NON-MEMBER MARCH WWBA NEWSLETTER

Westchester Women’s Bar Association
MARCH 2024
WWBA
news
www.wwbany.org
Paying it Forward for National
Mentoring Month
N
ational Mentoring Month was first established in 2002. In December 2023,
President Biden issued Proclamation 10694 announcing January 2024 as
National Mentoring Month. 89 F.R. 445. To commemorate the occasion
and highlight the importance of mentoring for attorneys, the WWBA partnered with
Wilson Elser’s Women’s Initiative WAVE (“Women Attorneys Valued and Empowered”)
to present a program entitled “Paying It Forward: Effective Mentorship and Sponsorship
for Personal and Professional Growth” held at Wilson Elser’s White Plains Office on
January 25, 2024.
Attendees ranged from law students starting their legal careers, to mid-level attorneys
looking for advice on how to be effective mentors, to experienced attorneys and
seasoned mentors. They heard from an impressive panel of accomplished women
attorneys with a broad spectrum of experience with mentorship and sponsorship. The
speakers included WWBA members: the Honorable Kim Berg, United States Magistrate
Judge (part-time), Southern District of New York and Partner, Gould & Berg, LLP;
the Honorable Elena Goldberg-Velazquez, New York State Supreme Court Justice, Ninth
Judicial District; Jacqueline Hattar, Esq., Partner, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman &
Dicker, LLP (NY-Metro Offices); Cindy Kanusher, Esq., Executive Director, Pace Women’s
Justice Center & Westchester County Women’s Advisory Board member; and Stephanie
Melowsky, Esq., Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, PCSB Bank. The program
was moderated by Eliza M. Scheibel, Nicole Holland, and Olivia Orlando-
Donovan, all Of Counsel with Wilson Elser who are representatives to WAVE.
The speakers candidly shared their own experiences-positive and negative-with
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
MARCH 2024
Tackling Work-Life
Integration
(page 4)
Keeping Westchester
Warm
(page 5)
An Interview with
Elise Mahover
(page 6)
SAVE THE DATE
NEW YORK EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT
March 8, 2024
Upcoming Events
WWBA
BOOK CLUB
(Page 10)
April 8, 2024
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
continued on page 4 ➥
WHAT HAPPENS WITH
FROZEN EMBRYOS IN
NEW YORK DIVORCE
March 19, 2024
FINANCIAL
EMPOWERMENT FOR
WOMEN IN LAW
March 20, 2024
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
“My success in
law school, I have no
doubt, was in large
measure because of
baby Jane. …. Each
part of my life provided
respite from the
other and gave me
a sense of proportion
that classmates
trained only on law
studies lacked,” said
Amanda K.
Rieben
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in an opinion
piece she wrote for the New York
Times on October 1, 2016.
March is Women’s History month,
a time when we honor women like Justice
Ginsburg, who have, and who continue
to make a difference in our lives
and in society. Justice Ginsburg was a
pioneer of her time. She was one of the
first women to attend Harvard Law
School, later earning her Juris Doctorate
from Columbia Law School, where
she graduated joint first in her class.
She is probably best known for invaluable
efforts to end gender discrimination
through her impactful legal work.
In 1972, Justice Ginsburg co-founded
the Women’s Rights Project at the American
Civil Liberties Union, and later went
on to serve as its General Counsel. In
this capacity, Justice Ginsburg worked
on numerous gender discrimination
cases, and argued and won several
decisive cases before the Supreme Court
concerning women’s rights. In 1993, she
became the second woman to serve as
a justice on the Supreme Court.
