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Bleakley Platt Celebrates With Provident Design Engineering

Bleakley Platt partner Stephen J. Brown congratulates Provident Design Engineering on its one year anniversary. Stephen represented Provident on their purchase and acquisition of the Hawthorne Office of TRC Engineers, Inc.

Provident Design Engineering is a civil engineering firm located in Hawthorne, New York that provides large scale site, civil, and traffic consulting firm with projects in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Stephen J. Brown is a member of the Firm’s Litigation, Corporate and Estates and Trusts Practice Groups. He represents clients in complex civil and commercial litigation, corporate, and trust and estate matters for clients before state and federal trial courts in New York and Connecticut. He has extensive experience with contract disputes and employment, education, and commercial litigation.

Bleakley Platt Partner Frances M. Pantaleo Quoted in 914 INC Magazine’s Fall Issue

The Firm is pleased to note that Partner Frances M. Pantaleo was included in 914 INC. Magazine’s Best Lawyers® edition for Fall 2017. In addition to being listed as a Best Lawyer in Elder Law, Ms. Pantaleo was quoted on page 76 regarding the biggest challenge facing her practice area.

“The growing popularity of do-it-yourself legal services presents a real problem. People are being sold on the idea that one-size-fits-all-estate planning documents can solve their problems. Online and DIY estate planning lulls clients into a false sense of security. Even a minor mistake in execution of a will or power of attorney may invalidate a document,” she stated.

Ms. Pantaleo, who leads the Elder Law Practice Group at Bleakley Platt, handles a broad range of matters with a particular emphasis on Elder Law, special needs planning, guardianship proceedings under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law and Article 17A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, drafting and administration of special needs trusts, estate planning, drafting of wills and trusts, and estate administration.

Partner James Glatthaar Article Published in Westchester Business Journal

The July 10 issue of Westchester County Business Journal’s special focus on real estate included an article by Bleakley Platt partner James Glatthaar entitled “Top 10 mistakes when selling or buying multifamily property.” These are complex transactions where mistakes on either side of the deal can quickly become costly and time consuming.

The article draws on Jim Glatthaar’s decades of experience in real estate law and highlights the top challenges faced by both buyers and sellers.

James W. Glatthaar is a member of the Litigation, Co-Operative and Condominium, Construction and Real Estate Practice Groups. He is a frequent speaker on real estate topics for CLE programs and has published numerous articles in Habitat Magazine.

Bleakley Platt Welcomes New Of Counsel Gus Dimopoulos

Bleakley Platt is pleased to announce that Gus Dimopoulos has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Mr. Dimopoulos focuses his practice in the area of matrimonial law and represents high net worth individuals in divorce, spousal maintenance, child custody, child support and prenuptial, separation and postnuptial agreements and related matters.

Mr. Dimopoulos will continue to maintain a separate law practice while affiliating with Bleakley Platt on an “of counsel” basis to provide the firm’s clients with quality representation in the area of matrimonial law.

Mr. Dimopoulos received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2000 and his B.A. from New York University (cum laude, 1997). He is admitted to practice in New York.

Partner Frances Pantaleo Speaking at Yonkers Office for the Aging Program

Frances Pantaleo, who leads the Elder Law practice area at Bleakley Platt, will speak at a Caregiver Forum presented by the Yonkers Office for the Aging and Southwest Livable Communities Connections on July 18 from 3 – 5 PM at Westchester Center for Independent & Assisted Living, located at 78 Stratton Street, Yonkers.

Ms. Pantaleo will speak about how Medicare and Medicaid work, and how they can be used to pay for Long Term Care, at home or in a nursing care facility.

A second speaker will discuss essential estate planning documents for individuals with dementia or other significant health problems.

Click here to read Ms. Pantaleo’s complete attorney profile.

William P. Harrington Speaks at Westchester County Association’s Women in Tech Luncheon

Firm Chairman William P. Harrington spoke at the 4th Annual Women in Tech Luncheon, presented by the Westchester County Association on June 22 at the Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown. The luncheon recognizes the accomplishments of women in life sciences, technology, and innovation in Westchester, demonstrating the WCA’s commitment to encouraging women to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

In his remarks, Mr. Harrington noted that Westchester County is emerging as a significant biotech and health tech hub, and the region is gaining a reputation as a growing, world-class hub of innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Mr. Harrington is Chairman of the Westchester County Association.

The honorees were Jaime Fabricant, Senior Marketing Manager, Cultural Foresights & Innovation at Pepsi Beverages North America; Jeannine Haggerty, General Manger of Con Edison’s Bronx and Westchester Electric Operations; Merin Joseph, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of WESTMED Practice Partners and WESTMED Medical Group; and Julie Roche CEO, co-founder, and head of product technology for Burbio.com.

Partner Frances Pantaleo Speaking at the Elder Law Committee of the Fairfield County Bar Association

On June 28th, Bleakley Platt Partner Frances Pantaleo will co-present a CLE program titled “Medicaid Planning in Connecticut and New York: Neighboring States, Drastically Different Laws,” at the Fairfield County Bar Association. Topics will include a comparison of basic Medicaid eligibility rules in each state, spousal planning issues and interstate planning options. Ms. Pantaleo will discuss New York Medicaid law, and her co-presenter Joel D. Muhlbaum will discuss Connecticut Medicaid law.

Ms. Pantaleo is the head of the Elder Law practice group at Bleakley Platt and a member of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She handles a broad range of matters with an emphasis on Elder Law, special needs planning, guardianship proceedings and drafting and administration of special needs trusts.

A former Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association, Ms. Pantaleo is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She is a member and has served as past-chair of the Elder Law Committees of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Westchester County Bar Association.

