26.05.2023 Views

WWBA May 2023 Newsletter - M

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Westchester Women’s Bar Association<br />

MAY <strong>2023</strong><br />

<strong>WWBA</strong><br />

news<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

UNDERSTANDING NFTs – THE NEW ASSET<br />

Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

O<br />

n the evening of April 20, <strong>2023</strong>, the <strong>WWBA</strong> Cyber Law and Intellectual<br />

Property Committees presented a virtual CLE program, entitled NFTs – The<br />

New Asset You Need to Understand for Your Practice, for attorneys advising<br />

businesses, determining marital assets, planning estates and trusts, identifying assets<br />

for bankruptcy, or counseling on investments. Panelists included Kerry Brownlee, Partner<br />

at Epstein Drangel, LLP; Jesse Bader, Associate at Epstein Drangel, LLP; and Sam<br />

Kilb, Director of Legal Services, Jayaram, Law. <strong>WWBA</strong> Cyber Law Committee Chair<br />

Judith Bachman, Esq., of The Bachman Law Firm PLLC, was the moderator. The<br />

program was structured to teach attorneys about non-fungible tokens, “NFTs”, and<br />

copyright and trademark rights and infringement issues that could impact the value of<br />

an NFT.<br />

Jesse Bader started off the program discussing in depth what an NFT is, how an<br />

NFT works and is used, and, importantly, what is being bought when an NFT is purchased.<br />

Unlike the purchase and sale of a tangible asset like a work of art, when<br />

buying an NFT you are typically buying a digital certificate of ownership for a digital<br />

asset, but not necessarily the digital asset itself. Jesse provided several examples to<br />

illustrate these concepts.<br />

Kerry Brownlee focused on NFTs and their interplay with copyright law. She explained<br />

that when an NFT is minted, if a digital asset is created in the minting process,<br />

traditional copyright principles apply. An NFT linking to a publicly available work is<br />

not necessarily a copyright violation, but knowingly linking to an infringing copy could<br />

raise contributory liability issues. Reselling an NFT raises the question of what is being<br />

INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />

MAY <strong>2023</strong><br />

In Memoriam:<br />

Hon. Sandra A. Forster<br />

(page 4)<br />

An Interview with<br />

Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

(page 5)<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Member News<br />

and <strong>May</strong> Events<br />

(page 6)<br />

Upcoming Events<br />

(Page 12)<br />

SAVE THE DATE<br />

WESTCHESTER<br />

WOMEN’S BAR<br />

BOOK CLUB<br />

<strong>May</strong> 31, <strong>2023</strong><br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

continued on page 4 ➥<br />

WIPD FIRST FRIDAY<br />

MEETING<br />

June 2, <strong>2023</strong><br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> ANNUAL DINNER<br />

AND INSTALLATION OF<br />

OFFICERS<br />

June 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

LUNCH WITH THE<br />

JUDGES<br />

June 13, <strong>2023</strong><br />

PRESIDENT’S<br />

MESSAGE<br />

For my final<br />

address as President<br />

of the Westchester<br />

Women’s Bar Association,<br />

I cannot<br />

help but reflect on<br />

my goal this bar association<br />

year to<br />

continue the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>’s success by<br />

focusing on the<br />

Elizabeth Z.<br />

Marcus<br />

value of our membership. This goal is<br />

one that is near and dear to me because<br />

of how my involvement with the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> began. At the urging of my<br />

then-colleague and our beloved Past<br />

President, Lisa M. Denig, I joined the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>. I had just moved back home<br />

to Westchester County upon graduating<br />

from the University of Michigan Law<br />

School (Go Blue!) and was new to the<br />

practice of law. Joining the <strong>WWBA</strong> was<br />

and remains one of the best decisions I<br />

ever made. I am most fortunate that<br />

my career as an attorney has gone hand<br />

in hand with my membership and involvement<br />

with the <strong>WWBA</strong>. To have<br />

that unparalleled support and encouragement,<br />

especially as a new lawyer,<br />

and to be part of such an amazing<br />

network and community of attorneys<br />

from all different backgrounds, has truly<br />

made all the difference.<br />

The 2022-23 bar association year<br />

certainly highlighted what a dynamic<br />

organization the <strong>WWBA</strong> is. This year<br />

brought a return to in-person programs<br />

and events for the <strong>WWBA</strong>. The energy<br />

of connecting in person with colleagues<br />

and friends, law students and new lawcontinued<br />

on page 3 ➥<br />

Page 1<br />

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


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Member <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />

MAY Y <strong>2023</strong><br />

Published Monthly by the<br />

Westchester Women’s<br />

Bar Association, a Chapter of<br />

the Women’s Bar Association<br />

of the State of New York<br />

~ 2022/<strong>2023</strong> Officers and Directors ~<br />

President ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS<br />

President-Elect AMANDA K. RIEBEN<br />

Vice Presidents<br />

SHERRY A. BISHKO NATANYA L. BRIENDEL JULIE P. PASSMAN<br />

Treasurer<br />

DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER Recording Secretary CHRISTINE PASKA<br />

Corresponding Secretary JILL OZIEMBLEWSKI<br />

Immediate Past ast President<br />

AMANDA C. FRIED<br />

Elected Directors Westchester Board<br />

ELIZABETH BARNHARD KIM BERG ROBIN D. CARTON<br />

SHARI R. GORDON SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND<br />

State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York<br />

ELIZABETH CUMMING ANDREA B. FRIEDMAN ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI<br />

JENNIFER L. GRAY JACQUELINE HATTAR ANN M. McNULTY<br />

HON. LISA MARGARET SMITH WENDY MARIE WEATHERS<br />

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS<br />

© Copyright <strong>2023</strong> Westchester Women’s Bar Association. All rights reserved.<br />

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

Editor-in-Chief: Jill Oziemblewski • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501<br />

2022-<strong>2023</strong> <strong>WWBA</strong> Committee Chairs<br />

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S<br />

By-Laws ........................................................................................ Kim Berg<br />

Corporate & Commercial ........................... Lisa M. Bluestein, Virginia Trunkes<br />

Criminal Law ............................................... Stephanie Baehr, Elizabeth Gazay,<br />

Amy Puerto<br />

Families, Children & the Courts ....................... Joy S. Joseph, Alyson Kuritzky,<br />

Amanda Rieben, Wanda Steinmann<br />

Grievance/Ethics ....................................... Norma Lopez, Deborah A. Scalise<br />

Judicial Screening ............................. Theresa Girolamo, Kimberly C. Sheehan<br />

Judiciary .......................................................................... Hon. Jodi Kimmel<br />

Lawyering & Parenting ............................................................... Jennifer Gray<br />

Legislation ...................................... Angela Morcone Giannini, Rebecka Levitt<br />

Annual Dinner ..................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Amanda C. Fried,<br />

Jennifer L. Gray, Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Amanda R. Rieben<br />

Annual Dinner Journal .......... Sherry Bishko, Andrea B. Friedman, Diona Piazza<br />