Justice Ginsburg attributed her
many accomplishments in part to her
children, and the balance they brought
continued on page 3 ➥
Page 1
The Westchester Women’s Bar Association is a Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
WWBA Member Newsletter
MARCH 2024
Published Monthly by the
Westchester Women’s
Bar Association, a Chapter of
the Women’s Bar Association
of the State of New York
~ 2023/2024 Officers and Directors ~
President AMANDA K. RIEBEN
President-Elect SHERRY A. BISHKO
Vice Presidents
DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER JILL OZIEMBLEWSKI JULIE P. PASSMAN
Treasurer
CHRISTINE PASKA Recording Secretary MEGAN LUNDIN
Corresponding Secretary JENNIFER L. GRAY
Immediate Past ast President
ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS
Elected Directors Westchester Board
ELIZABETH M. BARNHARD ROBIN D. CARTON SHARI R. GORDON
ANN M. McNULTY SAKEENA NAQVI
State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
ELIZABETH CUMMING TRACY FORREST ANDREA B. FRIEDMAN
JACQUELINE HATTAR ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND
HON. LISA MARGARET SMITH WENDY MARIE WEATHERS
Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS
© Copyright 2024 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: Jennifer L. Gray • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501
2023-2024 WWBA Committee Chairs
S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S
By-Laws ...................................................................... Hon. Kim Berg
Corporate & Commercial ................ Lisa M. Bluestein, Virginia Trunkes
Criminal Law ................................. Hon. Amy Puerto, Elizabeth Gazay
Families, Children & Courts .................... Daniela Israelov, Joy S. Joseph,
Wanda Steinmann
Grievance/Ethics ............................ Norma Lopez, Deborah A. Scalise
Judicial Screening .................. Theresa Girolamo, Kimberly C. Sheehan
Judiciary ...................................... Hon. Jodi Kimmel, Dorothy Fingar,
Lisa Florio
Lawyering & Parenting ............................ Leah Cobean, Soumya Evans
Jennifer L. Gray, Michelle Greenberg
Legislation ........................................ Natanya Briendel, Amy Wochos
Annual Dinner ........................ Natanya L. Briendel, Amanda C. Fried,
Sherry A. Bishko, Jennifer L. Gray, Elizabeth Z. Marcus,
Amanda K. Rieben
Annual Dinner Journal ................... Andrea B. Friedman, Diona Piazza
Appellate Practice ................ Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Jill Oziemblewski
Heather Gushue, Lisa Florio
Archive & Historian ..................................................... Susan L. Pollet
Awards .............................................. Tanya Briendel, Ilene Hartzband
Bankruptcy ................... Susan Mills Richmond, Wendy Marie Weathers
Breast Cancer Awareness ...................................... Adrienne J. Orbach
Collaborative Law ................ Kathleen Donelli, Hon. Sondra M. Miller
Community Outreach ........... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Judith C. McCarthy,
Deborah A. Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith
Continuing Legal Education ..................................... Ann M. McNulty
Cyber Law ................................................................ Judith Bachman
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ..... Melissa G. Andrieux, Jacqueline Hattar
Stephanie Melowsky
Domestic Violence ............................ Marian Genio, Stacey Neumann
Education ......... Alison Morris, Julie P. Passman, Susan Mills Richmond
Elder Law ................................ Elizabeth A. Cumming, Moira Laidlaw
Employment Law ........................................ Hon. Kim Berg, Sara Kula
Environmental & Land Use ............... Lucia Chiocchio, Jennifer L. Gray
A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S
Matrimonial .............................. Robin D. Carton, Andrea B. Friedman
Dolores Gebhardt, Georgia G. Kramer
Membership ............. Sherry A. Bishko, Christine Paska, Joanna Tulman
Networking ................. Ilene Hartzband, Jennifer N. Netrosio Johnson,
Jessica Piperis
New Lawyers ................................... Elisa Mahovr, Miranda Zumbado
Professional Development/Placement ...... Juliet Gobler, Sakeena Naqvi
Programs ................................. Natanya L. Briendel, Hon. Amy Puerto
Public Relations .......................................................... Lisa M. Denig
Real Property ........................................ Tracy Forrest, Joanne Romano
Sponsorship ............................................................................... TBD
Taxation .......................................................... Patricia Rusch Bellucci
Trusts & Estates .................................. Lonya A. Gilbert, Karen J. Walsh
Gender Dynamics ..................... Angela DiBiasi, Hon. Elena Goldberg
Holiday Party and Boutique ...... Natanya L. Briendel, Michelle A. Calvi
Jennifer N. Netrosio Johnson
Immigration ............................ Karin Anderson, Elizabeth Mastropolo,
Martine Cuomo
Insurance .................................................................................. TBD
Intellectual Property .................. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Annmary Ittan
Judgment Enforcement & Collections .......................... Michelle Tarson
Litigation ................................................. Angela Morcone Giannini,
Hon. Elena Goldberg, Jacqueline Hattar
Long Range Planning ........................ Lisa M. Denig, Linda Markowitz
Mediation ...........Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Abby Rosmarin, Lisa Dorman
Past Presidents ............ Angela Morcone Giannini, Deborah A. Scalise,
Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith
Practice Management ...................................... Wendy Marie Weathers
Pro Bono .................. Marian Genio, Andrea Putnam, Natalie Sobchak
Reproductive Rights ........................... Natanya Briendel, Juliet Gobler
Social Media ............................................................................. TBD
Technology/Website ................................................................... TBD
Wellness ..................... Jennifer N. Netrosio Johnson, Jill Oziemblewski
Susan Mills Richmond
Women in Leadership ................................................................ TBD
Page 2
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
President’s Message
from page 1
“The matriarchs in
my family are a
constant reminder of
where women were
three generations
ago, and hopefully
where women can be
three generations
from now.”
