WWBA May 2023 Newsletter

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

MAY 2023 

WWBA 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

UNDERSTANDING NFTs – THE NEW ASSET 

Elizabeth Barnhard 

O 

n the evening of April 20, 2023, the WWBA Cyber Law and Intellectual 

Property Committees presented a virtual CLE program, entitled NFTs – The 

New Asset You Need to Understand for Your Practice, for attorneys advising 

businesses, determining marital assets, planning estates and trusts, identifying assets 

for bankruptcy, or counseling on investments. Panelists included Kerry Brownlee, Partner 

at Epstein Drangel, LLP; Jesse Bader, Associate at Epstein Drangel, LLP; and Sam 

Kilb, Director of Legal Services, Jayaram, Law. WWBA Cyber Law Committee Chair 

Judith Bachman, Esq., of The Bachman Law Firm PLLC, was the moderator. The 

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

copyright and trademark rights and infringement issues that could impact the value of 

an NFT. 

Jesse Bader started off the program discussing in depth what an NFT is, how an 

NFT works and is used, and, importantly, what is being bought when an NFT is purchased. 

Unlike the purchase and sale of a tangible asset like a work of art, when 

buying an NFT you are typically buying a digital certificate of ownership for a digital 

asset, but not necessarily the digital asset itself. Jesse provided several examples to 

illustrate these concepts. 

Kerry Brownlee focused on NFTs and their interplay with copyright law. She explained 

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

traditional copyright principles apply. An NFT linking to a publicly available work is 

not necessarily a copyright violation, but knowingly linking to an infringing copy could 

raise contributory liability issues. Reselling an NFT raises the question of what is being 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

MAY 2023 

In Memoriam: 

Hon. Sandra A. Forster 

(page 4) 

An Interview with 


(page 5) 

WWBA Member News 

and May Events 

(page 6) 

Upcoming Events 

(Page 12) 

SAVE THE DATE 

WESTCHESTER 

WOMEN’S BAR 

BOOK CLUB 

May 31, 2023 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

continued on page 4 ➥ 

WIPD FIRST FRIDAY 

MEETING 

June 2, 2023 

WWBA ANNUAL DINNER 

AND INSTALLATION OF 

OFFICERS 


LUNCH WITH THE 

JUDGES 


PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

For my final 

address as President 

of the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association, 

I cannot 

help but reflect on 

my goal this bar association 

year to 

continue the 

WWBA’s success by 

focusing on the 

Elizabeth Z. 

Marcus 

value of our membership. This goal is 

one that is near and dear to me because 

of how my involvement with the 

WWBA began. At the urging of my 

then-colleague and our beloved Past 

President, Lisa M. Denig, I joined the 

WWBA. I had just moved back home 

to Westchester County upon graduating 

from the University of Michigan Law 

School (Go Blue!) and was new to the 

practice of law. Joining the WWBA was 

and remains one of the best decisions I 

ever made. I am most fortunate that 

my career as an attorney has gone hand 

in hand with my membership and involvement 

with the WWBA. To have 

that unparalleled support and encouragement, 

especially as a new lawyer, 

and to be part of such an amazing 

network and community of attorneys 

from all different backgrounds, has truly 

made all the difference. 

The 2022-23 bar association year 

certainly highlighted what a dynamic 

organization the WWBA is. This year 

brought a return to in-person programs 

and events for the WWBA. The energy 

of connecting in person with colleagues 

and friends, law students and new lawcontinued 

on page 3 ➥ 

Page 1 

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

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WWBA Member Newsletter 

MAY Y 2023 

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 2023 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 ....................................... Norma Lopez, Deborah A. Scalise 

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

Judiciary .......................................................................... Hon. Jodi Kimmel 

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 Journal .......... Sherry Bishko, Andrea B. Friedman, Diona Piazza 

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 ...................................................................... Diona Piazza 

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 ..................................................................... Nicoleta Pennacchia 

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 

“I am amazed by the 

unique perspective 

each one of [our 

members] brings and 

have learned so much 

from you. I thank you 

all for enriching my 

life and am grateful 

to the WWBA for 

bringing us together.” 

yers, was widely appreciated and truly a 

joy. We welcomed 20 new board members 

and maintained our membership 

numbers as the second largest chapter of 

WBASNY. As of January 31, 2023, the 

WWBA had 549 members for the 2022- 

23 membership year. That success was a 

result of the tremendous outreach efforts 

of the WWBA’s Membership Committee 

and its Board of Directors who kept members 

engaged and connected as a community. 

