FINAL WWBA 0524 Final Low Res Non-Members

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

MAY 2024 

WWBA 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

WWBA Mentor Committee Hosts Informative 

Career Panel at Elisabeth Haub School of Law 

at Pace University 

Hon. Kim Berg 

O 

n April 2, 2024, the 

WWBA Mentor Committee 

hosted a Career Panel 

for the law students at the Elisabeth 

Haub School of Law at Pace University. 

The panelists, comprised of 

seven WWBA members from diverse 

practice areas, answered 

questions posed by the students 

and spoke about their unique paths 

from law school to present. The 

panelists included: Hon. Kim Berg (Partner, Gould & Berg, LLP; U.S. Magistrate Judge); 

Hon. Keri A. Fiore (NYS Supreme Court Justice), Angela DiBiasi, Esq. (Principal Court 

Attorney, NYS Supreme Court), Drew Gamils, Esq., (Staff Attorney, Riverkeeper) Jacqueline 

Hattar, Esq. (Partner, Wilson Elser), Annmary Ittan, Esq. (Partner, Epstein Drangel, LLP) 

and Elizabeth Marcus, Esq. (Assistant District Attorney, Westchester County). 

Some of the gems imparted to the students included the basic premise that as 

attorneys and judges we are typically interacting with clients and litigants at a troublesome 

and stressful point in their lives, where their property, income, or liberty could be 

at stake. As such, the panelists uniformly emphasized the importance of zealous repre- 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

MAY 2024 

An Interview with 

Hon. Jodi J. Kimmel 

(page 6) 

Announcements and Notes 

on Members 

(page 8) 

2024-2025 WWBA 

Officers and DIrectors 

(page 8) 

Upcoming Events 

(Page 10) 

Hon. Keri A. Fiore, Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Jacqueline 

Hattar, Angela DiBiasi, Drew Gamils, Annmary Ittan, 

Hon. Kim Berg 

SAVE THE DATE 

HOT TOPICS IN 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

May 7, 2024 

END “BILLABLE HOUR 

BURNOUT” 

May 15, 2024 

WWBA 

BOOK CLUB 

June 3, 2024 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

continued on page 4 ➥ 

WWBA ANNUAL DINNER 

AND INSTALLATION 

OF OFFICERS 

June 5, 2024 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

Theodore 

Roosevelt once 

said, “Far and 

away the best prize 

that life offers is the 

chance to work 

hard at work worth 

doing.” 

When I became 

President of 

the Westchester 

Amanda K. 

Rieben 

Women’s Bar Association, I was nervous 

about the responsibilities of the 

position. I knew that I would face 

many challenges, and would have 

to work hard, but nobody could 

have fully prepared me for the year 

ahead. I have spent several evenings 

awake long after my children and 

husband have gone to bed, as well 

as many Saturdays and Sundays at 

my children’s sporting and other activities 

with my laptop in hand planning 

programs, searching for meeting 

event spaces, responding to 

WWBA related emails, writing letters 

in support of various awards 

nomination packets, drafting WWBA 

newsletters, and working on other 

matters to help support this amazing 

organization. The effort, hard 

work and sacrifices have all been 

worth it. This organization has provided 

me with “the best prize that 

life offers,” a sense of fulfillment 

through my contributions to the 

WWBA’s successes, and my efforts 

in supporting and serving our membership. 

Bar associations provide a 

platform to support non-profit legal 


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 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 .......................................... Adrienne Arkontaky 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“[The WWBA] has 

provided me with 

‘the best prize that 

life offers,’ a sense 

of fulfillment through 

my contributions to 

the WWBA’s 

successes, and my 

work in supporting 

and serving our 

membership.” 

and non-legal service providers and 

educate others on important legal issues 

impacting our community. Bar associations 

are also essential to the prospective 

achievements of the next generation 

of lawyers. 

During my tenure as president, to 

help serve our membership, I have assisted 

with several day-to-day operational 

matters. At the beginning of my 

term, we no longer had a location to 

hold our monthly board meetings. 

