Mediation & Arbitration

Borrelli Lectures on Ethics & Diversity Training

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured on “Ethics” and “Diversity Training” at a program sponsored by the Yonkers Lawyers Association.

Borrelli Lectures on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured in Manhattan on “Judicial Ethics Update – 2020”, at the Annual Convention for the New York State Association of Towns, as part of its Town and Village Justices Program.

Borrelli Lectures to New Judges on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our  Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups,  lectured at the NYS Judicial Institute in White Plains, New York on “Judicial Ethics”, for the Unified Court System Certification Program for Newly-elected Town and Village Justices.

Borrelli Lectures on Judicial Ethics for New Judges

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured in Albany, New York on “Assuming the Bench – Judicial Ethics”, for the Unified Court System Certification Program for Newly-elected Town and Village Justices.

Borrelli Lectures to Law Students on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups,  was a guest lecturer in White Plains, New York at a Professional Responsibility class at Pace Law School (Elisabeth Haub School of Law), speaking on “How Judicial Ethics Issues impact your Law Practice”.

Borrelli Lectures on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York on “Judicial Ethics”, at the Annual Meeting for the NYS Association of Supreme Court Justices.

Borrelli Lectures on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured in Lake Placid, New York on “Judicial Ethics Update – 2019”, at the Annual Convention of the NYS Magistrates’ Association, as part of its Justices’ Advanced Certification Program.

Borrelli is Dinner Speaker for Association of Supreme Court Justices

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Guardianship Practice, Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, was a dinner speaker for the Association of Supreme Court Justices of the City of New York in Queens, New York.

Judge Borelli Speaks to Judges and Judge Candidates on Campaign Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, chairs the Judicial Campaign Ethics Subcommittee of the NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics. In that capacity, Judge Borrelli served on a panel at the NYS Judicial Institute in the taping of the “2019 Judicial Campaign Ethics Online Training Video.” All candidates for election to Judicial Office this year, including incumbent judges running for re-election (except Town and Village Justices), are required to timely complete this program during his/her candidacy.

Borrelli Speaks at Dinner of Association of Supreme Court Justices

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our  Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, was a speaker in Staten Island at a dinner of the Association of Supreme Court Justices of the City of New York.

Judge Borrelli Speaks to Newly-Elected Judges

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured at the New York State Judicial Institute, as part of the Newly-Elected Judges’ Program.

Judge Borrelli Speaks to Judges on Judicial Ethics

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, lectured on “Judicial Ethics” at a program of the New York State Unified Court System entitled “Taking the Bench – Spring, 2018” for newly-elected and recently appointed Town and Village Justices from around the state. The program was held in Albany, New York.

Judge Borrelli Presents for Unified Court System on Ethics Issues

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, served on the faculty of the New York State Judicial Institute and New York State Unified Court System, Office of Justice Court Support sponsored Continuing Judicial Education Program at the NYS Association of Towns Annual Convention in New York City. Judge Borrelli presented on two topics: 1) 2018 Judicial Ethics Updates and 2) Ethics: Civic Participation Limitations

Judge Borelli Joins Firm

We are please to announce that Judge Edward P. Borrelli has joined the firm as Counsel in our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups. Judge Borrelli joins the firm following an illustrious 40 year career in the New York State Unified Court System, where he has presided over a very wide variety of proceedings, including Civil and Criminal jury trials and non-jury trials, high exposure Supreme Court Civil litigation, matrimonial, parental and grandparental child custody, visitation, child relocation, child support, domestic violence, elder law, adult guardianship and guardianship compliance enforcement proceedings.

Judge Borrelli Part of Panel Discussion on Rules Governing Judicial Conduct

Judge Edward P. Borrelli, a member of our Trusts & Estates, Matrimonial & Family Law, Appellate Practice and Mediation & Arbitration Practice groups, was part of a panel presentation by the New York State Judicial Institute entitled, “Rules Governing Judicial Conduct”, as part of a seminar for new judges.

