Committees
In order to have an effective Bar Association, it is important that committee members participate in the committee objective by working actively together. Active committees are the heart of the Bar Association and provide a sense of belonging to the organization.
At the committee level, members share information about the law, discuss legal developments and problems, build a network, foster collegiality, develop CLE programs and men-tor each other. Serving as a committee member carries on the work of the association and provides opportunities for new bar leaders and support to the Board of Managers.Â
Your participation will be personally rewarding and provide a sense of belonging to the organization for you and will be greatly appreciated by me and all your QCBA colleagues.Â
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Committees
Michael D. Abneri, Dean
Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Vice Dean
Hon. Darrell L. Gavrin, Vice Dean
Leslie S. Nizin, Vice Dean
Violet E. Samuels, Vice Dean
Hamid M. Siddiqui, Vice Dean
It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the administration of justice in the State of New York, other than matters of substantive and adjective law; to investigate any complaints affecting the administration of justice; particularly in the County of Queens, and to report its findings and recommendations to the Board of Managers and thereupon to take such action as said Board may direct.
It shall consider study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the methods, processes and the extent of the powers exercised by administrative agencies, and on the methods, processes and extent of review exercised by the courts over such agencies and their determinations, and to consider existing and proposed legislation on the foregoing subjects.
It shall study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the rights, liberties and freedoms of individuals and groups under the Constitutions and Laws of the United States and the State of New York. It shall conduct such programs in the name of the Association as will acquaint the public, particularly our youth, with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship under our form of government.
Hon. George M. Heymann, Chair
Hon. Sidney F. Strauss, Chair
George E. Nicholas, Chair
Jay M. Abrahams, Vice Chair
Michele Schuster, Secretary
Hon. Valerie Brathwaite-Nelson, Co-Chair
Warren S. Hecht, Co-Chair
Norma E. Ortiz, Co-Chair
James P. Pagano, Co-Chair
Maria de la Cruz, Co-Chair
Frank T. Kelly, Co-Chair
Joseph Carola III, Co-Chair
Richard Michael Gutierrez, Co-Chair
It shall examine and report on proposed amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws of the Association. It shall observe the activities of the Association under the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws and, from time to time, report to the Board of Managers and to the membership of the Association such amendments as, in its opinion, will promote the efficiency of the Association.
Hamid M. Siddiqui, Chair
James P. DeFranco, Jr., Vice Chair
Jonathan E. Kirchner, Vice Chair
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all civil courts of original and appellate jurisdiction, other than the Federal, Surrogate’s and the Civil Court of the City of the City of New York, or their successors. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the civil courts within its jurisdiction as aforesaid.
Subcommittee of Supreme Court Committee
It shall consider and report on all matters relating to the administration of the laws on the subjects of banks and banking; bankruptcy, reorganization and assignments for the benefit of creditors, personal property, sales, chattel mortgages, including and arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, and other proposed legislation.
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Mark L. Hankin, Co-Chair
Geoffrey R. Mazel, Co-Chair
Subcommittee of the Real Property Committee
It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to corporation law.
Barbara Wilkanowski, Chair
Michael A. Schillinger, Vice Chair
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all state and city courts of criminal jurisdiction, as well as substantive criminal law. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the criminal law and the practice and procedure in the criminal courts.
Jeffrey G. Kuhlman, Vice Chair
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Maria Galante, Co-Chair
Lesley J. Lanoix, Co-Chair
Narissa Morris, Vice Chair
Brian R. Heitner, Chair
Deidre M. Baker, Vice Chair
Maria Ventura de la Cruz, Co-Chair
Lesley J. Lanoix, Co-Chair
Ravi Cattry, Co-Chair
Joshua R. Katz, Co-Chair
Deborah Marie Garibaldi, Vice Chair
Donald Mastrodomenico, Vice Chair
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all state and city courts having jurisdiction of family matters, adoptions, custody of children and matrimonial actions, as well as the substantive law on domestic relations. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the law on domestic relations and the practice and procedure in courts having jurisdiction thereof.
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure of all courts of federal jurisdiction including bankruptcy, but excluding federal taxation. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the federal courts as set forth above.
David L. Cohen, Chair
Paula Pavlides, Co-Chair
Bernard Vishnick, Co-Chair
Paul E. Kerson, Co-Chair
Joseph F. DeFelice, Co-Chair
Norma T. Garcia-Miret, Co-Chair
Mark S. Drucker, Vice Chair
It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to immigration and immigration law.
It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to insurance and insurance law.
Steven Miller, Chair
Joseph Carola, III, Vice Chair
Michael Kohan, Vice Chair
Leslie S. Nizin, Chair
Brian R. Heitner, Vice Chair
The principal function of the Committee is to evaluate and rate candidates for the courts or offices of The District Attorney of Queens County; all courts functioning in Queens County; the New York Court of Appeals; the New York Court of Claims; the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Ilene Kass, Co-Chair
Hector Luis Santiago, Co-Chair
Stephen D. Hans, Chair
James P. DeFranco, Jr., Co-Chair
Philip A. Rosen, Co-Chair
Mohamed Saif Baig, Vice Chair
Joel Serrano, Chair
Nigina Khasidova, Vice Chair
Jasmine I. Valle, Vice Chair
Diana C. Gianturco, Chair
It shall supervise the function and operation of the Association’s Legal Referral Service.