This year saw the return of the 

WWBA’s “First Friday” series, a project of 

the WWBA’s Professional Development 

Committee, which meets on the first Friday 

of each month for networking and 

conversation to provide WWBA members 

with support in life and professional transition 

phases. We also saw the return of 

our annual “Night of Networking – Meet 

the Officers of the WWBA/ Welcome New 

Members” event, which captured the 

breadth of our membership. 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. 

Our committees presented and cosponsored 

CLEs on a variety of topics including: 

recent federal and state changes 

to gun control and their impact as seen in 

the judicial system; Mental Hygiene Law 


Editor’s Note 

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

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

~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg 

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 Natanya Briendel at tanyabriendel@gmail.com or Amy Puerto at 

amy.puerto@yahoo.com to schedule a WWBA sponsored or co-sponsored program, including 

committee meetings, CLE programs, etc. 

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos, 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 Natanya Briendel or Amy Puerto, 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 

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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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Understanding NFTs – The New Asset 

from page 1 

sold, with the law not settled, but, despite 

these questions, there have been notable 

NFT sales. For copyright owners, one 

concern is that NFTs may be an easier 

means for others to copy the copyright 

owners’ works, and the anonymity of NFTs 

and lack of regulations could make enforcement 

difficult. Her discussion of two 

different lawsuits, Miramax, LLC v. Tarantino 

and Roc-A-Fella Records, Inc. v. Damon 

Dash, which were ultimately settled, illustrated 

the real-world copyright issues involving 

NFTs. 

Sam Kilb discussed trademarks and 

NFTs, starting off with the question, do 

trademark rights for physical goods apply 

to NFTs? He noted that owning an NFT 

does not confer trademark rights, and if 

the NFT does have a trademark, how do 

The WWBA celebrates the life and 

grieves the passing of our devoted friend 

and long-time Board member, the Honorable 

Sandra Anita (Rubin) Forster. 

Judge Forster passed away peacefully 

at home on May 1, 2023, after a yearlong 

battle with brain cancer. Known 

endearingly as Sandy, she was a vivacious, 

curious, and intellectual woman 

who loved travel, the arts, culture, nature, 

science, PBS, and her beloved New 

York Times. She was a tomboy who 

loved playing sports when girls were not 

welcome to do so, and was not above 

Figure from Hermès International, et al., v. 

Mason Rothschild Complaint 

Figure from Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC 

Complaint 

IN MEMORIAM 

THE HONORABLE SANDRA A. FORSTER 

scolding her bridge partner. Noted for her 

joie de vivre and generous spirit, there was 

always an extra seat at her table. A lawyer, 

judge, wife, mother and extraordinary 

grandmother, she will be dearly missed. 

Judge Forster was born on February 

23, 1940, in Manhattan. She grew up in 

Yonkers, and met and married Lloyd Forster 

in 1961, ho predeceased her in 1982. She 

earned her undergraduate degree from the 

University of Rochester and, while raising 

two children, Craig and Dana, she graduated 

from Pace University Law School and 

was admitted to the bar in 1980. After a 

you enforce a trademark on the 

blockchain? Two cases were discussed: 

the pending Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC lawsuit 

(1:22-cv-00983 [SDNY]), and the recently 

decided Hermès International, et 

al., v. Mason Rothschild lawsuit (1:22- 

cv-00384 [SDNY]), which illustrate the 

complexity of the legal issues involving 

NFTs. 

NFTs are an asset that is not going 

away. It will take time to work out solutions 

to resolve the legal issues arising 

from the creation, uses and sales of NFTs. 

Earlier this year the U.S. Copyright Office 

and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 

commenced a joint study to answer a 

series of questions about rights in NFTs. 

Future court cases, legislation and regulations 

will provide more answers. Stay 

tuned for future developments. ◗ 

thriving legal career she was elected as 

Judge of the Greenburgh Town Court, 

where she served from 2000 to 2012. 