Appellate Practice .... Heather Gushue, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Jill Oziemblewski<br />

Archive & Historian ................................................................. Susan L. Pollet<br />

Awards ......................................... Elizabeth Barnhard, Deborah Farber-Kaiser<br />

Bankruptcy ............................... Susan Mills Richmond, Wendy Marie Weathers<br />

Book Club ............................................................................. Lisa M. Denig<br />

Breast Cancer Awareness ............. Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Adrienne J. Orbach<br />

Collaborative Law ......... Kathleen Donelli, Lynn J. Maier, Hon. Sondra M. Miller<br />

Community Outreach ....... Hon. Judith C. McCarthy, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith,<br />

Deborah A. Scalise<br />

Construction Law ...................................................................... Diona Piazza<br />

Continuing Legal Education .................................................. Ann M. McNulty<br />

Cyber Law .......................................................................... Judith Bachman<br />

Diversity and Inclusion .......................... Jacqueline Hattar, Stephanie Melowsky<br />

Domestic Violence ........................ Marian Genio, Beth Levy, Stacey Neumann<br />

Education ..................... Alison Morris, Julie P. Passman, Susan Mills Richmond<br />

Elder, Health Law & Reproductive Rights .... Elizabeth A. Cumming, Moira Laidlaw<br />

Employment Law ........................................................... Kim Berg, Sara Kula<br />

Environmental & Land Use ........................... Lucia Chiocchio, Jennifer L. Gray<br />

Gender Dynamics ........................................................... Natanya L. Briendel<br />

Holiday Party and Boutique .................... Natanya L. Briendel, Michelle A. Calvi<br />

Immigration ............................... Elizabeth Mastropolo, Karin Anderson Ponzer<br />

Insurance ..................................................................... Nicoleta Pennacchia<br />

Intellectual Property ................................. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Annmary Ittan<br />

Judgment Enforcement & Collections ..................................... Michelle Tarson<br />

Litigation ...... Angela Morcone Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar, Rebecca McCloskey<br />

Long Range Planning ...................................... Lisa M. Denig, Linda Markowitz<br />

Mediation ..................... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Abby Rosmarin<br />

Mentorship ...................................... Kim Berg, Sherry Bishko, Christine Paska<br />

Past Presidents ...... Angela Giannini, Deborah Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith<br />

A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S<br />

Matrimonial ................... Robin D. Carton, Andrea Friedman, Jennifer Jackman<br />

Membership .................................................... Sherry Bishko, Joanna Tulman<br />

Networking .................................... Jennifer Netrosio Johnson, Jessica Piperis<br />

New Lawyers .................................................... Rebecka Levitt, Elisa Mahover<br />

Professional Development .................................. Juliet Gobler, Sakeena Naqvi<br />

Programs .................................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Amy Puerto<br />

Public Relations ....................................................................... Lisa M. Denig<br />

Real Property ......................................... JoAnne Romano, Robbin E. Sweeney<br />

Sponsorship ......................................................................................... TBD<br />

Taxation ...................................................................... Patricia Rusch Bellucci<br />

Trusts & Estates ............................................. Lonya A. Gilbert, Karen J. Walsh<br />

Practice Management ................................................. Wendy Marie Weathers<br />

Pro Bono ..................................................... Marian Genio, Natalie Sobchak<br />

Social Media ........................................................................................ TBD<br />

Technology/Website ............................................................................. TBD<br />

Wellness ... Jennifer Netrosio Johnson, Jill Oziemblewski, Susan Mills Richmond<br />

Women in Leadership ........................................................................... TBD<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong><br />

Representatives<br />

Network of Bar Leaders ....................... Robin D. Carton, Angela Morcone Giannini, Elizabeth Z. Marcus<br />

Pace Board of Visitors ................................................................................................ Lisa M. Denig<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation President ............................................................................... Susan M. Corcoran<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Representative Director to the WCBA Board ....................................................... Jennifer L. Gray<br />

WBASNY Vice President ........................................................................................... Shari R. Gordon<br />

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

WBASNY Nominations Committee .................................. Gail M. Boggio (Rep), Lisa M. Bluestein (Alt)<br />

WBASNY Awards Committee ................................................................................. Deborah A. Scalise<br />

WBASNY Chapters-Membership Committee .................................................................... Sherry Bishko<br />

WBASNY Family/Matrimonial Law Committee ......................................................... Jennifer Jackman<br />

WBASNY Fundraising Committee ........................................................................ Andrea B. Friedman<br />

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

WBASNY Labor and Employment Law Committee ................................................ Kim Berg (Co-Chair)<br />

WBASNY Legislation Committee .................................................................................. Rebecka Levitt<br />

WBASNY LGBTQ+ Committee .................................................................................................. TBD<br />

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

WBASNY Press and Public Relations Committee .......................... Angela Morcone Giannini (Co-Chair)<br />

WBASNY Long-Range Planning Committee ............................................................... Linda Markowitz<br />

WBASNY Diversity Committee ................................................................................ Jacqueline Hattar<br />

WBASNY CLE Liason Committee .............................................................................. Ann M. McNulty<br />

WBASNY JALBCA Committee .......................................................................... Hon. Sandra A. Forster<br />

WBASNY Convention Committee .......................................................................... Amanda R. Rieben<br />

WBASNY Equal Opportunity in the Profession Committee ..................................................... Kim Berg<br />

WBASNY Sex Trafficking Committee ........................................................................... Stephanie Baehr<br />

WBASNY Access to Justice Committee ........................................................................................ TBD<br />

WBASNY Collaborative Law Committee .................................................................. Kathleen Donnelli<br />

WBASNY Education/Title IX Committee ....................................................................... Julie Passman<br />

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

WBASNY Intellectual Property Committee .............................................................. Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

WBASNY Women’s Judges Committee ......................................................... Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith<br />

WBASNY Criminal Law Committee ...................................................................... Elizabeth Z. Marcus<br />

9th Judicial District Representative ............................................. Amanda C. Fried, Elizabeth Z. Marcus<br />

WBASNY Social Action Committee .................................................. Lisa M. Bluestein, Bethany A. Solek<br />

WBASNY Business Development Committee ............................................................... Judith Bachman<br />

WBASNY Torts Committee .......................................................................... Angela Morcone Giannini<br />

Page 2<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

President’s Message<br />

from page 1<br />

“I am amazed by the<br />

unique perspective<br />

each one of [our<br />

members] brings and<br />

have learned so much<br />

from you. I thank you<br />

all for enriching my<br />

life and am grateful<br />

to the <strong>WWBA</strong> for<br />

bringing us together.”<br />

yers, was widely appreciated and truly a<br />

joy. We welcomed 20 new board members<br />

and maintained our membership<br />

numbers as the second largest chapter of<br />

WBASNY. As of January 31, <strong>2023</strong>, the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> had 549 members for the 2022-<br />