Bleakley Platt Associate John McGowan Elected President of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians

Bleakley Platt is pleased to announce that John McGowan has been elected President of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The Rockland County AOH is comprised of four divisions with around 900 members. The Rockland County AOH presents many special events throughout the year, including two signature events, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is the second largest parade in New York State, and the Emerald Ball. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is the oldest and largest Irish Catholic fraternal organization in the US and traces its roots back to similar organizations that existed in Ireland more than 300 years ago.

Mr. McGowan is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Prior to joining Bleakley Platt, Mr. McGowan served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Special Victims Unit and an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County. Mr. McGowan began his career with a law firm in Westchester County handling insurance coverage litigation.

Mr. McGowan is also an adjunct professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, where he teaches undergraduate courses in criminal law and evidence.

William P. Harrington Co-Chairs 30th Annual Westchester County Inner City Scholarship Fund Breakfast to Help Underprivileged Children Attend Westchester Catholic Schools

Firm Chairman William P. Harrington co-chaired the 30th Annual Westchester County Inner City Scholarship Fund breakfast on June 22 at the Westchester Country Club. Proceeds from the breakfast provide scholarships to thousands of children living below the poverty line in Westchester County so they may attend local Catholic schools. Mr. Harrington spoke about the impact that the Inner City Scholarship Fund has on financially disadvantaged children, giving them an opportunity to receive a quality education in a safe environment that helps propel them out of poverty.

The breakfast included a presentation of The William F. Harrington Award to Carl A. Petrillo, Chairman of Yonkers Contracting Company. Mr. Petrillo is a respected philanthropist and community leader in Westchester County, and supports many area organizations, with a special dedication to improving the quality of life in Yonkers, including the Catholic Schools.

Mr. Harrington is the Chair of the Firm and heads the Firm’s Litigation practice group. He is a trustee of St. Joseph’s Seminary, a member of the New York Archdiocese Finance Committee and a long-time supporter of the Inner City Scholarship Fund.

Bleakley Platt Partner Mary Ellen Manley Chairs Joseph F. Gagliardi Award for Excellence

Partner Mary Ellen Manley chaired the Westchester County Bar Foundation’s annual Joseph F. Gagliardi Award for Excellence. The award is presented every year to non-judicial employees of the Unified Court System for the Ninth Judicial District, in recognition of outstanding service to the public and dedication to the administration of justice. The awards were presented at a ceremony conducted by the Honorable Alan D. Scheinkman, Administrative Judge, Ninth Judicial District, at the Westchester County Courthouse, Gagliardi Courtroom, on June 8th.

This year’s honorees were: Albert J. Degatano, Esq., Court Attorney-Referee Westchester Supreme/County Courts; Denise Helms, Court Assistant, Rockland Surrogate’s Court; and Renee McAllister, Associate Court Clerk, Westchester Supreme/County Courts.

Mary Ellen Manley, currently Vice President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Westchester County Bar Association, has also served as President of the Bar Association. She was a recipient of the “Above the Bar” award as the leading trusts and estates attorney in Westchester County, and has been named to the Super Lawyers list as a top rated estate and trust litigation attorney in the New York Metro area.

As head of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group, Ms. Manley concentrates in the area of Surrogate’s Court practice. She has substantial estate litigation experience, representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in adversarial proceedings, including will contests, accountings, removal of fiduciaries, will construction or reformation proceedings, fee litigation, determination of right of election, kinship hearings, validity of creditors’ claims and wrongful death compromises.

Partner Joseph DeGiuseppe Interviewed in The Fordham Lawyer on Labor and Employment Law

Bleakley Platt Partner Joseph DeGiuseppe was featured in the “How To…” column in the Spring edition of The Fordham Lawyer, with a look at how Fordham alumni practice labor and employment law. DeGiuseppe’s employment law background is explored in detail in “How to Do Right by Employers and Employees.” 

His practice began just out of Fordham Law School with editing soon-to- be Dean John Feerick’s book on National Labor Relations Board representation law, which led to a job at Skadden Arps. Joe became the go-to source on the employment-at- will rule after writing an oft-cited law review article for the Fordham Urban Law Journal.

As head of the Labor and Employment and Immigration practice groups at Bleakley Platt, Joe represents large and small companies and has adapted to the new legal reality of working with insurance companies in the passenger seat when clients carry employment practices liability insurance protecting them against potentially significant liability resulting from employment discrimination lawsuits.

He has also seen a swell of wage-and- hour class-action litigation as employers have struggled to keep up with the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to the various types of employment relationships in today’s service economy.

As for the future, he expects to see an increase in sexual orientation discrimination lawsuits and litigation revolving around employees and their free speech rights on social media.

“In one recent case an employee called an employer a very derogatory name and it was upheld as free speech,” says Joe. “Labor law is much more complicated than people think.”

The New York Law Journal Quotes Partner Chris Palermo Regarding Proposed Changes to Commercial Division Rules Regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution

Litigation Partner Christopher Palermo was recently quoted in The New York Law Journal in an article, “Rule Would Require Certification That Parties Were Informed of ADR,” appearing in the April 25, 2017 edition.

Mr. Palermo is a member of the Commercial Division Advisory Council and was the primary drafter of a proposal by the Advisory Council to amend the Commercial Division rules to require attorneys to certify to the court that they have spoken with their clients about the availability of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in cases pending in New York’s Commercial Division.

Mr. Palermo predicted that the business community would “strongly support” the proposed amendment.  Similar procedures are in place in some federal courts.  The proposed rule change would also require parties to disclose to the court whether the client is willing to pursue mediation at some point in the litigation.

Mr. Palermo noted that businesses and in-house counsel “want mediation, and they want mediation early on in the case.”

This proposal is the latest of numerous recommendations by the Advisory Council to respond to the needs of the business community and to ensure that the New York Commercial Division remains one of the leading venues in the country for efficient resolution of complex commercial disputes.  Since the Advisory Council was established in 2013, more than two dozen of its proposals have been approved for use in the Commercial Division.