In 2001 she married Norman Nadel, 

who survives her. She is survived by 

her children Craig (Carolyn) and Dana 

(Gregg Navins), her sister Irene Guros, 

and grandchildren Amelia, Samantha, 

Alexandra, Caley, and Erik. 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association, 

like so many, will miss Judge 

Forster’s generosity, intellect, verve, and 

presence. Our deepest condolences to 

Judge Forster’s family. 

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

the Honorable Doris T. Friedman, her colleague at the Greenburgh Town Court. 

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An Interview with Elizabeth Barnhard 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When and why did you 

become involved in the 

WWBA? 

A: I joined the WWBA in 

January 2013 after attending 

a WWBA program on 

how to network. At that 

event, I met WWBA President 

Lonya Gilbert who encouraged 

me to join and 

subsequently asked me to 

be a Co-Chair of the Intellectual 

Property Committee. 

Since I was a teenager, I 

have been an activist for 

women’s rights. Joining a 

professional organization 

with a mission that aligned 

with my values and the opportunity 

to collaborate with 

attorneys to support the 

WWBA’s mission persuaded 

me to become a member. 

Q: Which activities and positions 

of the WWBA have 

you participated in? 

A: Since 2013, I have been 

a Co-Chair of the Intellectual 

Property (IP) Committee. 

Over the years, the IP 

Committee has provided 

programs and written articles 

for the WWBA newsletter 

on patent, trademark 

and copyright cases and 

practice tips. We also 

teamed up with Accelerate 

Westchester to provide 

members of a panel presenting 

IP Law for Entrepreneurs. 

In 2014, I was asked to 

also be a Co-Chair of the 

Awards Committee and 

have continued to serve on 

this committee as well. The 

WWBA promotes it members 

for public recognition 

“It is vitally important that the 

WWBA stay laser focused on 

its mission to promote justice 

for all, regardless of sex, and 

to advance the social, 

economic and legal status for 

women through the law.” 

by nominating and selecting 

members for awards given by 

the WWBA and organizations 

such as WBASNY, the New 

York State Bar Association and 

the American Bar Association. 

The Awards Committee works 

diligently to gain recognition 

for our WWBA members by 

preparing the nominations for 

these awards, because these 

awards and recognition can 

help the nominee establish a 

career, reinforce a request for 

a better job or higher salary, 

and provide external validation 

of the member’s work. An 

unexpected benefit for me has 

been learning about and obtaining 

a greater appreciation 

for these nominees, especially 

from the letters of recommendation 

supporting their nominations. 

Since its inception in 

2016, I have been a participating 

mentor in the WWBA’s 

mentorship program mentoring 

Pace law students, typically 

mentoring at least two to three 

students a year. 

Building up a law practice 

requires skills not taught 

in law school. To help our 

members, I have brought in 

speakers such as Janet Falk, 

who gave a presentation on 

how to be the one reporters 

call, and taught us how to write 

a press release and a media 

profile. 

I was elected to be one of 

the Directors of the WWBA 

Board of Directors for the 

2022-2023 year, with a focus 

on furthering the mission of the 

WWBA in my new role. I hope 

to continue this work if I am 

re-elected as a Director for 

2023-2024. 

Q: What would you like to 

see the WWBA accomplish in 

the future? 

A: I am deeply concerned 

about the current movement to 

strip away hard-won rights. 

We have seen what the Supreme 

Court’s Dobbs decision 

overturning Roe v. Wade has 

unleashed in our country, and 

other rights and civil liberties 

are being targeted. It is vitally 

important that the WWBA stay 

laser focused on its mission to 

promote justice for all, regardless 

of sex, and to advance the 

social, economic and legal 

status for women through the 

law. We must also continue 

to expand opportunities for 

women and to raise the level 

of competence and integrity in 

the legal profession, especially 

now when our democracy is 

being undermined with the as- 


sistance of lawyers who willfully 

ignore their oaths to 

promote claims of fraud in 

our elections and our election 

processes that they know 

are false. We need to prepare 

the next generation of 

lawyers for the battles ahead 

to fulfill our mission. 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career. 

A: My over 40-year legal career 

was not straightforward. 

I graduated from New York 

University with a B.A. in Biology 

and worked as a research 

assistant in different 

academic research labs in 

New York City and Boston 

until I decided to go to law 

school. In my final year of 

law school, I was offered and 

accepted a position at the 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, which was 

subsequently rescinded by 

the next administration the 

month I was graduating. We 

were also in a recession. I 

found myself competing with 

experienced attorneys for any 

job openings that came up. 