23 membership year. That success was a<br />

result of the tremendous outreach efforts<br />

of the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Membership Committee<br />

and its Board of Directors who kept members<br />

engaged and connected as a community.<br />

This year saw the return of the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>’s “First Friday” series, a project of<br />

the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Professional Development<br />

Committee, which meets on the first Friday<br />

of each month for networking and<br />

conversation to provide <strong>WWBA</strong> members<br />

with support in life and professional transition<br />

phases. We also saw the return of<br />

our annual “Night of Networking – Meet<br />

the Officers of the <strong>WWBA</strong>/ Welcome New<br />

Members” event, which captured the<br />

breadth of our membership. Attendees included<br />

those who had just started law<br />

school, graduates awaiting admission, attorneys<br />

practicing five years or less, attorneys<br />

practicing 10+ years, as well as attorneys<br />

practicing as long as 40 years.<br />

Our committees presented and cosponsored<br />

CLEs on a variety of topics including:<br />

recent federal and state changes<br />

to gun control and their impact as seen in<br />

the judicial system; Mental Hygiene Law<br />

continued on page 9 ➥<br />

Editor’s Note<br />

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself.<br />

You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.”<br />

~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg<br />

Making Dates and Getting Published<br />

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS<br />

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 10th of the month prior to publication (submissions<br />

received after the deadline are subject to the discretion of the editor).<br />

❑ Send submissions as email attachments to Jill Oziemblewski at jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com.<br />

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

formatting, other than bold, underline or italics. Authors are encouraged to submit photographs<br />

for publication with their submissions and include a short biographical statement with<br />

their submissions.<br />

❑ Materials submitted allow the <strong>WWBA</strong> a limited copyright and full permission to reprint the<br />

material in any <strong>WWBA</strong> publication or on its website without additional consent.<br />

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

each photograph must be fully identified.<br />

PROGRAM SCHEDULING<br />

❑ First visit the <strong>WWBA</strong> website: www.wwbany.org and click on the calendar at the home page to<br />

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

priority for early submissions.<br />

❑ Contact Natanya Briendel at tanyabriendel@gmail.com or Amy Puerto at<br />

amy.puerto@yahoo.com to schedule a <strong>WWBA</strong> sponsored or co-sponsored program, including<br />

committee meetings, CLE programs, etc.<br />

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos, proceed with<br />

planning your program and creating your flyer.<br />

❑ Flyers must be approved by the Programs Committee. In advance of the 10th of the month,<br />

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

Director. Once approved, please send your final flyer to the Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos<br />

and the President for publication on the website calendar and the newsletter calendar. The<br />

final flyer will also be emailed to the membership.<br />

❑ We will also consider publicizing programs from outside organizations that may be of interest<br />

to our members.<br />

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

speakers and participants that can be included in an upcoming newsletter. Send your submission<br />

to Natanya Briendel or Amy Puerto, following the guidelines above.<br />

Contacts<br />

Jill Oziemblewski, Corresponding Secretary and <strong>Newsletter</strong> Editor-in-Chief: jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com<br />

Natanya L. Briendel, Programs Committee Co-Chair: tanyabriendel@gmail.com<br />

Amy Puerto, Programs Committee Co-Chair: amy.puerto@yahoo.com<br />

Elizabeth Z. Marcus, President: president@wwbany.org<br />

Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com<br />

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s<br />

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

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

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

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

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

Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue<br />

Back Cover (3/4 page)<br />

5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue<br />

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

Contact Jill Oziemblewski at secretary@wwbany.org for any questions regarding advertising.<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 3


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Understanding NFTs – The New Asset<br />

from page 1<br />

sold, with the law not settled, but, despite<br />

these questions, there have been notable<br />

NFT sales. For copyright owners, one<br />

concern is that NFTs may be an easier<br />

means for others to copy the copyright<br />

owners’ works, and the anonymity of NFTs<br />

and lack of regulations could make enforcement<br />

difficult. Her discussion of two<br />

different lawsuits, Miramax, LLC v. Tarantino<br />

and Roc-A-Fella Records, Inc. v. Damon<br />

Dash, which were ultimately settled, illustrated<br />

the real-world copyright issues involving<br />

NFTs.<br />

Sam Kilb discussed trademarks and<br />

NFTs, starting off with the question, do<br />

trademark rights for physical goods apply<br />

to NFTs? He noted that owning an NFT<br />

does not confer trademark rights, and if<br />

the NFT does have a trademark, how do<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> celebrates the life and<br />

grieves the passing of our devoted friend<br />

and long-time Board member, the Honorable<br />

Sandra Anita (Rubin) Forster.<br />

Judge Forster passed away peacefully<br />

at home on <strong>May</strong> 1, <strong>2023</strong>, after a yearlong<br />

battle with brain cancer. Known<br />

endearingly as Sandy, she was a vivacious,<br />

curious, and intellectual woman<br />

who loved travel, the arts, culture, nature,<br />

science, PBS, and her beloved New<br />

York Times. She was a tomboy who<br />

loved playing sports when girls were not<br />

welcome to do so, and was not above<br />

Figure from Hermès International, et al., v.<br />

Mason Rothschild Complaint<br />

Figure from Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC<br />

Complaint<br />

IN MEMORIAM<br />

THE HONORABLE SANDRA A. FORSTER<br />

scolding her bridge partner. Noted for her<br />

joie de vivre and generous spirit, there was<br />

always an extra seat at her table. A lawyer,<br />

judge, wife, mother and extraordinary<br />

grandmother, she will be dearly missed.<br />

Judge Forster was born on February<br />

23, 1940, in Manhattan. She grew up in<br />

Yonkers, and met and married Lloyd Forster<br />

in 1961, ho predeceased her in 1982. She<br />

earned her undergraduate degree from the<br />

University of Rochester and, while raising<br />

two children, Craig and Dana, she graduated<br />

from Pace University Law School and<br />

was admitted to the bar in 1980. After a<br />

you enforce a trademark on the<br />

blockchain? Two cases were discussed:<br />

the pending Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC lawsuit<br />

(1:22-cv-00983 [SDNY]), and the recently<br />

decided Hermès International, et<br />

al., v. Mason Rothschild lawsuit (1:22-<br />

cv-00384 [SDNY]), which illustrate the<br />

complexity of the legal issues involving<br />

NFTs.<br />

NFTs are an asset that is not going<br />

away. It will take time to work out solutions<br />

to resolve the legal issues arising<br />

from the creation, uses and sales of NFTs.<br />

Earlier this year the U.S. Copyright Office<br />

and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<br />

commenced a joint study to answer a<br />

series of questions about rights in NFTs.<br />

Future court cases, legislation and regulations<br />

will provide more answers. Stay<br />

tuned for future developments. ◗<br />

thriving legal career she was elected as<br />

Judge of the Greenburgh Town Court,<br />

where she served from 2000 to 2012.<br />

In 2001 she married Norman Nadel,<br />

who survives her. She is survived by<br />

her children Craig (Carolyn) and Dana<br />

(Gregg Navins), her sister Irene Guros,<br />

and grandchildren Amelia, Samantha,<br />

Alexandra, Caley, and Erik.<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association,<br />

like so many, will miss Judge<br />

Forster’s generosity, intellect, verve, and<br />

presence. Our deepest condolences to<br />

Judge Forster’s family.<br />

Pictured is Judge Forster’s participation in a past Law Day, with students from the Richard J. Bailey Elementary School and<br />

the Honorable Doris T. Friedman, her colleague at the Greenburgh Town Court.<br />

