Montgomery Bar Association | Montgomery County, PA
Magazine
SUMMER 2022
Ladies in Leadership
Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Esq. 2021-22 President
Michelle Bernardo-Rudy, Esq. 2022 President
Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. 2022 President
Julie D. Goldstein, Esq. 2022 President
Carrie A. Woody, Esq. 2022 President
Also in this Issue From Admission to Appearance: My 40-Year Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court Local Legal Community Celebrates Law Day
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Montgomery Bar Association | Montgomery County, PA
Magazine MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION Serving the Profession and the Community since 1885
2022 OFFICERS Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq., President Justin A. Bayer, Esq., President-Elect Lisa A. Shearman, Esq., Vice President Seth D. Wilson, Esq., Treasurer Colin J. O’Boyle, Esq., Secretary
SIDEBAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chairs Gary J. Friedlander, Esq. Lydia Terrill, Esq. Vice-Chairs Gregory Gilston, Esq. Franqui-Ann J. Raffaele, Esq. Contributors: Jessica L. Chapman, Esq. Lindsay H. Childs, Esq. Jack Costello Jason Edwards, Esq. Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. Marion Hoffman Fraley Kate M. Harper, Esq. Marcia Binder Ibrahim, Esq. Timothy M. Knowles, Esq. Aimee L. Kumer, Esq. Jim Mathias Jules Mermelstein, Esq. Mary C. Pugh, Esq. Franqui-Ann J. Raffaele, Esq. Jacqueline M. Reynolds, Esq. David J. Schiller, J.D. James G. Schu, Jr., Esq.
MBA STAFF
CONTENTS
SUMMER 2022
In Every Issue & Short Features : 4 6 7 8
President’s Message Book Review Trial Lawyers Section Family Law Section
9 10
Probate & Tax Section: Super Retirement Plans for Successful Attorneys Young Lawyers Section
12 14 16 17 18 19 20
The Equity Stop Montgomery Bar Foundation Restaurant Review Movie Review A Word From USI Affinity MCAP Update Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
Features : 22 Ladies in Leadership
COVER:
25 A Conversation About Wellness . with MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. 28 A Word from the Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and Community Service Committee 29 From Admission to Appearance: My 40-Year Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court
Plus : 30 .MBA March Madness Happy Hour 31 Annual Memorial Service 32 MBA Dinner Dance
Denise S. Vicario, Esq., Executive Director
34 .DEI Committee Hosts “Meet & Greet” Event with Local Law Students
Jack Costello, Deputy Executive Director
35 .Local Legal Community Comes Together to Celebrate Law Day
Hazel Bergquist, Accounting Manager Jessica Deazle, Lawyer Referral Service and Front Office Coordinator Jessica Gambone, Montgomery County Law Reporter Desktop Publisher Jim Mathias, Director of Marketing, Development, and Public Affairs Tim Murray, Event and CLE Coordinator / Executive Assistant Sherry Sutton, Membership Coordinator Sandy Whittington, Accounting The SIDEBAR Committee invites articles and news information of interest. Please send content to: MBA, c/o SIDEBAR Committee, P.O. Box 268, Norristown, PA 19404-0268 or email: sidebar@montgomerybar.org. The SIDEBAR Committee reserves the right to edit any material submitted and/or to omit the same from publication. Most articles are written by members for members.
36 .MBA Friends and Family Night at the Elmwood Park Zoo 38 Member News 39 MBA Welcomes New Members Cover Photo (left to right) Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Esq. (PBA President); Michelle Bernardo-Rudy, Esq. (CCBA President); Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. (MBA President); Julie D. Goldstein, Esq. (BCBA President); and Carrie A. Woody, Esq. (DCBA President) SIDEBAR Magazine is published by Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. 2669 Shillington Road, #438, Sinking Spring, PA 19608 | HoffPubs.com | 610.685.0914 For Advertising Information & Opportunities Contact: Sherry Bolinger 717.979.2858 Sherry@hoffpubs.com Alicia Lee 610.685.0914 x210 Alicia@Hoffpubs.com
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Hello, My Fellow Montgomery Bar Members! Summer has always been my favorite time of year filled with trips to the beach, vacations, BBQ’s, swimming, being outside, and spending time with family and friends. It is often a time to reset from the demands of the rest of the year and take some time to relax. Hopefully, all of you are able to find ways to do this over the summer and focus on yourselves, even if in some small way, so as to rejuvenate for the remainder of the year.
Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. Montgomery Bar Association 2022 President
While the first half of 2022 is now behind us, with that came an outpouring of attendance for the return of the Dinner Dance at Green Valley Country Club. There was great food, a fabulous band led by our very own Judge Virgil Walker, a packed dance floor, and wonderful company among our colleagues. Everyone in attendance danced the night away, and many were able to attend our sold-out event at the Elmwood Park Zoo the following week. Whether enjoying the adventure course/ziplining, taking in a private animal show, or feeding the giraffe - a great time was had by all ages! After the difficulties we have all experienced over the last three years, it was so wonderful to see so many colleagues, friends, and their family members in attendance, including the end of the night with all of the children playing on the playground and enjoying ice cream! I was further honored and humbled to lead the Association as we returned to Courtroom A for two of our time-honored traditions and important ceremonies of Law Day and the Annual Memorial Service, where we heard from so many about the excellent work both in practice and in the community, and familial connections of our fellow members of the MBA who passed away in 2021. We will miss them deeply, but their memories and their contributions to the legal profession will forever be etched in MBA history.
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As we look ahead to the second half of the year, I am confident that the best is yet to come! I look forward to seeing all of you at the Bench Bar Conference at the historic Skytop Lodge in the Poconos from September 9-11. I know that you will enjoy all that this historic resort has to offer – swimming, hiking, golf, and so much more! In order to make everyone’s stay simple and easy, I have planned activities for both Friday and Saturday afternoons just for Bench Bar attendees, so that you can sign-up and spend time mingling with and meeting new colleagues and friends. Please be sure to sign-up for the “Sip & Clip”, Treetop Adventure Course, the Guided Nature Walk, or all three! For the first time ever, we will hear from President Judge Carluccio on the State of the Judiciary, followed by a riveting “Greatest Hits” CLE presented by Robert Mongeluzzi, Esq., of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky. You will not want to miss these one-time-only presentations! After a five-year hiatus, please also be sure to save the date for the return of LawyerPalooza on October 27th at Ardmore Music Hall. The Honorable Gary Silow will emcee the event as part of his farewell tour, and you will not want to miss the many musical talents of our fellow MBA members. It will surely be a night to remember!
Recent Events With all of the celebrations of summer, including watching the fireworks on July 4th on the beach while my children are away at overnight camp, I was happy knowing that my children are safe and sound at Camp Canadensis in the Poconos. As I gazed up into the sky and watched the spectacular fireworks display, I could not help but think about the events earlier that day and of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois at an Independence Day parade, and so many children that were not safe and now have lost their loved ones.
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Upon returning from the fireworks at the beach, and turning on the television to watch the end of the Welcome America celebration on the parkway, I, like many of you, was horrified to learn of the shooting of two police officers at the celebration of our Nation’s Independence, including a Sheriff’s deputy from right here in Montgomery County; and then hearing about those barricaded at the Parke Towne Place apartments hit close to home for me, as I lived there while attending law school and then as a new lawyer. How could a day meant to celebrate freedom have turned into such a violent and sorrowful day? It falls to us, as leaders in the law, to continue to safeguard and promote the ideals of independence and to be the ones to build our country to be that which we know it can be. We must continue to stand together united to celebrate our country and our communities and to transform our grief and anger into action. We must continue to be at the helm of the leadership in our communities and to continue to work to create a “more perfect union” in our country, which, consequently, was the theme of Law Day this year. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. I know that all of us feel passionate and intense about our stance on this topic and the Court’s decision, whether we personally agree or disagree with the decision that was made. Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, we all must
come together as barristers in this country and remind everyone to respect the legal process and honor the rule of law. While disagreements in the law are always in our midst, it is truly at the epicenter of the MBA to respect one another’s differing views and opinions and to come together peacefully and civilly with each other. One of the primary things I have always appreciated at the MBA is that we can have healthy debates with differing points of view, but the professionalism, collegiality, and mutual respect to put that all aside and come together at a social event. We must bring this mindset to our neighbors, friends, and family, as the leaders in our communities, and this too, will aid in creating a “more perfect union” in which we can all live together for many years to come. As I often tell my daughters, “use your power and your voice for good and not evil,” we too must use our voices to educate those who do not understand the issues. Whether you support or oppose the Supreme Court’s recent decision, you should encourage others to learn about the issues, educate them as best as you can, and use your voice to be part of our democracy and vote your mind and position, regardless of the position you take. Do not rush into the Autumn yet, please continue to take that time to reset and enjoy the summer because a little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about – See you at Skytop!