to her life. I have been fortunate to have
had several female role models in my life,
who similarly found “respite” from their admirable
work through their children (and
grandchildren), and in doing so, set an
example for me.
My mother was a doctor. She graduated
from Harvard Medical School in
1979, thirty-four years after the school accepted
its first female enrollees. According
to the Association of American Medical
Colleges, in 1980-1981, two years after
my mother graduated from medical school,
only 24.9% of medical school graduates
were females. After medical school, during
her medical residency, my mother gave
birth to my brother. She then gave birth to
me just one year after beginning to practice
medicine as a radiologist. Despite the
demands of her job, the long hours, and
the late-night calls, my mother was always
there to support me in my various endeavors.
She attended nearly every important
milestone event in my life, and after a long
day at work and/or a long week, she would
travel around Ohio (my home state) and
to other states for various gymnastics meets,
tennis matches, and other sporting activities.
If she was tired, she never let me know.
She balanced it all with grace, instilling in
me the meaning of hard work from a very
young age.
My grandmother was also a pioneer
of her time. She grew up during the depression
in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Despite the obstacles she faced and her
limited financial means, she pursued a
nursing degree from Beth Israel Hospital
School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts.
She then served as a visiting nurse
continued on page 7 ➥
Editor’s Note
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes
fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
~ Rosa Parks
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 Jennifer L. Gray at jgray@kblaw.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 Hon. 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, Megan Starstrom, 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, Megan Starstrom 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
Jennifer L. Gray, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: jgray@kblaw.com
Natanya L. Briendel, Programs Committee Co-Chair: tanyabriendel@gmail.com
Hon. Amy Puerto, Programs Committee Co-Chair: amy.puerto@yahoo.com
Amanda K. Rieben, President: president@wwbany.org
Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com
Megan Starstrom, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org
A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s
Full Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $525.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $575.00 per issue
Half Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $275.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $300.00 per issue
Quarter Page Display Ad: 5-10 Issues - $165.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $180.00 per issue
Business Card Ad: 5-10 Issues - $60.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $75.00 per issue
Classified – office space, furniture/equipment, employment & situation wanted (up to 5 lines)
Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue
Back Cover (3/4 page)
5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue
Deadline for all ads is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations.
Contact Jennifer L. Gray at jgray@kblaw.com for any questions regarding advertising.
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 3

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Paying it Forward for National Mentoring Month
from page 1
mentoring, while offering practical guidance
on achieving effective mentoring relationships,
i.e. relationships in which a
mentor listens and helps a mentee see the
qualities that may best help the mentee
succeed towards a chosen career goal,
and where a mentor is motivated by the
opportunity to connect with their mentee
and to offer guidance to newer members
of the profession. The panel discussed best
practices for developing mentor relationships
- be that through a formal mentoring
program, or organically by being on the
lookout for those more experienced attorneys
whose work and career you admire
Melissa Andrieux
On February 1, 2024,
Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP,
a national law firm based in
New York, hosted and cosponsored
the WWBA’s Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion
Committee’s program entitled
“Empowering Professional
Women: Navigating
the ’Yes’ Dilemma, Overcoming
Guilt, and Mastering
Work-Life Integration.”
as well as being cognizant of coworkers
who take an active interest and offer an
open door indicating their willingness to
listen and answer questions.