Half-way through my term, our prior 

Executive Director of approximately 

seven years, Elisabeth Campos, resigned 

to embark on an exciting new 

career opportunity. Additionally, 

throughout the year, while the COVID- 

19 health pandemic was, in many ways 

behind us, the aftermath of increased 

costs and inflation posed different budgetary 

considerations. Needless to say, 

I had my work cut out for me. 

At the start of my term, I immediately 

began making numerous calls to 

various businesses and organizations 

in the community to find a new board 

meeting location. I was fortunate that 

our long-time sponsor, Webster Bank, 

offered their conference room to hold 

our board meetings. To accommodate 

larger audiences for our General Membership 

meetings, Veritext Legal Solutions, 

supported the WWBA by con- 


Editor’s Note 

“Every day may not be good … but there’s something good in every day.” 

~ Alice Morse Earle 

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 

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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. 


Page 3

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WWBA Mentor Committee Hosts Informative Career Panel at 

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University 

from page 1 

sentation, remaining objective, 

and to communicate with clients 

in a language they can understand. 

In response to a student 

question about critical skills 

lawyers should possess, the 

panelists spoke about strong 

oral and written communication 

skills, adherence to the 

canons of ethics and professionalism, 

and the ability to 

understand and address not 

only your client’s side of the 

matter but also see the “big 

picture” in addressing the opposing 

party’s claims or defenses. 

Each panelist also offered 

their personal opinions of how 

to sustain a long career in the 

law, including: finding an area 

of law that you enjoy practicing 

because that will keep you 

motivated and engaged; the 

need to develop a level of re- 

silience by not allowing losses 

or less than perfect outcomes 

stop you in your tracks; continual 

education and staying up 

to date on changes that may 

impact your areas of practice; 

focusing on mental and physical 

health; and scheduling activities 

that help achieve work 

life balance and avoid burn 

out, whether that be through 

exercise, meditation, theatre, 

arts, time with family and 

friends, connecting with your 

mentor, or other means. 

Due to the prevailing shift 

to a virtual/hybrid world, the 

students were also interested in 

tips on how to network and 

build a referral base. The panelists 

encouraged students to 

not only join bar associations 

but also stressed the need to 

become active in bar associations. 

Other tips included attending 

in person events where 

Hon. Kim Berg, Jacqueline Hattar, Hon. Keri A. Fiore, Angela DiBiasi, 

Drew Gamils, Elizbeth Z. Marcus, Annmary Ittan 

collegial connections could be 

formed, serving as panelists for 

continuing legal education programs; 

and joining bar association 

committees in areas of 

practice that are of interest to 

them. 

During this part of the discourse, 

the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association Mentor 

Program was repeatedly 

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touted as a source of 

mentorship, networking, and a 

place where students could obtain 

guidance as they navigate 

law school and beyond. So on 

behalf of the WWBA Menor 

Committee, a huge thank you 

to our esteemed panelists and 

our WWBA mentors who volunteer 

their time to guide and 

shape these future lawyers. ◗ 

Page 4 


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from page 3 

necting us with their building 

manager, Ginsburg Development 

Companies, LLC, 

who offered us a space at 

City Square in White Plains, 

to hold our Geneal Membership 

meetings. Veritext 

also provided further support 

by becoming a program 

sponsor of the WWBA. 

With the assistance of 

the WWBA’s board, Executive 

Committee, incoming 

President, Sherry Bishko, and 

incoming President Elect, Jill 

Oziemblewski, we posted the 

new Executive Director position, 

interviewed, and engaged 

in the hiring process. 

While this was a daunting 

process, the WWBA was fortunate 

to hire current member, 

Megan Starstrom, who 

“[During my tenure], the WWBA was fortunate to hire 

current member, Megan Starstrom, who was the 

recipient of the 2021 Westchester Women’s Bar 

Association Foundation Scholarship award. Megan hit 

the ground running and has been an unbelievable asset 

to our organization since she started.” 

was the recipient of the 2021 

Westchester Women’s Bar 

Association Foundation 

Scholarship award. Megan 

hit the ground running and 

has been an unbelievable 

asset to our organization 

since she started. 