It shall examine all bills introduced in the Legislature of the State of New York which are of general interest to the membership. It shall approve or oppose, on behalf of the Association, any legislative proposal not sponsored by the committee whenever in the judgment of a majority of the entire committee such action is advisable and is not inconsistent with any prior action of the Board of Managers. It shall also be its duty to propose to the Association changes or reforms in law deemed necessary and advisable by the committee, and after obtaining the approval thereof from the Board of Managers, cooperate with other associations, civic bodies and individuals in promoting such changes or reforms, to the end that they may be enacted into law as soon as practicable. It shall refer to any other committee of the Association any bills primarily within the scope of such other committee, for consideration and report. Such other committees shall examine such bills and submit their reports to the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform for appropriate action, following which it shall proceed in the manner herein above provided.
John F. Duane, Co-Chair
Thomas J. Burrows, Vice Chair
Thomas J. Principe, Vice Chair
Subcommittee of Torts Section
It shall recruit new members, attempt to increase the number of sustaining members and seek reinstatement of former members of the Association. It shall publish a brochure from time to time to advise prospective members of the advantages of membership.
Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Chair
Hon. Leonard Livote, Chair
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Subcommittee of Torts Section
George E. Nicholas, Vice Chair
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Richard Michael Gutierrez, Chair
It shall receive all inquiries, regardless of source, as to proper conduct of a member of the legal profession in a given case and, in the discretion of the committee, answer such inquiries, to the end that ethical standards may be maintained and promoted. It shall also informally advise any individual attorney involved in any such inquiries of its findings, whether or not the said individual attorney instituted the inquiry. A permanent record of the inquiries and answer shall be maintained. It may institute such programs or activities as will educate the Bar and Bench on their responsibilities under the Canons of Ethics.
Sharifa M. Nasser-Cuellar, Chair
It shall promote a better understanding of the lawyers’ role in the community; promote friendly cooperation between all media of public communication and the bar; receive and consider all statements of public importance which pertain to the Association, the bench or the bar generally. The committee shall maintain a Speakers’ Bureau to furnish speakers to civic groups, schools and service organizations, on stated topics relating to the law, the legal profession, its place in government and in the community and similar subjects.
Paul E. Kerson, Editor
It shall, in the name of the Association, publish the Queens Bar Bulletin monthly from October through May, which Bulletin may contain articles on subjects relating to the law, the practice thereof, the administration of justice, matters of general interest to the profession and to members of the Association, and digests of annual reports of officers and committees. It may also publish supplements to the Queens Bar Bulletin from time to time, including the annual directory of officers, member and committees of the Association.
Joseph Carola, III, Chair
Jonathan Riegel, CAE, President
Gregory J. Newman, Secretary
David Neil Adler, Treasurer
Mark Weliky, Executive Director
Etan Hakimi, Co-Chair
It shall consider and report on all matters relating to real property, including existing and proposed legislation. It shall also arrange such liaison with realtors and their representatives.
Violet E. Samuels, Chair
Guy R. Vitacco, Jr., Chair
Robert John Aiello, Vice Chair
Michael D. Abneri, Co-Chair
Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Co-Chair
Michael Manoussos, Co-Chair
Gregory J. Newman, Co-Chair
James R. Pieret, Co-Chair
George E. Nicholas, Vice Chair
It shall observe and obtain information as to the practice and procedure in the Supreme Court of Queens County. It shall also consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure of the aforesaid court.
David Neil Adler, Chair
Hon. Francis Adrian Kahn, Vice Chair
Scott Gary Kaufman, Vice Chair
Louis Michael Laurino, Vice Chair
Lisa M. Sconzo, Vice Chair
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, as well as the substantive law administered in said court, and the law of estates and trusts generally. It shall also consider and report any changes proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the Surrogate’s Court, and the substantive law administered therein.
It shall consider and report on all matters relating to local, state and federal taxation, including existing and proposed legislation. It shall present and conduct programs to help lawyers enhance their professional effectiveness in solving tax problems and to acquaint them with current changes in the field of taxation.
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Michael D. Abneri, Co-Chair
Michael Manoussos, Co-Chair
Clifford M. Welden, Co-Chair
Violet E. Samuels, Co-Chair
It shall consider and report on all matters relating to medical malpractice, personal injury, tort law and practice and the handling of civil litigation and trial, including existing and proposed legislation in all New York courts.
The Torts Section includes the Conference with Medical Society, Defendant's Roundtable, Insurance, Medical Malpractice, Municipal Law, Negligence Trials, Per Diem Attorneys, Plaintiff's Roundtable, Torts and Workers Compensation subcommittees.
Michael Serres, Vice Chair
Subcommittee of Torts Section
Sydney A. Spinner, Co-Chair
Zachary N. Zayas, Co-Chair
Ben Margolin, Vice Chair
John Ryan, Jr., Vice Chair
Membership in the Young Lawyers is open only to law students and attorneys admitted 10 years or less. This committee shall devote itself to the problems of the young lawyer adjusting to practice and the problems of office administration. From time to time this committee should, in conjunction with Program and Continuing Legal Education Committees, mount programs of interest to young lawyers to increase their professional proficiency.