Speakers also addressed the difference
between sponsorship and mentorship, describing
how their individual careers have
been supported by both sponsors and
mentors. Sponsors were described as mentors
who also go a step further to sing your
professional praises to their own network,
i.e. your “hype man” (or “hype woman”
as the case may be). Speakers answered
questions from the audience, including
questions on how to maintain positive relationships
when leaving a job and how
to encourage young mentees to find confidence
in their work.
The program was the first in the
WWBA’s new continuing series on
mentorship and sponsorship and received
overwhelmingly positive feedback. It even
sparked some new mentor relationships.
Those who were unable to attend should
stay on the lookout for the next program in
the series.
Anyone interested in serving as a mentor
is encouraged to contact the co-chairs
of the Westchester Women’s Bar
Association’s Mentor Program (Christine
Paska, Sherry A. Bishko, and the Honorable
Kim Berg). ◗
WWBA Program Tackles Work-Life Integration
The well-attended event featured
a thought provoking
and engaging discussion led
by Emily Rentas, a Mental
Health Professional, Coach
and Educator, and moderated
by Melissa Andrieux.
WWBA members Jacqueline
Hattar, Melissa Andrieux
and Stephanie Melowsky
serve as co-chairs of the
Westchester Women’s Bar
Association’s Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion Committee.
Before and after the main
program, there was ample
opportunity for members to
network while having a light
lunch. The audience was
mostly women (with the exception
of DNZ partners and
allies Jonathan Nelson and
Jon Dorf) which cultivated a
refreshing atmosphere of
women supporting women.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Emily Rentas created a supportive
space that encouraged
open and honest sharing
among the attendees, free
from judgment, about the
challenges we, as professional
women, face professionally
and personally. At the
end, we felt empowered and
ready to implement the tips
and strategies Emily Rentas
provided to achieve work-life
integration. ◗
Stephanie Melowsky, Emily Rentas,
Melissa Andrieux
Melissa Andrieux, Emily Rentas
Page 4
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
KEEPING WESTCHESTER WARM!
Hon. Kim Berg
The Third Annual Coat Drive, a collaborative effort between the WWBA and WCBA
spearheaded by Hon. Kim Berg, Hon. Kyle McGovern, Tejash Sanchala and Sara Kula,
was a resounding success. Thank you to all who donated. This year’s drive resulted in
an estimated donation of 500 coats, hats, gloves and scarves to Lifting Up Westchester
and Grasslands Homeless Shelter. ◗
Lifting Up Westchester
Tejash Sanchala, Kim Berg,
Kyle McGovern
Tejash Sanchala, Hom. Kim Berg, Kyle
McGovern, Sara Kula
General Membership
Meeting: Ethics Update
Sherry A. Bishko
On February 7, 2024 at the WWBA’s
first General Membership Meeting of
2024, our very own Deborah A. Scalise,
Esq., Dolores Gebhardt, Esq., Lisa M.
Bluestein, Esq., and Norma Lopez, Esq.
gave a well-attended CLE entitled “WWBA
Ethics Update. Dishonored Checks, Billing
& A.I. - Oh My! Staying Out of
Trouble - Old and New Issues.” Deborah
A. Scalise began with an overview of
“What’s New in The World of Ethics,”
with a discussion of virtual practice and
new CLE requirements on Cyber Ethics
and Diversity. The panel then brought real
life scenarios concerning dishonored
checks to life with a hypothetical after
which they unpacked the issues and
brought the participants into the discussion
through questions and answers. The
program continued with topics including
billing, disciplinary investigations, and
artificial intelligence. The WWBA’s ethics
CLEs do not disappoint! In addition to
cutting edge topics being provided - a
good time is always had by all. ◗
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 5

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
An Interview with Elise Mahover
Susan L. Pollet
Chair of the Archive and
Historian Committee
Q: When and why did you
become involved with the
WWBA?
