2022-2023 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 ............................................... Stephanie Baehr, Elizabeth Gazay, 

Amy Puerto 

Families, Children & the Courts ....................... Joy S. Joseph, Alyson Kuritzky, 

Amanda Rieben, Wanda Steinmann 

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

Judicial Screening ............................. Theresa Girolamo, Kimberly C. Sheehan 

Judiciary .............................................................................................. TBD 

Lawyering & Parenting ............................................................... Jennifer Gray 

Legislation ...................................... Angela Morcone Giannini, Rebecka Levitt 

Annual Dinner ..................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Amanda C. Fried, 

Jennifer L. Gray, Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Amanda R. Rieben 

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

Appellate Practice .... Heather Gushue, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Jill Oziemblewski 

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

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

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

Book Club ............................................................................. Lisa M. Denig 

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

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

Community Outreach ....... Hon. Judith C. McCarthy, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith, 

Deborah A. Scalise 

Construction Law .................................................................................. TBD 

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

Cyber Law .......................................................................... Judith Bachman 

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

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

Education ................... Alison 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 

Gender Dynamics ........................................................... Natanya L. Briendel 

Holiday Party and Boutique .................... Natanya L. Briendel, Michelle A. Calvi 

Immigration ............................... Elizabeth Mastropolo, Karin Anderson Ponzer 

Insurance ............................................................................................ TBD 

Intellectual Property ................................. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Annmary Ittan 

Judgment Enforcement & Collections ..................................... Michelle Tarson 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Membership .................................................... Sherry Bishko, Joanna Tulman 

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

New Lawyers .................................................... Rebecka Levitt, Elisa Mahover 

Professional Development .................................. Juliet Gobler, Sakeena Naqvi 

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

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

Real Property ......................................... JoAnne Romano, Robbin E. Sweeney 

Sponsorship ......................................................................................... TBD 

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

Trusts & Estates ............................................. Lonya A. Gilbert, Karen J. Walsh 

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

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

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

Technology/Website ............................................................................. TBD 

Wellness ... Jennifer Netrosio Johnson, Jill Oziemblewski, Susan Mills Richmond 

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

WWBA 

Representatives 

Network of Bar Leaders ....................... Robin D. Carton, Angela Morcone Giannini, Elizabeth Z. Marcus 

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

WWBA Foundation President ............................................................................... Susan M. Corcoran 

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

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

WBASNY Judiciary/Courts Committee ............................................................... Gail M. Boggio (Rep) 

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

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

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

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

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

WBASNY ERA/Women’s Civil Rights ................................................................ Susan Mills Richmond 

WBASNY Labor and Employment Law Committee ................................................ Kim Berg (Co-Chair) 

WBASNY Legislation Committee .................................................................................. Rebecka Levitt 

WBASNY LGBTQ+ Committee .................................................................................................. TBD 

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

WBASNY Press and Public Relations Committee .......................... Angela Morcone Giannini (Co-Chair) 

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

WBASNY Diversity Committee ................................................................................ Jacqueline Hattar 

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

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

WBASNY Convention Committee .......................................................................... Amanda R. Rieben 

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

WBASNY Sex Trafficking Committee ........................................................................... Stephanie Baehr 

WBASNY Access to Justice Committee ........................................................................................ TBD 

WBASNY Collaborative Law Committee .................................................................. Kathleen Donnelli 

WBASNY Education/Title IX Committee ....................................................................... Julie Passman 

WBASNY Health Issues & Reproductive Rights Committee ....................... Mary Beth Morrissey (Co-Chair) 

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

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

WBASNY Criminal Law Committee ...................................................................... Elizabeth Z. Marcus 

9th Judicial District Representative ............................................. Amanda C. Fried, Elizabeth Z. Marcus 

WBASNY Social Action Committee .................................................. Lisa M. Bluestein, Bethany A. Solek 

WBASNY Business Development Committee ............................................................... Judith Bachman 

WBASNY Torts Committee .......................................................................... Angela Morcone Giannini 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“As I always tell 

people (and truly 

mean when I say it!), 

the Westchester 

Women’s Bar 

Association has 

something to offer 

for everyone. And 

offer we do.” 

to me. When I first joined the WWBA, I 

just graduated law school and joined 

as a co-chair of the New Lawyers Committee, 

one of the committees responsible 

for organizing the event. It warms 

my heart to see some of our newer 

members now spearheading the program 

(Elise, Rebecka, and Jessica I’m 

talking to you!). 