Miller and Rosmarin Speak on Support Services for Parents in Conflict

Judge Miller and Abby Rosmarin, lawyers in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, jointly spoke on “Early Intervention: Support Services for Parents in Conflict.” This presentation was co-sponsored by Westchester Women’s Bar Association and Family Kind.

Rosmarin & Miller Part of Panel Discussion on Mediation/Arbitration

Judge Miller and Abby Rosmarin, lawyers in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, was part of a panel discussion entitled “MED-ARB: Getting Past the Impasse.” The program, which was co-sponsored by Westchester Women’s Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, Westchester Black Bar Association and White Plains Bar Association, explored how mediation and arbitration can be incorporated in matrimonial and family matters.

Rosmarin & Donelli Co-Present on Money & Divorce Conference

Abby P. Rosmarin, a Mediator in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, and Kathleen Donelli, who is a member of our Collaborative Law & Matrimonial & Family Law groups, co-presented at the 2015 Catalyst Conference Money Talks – The Psychology of Money and Divorce Finances (10/1-10/5). In keeping with the conference’s mission – to provide a forum to foster an interdisciplinary approach to help separating or divorcing couples in mediation – the program included a divorce financial planner.

Boggio, Bramson, Brophy, Donelli, Gebhardt, Miller & Streng Selected as Super Lawyers

Seven of our lawyers have been selected Super Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. Gail M. Boggio has again been selected in the fields of Estate & Trust Litigation/Estate Planning & Probate/Elder Law. Howell Bramson has again been selected in the fields of Estate Planning/Tax and Corporate Business. Joseph Brophy has again been selected in the fields of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice, General, Estate & Trust Litigation. Kathleen Donelli has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Dolores Gebhardt has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Judge Sondra Miller has again been selected in the fields of Appellate/Family Law. Frank W. Streng has been selected in the fields of Estate & Trust Litigation and Estate Planning & Probate. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have been recognized by their colleagues as having the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Miller Authors Article on Prenuptial Agreements for New York Law Journal

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who has a national reputation on family law issues and leads our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group and Appellate Practice group, authored an article for the New York Law Journal on Prenuptial Agreements entitled, “Come Live With Me and Be my Love…But Sign This Prenup!“

Rosmarin & Donelli do CLE on the Psychology of Money and the Practice of Law

Abby P. Rosmarin, a Mediator in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, and Kathleen Donelli, who is a member of our Collaborative Law & Matrimonial & Family Law groups, jointly lectured for the Westchester Women’s Bar Association on a program entitled, “Money Matters: How the Psychology of Money Impacts our Practice of Law.”

Boggio, Bramson, Brophy, Donelli, Gebhardt & Miller Selected as Super Lawyers

Six of our lawyers have been selected Super Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. Gail M. Boggio has been selected in the fields of Estate & Trust Litigation/Estate Planning & Probate/Elder Law. Howell Bramson has again been selected in the fields of Estate Planning/Tax and Corporate Business. Joseph Brophy has again been selected in the fields of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice, General, Estate & Trust Litigation. Kathleen Donelli has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Dolores Gebhardt has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Judge Sondra Miller has again been selected in the fields of Appellate/Family Law. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have been recognized by their colleagues as having the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Miller & Rosmarin Lecture on Family Law Mediation

Judge Miller and Abby Rosmarin, lawyers in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, lectured at Pace Law School on April 15, 2013 in White Plains, New York at a CLE program entitled “Essential Family Law/Matrimonial Law: Fundamentals.”

Donelli, Miller & Rosmarin Participate in Collaborative Law Workshop

On April 6, 2013, Kathleen Donelli (who heads up our Collaborative Law & Matrimonial & Family Law groups) and Deborah Wayne, Adjunct Professors at Pace Law School, presented a 6 hour Intensive Collaborative Law workshop for their students. The students found the workshop to be an exceptional learning experience. One of the students, Jonah Freedman, wrote: “I have participated in numerous simulations throughout my law school career and last Saturday’s collaborative law simulation was by far superior. What made this experience so rewarding was having the opportunity to role play and gain insights alongside all the Collaborative Law essential ‘players’ such as attorneys (including a Judge), mental health professionals and CPAs.” Judge Sondra Miller and Abby Rosmarin, lawyers in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, also participated in the workshop.