A: In August of 2017, at the
start of my 2L law school year,
I transferred to Pace Law
from Vermont Law School
and joined The Women’s
Association of Law Students
(WALS) as the Vice President.
During my tenure we were
actively involved with WWBA
and through WALS I became
a member of WWBA.
Q: In what ways have you
been active in the WWBA?
A: Throughout the years as
the Vice President of WALS I
attended and coordinated
events with WWBA and connected
with WWBA members.
I also joined the Mentor/Mentee
Program offered
by WWBA where I continued
building personal and professional
relationships with
members of WWBA. I am
participating in the WWBA’s
Mentor/Mentee Program with
one mentee from Elisabeth
Haub School of Law at Pace
University and previously
served as a Co-Chair of the
WWBA’s New Lawyers Committee.
Currently, I am assisting
with the Dinner Journal
for the 2024 Annual Dinner.
Q: Why do you think there
is still a need for a women’s
bar association?
A: A women’s bar association
is a necessity in the legal
field. Through the
WWBA, I have been able to
connect with other attorneys
from all levels in their career
that have provided me with
“Through the WWBA, I have been able
to connect with other attorneys from
all levels in their career that have
provided me with resources,
information, and their experiences
which have helped guide and enable
me to grow professionally and
personally as a female attorney.”
resources, information, and
their experiences which have
helped guide and enable me
to grow professionally and personally
as a female attorney.
Many of the events have been
geared towards providing attorneys
with relevant information,
building professional relationships,
and cultivating a
positive outlook as an attorney.
I have joined several bar associations
throughout my legal
career and WWBA has been
the most fulfilling.
Q: Please tell us about your
legal career.
A: Prior to becoming an attorney,
I worked as a legal assistant/paralegal
for about 9 years
for solo general law practitioners
in Westchester County.
After I graduated law
school I joined an education
law firm, which represented
school districts throughout New
York, as a junior associate. At
this firm I wore many hats, I was
involved in arbitration and
employee discipline actions;
tuition reimbursement actions;
general litigation matters; contract
matters and handled the
majority of the tax certiorari proceedings
on behalf of the school
districts. Although I really enjoyed
working at this firm, my
goal as an attorney was to al-
ways go out on my own and
“hang my shingle.” In July of
2021 I joined a colleague from
Pace Law at his new firm as a
partner practicing in the areas
of real estate (commercial and
residential); general litigation,
probate and administrations
proceedings, matrimonial/family
law and estate planning. After
one year, I relocated to New
Jersey and began running a solo
private practice spanning across
both NJ and NY law as a consultant
reviewing commercial
contracts for corporations in a
variety of industries and Trust
and Estate Law and Real Estate.
Currently, I am living back in
Westchester County and have a
physical law office in White
Plains. I feel most at home here
in New York. Drawing from my
professional journey, I am passionate
about the intricacies of
commercial contracts and find
fulfillment in guiding families
through estate planning and
probate proceedings.
Q: Which community activities
are you involved in?
A: This has been a challenging
year or so for me – I have
been focused on balancing my
legal career, raising a toddler
on my own and fitting in some
time for self-care. Now that I
have settled back into
Elise Mahover
Westchester, I am actively
seeking opportunities to be
more involved in my community
and in the legal community.
If I am able to help out
other law students or peers, I
try to make myself available.
Community is extremely important
to my own growth
and the growth of the environment.
Q: How have you balanced
your legal career with your
personal life?
A: As a single mother, I am
working towards effectively
balancing running my own
firm and being a mother while
still making time for self-care.
As this career is extremely
demanding, I have a reliable
network of family and close
friends/colleagues who serve
as my support system. Asking
and accepting help is
essential and I make sure to
ask when I need it.
Q: What do you wish to
accomplish in the future?
A: I continue to build my personal
firm and am narrowing
my focus to the areas of
contract law and Trusts &
Estates law. ◗
Page 6
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
SAVE
THE DATE!