We have also been creative 

in our fundraising and 

budgetary efforts. We made 

changes to the WWBA’s investments 

to help accrue interest. 

We minimally raised 

certain dues, and event ticket 

prices as needed. Additionally, 

this June during our annual 

dinner, we will have our 

first ever silent auction. Attendees 

will have the opportunity 

to bid on several 

amazing items, including a 

private personal shopping 

experience with one of 

David Yurman’s Brand Ambassadors. 

We will also be 

auctioning off vintage handbags, 

a beautiful museum 

quality gold plated broach, 

a designer blouse, two New 

York Rangers game tickets, 

and a round of golf for two 

at Tuxedo Golf Club. You 

will also be able to win a 

weeklong condominium 

rental in Calabash, North 

Carolina approximately fifteen 

minutes from Sunset 

Beach and thirty minutes 

north of Myrtle Beach. The 

WWBA will also be rolling 


~ C O M E J O I N U S ~ 


ANNUAL DINNER 

~ and ~ 

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 

Keynote Speaker: 

Hon. Anthony Cannataro 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024 

MAMARONECK BEACH & YACHT CLUB 

COCKTAILS 5:30 PM • DINNER 7:00 PM 

RSVP @ www.wwbany.org 

To place an advertisement in the Souvenir Journal, email by May 20: 

Andrea Friedman (andrea@sarilaw.com) or Elise Mahover (emahoverlaw@gmail.com) 


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○ 

An Interview with Hon. Jodi J. Kimmel 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When and why did you 

become involved with the 

WWBA? 

A: I became involved in the 

WWBA in 2019, because I 

was starting to think about 

running to be Bedford’s first 

female judge. For the first 

time in my legal career, I felt 

singled out as a woman. My 

law school class was predominantly 

female; my first 

jobs had strong female mentors 

- I never felt the need to 

seek out support of other female 

lawyers beyond my coworkers 

and law school 

friends. 

Q: In what ways have you 

been active in the WWBA? 

A: My initial involvement in 

the WWBA was with the book 

club which Lisa Denig does 

a fantastic job of leading. 

During the pandemic we 

came together virtually to offer 

each other companionship 

and insight into the 

books we read. This year I 

became the chair of the Judiciary 

Committee, and I am 

really enjoying this new role. 

“Many glass ceilings have been 

broken, yet many remain intact.” 

ment! I also asked fellow 

women lawyers to see why they 

feel there is still a need for a 

women’s bar association, since 

all of our needs are different. 

The prevailing sentiment was 

that there is a need for a 

women’s bar association so 

long as gender bias and social 

stereotypes continue to serve as 

impediments to women. One 

friend directed me to Elizabeth 

Peck’s 2008 article entitled 

“Why Do We Need Women’s 

Bar Associations?”. This friend 

felt that little has changed in 

the 15 years since this article 

was written. Peck states: 

“women’s experiences are different 

than men’s. Women - 

gay, straight, young, old, married, 

single, black, white, or 

brown – see the world a bit differently 

from men. We care 

about slightly different things. 

We lead and communicate and 

argue and network and compete 

and collaborate with one 

another differently. Even when 

we are sitting right next to men 

in the classroom or the courtroom, 

we may process and perceive 

matters differently. Because 

of these differences, it 

makes sense, then, for women 

to come together professionally 

to create an organization that 

meets these different needs.” 

Many glass ceilings have been 

broken, yet many remain intact. 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career. 

A: I attended Cardozo Law 

School because I had been an 

Art History major and wanted 

to study Art Law. When I finally 

was able to take the Art Law 

Q: Why do you think there 

is still a need for a women’s 

bar association? 

A: As I mulled over my answer 

to this question, I put it 

to my 16-year-old daughter 

to see what she would say. 