Page 4<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

An Interview with Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

Susan L. Pollet<br />

Chair of the Archive and<br />

Historian Committee<br />

Q: When and why did you<br />

become involved in the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>?<br />

A: I joined the <strong>WWBA</strong> in<br />

January 2013 after attending<br />

a <strong>WWBA</strong> program on<br />

how to network. At that<br />

event, I met <strong>WWBA</strong> President<br />

Lonya Gilbert who encouraged<br />

me to join and<br />

subsequently asked me to<br />

be a Co-Chair of the Intellectual<br />

Property Committee.<br />

Since I was a teenager, I<br />

have been an activist for<br />

women’s rights. Joining a<br />

professional organization<br />

with a mission that aligned<br />

with my values and the opportunity<br />

to collaborate with<br />

attorneys to support the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>’s mission persuaded<br />

me to become a member.<br />

Q: Which activities and positions<br />

of the <strong>WWBA</strong> have<br />

you participated in?<br />

A: Since 2013, I have been<br />

a Co-Chair of the Intellectual<br />

Property (IP) Committee.<br />

Over the years, the IP<br />

Committee has provided<br />

programs and written articles<br />

for the <strong>WWBA</strong> newsletter<br />

on patent, trademark<br />

and copyright cases and<br />

practice tips. We also<br />

teamed up with Accelerate<br />

Westchester to provide<br />

members of a panel presenting<br />

IP Law for Entrepreneurs.<br />

In 2014, I was asked to<br />

also be a Co-Chair of the<br />

Awards Committee and<br />

have continued to serve on<br />

this committee as well. The<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> promotes it members<br />

for public recognition<br />

“It is vitally important that the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> stay laser focused on<br />

its mission to promote justice<br />

for all, regardless of sex, and<br />

to advance the social,<br />

economic and legal status for<br />

women through the law.”<br />

by nominating and selecting<br />

members for awards given by<br />

the <strong>WWBA</strong> and organizations<br />

such as WBASNY, the New<br />

York State Bar Association and<br />

the American Bar Association.<br />

The Awards Committee works<br />

diligently to gain recognition<br />

for our <strong>WWBA</strong> members by<br />

preparing the nominations for<br />

these awards, because these<br />

awards and recognition can<br />

help the nominee establish a<br />

career, reinforce a request for<br />

a better job or higher salary,<br />

and provide external validation<br />

of the member’s work. An<br />

unexpected benefit for me has<br />

been learning about and obtaining<br />

a greater appreciation<br />

for these nominees, especially<br />

from the letters of recommendation<br />

supporting their nominations.<br />

Since its inception in<br />

2016, I have been a participating<br />

mentor in the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s<br />

mentorship program mentoring<br />

Pace law students, typically<br />

mentoring at least two to three<br />

students a year.<br />

Building up a law practice<br />

requires skills not taught<br />

in law school. To help our<br />

members, I have brought in<br />

speakers such as Janet Falk,<br />

who gave a presentation on<br />

how to be the one reporters<br />

call, and taught us how to write<br />

a press release and a media<br />

profile.<br />

I was elected to be one of<br />

the Directors of the <strong>WWBA</strong><br />

Board of Directors for the<br />

2022-<strong>2023</strong> year, with a focus<br />

on furthering the mission of the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> in my new role. I hope<br />

to continue this work if I am<br />

re-elected as a Director for<br />

<strong>2023</strong>-2024.<br />

Q: What would you like to<br />

see the <strong>WWBA</strong> accomplish in<br />

the future?<br />

A: I am deeply concerned<br />

about the current movement to<br />

strip away hard-won rights.<br />

We have seen what the Supreme<br />

Court’s Dobbs decision<br />

overturning Roe v. Wade has<br />

unleashed in our country, and<br />

other rights and civil liberties<br />

are being targeted. It is vitally<br />

important that the <strong>WWBA</strong> stay<br />

laser focused on its mission to<br />

promote justice for all, regardless<br />

of sex, and to advance the<br />

social, economic and legal<br />

status for women through the<br />

law. We must also continue<br />

to expand opportunities for<br />

women and to raise the level<br />

of competence and integrity in<br />

the legal profession, especially<br />

now when our democracy is<br />

being undermined with the as-<br />

Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

sistance of lawyers who willfully<br />

ignore their oaths to<br />

promote claims of fraud in<br />

our elections and our election<br />

processes that they know<br />

are false. We need to prepare<br />

the next generation of<br />

lawyers for the battles ahead<br />

to fulfill our mission.<br />

Q: Please tell us about your<br />

legal career.<br />

A: My over 40-year legal career<br />

was not straightforward.<br />

I graduated from New York<br />

University with a B.A. in Biology<br />

and worked as a research<br />

assistant in different<br />

academic research labs in<br />

New York City and Boston<br />

until I decided to go to law<br />

school. In my final year of<br />

law school, I was offered and<br />

accepted a position at the<br />

Federal Energy Regulatory<br />

Commission, which was<br />

subsequently rescinded by<br />

the next administration the<br />

month I was graduating. We<br />

were also in a recession. I<br />

found myself competing with<br />

experienced attorneys for any<br />

job openings that came up.<br />

For the next two years, I<br />

worked as a temporary law-<br />

continued on page 7 ➥<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 5


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Member News and <strong>May</strong> Events<br />

Lisa Denig Appointed Westchester<br />

Commissioner of Human Resources<br />

Westchester County Executive<br />

George Latimer has appointed<br />

Lisa M. Denig, Esq.,<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Board member and Past<br />