ANNUAL DINNER
~ and ~
INSTALLATION OF
OFFICERS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024
MAMARONECK BEACH & YACHT CLUB
COCKTAILS 5:30 PM
DINNER 7:00 PM
President’s Message
from page 3
for two to three years in the Northend of Boston. While raising
her own family, my grandmother worked alongside my grandfather,
helping to develop and build a family medical practice,
which they ran from their home. My grandparents provided their
medical services on a sliding scale to help ensure families from
all economic backgrounds could afford medical care. Throughout
her life, whether through nursing or otherwise, my grandmother
passionately strove to help those around her in all facets
of life.
My great grandmother was similarly ahead of her time. She
was one of ten children. Her father did not believe that women
should be educated and forced her to drop out of high school
before her senior year. While in school she had learned how to
type, and quickly utilized this skill to obtain a job as a secretary.
Once married, she engaged in Spanish and French lessons. She
also found ways to give back to society, and for more than forty
years typed braille books, including textbooks for the blind. She
always said she wanted to learn and was also constantly teaching.
She educated me on the importance of kindness. Every time
I visited her, she had me recite a poem that upon further exploration
was written by Henry Burton. The first part of the poem goes
like this: “Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on, pass it
on! Twas not giv’n for thee alone, pass it on, pass it on! Let it
travel down the years, Let it wipe another’s tears; Till in heaven
the deed appears, Pass it on, pass it on.” While my great
grandmother’s message was simple, the message has resonated
with me for years.
The matriarchs in my family are a constant reminder of where
women were three generations ago, and hopefully where women
can be three generations from now. When my grandmother attended
nursing school, women had only just begun enrolling in
medical school. By 2018-2019, according to the Association of
American Medical Colleges, the percentage of women medical
students had risen to 47.9%. Law school enrollment has also
observed similar growth trends. According to a recent study from
the American Bar Association, Jurist reported that in 2023, women
outnumbered men in law school for the eighth year in a row.
The increased percentage of women earning a law degree,
also represents an increased opportunity for women in the words
of Justice Ginsburg to serve as “true professionals.” Justice
Ginsburg also served as a law school professor and often told
her law students that “…if, you are going to be a lawyer and just
practice your profession, you have a skill - very much like a
plumber. But if you want to be a true professional, you will do
something outside yourself…something that makes life a little better
for people less fortunate than you.”
I was recently asked why I accepted my nomination as President
of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. At the time, I
explained that I viewed the WWBA Presidency as an opportunity
to make a difference in the community around me and to help
others. I went to law school for this very same reason, because I
wanted to do “something that makes life a little better for people
less fortunate than [me].”
It has become evident during my presidency that our mem-
continued on page 8 ➥
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 7

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Chapter News and Announcements
Announcements and Notes on Members
❑ Lisa M. Denig, Commissioner of Human Resources at Westchester
County and former President of the WWBA, has published her first
novel, Trial and Error. The novel follows Katie Richter, a divorced mom
of two teenage girls, who works full time during the day and attends
law school at night, all while fighting to keep her younger daughter
from spiraling into a life of endless partying and drug use. When Katie
finally graduates from law school and begins working as an Assistant
District Attorney, one of her daughters is murdered. She is forced to Lisa Denig
reckon with her failings as a mom as well as the ethical dilemma she
faces when she realizes her remaining child might commit perjury to secure the killer’s
conviction. The book is available for purchase on Amazon. ◗
❑ Cindy Kanusher
anusher, Executive Director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC),
has been selected to receive the Visionary of Justice Award at the Elizabeth Haub
School of Law, Law Leadership Award Dinner at the Westchester Country Club on March
14, 2024. The PWJC is a not-for-profit legal services provider for victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. After becoming the Executive Director in
2015, Cindy spearheaded fundraising efforts that lead to $3 million dollars for the