Robert Braumuller and Zachary Cohen Speak at New York Medical College

On April 28, Robert Braumuller and Zachary Cohen gave a presentation at New York Medical College before a group of more than 100 graduating medical students on the challenges that will face them as they enter their residency programs.

The one-hour presentation on Healthcare Law Fundamentals provided the students, who will begin residency programs after graduation, with a basic understanding of healthcare compliance law, including information about fraud and abuse laws, negotiating employment contracts and medical malpractice.

New York Medical College is a part of the Touro College and University system, based in Valhalla, New York.

Robert Braumuller is a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, the head of the Health Law Practice Group, and a member of the Corporate Law, Intellectual Property and Real Estate Practice Groups. Prior to joining Bleakley Platt, Mr. Braumuller was associated with several national law firms in their Business Law and Health Law practice groups and was Associate Counsel of the Catholic Health Care System.

Zachary Cohen is a member of the Firm’s Health Care, Corporate and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. He advises clients on a host of business, regulatory and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation, joint ventures and corporate governance. Mr. Cohen is particularly experienced in representing clients in the information technology and health care industries on cyber security law and HIPAA matters.

Bleakley Platt Welcomes John W. McGowan to Litigation Practice Group

John W. McGowan has joined the firm as a litigation associate. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. McGowan served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, assigned to the Special Victims Unit and prior to that, he was an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, New York.

Since 2013, Mr. McGowan has been an adjunct professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he teaches undergraduate courses in criminal law and evidence.

Mr. McGowan is the third member of the McGowan family to practice law at Bleakley Platt. Both his father, the late Bart R. McGowan, and his sister Margaret E. McGowan were attorneys with the firm in the 1990s.

Mr. McGowan received his J.D. in 2010 from New York Law School (cum laude), where he was the Managing Editor of the New York Law School Law Review. He holds a B. A. from St. Thomas Aquinas College (summa cum laude, 2007). He is admitted to practice law in New York State.

In 2013, he was a recipient of the Rockland County Economic Development Corporation’s Forty Under 40 award. Mr. McGowan is a member of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians Bagpipe Band, serving as a Bagpiper and Pipe Major.

Six Bleakley Platt Women Named to New York Metro 2016 Super Lawyers/The Top Women List

Six Bleakley Platt attorneys have been included on the New York Metro 2016 Super Lawyers /The Top Women list. The attorneys receiving this honor are Partners Susan E. Galvao, Mary Ellen Manley, Frances M. Pantaleo, Nancy J. Rudolph, and Annette Hasapidis, who is Of Counsel to the Firm and Mary Anne Wirth, also Of Counsel to the Firm. The attorneys were named in a special supplement published by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers and distributed throughout the New York metro area.

Susan Galvão is a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, co-chair of the Appellate practice group and a member of the Litigation practice group. Ms. Galvão has represented a variety of corporations, banks, insurance companies and individuals in litigation before federal and state trial and appellate courts. She has extensive experience in appellate practice, Surrogate’s Court practice, and trust and estate litigation, including kinship matters. She is also experienced with complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, employment litigation, insurance coverage issues and class action defense. She has argued appeals in the state and federal courts on a broad spectrum of issues.

Mary Ellen Manley, Partner, leads the Firm’s Trusts and Estates practice group. Ms. Manley concentrates in the area of Surrogate’s Court practice. She has substantial trust and estate litigation experience, representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in adversarial proceedings, including will contests, accountings, removal of fiduciaries, will construction or reformation proceedings, fee litigation, determination of right of election, kinship hearings, and validity of creditors’ claims. Ms. Manley is also experienced in all aspects of trust and estate administration.

Frances M. Pantaleo, Partner, is the head of the firm’s Elder Law practice group. Ms. Pantaleo handles a broad range of matters with a particular emphasis on Elder Law, special needs planning, guardianship proceedings under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law and Article 17A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, drafting and administration of special needs trusts, estate planning, drafting of wills and trusts, and estate administration.

Nancy J. Rudolph, Partner, concentrates in the area of trusts and estates, estate administration, estate tax, guardianship, Surrogate’s Court practice and estate litigation. Ms. Rudolph litigates in Surrogate’s Court, Supreme Court and the United States Federal District Courts, representing heirs, beneficiaries and fiduciaries, both individual and corporate, in judicial proceedings involving probate, contested probate, administration, lost wills, construction, kinship, removal of fiduciaries, contested accountings, uncontested accountings, turn over, spousal right of election, and in real estate transactions. Ms. Rudolph also represents individuals and corporate fiduciaries as trustees of inter vivos trusts as well as supplemental or special needs trusts.

Annette Hasapidis, Of Counsel, is co-chair of the Appellate practice group. Ms. Hasapidis has practiced before both State and Federal Appellate Courts in numerous areas of law, including trusts and estates, commercial, matrimonial, medical malpractice, personal injury, and employment law. Ms. Hasapidis has appeared in more than 340 reported cases in state and federal appellate courts. Ms. Hasapidis also provides strategic consultation to help trial counsel define and preserve legal issues in order to improve the odds of success on appeal or to prevent the need for one. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Hasapidis was an Assistant District Attorney, Kings County and Assistant Attorney, Westchester County.

Mary Anne Wirth,Of Counsel, is the head of the Criminal Defense and Investigations Practice Group and concentrates in white collar criminal defense work and general civil litigation. She is also a member of the Litigation and Appellate Practice Groups. Ms. Wirth served as Associate Independent Counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr, in Washington D.C. from 1997 to 1998. She was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1983 to 1988, assigned to the Civil Division. She was also an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1988 to 1996. She has served as District Counsel for the New York District of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States Department of Justice. Ms. Wirth has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law School in the Legal Writing Program since 1987.