The event has and still captures 

what truly makes the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association such a special 

and dynamic organization. The 


officers mixed and mingled with prospective, 

new, and longtime members. 

What a joy getting to connect with so 

many of you! Attendees included those 

who had just started law school, 

graduates awaiting admission, attorneys 

practicing five years or less, attorneys 

practicing 10+ years, as well 

as attorneys practicing as long as 40 

years. This, my friends, is the 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association! 

There is no one “type” of member. As 

I always tell people (and truly mean 

when I say it!), the Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association has something to offer 

for everyone. And offer we do. I urge 

you to check out our online calendar 

and our weekly email blasts to see all 

that we are up to. 

Here’s looking forward to what 

October brings! ◗ 

Editor’s Note 

“But experience has taught me that you cannot value dreams according to the 

odds of their coming true. Their real value is in stirring within us the will to 

aspire. That will, wherever it finally leads, does at least move you forward. And 

after a time you may recognize that the proper measure of success is not how 

much you’ve closed the distance to some far-off goal but the quality of what 

you’ve done today.” 

~ Sonia Sotomayor 

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 

Elizabeth Z. Marcus, 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 

Full Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $525.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $575.00 per issue 

Half Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $275.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $300.00 per issue 

Quarter Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $165.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $180.00 per issue 

Business Card Ad: 5-10 Issues - $60.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $75.00 per issue 

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. 


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WWBA Night of Networking in White Plains 

Elisa M. Mahover zen Fox in White Plains, where over 40 

On the evening of September 22, attendees-consisting of law students, new 

2022, the WWBA New Lawyers, Networking, 

and Membership Committees kicked able to chat and connect over hors 

attorneys, and seasoned attorneys-were 

off our fall events with “A Night of Networking.” 

This event was held at the Bra- event is always a highly anticipated 

d’oeuvres and cocktails. This particular 

one, 

however, due to COVID, it was not held 

for the past two years. It was amazing to 

be back in-person and to catch up with 

both new and old connections. Thank you 

to everyone who attended and made this 

event a success! ◗ 

Pictured with President Elizabeth Z. Marcus in 

photos of the event are Diona Piazza, Elise 

M. Mahover, Francesca Mountain, Sakeena 

B. Naqvi, and Gladys G. Ullmann. 

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Page 4 


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THE WWBA SPENDS AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON 

AT WILKENS FARM 

Jill Oziemblewski 

The change of seasons 

is ripe for contemplative 

walks, though even better 

can be absorbing the scene 

with good company. On 

October 8, 2022, members 

of the Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, with some 

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family and friends, withstood 

a little traffic for time in the 

orchards and open air at 

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm, in 

Yorktown Heights. The 

weather was ideal following 

some washouts earlier in the 

week. The fall palette 

showed in full. The apple selection 

was excellent! After 

filling our peck bags and 

wagons we circled back to 

the farm shop kind of delighting 

in the different preserves, 

and lingering for great conversation. 

The event was hosted by 

the Wellness Committee, with 

co-chairs Susan Mills Richmond 

and Jill Oziemblewski 

there for this one. 

Thanks to those who 

joined for the fun afternoon, 

please stay tuned for more 

seasonal outdoor and indoor 

programs in the year 

ahead. ◗ 


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Kim Berg Sworn in as SDNY Magistrate Judge 

from page 1 

focusing on employment 

law, civil rights, commercial 

litigation, wills, trusts and 

estates. She will continue 

her practice with the firm in 

state courts and before administrative 

agencies, including 

before the EEOC, 

the New York State Division 

of Human Rights, and the 

New York State Department 

of Labor. Magistrate Judge 

Berg is a Part 146 certified 

mediator, regularly mediating 

cases for the Southern 

District of New York, New York 

State Supreme Courts, New 

York State Surrogate’s Courts, 

and the Westchester County 

Human Rights Commission. 

She was recently appointed 

by FINRA to serve as a Dispute 

Resolution Services Arbitrator 

for financial services 

and securities in the New York 

area. 

Magistrate Judge Berg 

regularly presents continuing 

legal education programs for 

the bar associations in which 

she is an active member, including 

the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association, the 

Women’s Bar Association of 

the State of New York, the 

Westchester County Bar Association, 

and the Federal 

Bar Association. 

The Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association joins with 

Magistrate Judge Berg’s family 

and friends in offering 

warm congratulations on this 

great accomplishment! ◗ 

WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW 

YORK (“WBASNY”) PRESS UPDATES 

(July 6, 2022) – The Women’s Bar Association of the 

State of New York (“WBASNY”) commends the Legislature 

on the passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment 

(“ERA”), A.41002/S.51002, sponsored by 

Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and Senate Majority 

Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. It has been a longstanding 

legislative priority of WBASNY and WBASNY has 

unwaveringly supported adding further protections for sex, 

sexual orientation, and reproductive rights to the New York 

State Constitution. Sex and gender bias have long been 

pervasive in our social structure, and given recent events, 

biases against sexual orientation and reproductive rights 

have also become much more commonplace across the 

country. While constitutional guarantees are needed at both 

the State and Federal levels to prevent further discrimination, 

WBASNY is relieved to see New York State taking up 

the fight to protect its citizens. WBASNY’s mission includes 

the fair and equal administration of justice. By ensuring the 

passage of the ERA, the Legislature helps not only bring an 

important WBASNY legislative priority to reality but also 

ensures that every New Yorker will have their rights protected. 

WBASNY gives special thanks to Governor Kathy 

Hochul for recognizing the need for an extraordinary session 

without delay, to Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright 

and Senator Liz Krueger for their tireless work on protecting 

these important rights, and to Assembly Speaker Carl 

Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins 

for ensuring that this legislation was brought to the floor. 

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(July 5, 2022) – The Women’s Bar Association of the 

State of New York (“WBASNY”) celebrates and congratulates 

the monumental achievement of Associate Justice 

Ketanji Brown Jackson on becoming the first female African 

American Associate Justice of the United States Supreme 

Court. This historically defining moment will have 

an immense impact on equality, society, and our Country. 

Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson replaces retired Associate Justice 

Stephen G. Breyer. Justice Brown Jackson’s legal career 

is distinguished and accomplished. She served on the 

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 

Circuit, and the United States District Court for the District 

of Columbia. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Brown Jackson 

was a law clerk at all three levels of the federal Judiciary, 

including as Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s 

law clerk. Hon. Brown Jackson has also served as Vice 

Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission. During 

her time on the United States Sentencing Commission, the 

Commission retroactively amended the Sentencing Guidelines 

reducing the sentence range for crack cocaine offenses 

and enacting a two offence-level reduction for drug 

crimes. In addition, Justice Brown Jackson served as an 

Assistant Federal Public Defender in the appeals division 

of the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the District 

of Columbia and also worked as a lawyer in private practice. 

Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson will bring not only a superior 

legal mind to the bench, but also much needed diversity 

to the United States Supreme Court. She is, and will 

continue to be, a role model for all girls and young women, 

especially those of color. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of 

the chains of discrimination. At this extraordinary moment 

in our history, another chain has been broken, and our 

country takes a giant step towards racial equality. ◗ 

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An Interview with Beth Levy 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When and why did you 

become involved in the 

WWBA? 

A: As a domestic violence 

lawyer at My Sisters’ Place, 

I wanted to join the Domestic 

Violence Committee 

and spread awareness 

to other WWBA members 

of the urgency of domestic 

violence and trafficking 

in the County. As a feminist, 

I wanted to be a part 

of WWBA and be with 

like-minded strong, fierce, 

independent women lawyers. 

Q: Which activities and 

positions of the WWBA 

have you participated in? 

A: I have been co-chair of 

the Domestic Violence 

Committee for the past 

several years. We put on 

several important CLE’s, 

including providing ethics 

credit. One of our best, 

most informative CLE’s 

that I am proud of, was the 

intersection of LGBTQ issues 

and domestic violence. 

Also, I am involved 

informally with election 

and voting issues, urging 

members to register 

people and get out the 

vote, in a non-partisan 

way. I am enjoying being 

a mentor to a Pace Law 

School student. 

Q: What would you like to 

see the WWBA accomplish 

in the future? 

A: I would like to see 

WWBA become more diverse, 

and perhaps work 

more closely with the 

“Do not be intimidated by 

aggressive, manipulative 

opposing counsel. In the 

beginning, it is hard not to 

take it personally. Do not 

stoop down to [their] level.” 

Westchester Black Bar Association. 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career. 

A: I worked at The Legal Aid 

Society in the Bronx for 18 

years, litigating criminal defense, 

housing, matrimonial, 

and family law cases. I 

worked in the Drug Treatment 

Part for a year, which was really 

eye opening as to an alternative 

to incarceration 

and actually treating the addiction. 