construction of a new walk-in clinic and office space for free legal services. The new
clinic resulted in an increase in services by 20%. The PWJC serves over 3,000 victims
and survivors of interpersonal violence each year. ◗
President’s Message
from page 7
bership shares my aspirations. Our membership has constantly given back to the community
through various coat and food drives, mentorship programs, and each member’s
innovative efforts and contributions to the legal community. As we reflect on Women’s
History Month, I challenge you to consider not only the skills you acquired from law
school, but in the words of Justice Ginsburg, to find additional ways you can “do
something outside yourself…something that makes life a little better for people less fortunate
than you.” I also encourage you to think about the women in your life who have
positively impacted you, and how you can build on and learn from their successes. ◗
Proposed Slate of Officers and Directors
for the 2024-2025 Membership Year
Pursuant to Articles VI and IX of the by-laws of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association,
voting for the following slate of Officers and Directors will take place at the
General Membership and Annual Meeting on April 3, 2024:
~ PROPOSED OFFICERS ~
President: Sherry A. Bishko; President-Elect: Jill Oziemblewski
Vice-Presidents: Christine Paska, Shari Gordon, Michelle Calvi;
Treasurer: Jennifer L. Gray; Corresponding Secretary: Sakeena Naqvi;
Recording Secretary: Angela DiBiasi; Immediate-Past President: Amanda K. Rieben
~ ADVISORY ROLES ~
Natanya Briendel, Hon. Lisa M. Smith, Hon. Kim Berg
~ ELECTED DIRECTORS ~
Elizabeth Barnhard, Andrea Friedman, Jacqueline Hattar, Ann McNulty, Julie Passman
~ STATE TE DIRECTORS ~
Elizabeth Cumming, Annette Hasapidis, Megan Lundin, Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Amanda K.
Rieben, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith, Michelle Tarson, Amy Wochos
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, 2024 is the closing date in
order to count the WWBA members
towards our certification to WBASNY and
assure our number of delegates.
Renewing before this date will allow our
Westchester Chapter (WWBA) to continue
to be a strong presence in our statewide
organization (WBASNY) while you will
enjoy its many benefits, events,
newsletter and CLE programming.
Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko,
Elisabeth Campos
It is easy to renew by going to the
WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org.
You can use a credit card or
PayPal to make payment.
Page 8
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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.
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events
COMMITTEE DATE/TIME PLACE TOPIC RSVP (also online at www.wwbany.org)
WWBA Board of Directors
Meeting
Reproductive Health
Committee Meeting
3/6/24
5:30 p.m.
Board Meeting
Light supper will
be provided
3/8/24
1:00–2:15 p.m.
3/11/24
6:00 p.m.
Matrimonial Committee 3/19/24
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Members: $10
Nonmembers:
$15
1 Professional
Practice CLE
Credit
3/20/24
12:30–2:00 p.m.
Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion Committee
3/20/24
5:45 p.m.
Registration
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Program
Members: $15
Nonmembers:
$25
1 Diversity,
Inclusion &
Elimination of
Bias CLE Credit
Light supper will
be provided
Webster Bank
360 Hamilton Avenue,
Board Room,
White Plains
Zoom
TBD
Zoom
The New York State
Equal Rights
Amendment
Author Talk:
Lisa Denig to discuss
her new novel “Trial
and Error”, plus the
process of writing,
designing, publishing
and marketing a book
What Happens with
Frozen Embryos in a
New York Divorce?
Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
By March 6
Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
See www.wwbany.org for details
By March 18
Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
Zoom 1028 Hearings Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
Greenberg Traurig
1 North Lexington
Avenue, Suite 800,
White Plains
Financial
Empowerment for
Women in Law
WBASNY 3/23/24 Zoom WBASNY Board of
Directors Meeting
Reproductive Health
Committee Meeting
3/27/24
6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Zoom
WWBA Book Club 4/8/24
6:00 p.m.
TBD
Fair Play: A Game
Changing Solution for
When You Have Too
Much To Do
By: Eve Rodsky
By March 19
Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
Online at www.wwbany.org or via
email at
executivedirector@wwbany.org
Lisa Denig
lisadenig@yahoo.com
WWBA is a chapter of WBASNY, which is an approved provider of CLE credit. Full and partial scholarships for CLE programs based
on financial need are available. For information on the guidelines and procedures for applying, please contact the person running
the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise.
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