President, as Commissioner of<br />

Human Resources at the<br />

Westchester County Department<br />

of Human Resources. Lisa has<br />

previously served in senior positions<br />

within the Office of Court<br />

Administration and the<br />

Westchester County District<br />

Attorney’s Office, and as the<br />

Chief of Staff to the Putnam<br />

County Executive.<br />

Of Lisa’s background,<br />

Latimer observed that she is “a<br />

highly accomplished multi-discipline<br />

professional who has<br />

worked closely with the New York<br />

State Office of Court Administration,”<br />

and, with the personnel<br />

supervision experience she<br />

Ninth Judicial District Gender<br />

Fairness Awards Ceremony<br />

Honoring Women’s History Month<br />

Each year, the Ninth Judicial<br />

District Committee to Promote<br />

Gender Fairness in the<br />

Courts hosts an essay contest to<br />

celebrate Women’s History<br />

Month. The contest is open to<br />

all students in accredited high<br />

schools in Westchester,<br />

Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess,<br />

and Orange Counties. On <strong>May</strong><br />

19, <strong>2023</strong>, this year’s winners<br />

were presented their awards by<br />

the Honorable Charles D. Wood,<br />

Committee Chair and Supreme<br />

Court Justice, in the Ceremonial<br />

Courtroom of the<br />

Westchester County Courthouse.<br />

Each winner was also given the<br />

podium to read her essay to an<br />

audience that included judges,<br />

public officials, members of the<br />

bar, and other guests.<br />

Sydnie Ampofo, Nyack High<br />

School, won first place in the<br />

Junior/Senior Category<br />

This year’s topic was:<br />

Would the elimination of Gender<br />

pronouns promote Gender<br />

Equality?<br />

The goal of the contest was<br />

not to seek out any “right answer,”<br />

but rather to invite the students<br />

to share their reasoned<br />

continued on page 8 ➥<br />

<strong>2023</strong>-2024 Slate of<br />

Officers and Directors<br />

Pursuant to Articles VI and IX of the by-laws of the Westchester<br />

Women’s Bar Association, the following slate of <strong>WWBA</strong> Officers and<br />

Directors for <strong>2023</strong>-2024 were voted upon and approved at the <strong>WWBA</strong><br />

General Membership and Annual Meeting on April 12, <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