Bleakley Platt Partner Jim Glatthaar Speaks at Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums

Jim Glatthaar, a member of the Cooperatives and Condominium practice, was invited to speak at an evening program of the Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums on March 8th. His presentation focused on what happens when a cooperative finds itself with one or more dissidents on the board whose interests are not aligned with either the board or other owners.

Topics covered included the characteristics of a good board, why dissidents run for board positions, why they are sometimes elected to the board, the impact dissidents can have on a co-operative or condominium board and the board’s options when dealing with a dissident or rogue board member.

Jim Glatthaar is a member of the Litigation, Co-Operative and Condominium, Construction and Real Estate Practice Groups. He concentrates his practice in the areas of zoning and land use law and litigation, cooperative and condominium law, construction law and real estate litigation. He has represented landlords, tenants, developers, non-profit institutions, sellers, purchasers, realtors, cooperatives and condominiums in building, zoning, housing and disability-based discrimination claims, landlord-tenant and construction defect claims both in courts and before state and federal administrative agencies. He has also represented property owners and purchasers in complex real estate and financing transactions.

Learn more about James W. Glatthaar here.

Learn more about Bleakley Platt’s Co-operative and Condominium practice group.

Janet Linn Elected Vice Chair of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section of NYSBA

Bleakley Platt Partner Janet Linn has been elected to the position of Vice Chair of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Ms. Linn has served as a member of the Executive Committee for the Section for several years and is looking forward to increasing her involvement. She recently spoke as part of the Drug Committee panel of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Section at the NYSBA Annual Meeting, with a presentation titled “Evolving Requirements for NCE [New Chemical Entity] Exclusivity.” The presentation discussed recent court and FDA decisions affording pharmaceutical companies longer periods of exclusivity precluding generic competition and concomitant delays of Hatch-Waxman challenges by generic companies.

As Vice Chair, Ms. Linn will assist the Section chair in arranging CLEs and other events of interest to practitioners in the area and with submission of commentary by the Section on relevant proposed federal and state legislation.

Last November, Ms. Linn co-moderated a CLE program “REMS and Other Drug Distribution Restrictions” presented by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic and the Antitrust Sections of the New York State Bar Association.

Ms. Linn, a Partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice group, focuses her practice on patent, trademark and trade secret litigation and counseling. She has extensive trial and litigation experience in a broad range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer products, and mechanical devices. Ms. Linn also has substantial experience in trademark prosecution and inter partes proceedings, as well as unfair competition, false advertising, and copyright litigation. She has particular expertise in pharmaceutical (Hatch-Waxman) patent litigation, and has acted as trial counsel in patent, trade secret and antitrust actions involving pharmaceuticals with annual billion dollar sales.

Elizabeth Briand in Elder and Special Needs Law Journal from NYSBA

Elizabeth Briand, an associate with the Elder Law and Trusts and Estates practice groups, was interviewed for the New Member Spotlight in the Winter 2017 issue of the Elder Law and Special Needs Journal, published by the New York State Bar Association. She discusses how she came to practice in the areas of Elder Law and Special Needs and why she finds her practice so rewarding.

Ms. Briand is Chair of the section’s Sponsorship Committee and served as Program Co-Chair of the 2016 Annual Meeting.

Ms. Briand handles all matters relating to Elder Law, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, guardianship proceedings under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law and Article 17A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, drafting and administration of special needs trusts.

In addition to her involvement with the New York State Bar Association – Elder Law and Special Needs Section, Ms. Briand is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and a member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association.

Partner Frances Pantaleo and Associate Elizabeth Briand Co-Present CLE for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

On February 8, 2017, Partner Frances M. Pantaleo and Associate Elizabeth C. Briand will co-present a free CLE program on the preparation and submission of Medicaid home care applications to the attorneys of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley at their White Plains, New York location. Ms. Pantaleo and Ms. Briand will discuss the intricacies of Medicaid eligibility rules, the application process itself, and the advocacy that is often required in connection with seeking Medicaid home care services.

Bleakley Platt is proud of its support of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV). Ms. Pantaleo serves on the annual dinner committee of LSHV and will be joining its Board of Directors in April. In 2007, Ms. Pantaleo was presented with a Partners in Justice Award by LSHV in recognition of pro bono services she has rendered to the organization and its clients.

Ms. Pantaleo is the head of the Elder Law Practice group at Bleakley Platt and a member of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Ms. Briand is a member of the Elder Law and Trusts and Estates Practice Groups. Ms. Pantaleo and Ms. Briand handle matters relating to Elder Law, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, guardianship proceedings under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law and Article 17A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, and the drafting and administration of special needs trusts.

Partner Frances Pantaleo Speaks at NYS Bar Association Annual Meeting

On January 25, Partner Frances Pantaleo spoke on guardianship issues at the Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Law Section, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in New York City. Her presentation, entitled “Is Guardianship the Answer?” provided an overview of proceedings for appointment of a guardian under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law, the rules which govern administration of the guardianship and strategies which may avoid the need for appointment of a guardian.

A former Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association, Ms. Pantaleo is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She is a member and has served as past-chair of the Elder Law Committees of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Westchester County Bar Association.

Ms. Pantaleo is the head of the Elder Law Practice group at Bleakley Platt. She handles a broad range of matters with an emphasis on elder law, special needs planning, guardianship proceedings and drafting and administration of special needs trusts.

Bleakley Platt Partner Jennifer A. Lofaro Named Women in Business Honoree by 914INC.

Bleakley Platt is pleased to announce that Jennifer A. Lofaro, a Partner in the Commercial Finance and Real Estate Practice Groups, was honored by 914INC. at the sixth annual 2016 Women in Business awards luncheon, which took place on November 17th. Ms. Lofaro was among a group of eighteen area women recognized for their business accomplishments by 914INC., a prominent business lifestyle magazine.