I joined My Sisters’ 

Place, the largest domestic 

violence provider in 

Westchester, working out of 

the Mt. Vernon office. I loved 

being in the community 

rather than in a business part 

of Westchester. I worked 

closely with a domestic violence 

counselor and we 

helped 100’s of survivors in 

Mt. Vernon. I get involved 

with my clients, and many 

keep in touch to this day. 

During the pandemic, I 

started my own practice, 

which I find rewarding, although 

after being in nonprofit 

all these years, I find it 

hard to charge clients the 

going rate. There is a dearth 

of affordable matrimonial 

and family lawyers. I de- 


cided to devote my practice 

to low and moderate means 

clients who cannot otherwise 

get free legal services or who 

aren’t eligible for Pace 

Women’s Moderate Means 

Panel. 

Q: What advice do you have 

for new lawyers entering the 

profession? 

A: Do not be intimidated by 

aggressive, manipulative 

opposing counsel. In the beginning, 

it is hard not to take 

it personally. Do not stoop 

down to the level of opposing 

counsel. Keep your cool 

and always be professional. 

Also, another piece of advice 

I have, is to regularly 

schedule “self-care” days 

throughout the year to take 

care of yourself. In the long 

run, it helps you to be more 

productive and avoid burnout. 

Q: How have you balanced 

family responsibilities and 

your legal career? 

A: That was the hardest part 

because back in the day, 

there was no such thing as 

remote working. Working in 

non-profits was long hours, 

and barely any flexibility in 

work schedules. I feel I 

Beth Levy 

paved the way for younger 

parents who started after 

me, in insisting in more flexible 

work schedules. It wasn’t 

easy, but it is essential in balancing 

family responsibilities 

and a demanding legal 

career. My favorite refrain 

is “it takes a village.” 

Having good childcare options 

and after school programs 

was very helpful. I 

used every vacation day 

and sometimes unpaid 

leave in order to find the 

right balance. 

Q: When you are not lawyering, 

which community 

activities and other interests 

do you pursue? 

A: I am involved in local 

and national politics, 

working on campaigns 

and getting out the vote by 

letter writing. I am co-chair 

of the Immigration Justice 

Committee of Indivisible 

Congressional District 16. 

I love to bike ride and 

paint abstract artwork with 

alcohol ink. I love to travel 

to off the beaten path 

places. I have been a 

member of a book group 

for 20 years and love it. ◗ 

Page 7

Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ Abrams Fensterman, LLP is pleased to announce 

that Amanda K. Rieben has joined 

their firm as an Associate in the Family/Matrimonial 

division. Through her legal work in the 

non-profit and private sectors, Amanda has 

concentrated her practice in all facets of family/matrimonial 

law. Prior to joining the firm, 

Amanda served as Director of the Pace Women’s 

Justice Center’s Walk-In Legal Clinic. She helped 

develop and launch the Clinic, which provides 

pro bono legal assistance to victims of domestic 

violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, primarily 

in the areas of family and matrimonial 

law. Amanda is also a former associate of one 

of the largest family law firms in Fairfield County, 

Connecticut. Earlier on in her career, she worked 

as a Staff Attorney at Legal Services of the 

Amanda Rieben 

Photo by Alex Towle Photography 

Hudson Valley in the organization’s domestic violence unit. Additionally, she 

was a Staff Attorney at the Center for Family Representation, Inc., where she 

represented parents in child protective proceedings in New York County Family 

Court. Amanda brings to the firm a compassionate and deep understanding 

of the difficulties that the court process can pose. She recognizes the 

impact that a court order can have on a litigant’s emotional state and 

wellbeing, and on the litigant’s family. Amanda is empathetic toward each of 

her client’s needs and dedicated to providing each client with high-quality 

legal services and counsel. 

Amanda currently serves as a co-chair of the Westchester Women’s Bar 

Association Families, Children and the Courts Committee and the Annual 

Dinner Committee, and she is the Westchester Women’s Bar Association representative 

of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) 

2023 Convention Committee. She is also the President Elect of the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association. In her legal profession, she carries with her an 

acute appreciation and understanding of the 

importance of family as she is a proud and 

devoted mother to her three young daughters. 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2022 TO MAY 31, 2023. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2023 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. 