<br />

President-Elect<br />

Sherry A. Bishko<br />

Vice Presidents<br />

Julie P. Passman<br />

Jill Oziemblewski<br />

Deborah Farber-Kaiser<br />

Treasurer<br />

Christine Paska<br />

Corresponding<br />

Secretary<br />

Jennifer L. Gray<br />

Recording Secretary<br />

Megan Lundin<br />

Elected Directors<br />

Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

Robin D. Carton<br />

Shari R. Gordon<br />

Ann M. McNulty<br />

Sakeena Naqvi<br />

State Directors<br />

Elizabeth Cumming<br />

Tracy Forrest<br />

Andrea B. Friedman<br />

Jacqueline Hattar<br />

Elizabeth Z. Marcus<br />

Susan Mills Richmond<br />

Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith<br />

Wendy Marie Weathers<br />

brings from her service in<br />

Putnam County, he said “we are<br />

sure that she will serve our Human<br />

Resources Department well<br />

in her new role as Commissioner.”<br />

Lisa noted her gratitude for<br />

the confidence that Latimer and<br />

his team have shown her through<br />

this opportunity, and she looks<br />

forward to working with the ex-<br />

continued on page 10 ➥<br />

continued on page 6 ➥<br />

Page 6<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

An Interview with Elizabeth Barnhard<br />

from page 5<br />

yer on an hourly basis for<br />

different law firms.<br />

I finally began working<br />

full time for a former New<br />

York Assistant Corporation<br />

Counsel who had set up<br />

his own general practice<br />

firm. He encouraged me<br />

to take the patent bar exam<br />

to be able to represent clients<br />

before the United<br />

States Patent and Trademark<br />

Office to help them<br />

obtain patents. You must<br />

have a science or engineering<br />

degree to take the<br />

patent bar exam, but a degree<br />

in biology was not<br />

considered a qualifying science<br />

degree at that time.<br />

However, I had enough<br />

credits in chemistry, physics,<br />

math, and geology to<br />

qualify to take the exam.<br />

After passing the<br />

patent bar, I tried to develop<br />

a patent practice, but<br />

quickly realized that I<br />

needed to work in a firm<br />

that either specialized in<br />

intellectual property law or<br />

had an intellectual property<br />

group to be trained in<br />

this specialized practice<br />

area. It took a couple of<br />

years before I found a<br />

small boutique IP firm willing<br />

to hire me, where most<br />

of my work for three years<br />

was trademark and patent<br />

litigation. I joined a multinational<br />

law firm where I<br />

worked for six years, learning<br />

patent preparation and<br />

prosecution and being Involved<br />

in all phases of litigation<br />

and appeals of<br />

patent, trademark, copyright<br />

and unfair competition<br />

actions.<br />

All that experience<br />

served me well when I went to<br />

work in house as a patent attorney<br />

at Wyeth, a global pharmaceutical<br />

company. During<br />

my 15 years there, I acquired<br />

the skills to work with various<br />

research, development and<br />

business groups to develop and<br />

manage complex global patent<br />

portfolios for different therapeutic/research<br />

areas, to lead<br />

multi-disciplinary patent teams,<br />

and to provide legal counsel<br />

and educate management and<br />

scientists regarding patent and<br />

trade secret issues and rights<br />

and obligations under agreements.<br />

I also acquired administrative<br />

skills when I managed<br />

one of our satellite patent law<br />

offices located at a research site.<br />

After Wyeth was acquired<br />

by Pfizer, I left the company and<br />

came full circle back to private<br />

practice. Leason Ellis offered me<br />

an Of Counsel position in<br />

2011, giving me the opportunity<br />

to build my own practice<br />

and to develop and lead the<br />

Pharma/Biotech Patent Group.<br />

It was a challenging time to start<br />

a new practice with the Great<br />

Recession unfolding and the<br />

pharmaceutical industry confronting<br />

the expiration of patents<br />

covering their major drug<br />

products. I had no book of<br />

business when I started and it<br />

took several years to build up a<br />

practice, with lessons learned<br />

along the way. I take great<br />

pleasure in working closely with<br />

clients to build and protect<br />

strong intellectual property portfolios<br />

that add value to their<br />

businesses. Part of my practice<br />

is devoted to helping individuals<br />

and small startups identify<br />

and protect the intellectual property<br />

assets that they are creating<br />

and using my industry experience<br />

to help them avoid<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

mistakes that could adversely<br />

affect their business.<br />

Q: What advice do you have<br />

for new lawyers entering the<br />

profession?<br />

A: Your first job will not be your<br />

last job. Focus on learning<br />

transferable skills. You must invest<br />

in your own professional<br />

development. Work with<br />

coaches, take classes, and attend<br />

webinars to learn the soft<br />

skills and business skills they did<br />

not teach you in law school,<br />

such as how to develop business,<br />

presentation/speaking<br />

skills, networking, effective time<br />

management, fostering client<br />

relations, what technological<br />

innovations will improve your<br />

workflow process.<br />

Be curious. Give yourself<br />

a half hour each day to read<br />

about something new. It will<br />

expand your knowledge base,<br />

and clients will appreciate that<br />

you are keeping an eye on future<br />

trends that might have an<br />

impact on what they are doing.<br />

Join a bar association<br />

(preferably the <strong>WWBA</strong>!) and<br />

get involved with a committee,<br />

attend events, and build up a<br />

network of attorneys to whom<br />

you can turn to for advice,<br />

learn from and have fun together.<br />

Most important of all, remember<br />

that being a lawyer<br />

gives you the privilege of helping<br />

your clients, whether they be<br />

persons or companies, using<br />

the tools of law. Your<br />

overarching focus should be on<br />

how you can provide value to<br />

the client, whether it be addressing<br />

their wants and needs or the<br />

conflict between their wants and<br />

needs, resolving a problem, or<br />

fighting for them in court, not<br />

on how many billable hours<br />

you can rack up. If you<br />

maintain that focus, you will<br />

have a meaningful career as<br />

a lawyer, one you will look<br />

back on with pride.<br />

Q: How have you balanced<br />

family responsibilities and<br />

your legal career?<br />

A: It takes a team to raise a<br />

family and be a lawyer. You<br />

cannot do it all without help.<br />

Q: When you are not lawyering,<br />

which community activities<br />

and other interests do<br />

you pursue?<br />

A: Having a child with special<br />

needs led me to volunteer<br />

in different capacities for<br />

many years for Heartsong,<br />

which provides creative arts<br />

therapies to children and<br />

adults with special needs, including<br />

working one-on-one<br />

with children during music<br />

and art therapy sessions,<br />

serving on the Board of Directors<br />

and the Advisory<br />

Board, and co-chairing Autism<br />

Awareness at Citi Field.<br />

For over 16 years, I have<br />

been involved and now colead<br />

the WCT Social Action<br />

Knitting and Crocheting<br />

Group. I created our motto,<br />

“Repairing the World One<br />

Stitch at a Time.” We work<br />

year-round to make blankets,<br />

shawls, hats, scarves and<br />

other items for victims of domestic<br />

violence, cancer patients,<br />

the homeless, and<br />

families in need. I read for<br />

relaxation, but sometimes get<br />

caught up in the story and<br />

stay up way too late. Most<br />

important of all, weekends<br />

are family time. It may include<br />

chores, but we are all<br />

doing things together. ◗<br />

Page 7


<strong>WWBA</strong> Member News and <strong>May</strong> Events<br />

Ninth Judicial District Gender Fairness Awards Ceremony<br />

from page 6<br />

thoughts and perceptions about this topic<br />

in a persuasive manner. Sure enough, the<br />

winners presented well-articulated perspectives<br />

and clear points of view, and the views<br />

expressed in the essays varied. Briefly, and<br />

generally, some suggested that the elimination<br />

of gender pronouns altogether could<br />

lead to a dystopian society in which everyone<br />

is seen as the same. By contrast, the<br />

use of expanded categories of gender pronouns<br />

could be critical to self-expression<br />

and self-identity, and society should be receptive<br />

to recognizing people by their<br />

unique expression. Another view suggested<br />

that the use of expanded categories of gender<br />

pronouns could be likened to political<br />

correctness, and that a better way to achieve<br />

equality and to promote the role of women<br />

in society would be by promoting access to<br />

education and positions of leadership.<br />

The winners received cash prizes and<br />

certificates from the Ninth Judicial District<br />

and local officials. The <strong>WWBA</strong> and other<br />

bar associations contributed funds in support<br />

of the awards, and congratulates the<br />

Award Recipients as follows:<br />

Freshman/Sophomore Category:<br />

❑ 1st Place – Mollie Aisner (Grade 9),<br />

New Rochelle High School<br />

❑ 2nd Place – <strong>May</strong>a Wichman (Grade<br />

10), John Jay High School<br />

Junior/Senior Category:<br />

❑ 1st Place – Sydnie Ampofo (Grade 11),<br />

Nyack High School<br />

❑ 2nd Place – Hinda Goldstein (Grade<br />

11), Fox Lane High School. ◗<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Award Recipients Pictured with Elected Officials and Judges, including (l to r) Westchester<br />

County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah; the Honorable Anne E. Minihan, Administrative<br />

Judge, Ninth Judicial District; the Honorable Karen T. Beltran, Yonkers City Court Judge; the<br />

Honorable Helen M. Blackwood, Westchester County Court Judge; the Honorable James L.<br />

Hyer, Supreme Court Justice; and the Honorable Charles D. Wood, Supreme Court Justice<br />

Mollie Aisner, New Rochelle High School, won first place in the Freshman/Sophomore Category<br />

Jamie O’Connell<br />

Wealth Director<br />

701 Westchester Avenue<br />

White Plains, NY 10604<br />

T 914 299 3050 F 955 498 2839<br />

jamie.o’connell@bnymellon.com<br />

www.bnymellonwealth.com<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> FOUNDATION SILVER ANNIVERSARY<br />