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BOOK REVIEW: by Greg Isles Review By Jules Mermelstein, Esq., author of Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue
A
s a fan of legal thrillers, and the author of one, when I see that there’s a legal thriller series I have not encountered previously, I immediately want to read the first in the series to become familiar with both the main character and the author’s writing style. When I heard that the seventh novel in a legal thriller series was to be published in June 2023, I knew I had to read the first one. The Quiet Game by Greg Isles was published in 1999 and is the first featuring Penn Cage, a former prosecutor in Houston and a best-selling author who moves back to his hometown, Natchez, Mississippi, after his wife dies. His young daughter is having a hard time adapting to her mother’s death and Penn believes moving in with his parents, at least temporarily, will help his daughter. Being a celebrity, Penn is interviewed by the publisher of the hometown paper, and casually brings up the apparent civil rights-related murder of a Black worker in the town in 1968 that was never solved. The publication of his musings on the murder creates ripples in the small town, which prefers to not be reminded of its dirty laundry. Some of these ripples include the mother and the widow of the murdered Black man trying to hire Penn to investigate the case, which Penn declines. They include the Black candidate running to unseat the White incumbent mayor asking Penn to stop talking about the case so that he can attract some White votes. They include attempts on Penn’s life and threats to his family. They include a Black police officer trying to encourage Penn to investigate, to which he eventually agrees. The novel includes many main characters. In addition to Penn and his family, there are the aforementioned publisher, former police officers, former and current FBI agents, the Director of the FBI, and the former District Attorney and Supreme Court Justice who is the father of Penn’s first serious girlfriend. And, of course, that prior girlfriend, who is now a big-time attorney elsewhere, returns and is a major character throughout.
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I was impressed with the diverse and sometimes surprising back stories of the multiple characters and the motivations and actions of these characters. Just as I think I have figured out where the plot is going, it whips me around in a different direction, and then does so again and again. As with all good novels, the further one moves in the plot, the harder it is to put down the book. My only criticism of this novel is a personal preference. I do not like detailed descriptions in books I read, which is why I did not include them in the one I wrote. In legal thrillers, especially, I concentrate on the character and motivations of the main characters and the plot. Mr. Isles apparently likes detailed descriptions. Those descriptions are easily skimmed and did not diminish my enjoyment in the characters and plot. Some of the many interesting observations in the novel, without giving away the plot, include a comment about who committed the 1968 murder. It struck me that this comment applies to some current events. Penn describes the guilty as “Racist cowards motivated by the tacit encouragement of white leaders who knew better.” One comment about how the past influences us struck me as a perfect summary of not only individuals’ personal history, but also communities, states, nations, and world history. Einstein said the arrow of time flies in only one direction. Faulkner, being from Mississippi, understood the matter differently. He said the past is never dead; it’s not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity. Haunted by wrong turns and roads not taken, we pursue images perceived as new but whose provenance dates back to the dim dramas of childhood, which are themselves but ripples of consequence echoing down the generations. Much later in the novel, this theme repeats in one sentence, which appears to be the moral of the story. “Our actions have consequences that last long after us, entwining the present with the future in ways we cannot begin to understand.” If you like legal thrillers, I highly recommend this first in a series and, I assume, the series itself.