Rosmarin Speaks on “Do’s & Don’t for Mediators & Collaborative Lawyers; Donelli Moderates Program

Abby P. Rosmarin, a Mediator in our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, was part of a panel discussion on February 26, 2013 on “The Do’s and Don’t of Client Intake for Matrimonial & Civil Mediators & Collaborative Attorneys” at the White Plains Library in a program sponsored by the Collaborative Practice & Mediation Committees of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. Kathleen Donelli, who is a member of our Collaborative Law & Matrimonial & Family Law groups, was the moderator of the program.

Judge Miller Receives Kay Crawford Murray Award

We are pleased to announce that Judge Sondra M. Miller, who leads our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group and Appellate Practice group, received the Kay Crawford Murray Award on January 22, 2013. The award is given by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Women in the Law to celebrate “an individual who, in the spirit of Ms. Murray, recognizes the value of diversity in the legal profession and has committed to advancing the professional development of women attorneys.”

Bramson, Brophy, Donelli, Gebhardt & Miller Selected as Super Lawyers

Five of our lawyers have been selected Super Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. Howell Bramson has been selected in the fields of Estate Planning/Tax and Corporate Business. Joseph Brophy has again been selected in the fields of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice, General, Estate & Trust Litigation. Kathleen Donelli has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Dolores Gebhardt has been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Judge Sondra Miller has been selected in the fields of Appellate/Family Law. Joe Brophy has also been selected as one of Westchester’s top 25 lawyers. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have been recognized by their colleagues as having the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group Introduces Video

As part of the recent expansion of our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group, we have put a video on our web site. In the video, viewers can get to know better the members of our Mediation & Arbitration team: Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who leads the group, Adam J. Krim, Kristen Mackay Pennessi and Abby P. Rosmarin. The video is set forth below.

Judge Miller Co-Chairs Judicial Seminar on Social Media & Criminal & Family Law Cases

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who leads our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group and Appellate Practice group, and Co-Chairs the New York State Family Violence Task Force, co-chaired a judicial seminar entitled: “’Friend’ or Foe: Social Media and the New Cyber-Landscape of Criminal and Family Law.” The seminar was part of a summer series of web casts offered by the New York State Judicial Institute for judges and non-judicial staff. The program was presented live at the Judicial Institute in White Plains, at group-viewing sites in each of the New York City counties, and on-line.

Judge Miller Interviewed by Wall Street Journal on Impact of New Divorce Law

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who leads our Mediation & Arbitration Practice Group and Appellate Practice groups, was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on the impact of the new divorce law. Judge Miller, who has been a long-time proponent of reforms in divorce law, discussed how the new divorce law, passed in 2010, has had unintended consequences on temporary alimony for some affluent New Yorkers. See video below for that interview. Footage provided by Wall Street Journal.

Judge Miller is Recipient of 2011 Judge Learned Hand Award

On December 1, 2011 Hon. Sondra M. Miller was the recipient of the 2011 Judge Learned Hand Award by the Westchester Region of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). This was the first time that the Judge Learned Hand Award was presented by AJC’s Westchester Region. The award ceremony took place at Chappaqua Crossing (the former Reader’s Digest site), in Chappaqua, New York. AJC is the oldest and most respected human relations organization in the United States. AJC builds bridges, advances security, promotes human rights, supports Israel and strengthens Jewish life. For over fifty years, AJC has taken great pride in publicly acknowledging the accomplishments of outstanding members of the legal community who excel in their field and give generously of themselves to the larger community.