For the next two years, I 

worked as a temporary law- 



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WWBA Member News and May Events 

Lisa Denig Appointed Westchester 

Commissioner of Human Resources 

Westchester County Executive 

George Latimer has appointed 

Lisa M. Denig, Esq., 

WWBA Board member and Past 

President, as Commissioner of 

Human Resources at the 

Westchester County Department 

of Human Resources. Lisa has 

previously served in senior positions 

within the Office of Court 

Administration and the 

Westchester County District 

Attorney’s Office, and as the 

Chief of Staff to the Putnam 

County Executive. 

Of Lisa’s background, 

Latimer observed that she is “a 

highly accomplished multi-discipline 

professional who has 

worked closely with the New York 

State Office of Court Administration,” 

and, with the personnel 

supervision experience she 

Ninth Judicial District Gender 

Fairness Awards Ceremony 

Honoring Women’s History Month 

Each year, the Ninth Judicial 

District Committee to Promote 

Gender Fairness in the 

Courts hosts an essay contest to 

celebrate Women’s History 

Month. The contest is open to 

all students in accredited high 

schools in Westchester, 

Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, 

and Orange Counties. On May 

19, 2023, this year’s winners 

were presented their awards by 

the Honorable Charles D. Wood, 

Committee Chair and Supreme 

Court Justice, in the Ceremonial 

Courtroom of the 

Westchester County Courthouse. 

Each winner was also given the 

podium to read her essay to an 

audience that included judges, 

public officials, members of the 

bar, and other guests. 

Sydnie Ampofo, Nyack High 

School, won first place in the 

Junior/Senior Category 

This year’s topic was: 

Would the elimination of Gender 

pronouns promote Gender 

Equality? 

The goal of the contest was 

not to seek out any “right answer,” 

but rather to invite the students 

to share their reasoned 


2023-2024 Slate of 

Officers and Directors 

Pursuant to Articles VI and IX of the by-laws of the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association, the following slate of WWBA Officers and 

Directors for 2023-2024 were voted upon and approved at the WWBA 

General Membership and Annual Meeting on April 12, 2023. 

 

President-Elect 

Sherry A. Bishko 

Vice Presidents 

Julie P. Passman 

Jill Oziemblewski 

Deborah Farber-Kaiser 

Treasurer 

Christine Paska 

Corresponding 

Secretary 

Jennifer L. Gray 

Recording Secretary 

Megan Lundin 

Elected Directors 


Robin D. Carton 

Shari R. Gordon 

Ann M. McNulty 

Sakeena Naqvi 

State Directors 

Elizabeth Cumming 

Tracy Forrest 

Andrea B. Friedman 

Jacqueline Hattar 

Elizabeth Z. Marcus 

Susan Mills Richmond 

Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

Wendy Marie Weathers 

brings from her service in 

Putnam County, he said “we are 

sure that she will serve our Human 

Resources Department well 

in her new role as Commissioner.” 

Lisa noted her gratitude for 

the confidence that Latimer and 

his team have shown her through 

this opportunity, and she looks 

forward to working with the ex- 



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An Interview with Elizabeth Barnhard 

from page 5 

yer on an hourly basis for 

different law firms. 

I finally began working 

full time for a former New 

York Assistant Corporation 

Counsel who had set up 

his own general practice 

firm. He encouraged me 

to take the patent bar exam 

to be able to represent clients 

before the United 

States Patent and Trademark 

Office to help them 

obtain patents. You must 

have a science or engineering 

degree to take the 

patent bar exam, but a degree 

in biology was not 

considered a qualifying science 

degree at that time. 

However, I had enough 

credits in chemistry, physics, 

math, and geology to 

qualify to take the exam. 

After passing the 

patent bar, I tried to develop 

a patent practice, but 

quickly realized that I 

needed to work in a firm 

that either specialized in 

intellectual property law or 

had an intellectual property 

group to be trained in 

this specialized practice 

area. It took a couple of 

years before I found a 

small boutique IP firm willing 

to hire me, where most 

of my work for three years 

was trademark and patent 

litigation. I joined a multinational 

law firm where I 

worked for six years, learning 

patent preparation and 

prosecution and being Involved 

in all phases of litigation 

and appeals of 

patent, trademark, copyright 

and unfair competition 

actions. 