Her response was: “as long 

as there are places where 

there has never been a female 

judge or they have their 

first female judge, there is a 

need for women lawyers to 

band together and support 

each other.” 

I agree with this assessclass 

in my second year, I realized 

that we could be talking 

about widgets or Rembrandts - 

there was very little art in Art 

Law. I then reconsidered which 

area of law I wanted to focus 

on. I was always inspired by 

my dad who loved to go to 

work every day, he loved what 

he did. I wanted to find that 

same passion for myself. I interned 

at a domestic violence 

center and found that passion. 

I had always been interested in 

the judiciary as well, so my first 

job out of law school combined 

these two interests: I clerked for 

a Family Court Judge in New 

Jersey. It was there that I came 

across an aspect of domestic 

violence that is too often overlooked: 

that which occurs 

within a marriage. From the 

court I went to work for celebrity 

divorce lawyer Raoul Felder. 

There I met my now husband 

and we started our own firm 

with a focus on Family Law in 

2004. In 2021, I was elected 

as a Bedford Town Justice. 

Q: Which community activities 

are you involved in? 

A: I am involved in different aspects 

of my community: I am 

involved with my daughters’ 

school as class parent liaison 

(now that they’re both in high 

school my role has gotten 

smaller but no less important 

to me); I am a driver for 

Bedford’s Meals on Wheels program; 

I am involved with my 

synagogue as a past-president; 

I am a member of several local 

groups including the Bedford 

Hills Woman’s Club and the 

Katonah Museum of Art. 

Hon. Jodi J. Kimmel 

Q: How have you balanced 

your legal career with your 

personal life? 

A: I have worked with my husband 

for all of the nearly 21 

years that I’ve known him! 

Having our own firm afforded 

me the luxury of working from 

home whenever I wanted so I 

could attend field trips or be 

at school with our children or 

walking our dogs. That being 

said, our daughters 

learned from a very young 

age that they have to be respectful 

of my home office 

space and let me work when 

I’m home. I still have the sign 

my older daughter made for 

me 10 years ago hanging on 

my door that says “Welcome 

to Jodi’s Office”. 

Q: What do you wish to accomplish 

in the future? 

A: While I absolutely love being 

a Town Justice in Bedford, 

it is a part-time position and I 

enjoy being a judge so much 

that I would like to do it on a 

full-time basis. My goal for 

the next few years would be to 

become a NYS Supreme 

Court Justice, ideally in the 

matrimonial part so I can continue 

to follow my passion. ◗ 

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from page 5 

out real time classified job 

advertisements to help raise 

money in support of the 

WWBA and assist newly admitted 

lawyers and law students 

in their vocational 

search. 

During my presidency, 

the WWBA also saw other 

successes. We maintained 

our membership numbers as 

the second largest chapter of 

WBASNY. As of January 31, 

2024, the WWBA had 551 

members, with 406 counting 

toward our membership certification. 

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. 

As many of you may recall, 

one of my goals this 

past year was to increase 

community integration and 

raise awareness as to domestic 

violence. At the start 

of my term, with the assistance 

of my colleague, retired 

Judge Jeffrey Cohen, 

and the collaboration several 

community providers 

and lawyers, including the 

Pace Women’s Justice Center, 

My Sisters’ Place, and 

Hope’s Door, the American 

Academy of Matrimonial 

Lawyers New York chapter, 

and experienced private 

practice attorneys Tamara 

Mitchel, Esq., Neil Kozek, 

Esq., and Alyson Kuritzky, 

Esq., the WWBA lead a 

table talk on domestic violence 

that was widely attended 

by practitioners and 

judges in the 9th Judicial 

District. Given the success of 

the table talk, the Honorable 

Victor Grossman, made it a 

priority to incorporate into the 

9th Judicial District lunch and 

learn series a two-part follow 

up program on domestic 

violence for family and 

supreme court justices in the 

District. 