❑ In her newest collection of adult short stories, 

“Disappearing From View,” prolific author 

and Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

Archive & Historian Chair, Susan L. . Pollet 

ollet, 

explores the following: 

“No matter when you live your life, you will 

experience, amidst ephemeral periods of joy 

and harmony, that the world is constantly 

changing, and what you once thought was 

solid and stable, disappeared from view, 

sometimes for the better, and other times not. 

This collection of short stories describes that 

phenomenon in different contexts, whether it 

is in the form of a person who purposely 


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 


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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. 

Announcements and Notes on Members 

from previous page 

disappeared for a time; a mind which 

was stolen by Alzheimer’s disease; the 

vanishing of truth with a pathological 

liar; a cat which escaped; a person recollecting 

solitary confinement during 

the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic; 

the elimination of privacy in the 

time of technological advances; the 

loss of our planet and humans from 

climate change; the fading of morality; 

the disappearance of home from 

a fire; the absence of a lust for life; 

the evanescence of youth and purpose 

during the last phase of aging; and the 

cessation of kindness in our world. 

What we wish would disappear, and 

what actually does, creates an everchanging 

landscape which is often out 

of our control. How we make peace 

with that makes all the difference.” 

Please visit SusanPollet.com for 

more information. “Disappearing 

From View” is available on Amazon, 

as are all of Susan’s other titles: 

“Watching And Letting It All Go”; 

“William Wondered Whether Worrying 

Was Worth It” 

“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”; 

and “Juliette Rose’s Dream of Becoming”. 

❑ Consistent with the mission of the 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association’s 

Professional Development Committee, 

the Women in Professional Transition 

group has been rebranded as 

Women in Professional Development. 

This group meets on the first Friday of 

each month, at 1:00 pm, at the 445 

Café in White Plains. Its goal is to provide 


members with informal support 

to effectively deal with the inevitability 


of change in our lives and careers. 

The group aims to provide peer-topeer 

networking and conversation, 

and to leverage the experience and 

expertise of fellow Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association members. 

The October meeting included an insightful 

discussion on the topic of Mentors. 

The next meeting is scheduled for 

November 4, 2022, with a new discussion 

topic to be circulated closer 

to then. 

Please contact Sakeena B. Naqvi, 

at sakeenan26@gmail.com, with any 

questions or to join the email list. 

❑ An Invitation for Submissions – Please 

continue to write about legal topics and 


events and send them to Corresponding 

Secretary, Jill Oziemblewski, at 

jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com, for publication 

in our newsletter. Submissions are 

generally due no later than the 10th of 

each month for publication in the following 

month’s issue. ◗ 

Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WWBA Board of Directors 

and General Membership 

Meetings 

Making Strides Against 

Breast Cancer – Team 

ORBACH 

Co-Hosted with the 9th 

Judicial District Access to 

Justice Committee 

Co-Hosted with the 

Westchester County Bar 

Association 

Co-Hosted with the 9th 

Judicial District Access to 

Justice Committee 

WWBA Professional 

Development Committee 

10/12/22 

5:30 p.m. 

6:00pm to 

7:00pm 

10/16/22 

9:00 a.m. 

10/18/22 

1:00 p.m. to 

2:00 p.m. 

10/20/22 

12:45 p.m. to 

1:45 p.m. 

10/25/22 

1:00 p.m. to 

2:00 p.m. 

11/4/22 

1:00 p.m. 

Zoom 

Manhattanville College, 

Purchase, NY 

“Bruen, the Concealed 

Carry Improvement 

Act, and the Second 

Amendment” (CLE) 

American Cancer 

Society 2022 Walk 

Zoom Law Library E- 

Resources & Remote 

Services (CLE) 

Zoom MHL Art. 81 

Guardianship 

Compliance Procedures 

(CLE) 

Zoom 

Beyond Google: 

Utilizing Free Internet 

Resources for New 

York & Federal Legal 

Research (CLE) 

445 Café 

First Friday Discussion 

445 Hamilton Avenue, 

White Plains 

Register Online at 

www.wwbany.org for details or 

email 

executivedirector@wwbany.org 

$10.00 WWBA/WBASNY 

Members; $20.00 non- 

WWBA/WBASNY Members 

See www.wwbany.org for link to 

donate or to register to walk with 

Team Orbach 

See www.wwbany.org for 

registration link 





For questions contact: 

Sakeena B. Naqvi, Esq. at 

sakeenan26@gmail.com or (717) 

460-2642 

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. 

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE 

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE 

Connect 

with 

us 

THE WWBA MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR 

2022-2023 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2022. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA October 2022 Newsletter

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