All that experience 

served me well when I went to 

work in house as a patent attorney 

at Wyeth, a global pharmaceutical 

company. During 

my 15 years there, I acquired 

the skills to work with various 

research, development and 

business groups to develop and 

manage complex global patent 

portfolios for different therapeutic/research 

areas, to lead 

multi-disciplinary patent teams, 

and to provide legal counsel 

and educate management and 

scientists regarding patent and 

trade secret issues and rights 

and obligations under agreements. 

I also acquired administrative 

skills when I managed 

one of our satellite patent law 

offices located at a research site. 

After Wyeth was acquired 

by Pfizer, I left the company and 

came full circle back to private 

practice. Leason Ellis offered me 

an Of Counsel position in 

2011, giving me the opportunity 

to build my own practice 

and to develop and lead the 

Pharma/Biotech Patent Group. 

It was a challenging time to start 

a new practice with the Great 

Recession unfolding and the 

pharmaceutical industry confronting 

the expiration of patents 

covering their major drug 

products. I had no book of 

business when I started and it 

took several years to build up a 

practice, with lessons learned 

along the way. I take great 

pleasure in working closely with 

clients to build and protect 

strong intellectual property portfolios 

that add value to their 

businesses. Part of my practice 

is devoted to helping individuals 

and small startups identify 

and protect the intellectual property 

assets that they are creating 

and using my industry experience 

to help them avoid 


mistakes that could adversely 

affect their business. 

Q: What advice do you have 

for new lawyers entering the 

profession? 

A: Your first job will not be your 

last job. Focus on learning 

transferable skills. You must invest 

in your own professional 

development. Work with 

coaches, take classes, and attend 

webinars to learn the soft 

skills and business skills they did 

not teach you in law school, 

such as how to develop business, 

presentation/speaking 

skills, networking, effective time 

management, fostering client 

relations, what technological 

innovations will improve your 

workflow process. 

Be curious. Give yourself 

a half hour each day to read 

about something new. It will 

expand your knowledge base, 

and clients will appreciate that 

you are keeping an eye on future 

trends that might have an 

impact on what they are doing. 

Join a bar association 

(preferably the WWBA!) and 

get involved with a committee, 

attend events, and build up a 

network of attorneys to whom 

you can turn to for advice, 

learn from and have fun together. 

Most important of all, remember 

that being a lawyer 

gives you the privilege of helping 

your clients, whether they be 

persons or companies, using 

the tools of law. Your 

overarching focus should be on 

how you can provide value to 

the client, whether it be addressing 

their wants and needs or the 

conflict between their wants and 

needs, resolving a problem, or 

fighting for them in court, not 

on how many billable hours 

you can rack up. If you 

maintain that focus, you will 

have a meaningful career as 

a lawyer, one you will look 

back on with pride. 

Q: How have you balanced 

family responsibilities and 

your legal career? 

A: It takes a team to raise a 

family and be a lawyer. You 

cannot do it all without help. 

Q: When you are not lawyering, 

which community activities 

and other interests do 

you pursue? 

A: Having a child with special 

needs led me to volunteer 

in different capacities for 

many years for Heartsong, 

which provides creative arts 

therapies to children and 

adults with special needs, including 

working one-on-one 

with children during music 

and art therapy sessions, 

serving on the Board of Directors 

and the Advisory 

Board, and co-chairing Autism 

Awareness at Citi Field. 

For over 16 years, I have 

been involved and now colead 

the WCT Social Action 

Knitting and Crocheting 

Group. I created our motto, 

“Repairing the World One 

Stitch at a Time.” We work 

year-round to make blankets, 

shawls, hats, scarves and 

other items for victims of domestic 

violence, cancer patients, 

the homeless, and 

families in need. I read for 

relaxation, but sometimes get 

caught up in the story and 

stay up way too late. Most 

important of all, weekends 

are family time. It may include 

chores, but we are all 

doing things together. ◗ 

Page 7


Ninth Judicial District Gender Fairness Awards Ceremony 

from page 6 

thoughts and perceptions about this topic 

in a persuasive manner. Sure enough, the 

winners presented well-articulated perspectives 

and clear points of view, and the views 

expressed in the essays varied. Briefly, and 

generally, some suggested that the elimination 

of gender pronouns altogether could 

lead to a dystopian society in which everyone 

is seen as the same. By contrast, the 

use of expanded categories of gender pronouns 

could be critical to self-expression 

and self-identity, and society should be receptive 

to recognizing people by their 

unique expression. Another view suggested 

that the use of expanded categories of gender 

pronouns could be likened to political 

correctness, and that a better way to achieve 

equality and to promote the role of women 

in society would be by promoting access to 

education and positions of leadership. 