Ms. Lofaro advises and represents regional and national institutional lenders and developers, as well as individual and corporate borrowers, in residential and commercial real estate transactions. She holds a J.D. from Pace University Law School and a B.A. from State University of New York at New Paltz. Ms. Lofaro is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, and she is a member of the Westchester Bar Association and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association.

We congratulate Ms. Lofaro and all of the 2016 Women in Business honorees for a well-deserved honor.

Partner Frances Pantaleo Speaking Before Professionals and Consumers on Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Topics

Bleakley Platt Partner Frances Pantaleo, who heads the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group, is speaking before several different groups on elder law and special needs planning topics this fall.

She will speak at two sessions at the Fall Meeting of the Trusts and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Pantaleo and a colleague will discuss a case study advising parents of two children, one with special needs and one on the autism spectrum, in a session titled “Planning for the Client with Special Needs.” Ms. Pantaleo will be one of a group of speakers in a second session, “Selected Supplemental Needs Trusts Issues,” which will address matters including pooled income trusts, corporate trustees, labor law and liability issues regarding hiring care managers, aides and attendants.

Ms. Pantaleo will also present two elder care and retirement planning seminars for consumers at Ferncliff Cemetery, one in the beginning and a second at the end of October. Topics will include protecting assets, preparing for Medicaid, and advance and last minute planning techniques used to protect assets from long term care costs.

Ms. Pantaleo will serve as the Chair of the Westchester session of a day-long program, the Intermediate Elder Law Update, for the New York State Bar Association, held on November 2^nd at the Elmwood County Club in White Plains.

Bleakley Platt Attorneys Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers 2016 and New York Metro Rising Stars 2016 Lists

Fourteen Bleakley Platt attorneys have beenselected to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list as top New York metro area lawyers for 2016. One partner and two associates were named “New York Metro Rising Stars.”

Each year, Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, identifies no more than five percent of the lawyers in New York State as “Super Lawyers” – “outstanding lawyers” who have attained a “high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.” The selection process includes independent research and peer evaluations.

The attorneys receiving this honor are:

• Katrine A. Beck
• Joseph DeGiuseppe, Jr.
• Susan E. Galvao
• William P. Harrington
• Annette G. Hasapidis
• Mary Ellen Manley
• Robert D. Meade
• William M. Murphy
• Christopher C. Palermo
• Frances M. Pantaleo
• Matthew G. Parisi
• Raymond M. Planell
• Nancy J. Rudolph
• Mary Anne Wirth

Bleakley Platt Partner Stephen J. Brown and Associates Justin M. Gardner and Daniel P. Buckley were named to the 2016 New York Metro “Rising Star” List by Super Lawyers, an honor received by no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state.

Partner Christopher Palermo Updates Summary of New York Law on Product Liability for Thomson Reuters Publication

Mr. Palermo recently completed the 2016 update summarizing New York law on product liability for the Practical Law International Sales and Marketing Guide. Mr. Palermo has contributed the section on New York product liability law for the Guide since 2013. Published by Thomson Reuters, the Guide is a subscription-only report that provides up-to-date insight in question-and-answer format on a wide variety of legal issues for companies doing business worldwide. The product liability section of the Guide provides an overview of product liability law in various jurisdictions around the world.

As a member of the Product Liability practice area at Bleakley Platt, Mr. Palermo represents clients in complex product liability and toxic tort litigation. He is an active member of the Executive Committee of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. To learn more about Mr. Palermo, click here.

Bleakley Platt Welcomes New Of Counsel Annette G. Hasapidis

Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP is pleased to announce that Annette G. Hasapidis has joined the firm as Of Counsel and Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice Group. Ms. Hasapidis focuses her practice in the area of civil appellate litigation and strategic trial consultation in complex civil litigation for clients before state and federal trial courts in New York and Connecticut. She has extensive appellate experience, as she has appeared on more than 320 appeals. Ms. Hasapidis has served as a court-appointed guardian at the Appellate Division level.

While Ms. Hasapidis continues to maintain a successful solo practice serving clients in both New York and Connecticut, she is joining Bleakley Platt to address the needs of those clients in the appellate arena who may require the added support of a full-service law firm.

Ms. Hasapidis has been named to the Super Lawyers list since 2013. She is an Executive Board Member of the Pace University Law School Women’s Justice Center. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction and its Pro Bono Appeals Subcommittee, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the Westchester County Women’s Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, the Westchester County Bar Association, the Dutchess County Bar Association, and the Orange County Bar Association.

Partner Susan E. Galvão Appointed to Bleakley Platt Executive Committee

Bleakley Platt & Schmidt is pleased to announce that Partner Susan E. Galvão has been appointed as a new member of the firm’s Executive Committee, which is charged with overseeing the management, growth and development of the firm.

William P. Harrington, Chairman of the Executive Committee, said, “As the firm builds towards the future, we are bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives to the Executive Committee. We look forward to Susan’s contributions and leadership.”

Ms. Galvão, Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice group and a member of the Litigation Practice group, joined Bleakley Platt in 1995. To learn more about Ms. Galvão, click here.

Other members of the Executive Committee are William P. Harrington, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Peter N. Bassano, Managing Partner, Robert Braumuller and Hugh D. Fyfe.

Partner Stephen J. Brown Profiled in Pace Law School Alumni News

Partner Stephen Brown was selected for a career profile in the recent Pace Law School’s Alumni Highlight. The article discusses his career history, from a receiving a B.A. in physics from The College of Holy Cross, to a position in the risk management group of Deloitte & Touche, and then attending Pace Law School, recently renamed the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, and his experiences at and since graduating from law school.

In May 2016, Pace Law School was renamed the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in recognition of its long-standing partnership with the family of the late Elisabeth Haub, a tireless environmental advocate and philanthropist, and a generous supporter of the law school.

Brown, who has served as President of the Pace Law School Alumni Board since 2012, joined Bleakley Platt as a partner this spring. Click here to read the complete article.

To learn more about Mr. Brown, click here.