Judge Miller Interviewed by New York Law Journal on Court Ruling on New No-Fault Divorce Legislation

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who has been a long-time proponent of “no fault” divorce and helped bring upon its passage in law last year, was interviewed by the New York Law Journal (2/4/2011) to comment on a recent ruling on the new law by Essex County Justice Robert J. Muller. Justice Muller is  the second judge to rule that a trial is required if a party disputes whether, under the new law, a marriage has “broken down irretrievably.” The article went on to say:

“Sondra Miller, the former Second Department justice who headed a commission appointed by former Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye to examine the state’s matrimonial laws, disagreed with Justice Muller’s conclusion stating that the ‘irretrievably broken’ language must be read in the context within which it was written. . . . ‘It is quite clear,’ Ms. Miller said, that the ‘purpose’ of the language referring to an oath provided by ‘one party’ was to ‘avoid litigation.’  ‘It was not the intent of the Legislature and the bill’s sponsors to avoid litigation on fault grounds only to substitute litigation upon the ground of irretrievable breakdown,’ added Ms. Miller who is now chief counsel at McCarthy Fingar in White Plains. ‘The statute was designed to avoid the expense and delay of full trials.'”

Judge Miller Speaks at Induction Ceremony of Justice Linda J. Christopher

Hon. Sondra M. Miller spoke at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City at the induction ceremony of newly elected Justice Linda J. Christopher.

Judge Miller Interviewed by New York Law Journal on “No Fault” Divorce

Hon. Sondra M. Miller was interviewed by the New York Law Journal as a spokesperson for various state and local bar groups who lobbied Albany legislators for an amendment of divorce law to permit “no fault” divorce. Judge Miller, who is also the Director of the Office of Family Services for the Office of Court Administration, organized the event in Albany, to remind legislators of the need to change the divorce laws and to highlight the near-unanimous support that the no-fault option has among bar groups. In her interview, Judge Miller also spoke of the difficulties the no-fault option faced in the current legislative session, since no-fault divorce is just one of a myriad of items vying for attention. In the interview, Judge Miller said: “They are not focused on this issue. And we, as a group, are at a disadvantage because we are not lobbyists.”

Judge Miller is Keynote Speaker for The Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York

Hon. Sondra M. Miller was a keynote speaker on November 8, 2007 for The Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York (FDMCGNY) at its 25th anniversary gala celbration in New York, New York. FDMCGNY is a not-for-profit group dedicated to the constructive resolution of traditional and non-traditional family disputes.

Gebhardt and Judge Miller Author Article on Divorce Law and Abandonment

Dolores Gebhardt and Hon. Sonda M. Miller authored an article in the Pace Law Review, Justice Abandoned: Forty Years of Stalemate in Actions for Divorce on the Ground of Abandonment, 27 Pace Law Review 605 (2007). Click on Article to see this publication.

Gebhardt & Judge Miller Lecture in Manhattan on No-Fault Divorce

Dolores Gebhardt and Hon. Sondra M. Miller spoke at a forum in New York City at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York on October 11, 2007, entitled “The Need for No-Fault Divorce.”

Judge Miller Joins Board of Legal Services of Hudson Valley

Hon. Sondra M. Miller has joined the Board of Directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.

Miller Interviewed on Recommendations of Matrimonial Commission

Hon. Sondra M. Miller  In the aftermath of the recent bribery conviction of former state Supreme Court Justice Gerald P. Garson, there has been substantial media coverage of the manner in which matrimonial and family law cases are litigated in the court system. Judge Miller, who headed the Matrimonial Commission formed by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, was interviewed by The Institute for Judicial Studies for both her observations on the case and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission. For excerpts of that interview, click at Interview. Click at Report to see the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission.

Judge Miller Lectures on Ethical Considerations and Attorney Fees

Hon. Sondra M. Miller lectured on Ethical Considerations and Attorney Fees as part of an all-day program in Tarrytown, New York on October 24, 2006 entitled “Probate and Administration of Estates” for the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Judge Sondra Miller Joins Firm and Leads the Firm’s Appellate and Mediation and Arbitration Practice Groups

We are pleased to announce that Judge Sondra M. Miller, retired from the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, as of January 1, 2006, has joined our Firm as Chief Counsel. Judge Miller is a member of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation and Matrimonial & Family Law groups and will lead the Firm’s appellate practice.

Judicial Discretion & the Voice of the Child in Resolving Custody Disputes: Comments on the Think Tank Report

Family Court Review

Collaborative Divorce Helps Benefit Couple’s Mutual Interests

Nadia Lerner

Collaborative Law and the Role of Law Guardians

Pace University School of Law