The winners received cash prizes and 

certificates from the Ninth Judicial District 

and local officials. The WWBA and other 

bar associations contributed funds in support 

of the awards, and congratulates the 

Award Recipients as follows: 

Freshman/Sophomore Category: 

❑ 1st Place – Mollie Aisner (Grade 9), 

New Rochelle High School 

❑ 2nd Place – Maya Wichman (Grade 

10), John Jay High School 

Junior/Senior Category: 

❑ 1st Place – Sydnie Ampofo (Grade 11), 

Nyack High School 

❑ 2nd Place – Hinda Goldstein (Grade 

11), Fox Lane High School. ◗ 

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

County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah; the Honorable Anne E. Minihan, Administrative 

Judge, Ninth Judicial District; the Honorable Karen T. Beltran, Yonkers City Court Judge; the 

Honorable Helen M. Blackwood, Westchester County Court Judge; the Honorable James L. 

Hyer, Supreme Court Justice; and the Honorable Charles D. Wood, Supreme Court Justice 

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

Jamie O’Connell 

Wealth Director 

701 Westchester Avenue 

White Plains, NY 10604 

T 914 299 3050 F 955 498 2839 

jamie.o’connell@bnymellon.com 

www.bnymellonwealth.com 

WWBA FOUNDATION SILVER ANNIVERSARY 

Thank You to 

our Mocktail 

Silver Anniversary 

Sponsors 

at the 

celebration of 

the WWBA 

Foundation 

Mocktail Silver 

Anniversary. 

There is 

still time to 

contribute. 

Page 8 


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President’s Message 

from page 3 

Article 81 guardianship compliance procedures; 

alternate dispute resolution; factual, 

legal, and forensic issues in custody, 

access, and PINS proceedings involving 

trans and LGBQ children and adolescents; 

pet custody when representing domestic 

violence survivors; the emerging legal cannabis 

industry in New York; ethical issues 

when attorneys are fiduciaries; a family/ 

matrimonial law overview featuring diverse 

perspective from current practitioners; 

mediation; NFTs; sexual harassment law; 

commercial leasing; and implicit bias. We 

also featured programs on prioritizing your 

health and wellness while thriving in the 

law and the power of mentorship and 

sponsorship. As I often tell people (and 

truly mean when I say it!), the WWBA has 

something to offer for everyone and offer 

we did! Of note too, in response to current 

issues of the day, we recently formed 

a Reproductive Health Rights Committee. 

This year we also celebrated our alliances 

with leaders from numerous other 

bar associations including the Westchester 

County Bar Association, White Plains Bar 

Association, Yonkers Bar Association, 

Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association, 

Westchester Black Bar Association, and 

Justice Brandeis Law Society. I am grateful 

for the WWBA to have connected with 

these leaders and communities, as we are 

assuredly stronger working together. 

We also took part in meaningful opportunities 

to give back to our commu- 

nity. Our mentorship program continued 

to thrive. In October for domestic violence 

awareness month, we donated to 

local domestic violence agencies including 

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley 

and Hope’s Door. In support of breast 

cancer awareness, we joined Team 

ORBACH and Friends at the Making 

Strides against Breast Cancer Walk at 

Manhattanville College. In November, we 

participated in a Thanksgiving turkey donation 

project for Hillside Food Outreach 

which delivered 150 pounds worth of turkey 

to Hillside’s clients who are elderly, 

sick, or homebound. During the holiday 

season, along with the Westchester County 

Bar Association, we participated in a winter 

coat drive, which saw more than 300 

coats, scarves, hats, and gloves donated 

to Lifting Up Westchester, the Grasslands 

Homeless Shelter, and other local charities. 