Thank You to<br />

our Mocktail<br />

Silver Anniversary<br />

Sponsors<br />

at the<br />

celebration of<br />

the <strong>WWBA</strong><br />

Foundation<br />

Mocktail Silver<br />

Anniversary.<br />

There is<br />

still time to<br />

contribute.<br />

Page 8<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

President’s Message<br />

from page 3<br />

Article 81 guardianship compliance procedures;<br />

alternate dispute resolution; factual,<br />

legal, and forensic issues in custody,<br />

access, and PINS proceedings involving<br />

trans and LGBQ children and adolescents;<br />

pet custody when representing domestic<br />

violence survivors; the emerging legal cannabis<br />

industry in New York; ethical issues<br />

when attorneys are fiduciaries; a family/<br />

matrimonial law overview featuring diverse<br />

perspective from current practitioners;<br />

mediation; NFTs; sexual harassment law;<br />

commercial leasing; and implicit bias. We<br />

also featured programs on prioritizing your<br />

health and wellness while thriving in the<br />

law and the power of mentorship and<br />

sponsorship. As I often tell people (and<br />

truly mean when I say it!), the <strong>WWBA</strong> has<br />

something to offer for everyone and offer<br />

we did! Of note too, in response to current<br />

issues of the day, we recently formed<br />

a Reproductive Health Rights Committee.<br />

This year we also celebrated our alliances<br />

with leaders from numerous other<br />

bar associations including the Westchester<br />

County Bar Association, White Plains Bar<br />

Association, Yonkers Bar Association,<br />

Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association,<br />

Westchester Black Bar Association, and<br />

Justice Brandeis Law Society. I am grateful<br />

for the <strong>WWBA</strong> to have connected with<br />

these leaders and communities, as we are<br />

assuredly stronger working together.<br />

We also took part in meaningful opportunities<br />

to give back to our commu-<br />

nity. Our mentorship program continued<br />

to thrive. In October for domestic violence<br />

awareness month, we donated to<br />

local domestic violence agencies including<br />

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley<br />

and Hope’s Door. In support of breast<br />

cancer awareness, we joined Team<br />

ORBACH and Friends at the Making<br />

Strides against Breast Cancer Walk at<br />

Manhattanville College. In November, we<br />

participated in a Thanksgiving turkey donation<br />

project for Hillside Food Outreach<br />

which delivered 150 pounds worth of turkey<br />

to Hillside’s clients who are elderly,<br />

sick, or homebound. During the holiday<br />

season, along with the Westchester County<br />

Bar Association, we participated in a winter<br />

coat drive, which saw more than 300<br />

coats, scarves, hats, and gloves donated<br />

to Lifting Up Westchester, the Grasslands<br />

Homeless Shelter, and other local charities.<br />

Our annual holiday party continued<br />

the tradition of collecting donations for underprivileged<br />

youth as well as non-perishable<br />

foods for those in need. We participated<br />

in the annual Read Across<br />

America Day Celebration at the Eugenio<br />

Maria de Hostos MicroSociety School in<br />

Yonkers, NY; an event the <strong>WWBA</strong> has<br />

participated in since 2007. In support of<br />

women’s health, we collected feminine<br />

hygiene products, new or gently used<br />

maternity clothing, and monetary donations<br />

for use by the Grasslands Homeless<br />

Shelter and the clients it serves. We cel-<br />

ebrated annual Law Day/ Take Your Children<br />

to Work Day with an interactive presentation<br />

at the United States District Court<br />

for the Southern District of New York in<br />

White Plains, NY.<br />

We also had fun along the way, too!<br />

Our ever-popular book club continued to<br />

meet and this year formed the inaugural<br />

Discussion Club, an open, non-judgmental<br />

forum for discussing issues of the day.<br />

Our wellness committee hosted several<br />

events including a family friendly applepicking<br />

event, pre-Thanksgiving walk<br />

around Rockland Lake, and “Yoga for<br />

Lawyers.” In celebration of International<br />

Women’s Day, we held a paint night and<br />

just this <strong>May</strong> we attended a Broadway<br />

show.<br />

None of this would be possible without<br />

the strength and support of our members.<br />

I am amazed by the unique perspective<br />

each one of you brings and have<br />

learned so much from you. I thank you all<br />

for enriching my life and am grateful to<br />

the <strong>WWBA</strong> for bringing us together. A<br />

special thank you to my outgoing officers<br />

and directors and to our Executive Director,<br />

Elisabeth Campos. I am grateful to<br />

be passing the torch to our incredibly capable<br />

and hardworking new President,<br />

Amanda K. Rieben.<br />

Thank you all for entrusting me with<br />

the leadership of the <strong>WWBA</strong> this past year.<br />

It has been a true honor and privilege to<br />

serve you, and I could not be more proud<br />

to be a part of this organization. ◗<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association<br />

requests the pleasure of your company at its<br />

ANNUAL DINNER INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS<br />

Our Distinguished Keynote Speaker<br />

HONORABLE ANNE E. MINIHAN<br />

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT<br />

Wednesday, June 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club, Mamaroneck, New York<br />

Cocktails 5:30 P.M.<br />

Dinner 7:00 P.M.<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 9


<strong>WWBA</strong> Member News and <strong>May</strong> Events<br />

Susan L. Pollett Publishes “Hope <strong>May</strong> Come<br />

at a Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy”<br />

A special thank you to Susan L. Pollet, <strong>WWBA</strong> Archive & Historian<br />

Chair, for sharing her creative content on these newsletter pages. Susan’s<br />

latest publication, on the theme that timing is all in life, is entitled<br />

“Hope Comes At A Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy.” This is<br />

Susan’s third children’s picture book, which she both wrote and illustrated,<br />

and is appropriate for children ages 4-10 and the adults who<br />

love them. Truly we all need a giant dose of good feeling, which this<br />

book provides. It is the story of a young boy and his family who lived through the<br />

Coronavirus pandemic in France. By focusing on the joyful and creative elements of life,<br />

they were able to find happiness in simple things, most especially, pet snails. It is a primer<br />

on how to navigate all challenging times.<br />

Please visit SusanPollet.com for more information. “Hope <strong>May</strong> Come At A Snail’s<br />

Pace But It Makes Me Happy,” and Susan’s additional publications, are available on<br />

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online and local retailers. ◗<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar to Broadway<br />

Building upon a prior visit years ago to see The Band’s Visit, the <strong>WWBA</strong> again<br />

traveled in good company to Broadway on <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong>, for a matinee performance of<br />

Prima Facie. Prima Facie, a one-woman play, stars Jodie Comer as a British defense<br />

lawyer whose experience with a traumatic event leads her to become disillusioned with<br />

the legal system. As the Playbill provides, the play was written by Suzie Miller, a former<br />

lawyer, whose goals included that of exposing “[t]he reality of race, gender, and class<br />

before the law,” and “the endemic unfairness.” The play powerfully explores a complicated<br />

topic in its layered dimensions. Prima Facie was recognized with multiple Olivier<br />

Awards for its run in London’s West End and has been nominated for multiple Tony<br />

Awards. ◗<br />

Become a New<br />

Member Today<br />

RENEW YOUR<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> MEMBERSHIP TODAY<br />

FOR THE PERIOD<br />

JUNE 1, <strong>2023</strong> TO MAY 31, 2024.<br />

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT!<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Membership includes<br />

membership to the Women’s Bar<br />

Association of the State of New York<br />

(WBASNY).<br />

January 31, <strong>2023</strong> is the closing date in<br />

order to count the <strong>WWBA</strong> members<br />

towards our certification to WBASNY and<br />

assure our number of delegates.<br />

Renewing before this date will allow our<br />

Westchester Chapter (<strong>WWBA</strong>) to continue<br />

to be a strong presence in our statewide<br />

organization (WBASNY) while you will<br />

enjoy its many benefits, events,<br />

newsletter and CLE programming.<br />

President Marcus with<br />

Catalina Blanco Buitrago<br />

and Shari R. Gordon<br />

President Marcus and Gladys<br />

Ullmann outside the Golden<br />

Theatre<br />

Lisa Denig Appointed Westchester County<br />

Commissioner of Human Resources<br />

from page 6<br />

perienced professionals that make up the Human Resources Office, stating “I’m confident<br />

that my experience dealing with personnel issues as Chief of Staff in Putnam County<br />

as well as my legal education and training will provide me with a solid base to confront<br />

the issues and challenges that make up the new, post-pandemic employment landscape.”<br />

Lisa received her Juris Doctorate from Pace University Law School and a Masters<br />

Degree in Public Service from the University of Arkansas. As Chief of Staff to the Putnam<br />

County Executive, she managed over 500 County personnel and supervised 20 County<br />

departments, and was additionally responsible for negotiating union contracts and handling<br />

personnel grievances.<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> congratulates Lisa and has every confidence in her ability to succeed in<br />

her new role. ◗<br />

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko,<br />

Elisabeth Campos<br />

It is easy to renew by going to the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Website at www.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY.org.<br />

You can use a credit card or<br />

PayPal to make payment.<br />

Page 10<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association proudly welcomes our newest members:<br />