Hugh Fyfe and Mary Casterella Co-Chair “Sunset on the Hudson” to Benefit Ministries of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

Hugh Fyfe and his wife Mary Casterella co-chaired the seventh annual “Sunset on the Hudson” benefit to help support the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. Bleakley Platt was proud to be a Gold Sponsor for the event, which raises funds to benefit the various ministries of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, a Roman Catholic order of brothers and priests. The event took place at X20 – Xavier’s on the Hudson

The ministries affiliated with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement include the Do Not Fear to Hope program, the first HIV/AIDS support group in the Hudson Valley, which was founded more than thirty years ago and St. Christopher’s Inn, which provides more than 1,200 men every year with food, clothing, shelter, alcohol and drug addiction counseling and healthcare services.

The order was founded at Graymoor in Garrison, New York in 1898 by Father Paul Wattson, SA, who has been endorsed for canonization by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

William Harrington and Christopher Palermo Co-Author Book Review of Commercial Litigation Treatise

Litigation partners William Harrington and Christopher Palermo were asked to co-author a review of the latest edition of “Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts” (4th Edition 2015), published by Thomson Reuters and the New York County Lawyers’ Association. Their review appeared in the June issue of Westchester Lawyer Magazine.

The review acknowledges the increasingly limited amount of law firm resources dedicated to published books, but notes that this multi-volume treatise remains a “must have” for experienced commercial litigators and novices alike. The Westchester bench is well represented among the authors of various chapters in the treatise, with the following judges with Westchester ties (in alphabetical order) included: Appellate Division Justices Thomas A. Dickerson (Chapter 111: Consumer Protection) and Colleen D. Duffy (Chapter 123: Entertainment); and Westchester Commercial Division Justices Linda S. Jamieson (Chapter 22: Preliminary and Compliance Conferences and Orders) and Alan D. Scheinkman (co-author of Chapter 118: Commercial Real Estate).

Mr. Harrington is the Chair of the Firm and heads the Firm’s Litigation practice group. He is also the Chairman of the Westchester County Association. Mr. Palermo, a litigation partner at the Firm, was appointed by former Chief Judge of the State of New York Jonathan Lippman to the Commercial Division Advisory Council, which advises the Chief Judge on an on-going basis on matters related to the Commercial Division courts.

To read the review in its entirety, click here.

Reprinted from the Westchester Lawyer magazine, June 2016, Volume 3, No. 6., with permission of the Westchester County Bar Association, publisher.

William P. Harrington Co-Chairs 29th Annual Westchester Fund Breakfast to Provide Scholarships for Children in Westchester Catholic Schools

Firm Chairman William P. Harrington served as co-chair of the 29th Annual Westchester County Inner City Scholarship Fund Breakfast on June 8, 2016 at Westchester Country Club. His Eminence Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, spoke at the breakfast about the important role the Inner City Scholarship Fund plays in helping children of all faiths from families living below the federal poverty line to attend Catholic schools. 99% of seniors attending Catholic high schools graduate and 98% go on to college.

Mr. Harrington is a trustee of St. Joseph’s Seminary, a member of the New York Archdiocese Finance Committee and a long-time supporter of the Inner City Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from the breakfast, an annual event begun in 1987 by John Cardinal O’Connor, have provided scholarships to thousands of underserved children in Westchester County to attend local Catholic schools.

Habitat Magazine Publishes Article by James Glatthaar and Katrine Beck

The May issue of Habitat Magazine, a monthly publication serving New York board members and property managers of co-operatives and condos, featured an article by partners Katrine Beck and James Glatthaar entitled “The Top 10 No-No’s for Board Newbies.” The article was timed to coincide with spring election season, when co-op and condo boards welcome new members who often arrive with fresh energy that may be misdirected. The advice from Mr. Glatthaar and Ms. Beck is gleaned from decades of experience working with co-op and condo boards. James Glatthaar and Katrine Beck are members of the Firm’s Cooperative and Condominium practice area, where they serve as General Counsel and Special Litigation Counsel to many Boards in NYC, Westchester, Rockland and Orange County.

Click here to read the Habitat Magazine article.

Bleakley Platt Partner Frances M. Pantaleo Named to 2016 Spring “Women in the Law” Business Edition by Best Lawyers

Bleakley Platt is honored to announce that Frances M. Pantaleo has been named by Best Lawyers® to its 2016 Spring “Women In The Law” Business Edition. This is the inaugural Women in the Law publication, and Ms. Pantaleo is one of only 14 women from White Plains selected for the list.

The editor of the publication notes that “this is a go-to short list of exceptional women attorneys, vetted by their peers, inspiring their colleagues and students, and, from coast-to-coast, exemplifying excellence in their practice.”

We congratulate Ms. Pantaleo on being selected for this honor. To view her attorney profile, click here.

William P. Harrington Honored by The Charles L. Brieant Center

William P. Harrington was selected as the 2016 Spring Gala honoree by the Charles L. Brieant Center, a not-for-profit organization that helps young people make the most of their lives by providing them with opportunities for growth, leadership, learning, and mentorship.

The late Judge Charles L. Brieant knew the importance of learning and played an instrumental role in developing the Center, where learning was made possible for children who would not otherwise have that opportunity. Each year, The Charles L. Brieant Center honors a person who embodies the spirit of developing the leader in every child and teen.

“Judge Brieant was a transformative figure in my life and the lives of many others,” said William P. Harrington. “He was a great judge, but an even better man. He taught me not only how to practice law, but why; to protect and advance the interests of justice throughout our society. I am proud of the wonderful work of the Charles L. Brieant Center and humbled to be a small part of the Judge’s enduring legacy.”

Mr. Harrington served as Law Clerk for the late Hon. Charles L. Brieant following his graduation from Fordham Law School in 1982. His clerkship with Judge Brieant was one of the cherished highlights of his life. He calls Judge Brieant his mentor, friend, and moral compass.

