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
Committees
Kristen J. Dubowski Barba, Co-Chair
Joshua R. Katz, Co-Chair
The committee focuses on the planning, logistics and execution of all activities and events related to the Association’s 150th Anniversary in 2026. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the QCBA office. Appointments are made by the QCBA President.
Michael D. Abneri, Dean
Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Vice Dean
Hon. Darrell L. Gavrin, Vice Dean
Hamid M. Siddiqui, Vice Dean
This committee focuses on creating and promoting high quality continuing legal education programs covering all practice areas, firm management, and all areas required for NYS attorney registration. The committee also ensures the format of all programs complies with the requirements of the New York State CLE Board.
Hon. George M. Heymann, Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to animals and updates the membership as appropriate.
Joshua R. Katz, Chair
Arthur Terranova, Vice Chair
The committee focuses on the planning, logistics and fundraising of the Annual Installation Dinner.
George E. Nicholas, Chair
Michele Schuster, Vice Chair
The committee focuses on the planning, logistics and fundraising of the Annual Holiday Party/Dinner.
Â
Hon. Valerie Brathwaite Nelson, Co-Chair
Warren S. Hecht, Co-Chair
The committee studies and monitors key appellate issues, including amicus curiae briefs, appeal bonds, appellate briefs, oral arguments, appellate jurisdiction, rules of appellate procedure, standards of review, and proceedings before any court of appellate jurisdiction (Appellate Term, Appellate Division, NYS Court of Appeals, federal Court of Appeals, US Supreme Court), and updates the membership as appropriate.
Norma E. Ortiz, Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to bankruptcy matters at the federal and state level, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Maria V. de la Cruz, Co-Chair, Family Section
Frank T. Kelly, Co-Chair, Criminal Section
The committee is the screening committee for attorneys wishing to be certified for appointment to the Legal Defense Panel or Attorneys for Children Panel of the Assigned Counsel Plan. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact the QCBA office; appointments are made by the QCBA President at the recommendation of the committee chairs.
Zenith T. Taylor, Chair
Guy R. Vitacco, Jr., Vice Chair
The committee focuses on events and activities within the legal community and the community at large related to promoting the law, the legal profession, its place in government and in the community. Such activities may include but are not limited to, furnishing speakers to civic groups, schools and service organizations; civics programs, activities and contests for Queens community groups and schools; Law Day celebrations; and more.
Hamid M. Siddiqui, Chair
James P. DeFranco, Jr., Vice Chair
Jonathan E. Kirchner, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors information as to the practice and procedure in all civil courts of original and appellate jurisdiction, particularly in Queens County (except Federal and Surrogate’s Court), and shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed in connection with the practice and procedure within said civil courts, and updates the membership as appropriate.
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to banks and banking; personal property, sales, and chattel mortgages, including and arising under the Uniform Commercial Code; and other proposed legislation, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Mark L. Hankin, Co-Chair
Geoffrey R. Mazel, Co-Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to Cooperatives and Condominiums, including existing and proposed legislation, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Barbara Wilkanowski, Co-Chair
Scott Grauman, Co-Chair
Michael A. Schillinger, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors information as to the practice and procedure in all state and city courts of criminal jurisdiction, particularly in Queens County, and studies any amendments thereof, as well as substantive changes to criminal law and updates the membership as appropriate.
Maria Galante, Co-Chair
Lesley J. Lanoix, Co-Chair
Narissa Morris, Co-Chair
The committee focuses on promoting and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through the development of seminars and roundtable discussions, along with community sponsored events.
Brian R. Heitner, Chair
Deidre M. Baker, Vice Chair
Committee presents seminars, publishes materials on practice, procedure and developments to enhance the competence and skill of lawyers who practice in this field. Active involvement in the Annual Tri-County Elder Law event.
Ravi Cattry, Co-Chair
Joshua R. Katz, Co-Chair
Donald Mastrodomenico, Vice Chair
Maria Ventura de la Cruz, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to the practice of family and matrimonial law; the practices and procedures in all state and city courts in relation to family and matrimonial matters, particularly those in Queens County Supreme Court Civil Term and Queens County Family Court, and any amendments thereof; and updates the membership as appropriate.
The committee studies and monitors information as to the practice and procedure of all courts of federal jurisdiction (including bankruptcy but excluding federal taxation), and studies any amendments thereof, and updates the membership as appropriate.
David L. Cohen, Chair
Scott Gary Kaufman, Vice-Chair
Joshua R. Katz, Vice-Chair
The committee studies and monitors information as to the practice and procedure of all courts of federal jurisdiction (including bankruptcy but excluding federal taxation), and studies any amendments thereof, and updates the membership as appropriate..
Jonathan Riegel, Chair
The committee periodically reviews the Association’s governance documents, including the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, and Policies and Procedures Manual, and recommends to the Board of Managers such amendments and modifications as, in its opinion, will promote the efficiency of the Association.