EMMA CHELALA<br />

Student<br />

CHRISTA M. COLLINS, , ESQ.<br />

Grey & Grey, LLP<br />

300 Hamilton Avenue<br />

Suite 209<br />

White Plains, NY 10601<br />

ccollins@greyandgrey.com<br />

ANDREA M. COPPOLA, ESQ.<br />

FLB Law<br />

315 Post Road W.<br />

Westport, CT 06880<br />

coppola@flb.law<br />

<br />

ALICIA CZERWINSKI, ESQ.<br />

131 Ardsley Road<br />

Scarsdale, NY 10583<br />

a.czer@yahoo.com<br />

DOUNEA ELBROJI<br />

Graduate Awaiting Admission<br />

KARINA KRUL<br />

Student<br />

ALANNA LENIHAN<br />

Student<br />

JANE E. . LIPPMAN, , ESQ.<br />

Unified Court System<br />

Bronx County Criminal Court<br />

265 E. 161st Street<br />

Bronx, NY 10451<br />

jlippman@nycourts.gov<br />

VICTORIA LUCIANO<br />

Student<br />

KATE MARIE MALDONADO<br />

Student<br />

OLIVIA ORLANDO, , ESQ.<br />

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman &<br />

Dicker LLP<br />

1133 Westchester Avenue<br />

White Plains, NY 10604<br />

olivia.orlando@wilsonelser.com<br />

BIANCA KERRY SHTAYNK<br />

YNKOL<br />

Student<br />

<br />

WBASNY Supports Passage of the Grieving Families Act<br />

The Women’s Bar Association<br />

of the State of New York<br />

(“WBASNY”) supports A.6698<br />

(Weinstein)/S.6636 (Hoylman-<br />

Sigal), which would amend the<br />

Estates, Powers and Trusts Law,<br />

(EPTL) Section 5-4.3 in relation<br />

to payment and distribution of<br />

damages in wrongful death actions.<br />

This law, which was enacted<br />

over 110 years ago, recognizes<br />

mostly pecuniary injuries<br />

as damages for wrongful<br />

deaths in New York. This category<br />

of damages, which is the<br />

quantifiable calculable gross<br />

income at the time of a person’s<br />

death, was created as a means<br />

to value the life of a working<br />

man and breadwinner. The<br />

computation is based upon the<br />

decedent’s age, health, earning<br />

capacity and life expectancy.<br />

The amendment of this section<br />

would right the wrong of historical<br />

discrimination against<br />

women, children, infants,<br />

homemakers, minorities, the<br />

“The damages for the wrongful death of a person<br />

should be measured equitably. One person’s life<br />

should not be ‘worth’ more than anyone else’s life.”<br />

infirm, the mentally ill, the disabled<br />

and the elderly.<br />

The wrongful death statute<br />

was included in the Real Property<br />

Law of 1896 which became<br />

the Decedent’s Estate Law in<br />

1909, and in 1966 became the<br />

Estates Powers and Trusts Law.<br />

This law places value on an<br />

employed or self-employed person<br />

while placing little to no<br />

value on everyone else.<br />

Due to the gender pay<br />

gap, there continues to exist a<br />

significant pay disparity between<br />

men and women. Accordingly,<br />

when “computing”<br />

the worth of a woman as<br />

against a man in the same job,<br />

the man will more often than<br />

not have earned more. Thus,<br />

the damages computation in<br />

a wrongful death claim of a<br />

wage earner, in general, will<br />

frequently be larger for a man<br />

than for a woman.<br />

Also, when using the current<br />

calculation method for<br />

damages in New York State, a<br />

working person who earns a<br />

salary and who has children<br />

under the age of 21 years old<br />

is “worth more” than an infant,<br />

homemaker, child, disabled<br />

person, mentally ill person or<br />

an elderly person. The current<br />

law perpetuates the discrimination.<br />

The damages for the<br />

wrongful death of a person<br />

should be measured equitably.<br />

One person’s life should not<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

be “worth” more than anyone<br />

else’s life. Damages that are<br />

currently “valueless” under the<br />

current law are emotional distress,<br />

mental suffering, loss of<br />

companionship, anguish, sorrow,<br />

grief, loss of affection, loss<br />

of society, loss of comfort, and<br />

loss of enjoyment of life. More<br />

than forty-one (41) states have<br />

enacted a “fair and equitable”<br />

wrongful death statute. New<br />

York should not be in the minority<br />

on this basic right. By<br />

enacting the proposed statute,<br />

the discrimination inherent in<br />

New York State’s current wrongful<br />

death statute would place<br />

the life of all people on equal<br />

footing when measuring the<br />

value of a life. ◗<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 11


<strong>WWBA</strong> Schedule of Upcoming Events<br />

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

<strong>WWBA</strong> Book Club 5/31/23<br />

6:00 p.m. to<br />

7:00 p.m.<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Professional<br />

Development Committee<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Annual Dinner and<br />

Installation of Officers<br />

6/02/23<br />

1:00 p.m. to 2:00<br />

p.m.<br />

6/07/23<br />

Cocktails:<br />

5:30 p.m.<br />

Dinner:<br />

7:00 p.m.<br />

Lunch with the Judges Series 6/13/23<br />

12:30 p.m. to<br />

1:30 p.m.<br />

In person at Lisa Denig’s<br />

home in Valhalla, NY or<br />

on Zoom<br />

445 Café<br />

445 Hamilton Avenue<br />

White Plains, NY<br />

Mamaroneck Beach &<br />

Yacht Club<br />

555 S Barry Ave,<br />

Mamaroneck, NY<br />

Westchester County<br />

Courthouse,<br />

Courtroom 103<br />

111 Dr. Martin Luther<br />

King Jr. Boulevard,<br />

White Plains, NY<br />

Book Selection: “Mad<br />

Honey,” by Jodi Picoult<br />

First Friday Discussion<br />

Final Meeting Before<br />

Summer Hiatus<br />

Our Distinguished<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Honorable Anne E.<br />

Minihan,<br />

Administrative Judge,<br />

Ninth Judicial District<br />

Featuring Hon. Linda S.<br />

Jamieson and this<br />

month’s special guests<br />

from the Matrimonial<br />

Part: Hon. Keri A.<br />

Fiore, Hon. James L.<br />

Hyer, Hon. Robert<br />

Ondrovic, and Hon.<br />

Anar Rathod Patel,<br />

AJSC<br />

Email Lisa Denig to RSVP or for<br />

the Zoom link at<br />

lisadenig@yahoo.com<br />

For questions contact Sakeena B.<br />

Naqvi at sakeenan26@gmail.com,<br />

or Juliet Gobler at<br />

juliet@goblerlaw.com<br />

No registration required.<br />

No fee to attend.<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wcbany.org<br />

Lunch will be provided free of<br />

charge courtesy of Sponsor<br />

Lachtman Cohen P.C.<br />

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

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

the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise.<br />

Unless otherwise indicated, events are for <strong>WWBA</strong> members and invited guests only.<br />

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

the official position of the <strong>WWBA</strong>.<br />

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE<br />

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG.<br />

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE<br />

Connect<br />

with<br />

us<br />

THE <strong>WWBA</strong> MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR<br />

<strong>2023</strong>-2024 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD<br />

ODAY AT<br />

WWW.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY<br />

.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY.ORG<br />

.ORG

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!