The Spring Gala: Learning Today… Leading Tomorrow was held on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 6:30pm at The Briarcliff Manor located at 25 Studio Hill Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY.

Bleakley Platt Partner Fran Pantaleo Joins Older Americans Act Advisory Council (OAAAC)

Mae Carpenter, the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services, has invited Partner Fran Pantaleo to become a member of the Older Americans Act Advisory Council (OAAAC).

As a member of the Advisory Council, Ms. Pantaleo will provide advice and assistance in making recommendations to the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) on programming and policy matters relating to seniors. Council members serve as formal liaisons between the DSPS and the public to ensure that DSPS understands public concerns and that their actions and programs are well communicated to seniors in the community.

To learn more about Ms. Pantaleo, click here.

Bleakley Platt Announces New Partner

Bleakley Platt is pleased to announce that Stephen J. Brown has become a member of the firm. His practice focuses on litigation, corporate and trust and estate matters for clients before state and federal trial courts in New York and Connecticut.

Mr. Brown received his J.D. from Pace Law School (cum laude) and is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross. Click here to read his attorney profile.

News from the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group

Partner Janet Linn held a leadership role at the annual meeting of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Section of the New York State Bar Association on January 28 in New York City. Ms. Linn, a member of the Executive Committee of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section, also serves as co-chair of the drug committee and is a member of the biologics committee.

Ms. Linn moderated a panel discussion at the annual meeting titled “Legal Developments During 2015: Expanding Federal and State Antitrust Enforcement Against Drug Companies, Shrinking Patent Protection in the Life Science Area, and Amarin v. FDA: FDA Regulation of Off Label Marketing.” She spoke about recent decisions on obtaining approval for biosimilars and patenting in the life sciences.

Christopher Palermo Elected to Executive Committee of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section of the New York State Bar Association

Litigation partner Christopher Palermo was elected to the Executive Committee of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section of the New York State Bar Association at NYSBA’s Annual Meeting. The section, one of the first to be organized by the NYSBA, serves to help attorneys stay informed of the latest developments in the food, drug and cosmetic law field. With a membership that includes in-house, law firm and government attorneys who practice in this constantly changing area of the law, the section leadership provides practical advice concerning industry issues.

Mr. Palermo has represented pharmaceutical companies in government investigations, class action litigation and claims brought by state Attorneys General involving the marketing and pricing of pharmaceuticals, and often serves on the faculty of Continuing Legal Education programs on topics of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Click here to learn more about Mr. Palermo.

Partner Pantaleo and Associate Briand at the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Annual Meeting

The Elder Law practice area of Bleakley Platt was well-represented by Partner Frances Pantaleo and Associate Elizabeth Briand at the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Special Needs Section annual meeting, which took place on January 26th in New York City.

Ms. Pantaleo moderated a Surrogate’s Court Panel. Surrogates from Westchester, Bronx, Queens, Broome and Albany counties discussed how Surrogates from around the state handle SCPA 17-A Guardianships and applications for Special Needs Trusts. The Surrogates discussed issues such as bonding, annual accountings, budgets, investment discretion and the use of corporate trustees when a SCPA 17-A Guardian applies for the creation of a Special Needs Trust. They also discussed proposed amendments to SCPA 17-A.

Ms. Briand served as Program Co-Chair of the annual event, assisting with speakers, encouraging attendance by members of the judiciary and coordinating with the Section Chair. She also serves as Chair of the Sponsorship committee for the section.

For a schedule of the program, click here.

On February 18th, Ms. Pantaleo will give a presentation entitled “Be Prepared: Essential Documents to Protect your Finances and Health as you Age” at My Second Home, an innovative intergenerational approach to adult day services.

Also on February 18th, Ms. Briand will speak to the Community Synagogue of Rye on the importance of preparing Advanced Directives, legal documents used to appoint agents to manage finances and health care and convey wishes regarding end of life care.

Joseph DeGiuseppe Publishes Article in CI Newsletter

Partner Joseph DeGiuseppe, who heads up Bleakley Platt’s Labor and Employment Law and Immigration practice areas, published an article in the January 2016 issue of CI Newsletter titled “What the New York State Manufacturers Need to Know About Independent Contractor Misclassification.” CI Newsletter is a monthly publication produced by The Council of Industry, a prominent manufacturers’ association for the Hudson Valley since 1910.

The article discusses the problems that manufacturers have with misclassification of independent contractors. It presents a general description of the characteristics used to determine independent contractor status and provides insight into federal court cases and Department of Labor rulings on this significant issue.

To read the article, click here.

Learn more about Joseph DeGiuseppe.

Bleakley Platt Partners Beck and Glatthaar in New York Real Estate Journal

Partners Katrine Beck and James Glatthaar were included in the Year in Review issue of the New York Real Estate Journal.

Ms. Beck’s review of the year discussed a matter in her co-op and condo practice involving a Special Election. Together with her clients, Ms. Beck formulated a cost-effective strategy for calling a Special Election and conducting an election which was ultimately held without the need for protracted litigation. Once the election was held and the outgoing board realized that the new group was organized, energetic and willing to defend their interests, the outgoing board stepped aside and worked with the new incoming group to transition the Board of Directors. The new Board has already made strides to clean up arrears, better communicate with its shareholders and plan for long term capital projects.

Mr. Glatthaar’s review of trends throughout the year noted the impact of low interest rates in 2015. He reports that three cooperatives and a condominium that he represents all refinanced mortgages to borrow additional funds for capital improvements while simultaneously reducing operating costs.