Additionally, throughout 

my tenure, the WWBA has 

been the proud sponsor of 

several other programs on 

domestic violence and family 

law related issues. The 

WWBA co-sponsored a program 

with Legal Services of 

the Hudson Valley on how 

to assist your client if they are 

faced with a child protective 

service investigation. In the 

fall, the WWBA in collaboration 

with community providers 

and the Westchester 

County District Attorney’s 

Office also held a program 

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on Collaborative Support 

for Victims of Abuse. In May 

we also have three programs 

planned which will further 

address domestic violence 

and child protective 

service concerns. On May 

7th the WWBA, in collaboration 

with several other 

community providers, will be 

hosting a program on hot 

topics in domestic violence. 

On May 8th the WWBA will 

be co-sponsoring a program 

with Legal Services of 

the Hudson Valley on the 

anatomy of a hearing pursuant 

to Article 1028 of the 

Family Court Act, a section 

of the Family Court Act that 

allows parents and/or persons 

legally responsible of 

a child, to request an emergency 

hearing to demand 

the immediate return of a 



Page 7

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Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements and Notes on Members 

❑ Susan L. . Pollet 

ollet, Past President of the WWBA and Archive and Historian Chair, 

published a second poetry collection entitled “Palpable Ponderings,” as an ebook on 

Amazon Kindle. It is free for those with Kindle Unlimited. ◗ 

❑ Congratulations to Joy Joseph on being awarded the WBASNY Stephanie E. 

Kupferman Juvenile Justice Award. This Award is given to a WBASNY member who 

has shown outstanding achievement in legal matters involving juveniles over a period 

of three or more years, as a prosecutor, defense counsel, or law guardian or judge. ◗ 

2024-2025 


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 Officers and 

Directors was approved at the General Membership and 

Annual Meeting on April 3, 2024. Join us on June 5, 2024 

at our Annual Dinner and Installation of Officers. 

 

~ 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 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2024 TO MAY 31, 2025. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2025 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. 

~ 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 

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, 

Elisabeth Campos 

It is easy to renew by going to the 

WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org. 

You can use a credit card or 

PayPal to make payment. 

Page 8 


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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

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

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 


from page 7 

child(ren) who have been removed 

from their care. Further, on May 16th, 

the WWBA will also be co-sponsoring 

a program with Hope’s Door and the 

Pace Women’s Justice Center which will 

address how to protect survivors of domestic 

violence and sexual assault with 

different types of cybersecurity issues. 

We also continued several traditions, 

In August 2023, the WWBA held 

our 5th annual Cocktails and Conversation 

event at the Red Hat. September 

brought the return of the WWBA’s 

“First Fridays” series. As part of this series, 

the WWBA’s Professional Development 

Committee has been meeting 

informally on the first Friday of each 

month to help leverage fellow WWBA 

members’ experiences and expertise by 

providing other students and lawyers 

with the opportunity to network and engage 

in meaningful conversation and 

peer-to-peer discussion. In October, 

we also continued our tradition of a 

Night of Networking, which was held 

at Wolf and Warrior Brewery. Law students 

and members were afforded the 

opportunity to learn more about the 

WWBA and its numerous membership 

benefits. This year, the WWBA’s 

Mentorship Committee launched a new 

continuing lecture series on mentorship 

and sponsorship. On January 25, 

2024, the WWBA in collaboration with 

Wilson, Elser Moskowitz Edelman & 

Dicker, LLP, held the first program of 

the lecture series, Paying It Forward: 

Effective Mentorship and Sponsorship 

“Our administrative, fundraising, programming, 

and mentorship successes, as well as hiring efforts, 

would not have been possible without the support 

of our membership, Board, Executive Committee, 

Past Presidents, and long-term supporters. I am 

forever grateful for your efforts . . .” 

for Personal and Professional Growth. 

During this program, the panelists discussed 

the benefits of mentorship and 

sponsorship and how effective mentorship 

helps improve employee engagement and 

retention. 