Our annual holiday party continued 

the tradition of collecting donations for underprivileged 

youth as well as non-perishable 

foods for those in need. We participated 

in the annual Read Across 

America Day Celebration at the Eugenio 

Maria de Hostos MicroSociety School in 

Yonkers, NY; an event the WWBA has 

participated in since 2007. In support of 

women’s health, we collected feminine 

hygiene products, new or gently used 

maternity clothing, and monetary donations 

for use by the Grasslands Homeless 

Shelter and the clients it serves. We cel- 

ebrated annual Law Day/ Take Your Children 

to Work Day with an interactive presentation 

at the United States District Court 

for the Southern District of New York in 

White Plains, NY. 

We also had fun along the way, too! 

Our ever-popular book club continued to 

meet and this year formed the inaugural 

Discussion Club, an open, non-judgmental 

forum for discussing issues of the day. 

Our wellness committee hosted several 

events including a family friendly applepicking 

event, pre-Thanksgiving walk 

around Rockland Lake, and “Yoga for 

Lawyers.” In celebration of International 

Women’s Day, we held a paint night and 

just this May we attended a Broadway 

show. 

None of this would be possible without 

the strength and support of our members. 

I am amazed by the unique perspective 

each one of you brings and have 

learned so much from you. I thank you all 

for enriching my life and am grateful to 

the WWBA for bringing us together. A 

special thank you to my outgoing officers 

and directors and to our Executive Director, 

Elisabeth Campos. I am grateful to 

be passing the torch to our incredibly capable 

and hardworking new President, 

Amanda K. Rieben. 

Thank you all for entrusting me with 

the leadership of the WWBA this past year. 

It has been a true honor and privilege to 

serve you, and I could not be more proud 

to be a part of this organization. ◗ 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

requests the pleasure of your company at its 

ANNUAL DINNER INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 

Our Distinguished Keynote Speaker 

HONORABLE ANNE E. MINIHAN 

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT 

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 

Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club, Mamaroneck, New York 

Cocktails 5:30 P.M. 

Dinner 7:00 P.M. 


Page 9


Susan L. Pollett Publishes “Hope May Come 

at a Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy” 

A special thank you to Susan L. Pollet, WWBA Archive & Historian 

Chair, for sharing her creative content on these newsletter pages. Susan’s 

latest publication, on the theme that timing is all in life, is entitled 

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

Susan’s third children’s picture book, which she both wrote and illustrated, 

and is appropriate for children ages 4-10 and the adults who 

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

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

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

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

on how to navigate all challenging times. 

Please visit SusanPollet.com for more information. “Hope May Come At A Snail’s 

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

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online and local retailers. ◗ 

Westchester Women’s Bar to Broadway 

Building upon a prior visit years ago to see The Band’s Visit, the WWBA again 

traveled in good company to Broadway on May 7, 2023, for a matinee performance of 

Prima Facie. Prima Facie, a one-woman play, stars Jodie Comer as a British defense 

lawyer whose experience with a traumatic event leads her to become disillusioned with 

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

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

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

topic in its layered dimensions. Prima Facie was recognized with multiple Olivier 

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

Awards. ◗ 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2023 TO MAY 31, 2024. 

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. 

President Marcus with 

Catalina Blanco Buitrago 

and Shari R. Gordon 

President Marcus and Gladys 

Ullmann outside the Golden 

Theatre 

Lisa Denig Appointed Westchester County 

Commissioner of Human Resources 

from page 6 

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

that my experience dealing with personnel issues as Chief of Staff in Putnam County 

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

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

Lisa received her Juris Doctorate from Pace University Law School and a Masters 

Degree in Public Service from the University of Arkansas. As Chief of Staff to the Putnam 

County Executive, she managed over 500 County personnel and supervised 20 County 

departments, and was additionally responsible for negotiating union contracts and handling 

personnel grievances. 

The WWBA congratulates Lisa and has every confidence in her ability to succeed in 

her new role. ◗ 

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, 

Elisabeth Campos 

It is easy to renew by going to the 

WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org. 

You can use a credit card or 

PayPal to make payment. 

Page 10 


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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

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

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 

WBASNY Supports Passage of the Grieving Families Act 

The Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

(“WBASNY”) supports A.6698 

(Weinstein)/S.6636 (Hoylman- 

Sigal), which would amend the 

Estates, Powers and Trusts Law, 

(EPTL) Section 5-4.3 in relation 

to payment and distribution of 

damages in wrongful death actions. 