To learn more about our co-operative and condominium law practice, click here

Partner James Glatthaar Appointed to Judicial Screening Committee

James Glatthaar, Partner in the Real Estate and Co-Op and Condominium Practice Groups, was appointed by the Mayor of White Plains to the Judicial Screening Committee for White Plains City Court to qualify applicants for the position of City Judge. The Committee, made up of mayoral appointees, reviewed resumes and CVs of twenty four candidates, conducted in depth interviews, evaluated each candidate and submitted a confidential report to the White Plains Common Council. Mr. Glatthaar commented that it was a great civic responsibility and he was honored to have had the experience.

Partner Katrine A. Beck Appointed to Board of Directors of Girls Inc.

Bleakley Platt Partner Katrine A. Beck appointed to Board of Directors of Girls Inc. Westchester which is the local affiliate of a national organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, providing more than 140,000 girls across the U.S. and Canada with life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges girls face. The Girls Inc. Experience consists of people, an environment, and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in girls-only spaces that are physically and emotionally safe and where girls find a sisterhood of support with shared drive, mutual respect, and high expectations. Hands-on, research-based programs provide girls with the skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance.  Informed by girls and their families, Girls Inc. also works with policymakers to advocate for legislation and initiatives that increase opportunities for girls. At Girls Inc., girls grow up healthy, educated, and independent. For more information on Girls Inc. please visit www.girlsincwestchester.org

Bleakley Platt Announces New Counsel

Bleakley Platt & Schmidt is pleased to announce that Grant E. Pollack, Esq., P.C. has become affiliated with the firm in the Corporate, Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice Groups. Grant is an intellectual property attorney with twenty-five years of experience in intellectual property litigation, patent procurement and analysis, intellectual property due diligence, licensing, and client counseling. Grant also has expertise in counseling clients on privacy protection issues.

We are very pleased to add Grant’s expertise to Bleakley Platt’s highly experienced and accomplished group of intellectual property attorneys. With his addition, Bleakley Platt offers its clients the full range of intellectual property litigation and prosecution in patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as unfair competition and trade secret litigation.

Partner Jim Glatthaar Teaching CLE on Landlord-Tenant Law

Jim Glatthaar will be a member of a distinguished faculty at a CLE seminar on Landlord-Tenant Law presented by Sterling Educational Services on November 19 at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains.  Mr. Glatthaar, along with three other attorneys, will discuss the legal issues facing landlords, including tenant’s and landlord’s rights and obligations, evictions, the impact of tenant or landlord bankruptcy and ethical considerations in landlord-tenant law, among other issues. The seminar is geared for attorneys, building owners, real estate developers, tenants, building managers and leasing agents.

Joe DeGiuseppe to Speak at SES Employment Law Seminar

Joe DeGiuseppe, the head of the Firm’s Immigration and Employment Law Practice Groups, will speak on November 12, 2015, at a CLE accredited seminar being sponsored by Sterling Education Services, Inc. (SES) on the “Fundamentals of Employment Law Seminar.” Joe will give a presentation on the topic of “Immigration Compliance Issues.”

The SES seminar will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Downtown in White Plains, New York, from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. Reservations for this seminar can be made by contacting SES at (715) 855-0495 or visiting its website at http://store.sterlingeducation.com/seminar/15NY11274-Fundamentals-of-Employment-Law-White-Plains-NY.

11 Bleakley Platt Attorneys Selected to 2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers List

Each year, Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, identifies no more than five percent of the lawyers in New York State on its “Super Lawyers” list — “outstanding lawyers” who have attained a “high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.”  The selection process includes independent research and peer evaluations.  The publication recently announced that 11 Bleakley Platt attorneys were selected to the New York Metro “Super Lawyers” list in 2015.  The attorneys receiving this honor are:

• Joseph DeGiuseppe, Jr.
• Susan E. Galvao
• William P. Harrington
• Robert D. Meade
• William M. Murphy
• Christopher C. Palermo
• Frances M. Pantaleo
• Matthew G. Parisi
• Raymond M. Planell
• Nancy J. Rudolph
• Mary Anne Wirth 

In addition, Bleakley Platt associate Justin M. Gardner was named to the 2015 New York Metro “Rising Star” List by Super Lawyers, an honor received by no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state.

Transactions Closed Summer 2015

The Firm represented clients on the following merger and acquisition transactions that closed this summer:

• Northeast Radiology of CT, LLC in its purchase of the membership interests of HVRA of Danbury, LLC and HVRA of New Milford, LLC from Housatonic Valley Radiological Associates, P.C.
• Premier Physical Therapy and Wellness P.C., four affiliated companies and their owners in the sale of their assets to Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, P.C. and PPT Management, LLC.
• Ergotech Group, Inc. in the transfer of its assets to Ergotech Group, LLC and Sale of the latter company’s membership interests to Innovative Office Products, LLC.

Joe DeGiuseppe to Speak at NYS Cemetery Association Annual Conference

Joe DeGiuseppe, the head of the Firm’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group, will be a guest speaker at the NYS Cemetery Association’s Annual Conference on October 5, 2015, at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, NY. Joe will be speaking on the topic of “The Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors” and the potential consequences thereof for employers. More information on the Conference can be obtained from the NYSAC’s website at nysac.com or by calling the NYSAC at 518-434-1134.

Bleakley Platt Making a Difference for Children

Led by Mary Ann Zeolla, with special thanks to Susan Galvao and her daughters and Mary Casterella, who shopped and packaged the clothing, the firm delivered new back to school clothes for a group of children who are part of the Grandparents Coalition in Mount Vernon and Yonkers. In addition, funds given generously by individuals were donated to the Back-To-School Clothes for Kids headquarters.

Frances Pantaleo to Speak at Prestigious Estate Planning Conference

Partner Frances Pantaleo has been invited to present at the 46^th annual Sidney Kess New York Estate, Tax & Financial Planning Conference, sponsored by UJA-Federation on September 10^th.  Her presentation will cover estate planning for families who have individuals with special needs, why supplemental needs trusts are necessary, how they are funded, the selection of trustees and evaluating when to seek guardianship under Article 17A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act or Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law.