We have also held countless other successful 

programs. These programs included 

but were not limited to a virtual CLE program 

on What Happens with Frozen Embryos 

in a New York Divorce, which addressed 

how New York courts determine the 

disposition of frozen embryos in the absence 

of a valid contract. The WWBA sponsored 

a seminar in collaboration with Sidebar 

advisors on Financial Empowerment for 

Women in Law, which addressed the differences 

in financial planning between men 

and women from the lens of financial, estate 

and family law planning. On April 3rd 

the WWBA has its fourth General Membership 

meeting, which included a panel 

discussion on the Importance of Effective 

Mentorship: The WWBA’s Commitment to 

the Professional Growth of Future Lawyers. 

On April 17th the WWBA’s Matrimonial 

Committee in collaboration with KLG Business 

Valuators & Forensic Accountants also 

held a program entitled The Three Approaches 

to Value – A Primer on What Attorneys 

Should Know. The program discussed 

the three approaches to value, how 

valuators determine which approach to use, 

and the major aspects of each approach. 

We have also hosted several programs addressing 

the health and wellness of our 

membership, including a program scheduled 

for later this month on Finding an End 

to ’Billable-Hour Burnout’ AND the Benefits 

of Sleep. 

Our administrative, fundraising, programming, 

and mentorship successes, as 

well as hiring efforts, would not have been 

possible without the support of our membership, 

board, executive committee, past 

presidents, and long-term supporters. I am 

forever grateful for your efforts in helping 

to make this past year successful and 

impactful and your commitment to the community 

and to this organization. 

As I started this article off saying, 

“…Far and away the best prize that life 

offers is the chance to work hard at work 

worth doing.” Thank you for entrusting 

me with the leadership of this amazing 

organization and providing me with the 

opportunity to work hard at work worth 

doing. ◗ 


Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

Reproductive Health 

Committee 

Domestic Violence 

Committee 

Reproductive Health 

Committee 

5/7/24 

5:45 p.m. – Registration 

6:00- 7:00 p.m. – Program 

$10 Members 

$20 Non-members 

Light supper will be provided 

5/15/24 

5:30 p.m. - Registration 

6:00–8:00 p.m. – Program 



Light supper will be provided 

5/16/24 

12:45-2:15 p.m. 



CLE - 1.5 hours (Cybersecurity, 

Privacy & Data Protection Ethics) 

5/22/24 

5:30–6:30 p.m. 

CLE – 1 hour Professional Practice 

(pending approval) 



5/29/24 

6:00 -7:00 p.m. 

Book Club 6/3/24 

6:00 p.m. 

6/5/24 

5:30 p.m. Cocktails 

7:00 p.m. Dinner 

Greenberg Traurig, 

One North 

Lexington Avenue, 

Suite 800, 

White Plains 

Keane & Beane, 

P.C., 

445 Hamilton 

Avenue, 15th 

Floor, White 

Plains 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Hot Topics in Domestic 

Violence 

Finding an End to 

“Billable-Hour- 

Burnout” and the 

Benefits of Sleep 

Cybersecurity 

Awareness: Protecting 

Survivors of Domestic 

Violence and Sexual 

Assault 

Trying Your Case with 

the Latest 

Demonstrative Exhibits 

& Technology 

By May 6 

Online at www.wwbany.org or 

via email at 

executivedirector@wwbany.org 

By May 14 


via email at 


By May 13 


via email at 


(Members of Moderate Means 

Panel must register with Marian 

Genio, Esq. – 

mgenio@law.pace.edu) 

By May 20 


via email at 


Zoom Committee Meeting Online at www.wwbany.org or 

via email at 


TBD 

“Table for Two” Lisa Denig at 

Mamaroneck 

Beach & Yacht 

Club, 555 South 

Barry Avenue, 

Mamaroneck 

By: Amor Towles 

WWBA Annual Dinner 

& Installation of 

Officers 

lisadenig@yahoo.com 


via email at 


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 

2024-2025 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2024. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

FINAL WWBA 0524 Final Low Res Non-Members

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