This law, which was enacted 

over 110 years ago, recognizes 

mostly pecuniary injuries 

as damages for wrongful 

deaths in New York. This category 

of damages, which is the 

quantifiable calculable gross 

income at the time of a person’s 

death, was created as a means 

to value the life of a working 

man and breadwinner. The 

computation is based upon the 

decedent’s age, health, earning 

capacity and life expectancy. 

The amendment of this section 

would right the wrong of historical 

discrimination against 

women, children, infants, 

homemakers, minorities, the 

“The damages for the wrongful death of a person 

should be measured equitably. One person’s life 

should not be ‘worth’ more than anyone else’s life.” 

infirm, the mentally ill, the disabled 

and the elderly. 

The wrongful death statute 

was included in the Real Property 

Law of 1896 which became 

the Decedent’s Estate Law in 

1909, and in 1966 became the 

Estates Powers and Trusts Law. 

This law places value on an 

employed or self-employed person 

while placing little to no 

value on everyone else. 

Due to the gender pay 

gap, there continues to exist a 

significant pay disparity between 

men and women. Accordingly, 

when “computing” 

the worth of a woman as 

against a man in the same job, 

the man will more often than 

not have earned more. Thus, 

the damages computation in 

a wrongful death claim of a 

wage earner, in general, will 

frequently be larger for a man 

than for a woman. 

Also, when using the current 

calculation method for 

damages in New York State, a 

working person who earns a 

salary and who has children 

under the age of 21 years old 

is “worth more” than an infant, 

homemaker, child, disabled 

person, mentally ill person or 

an elderly person. The current 

law perpetuates the discrimination. 

The damages for the 

wrongful death of a person 

should be measured equitably. 

One person’s life should not 

be “worth” more than anyone 

else’s life. Damages that are 

currently “valueless” under the 

current law are emotional distress, 

mental suffering, loss of 

companionship, anguish, sorrow, 

grief, loss of affection, loss 

of society, loss of comfort, and 

loss of enjoyment of life. More 

than forty-one (41) states have 

enacted a “fair and equitable” 

wrongful death statute. New 

York should not be in the minority 

on this basic right. By 

enacting the proposed statute, 

the discrimination inherent in 

New York State’s current wrongful 

death statute would place 

the life of all people on equal 

footing when measuring the 

value of a life. ◗ 


Page 11

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WWBA Book Club 5/31/23 

6:00 p.m. to 

7:00 p.m. 

WWBA Professional 

Development Committee 

WWBA Annual Dinner and 

Installation of Officers 

6/02/23 

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 

p.m. 

6/07/23 

Cocktails: 

5:30 p.m. 

Dinner: 

7:00 p.m. 

Lunch with the Judges Series 6/13/23 

12:30 p.m. to 

1:30 p.m. 

In person at Lisa Denig’s 

home in Valhalla, NY or 

on Zoom 

445 Café 

445 Hamilton Avenue 

White Plains, NY 

Mamaroneck Beach & 

Yacht Club 

555 S Barry Ave, 

Mamaroneck, NY 

Westchester County 

Courthouse, 

Courtroom 103 

111 Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr. Boulevard, 

White Plains, NY 

Book Selection: “Mad 

Honey,” by Jodi Picoult 

First Friday Discussion 

Final Meeting Before 

Summer Hiatus 

Our Distinguished 

Keynote Speaker: 

Honorable Anne E. 

Minihan, 

Administrative Judge, 

Ninth Judicial District 

Featuring Hon. Linda S. 

Jamieson and this 

month’s special guests 

from the Matrimonial 

Part: Hon. Keri A. 

Fiore, Hon. James L. 

Hyer, Hon. Robert 

Ondrovic, and Hon. 

Anar Rathod Patel, 

AJSC 

Email Lisa Denig to RSVP or for 

the Zoom link at 

lisadenig@yahoo.com 

For questions contact Sakeena B. 

Naqvi at sakeenan26@gmail.com, 

or Juliet Gobler at 

juliet@goblerlaw.com 

No registration required. 

No fee to attend. 

Register online at 

www.wwbany.org 

Register online at 

www.wcbany.org 

Lunch will be provided free of 

charge courtesy of Sponsor 

Lachtman Cohen P.C. 

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 

2023-2024 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2023. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA May 2023 Newsletter

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