Paula Pavlides, Co-Chair
Bernard Vishnick, Co-Chair
The committee investigates, deliberates, and reports on matters referred by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, in accordance with its established rules and procedures. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact the QCBA office; appointments are made by the QCBA President.
Paul E. Kerson, Co-Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to human rights and human rights law, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Joseph F. DeFelice, Co-Chair
Mark S. Drucker, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to immigration law and naturalization law, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Leslie S. Nizin, Chair
Brian R. Heitner, Vice Chair
The committee investigates, evaluates and rates candidates for appointment to various judicial positions, including on the NYS Court of Appeals, NYS Court of Claims, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and others; and for election to various judicial position, including NYS Supreme Court, NYC Civil Court, Queens County District Attorney, and others. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact the QCBA office; appointments are made by the QCBA President.
Ilene Kass, Co-Chair
Hector Luis Santiago, Co-Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to juvenile justice matters, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Stephen D. Hans, Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to labor law and matters, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Philip A. Rosen, Chair
Mohamed Saif Baig, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to landlord-tenant law and matters, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Joel Serrano, Chair
Jasmine I. Valle-Bueno, Vice Chair
The committee focuses on the Association’s relations with the law schools within the First and Second Judicial Departments and student groups at those law schools.
Diana C. Gianturco, Chair
The committee researches and investigates mental health, wellness and related resources for attorneys, and updates the membership as appropriate
The committee focuses on the function and operation of the Association’s Lawyer Referral Service and makes recommendations to the Board of Managers and staff related to the same.
John F. Duane, Co-Chair
Thomas J. Burrows, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to the LGBTQIA+ community, and updates the membership as appropriate; promotes equity in the LGBTQ community; plans and implements seminars, community sponsored and networking events for LGBTQ+ attorneys and allies.
Kristen J. Dubowski Barba, Chair
Beverly George, Vice Chair
Ruben Davidoff, Vice Chair
The committee focuses on the function and operation of the QCBA Mentoring Program, whereby more experienced attorneys serve as mentors to less experienced attorneys.
Hon. Leonard Livote, Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to military law and veteran’s affairs matters, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Richard Michael Gutierrez, Chair
The committee 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. Â 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. Â It may also plan and execute such programs or activities as will educate the Bar and Bench on their responsibilities under the Canons of Ethics.
Paul E. Kerson, Editor
Richard N. Golden, Vice-Chair
It shall, in the name of the Association, publish the Queens Bar Bulletin up to eight (8) times per year, 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, digests of annual reports of officers and committees, official notices of Association meetings and elections, and other matters of interest to the membership.
Samuel B. Freed, Co-Chair
Etan Hakimi, Co-Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to real property, including existing and proposed legislation. It shall also arrange such liaison with realtors and their representatives.
Brian R. Heitner, Vice-Chair
The committee considers all matters relating to the economic aspects of the legal profession, with particular focus on conditions in Queens County.  It studies and considers the methods, effects and compensation of public legal services in the community and the economic relationship of particular laws’ legal principles, rules and regulations to the practice of law, and updates the membership as appropriate.
The committee focuses on the Association’s social media strategies and activities and makes recommendations to the Board of Managers and staff related to the same.
Michael D. Abneri, Co-Chair
Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Co-Chair
Michael Manoussos, Co-Chair
Gregory J. Newman, Co-Chair
George E. Nicholas, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors issues related to the practice and procedures in Supreme Court, particularly in Queens County Civil Term, and studies any amendments thereof, and updates the membership as appropriate.
David Neil Adler, Chair
Scott Gary Kaufman, Vice Chair
Lisa M. Sconzo, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to trusts and estates matters, as to the practice and procedure in Surrogate’s Court, particularly in Queens County, and studies any amendments thereof, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Stefania-Maria Lessen, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to technology related matters such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the like, and updates the membership as appropriate.
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to torts related matters, including but not limited to insurance, medical malpractice, municipal law, negligence, and the like, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Preet Gill, Chair
Kristen Dubowski Barba, Vice Chair
The committee studies and monitors issues impacting women in the legal community, and updates the membership as appropriate; promotes equity among female attorneys; plans and implements seminars, community sponsored events and networking events for female attorneys and allies.
Michael Serres, Chair
The committee studies and monitors legal issues in relation to workers compensation matters, and updates the membership as appropriate.
Sydney A. Spinner, Co-Chair
Zachary N. Zayas, Co-Chair
Benjamin J. Margolin, Vice Chair
John Ryan, Jr., Vice Chair
This committee focuses on the experiences of young lawyers, including adjusting to a legal career, office administration, work-life balance and more, and updates the membership as appropriate; plans networking events to foster collaboration, and hosts seminars to further young lawyers’ continuing legal education. Membership is limited to individuals from the time they enroll at an ABA-accredited law school through the 10th anniversary of their bar admission.