The Brooklyn Bar Association and the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association held back-to-back events last week where attendees hailed the achievements of past and present leaders and passed the baton to future ones, celebrating those individuals who have made the professional organizations more like families, according to the bar association’s new president.
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“As a young attorney, I grew up in this bar association,” said Aimee Richter. “My earliest memories are of sitting in [Bar Association executive director Avery Okin’s] office in my 20s, crying about some problem that I thought was the end of the world. But he never laughed and was always there for me. That’s the kind of thing a family like the bar association does.”
Richter, a partner in the family law and matrimonial law firm Lee, Anav, Chung, White, Kim, Ruger & Richter LLP, was sworn into her post at an induction ceremony for newly elected Brooklyn Bar Association officers and trustees at Borough Hall on June 14.
Several former Bar Association officials praised Richter in front of a packed ceremonial courtroom following her appointment.
“She embodies everything that is best about the BBA,” said former president Andrea Bonina. “She’s loving, loyal, and unbelievably brilliant — one of the smartest people I know.”
Other officers installed at the ceremony included president-elect David Chidekel, first vice president Frank V. Carone, second vice president Anthony J. Lamberti, secretary Armena D. Gayle, and treasurer Richard Klass.
The Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association held its 99th annual dinner the following night, honoring two acclaimed women in the borough’s legal community and bidding farewell to outgoing president Sara J. Gozo.
“It was a great year,” Gozo said. “I feel that we have all taken the organization to even greater heights, including adding over 100 new members to its ranks.”
The organization presented the Beatrice M. Judge Recognition Award — which is named for the first woman to sit on the Kings County Supreme Court bench — to Nancy T. Sunshine, County Clerk of Kings County, Clerk of the Supreme Court, and Commissioner of Jurors.
“It’s really very special to receive an award named after such a distinguished attorney, leader, and first justice of the Supreme Court of Kings County,” Sunshine said. “Not only did she make society better for all of us, but because of her perseverance and achievements she opened the door for other women to follow and achieve.”
And the Women’s Bar Association bestowed the Sybil Hart Kooper Award, named for a state Supreme Court justice who championed women’s rights, to Lisa Schreibersdorf, the founder and executive director of the Brooklyn Defender Services, one of the country’s largest public defense firms.
Celebrations in session: Steven D. Cohn speaks at ceremonies inducting the new Brooklyn Bar Association Officers at the Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Newly inducted Brooklyn Bar Association president Aimee Richter holds proclamation from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams as Frank Seddio looks on at induction ceremonies for new Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Frank Seddio addresses induction ceremonies for the new Brooklyn Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14 as new association president Aimee Richter looks on.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Newly inducted Brooklyn Bar Association president Aimee Richter celebrates with Judith White at induction ceremonies for new Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Newly inducted Brooklyn Bar Association officers, from left, Richard Klass, Armena D. Gayle, Anthony J. Lamberti and David M. Chidekel at Bar Association induction ceremonies at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Immediate past Brooklyn Bar Association president Frank Seddio, newly inducted Bar Association president Aimee Richter and Judith White celebrate at Brooklyn Bar Association induction ceremonies at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Lawrence Knipel, left, and Judge Donald S. Kurtz get together at induction ceremonies for the new Brooklyn Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Ingrid Joseph, left, Judge Theresa M. Ciccotto, center, and Monica Sheehan were in attendance at induction ceremonies for the new officers of the Brooklyn Bar Association at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Newly inducted Brooklyn Bar Association president Aimee Richter is congratulated by Avery Okin at induction ceremonies for the new Brooklyn Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Susan Bender, left, congratulates newly inducted Brooklyn Bar Association president Aimee Richter at induction ceremonies for the new Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
From left, Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association president Sara Gozo, Enika Bodnar, Keith Olarnick, and Vera Monaco celebrate at the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association’s 99th annual dinner at the Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Matthew J. Demic, left, and Steven D. Cohn got together at the 99th annual Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
From left, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Judge Nancy T. Sunshine and Judge Jeffrey Sunshine get together at the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association’s 99th annual dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
A guest joins Michael Stutman, center, and Dana Stutman, right, at the 99th annual Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association Dinner at the Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Guests celebrate at the 99th annual Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge L. Priscilla Hall, left, Judge Dwaynie E. Paul, center, and Judge Sandra Sgroi get together for a chat at the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association 9th annual dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Evelyn J. Laporte and Martin S. Needelman were in attendance at the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association’s 99th annual dinne at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Amanda Tarley, left, Judge Joy Campanelli, center, and Gregory LaSpina were on hand for the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association 99th annual dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Nancy T. Sunshine was on hand for the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association’s 99th annual dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Judge Donald Kurtz and Nina Kurtz, Esq. attended the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association 99th annual dinner at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on June 15.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Rose Woodland, left, Judge Jeffrey Sunshine and Judge Nancy T. Sunshine at the induction ceremonies for new Brooklyn Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
From left, Maria Aragona, Dean Delianites, Lucy DiSalvo and Mark Hoorwitz were on hand for induction ceremonies for new Brooklyn Bar Association officers at Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 14.