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Trial Lawyers Section Update By Aimee L. Kumer, Esq., President, Trial Lawyers Section
A
s we head into summer, the Trial Lawyers Section turns its focus from the more “academic” emphasis of our CLE programming in late winter/spring to the Bar’s wellness initiatives, and our own individual opportunities to focus on wellness as the weather entices us outside for social and physical activities. Members were encouraged to attend and participate in the Legal Aid Golf Classic, presented by the Bar Foundation (and to purchase raffle tickets as part of the Section competition!). The Trial Lawyers Section contributed an enticing “self-care basket” to the Golf Classic’s silent auction that was full of wellness-focused goodies.
And we will be interrupting our traditional summer hiatus with a happy hour on July 28 at Well Crafted Beer Company in Ambler Yards. Members will have the opportunity to enjoy one another’s company and some excellent local beer while engaging in some friendly competition and light physical activity in the form of ladder golf and corn hole games. The happy hour will be sponsored by Kanna Fitness, who will be in attendance to talk to members about their fitness offerings. We will also be looking to put together a “team” for MCAP’s Run for the Hill of it on July 30. Regardless of whether members choose to join in the wellness activities offered by the Bar, we hope our members take time over these summer months to focus on their own emotional, physical, spiritual, occupational, social and intellectual wellness.
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Family Law Section Update By Lindsay H. Childs, Esq., Chair
S
ince the start of the year, the Family Law Section has been focused on providing quality programming at our monthly lunch meetings, collaborating with other sections and committees, integrating the MBA’s Wellness Initiative, and exploring sponsorship opportunities. We began on January 5th with an informational session from our new President Judge, the Honorable Carolyn T. Carluccio, and the new Administrative Judge of Family Court, the Honorable Daniel J. Clifford, who both spoke about the state of family court in Montgomery County. They were able to provide updates on staffing changes, judge assignments, and procedures for conferences and trials. Our next meeting was held on February 2nd, which featured a CLE presentation on “Addiction Issues in Family Law.” The panel consisted of the Honorable Kelly C. Wall, Dr. V. Richard Roeder, and therapist Sean Smith. The speakers helped identify appropriate testing and evaluation methods, reliable therapies, and common remedies for parents and spouses dealing with substance abuse issues in their cases. The meeting was sponsored by Soberlink (Mike Fonseca). On March 2nd, Ken Feinman from CrossCountry Mortgage and real estate agent Pam Butera spoke about “Real Estate and Mortgages – What Family Lawyers Need to Know.” Moderated by Anita Seth, Esq., the program focused on updating members about the current real estate market and mortgage industry, so that we can advise our clients about realistic outcomes with the sale or refinance of the marital home and include appropriate language in agreements and pleadings that will best protect our clients. Our April meeting was another CLE program, featuring Matthew Morley, Esq., from KLM Attorneys and moderated by Inna Materese, Esq. Attorney Morley spoke about “Best Practices in Drafting, Implementing and Enforcing Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.” The meeting was sponsored by ARCPoints Labs in King of Prussia (Rob and Mary Sykes). And the Section heard from member Peter Bort, Esq., about his mindfulness practice, specifically about how to take advantage of your circadian rhythm to maximize your health and happiness.
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On May 4th, the Family Law Section hosted an ethics CLE program that was a collaboration with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee. Moderated by Kelley M. Fazzini, Esq., the panel consisted of the Honorable A. Nicole Tate-Phillips, Luz Denise Negron-Bennett, Esq., and Rebecca Levin Nayak, Esq. The program was titled “Bias and Barriers in Family Law,” and the speakers discussed the many kinds of implicit bias, how it creates barriers for clients in family court, and what resources are available to deal with it. Most recently, on June 1st, Elizabeth Early, Esq., led a Q & A session with the newest Hearing Officer in Support, Jennifer Hekking, Esq. She addressed her policies and procedures for both simple and complex support hearings, and how she applies the law in certain factual issues that frequently arise in support matters. The Family Law Section is looking forward to hosting a social event over the summer (details to come), in furtherance of the Wellness Initiative. And we welcome any new members (or nonmembers) to attend our future meetings, which are typically held on the first Wednesday of the month at noon.
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Probate & Tax Section: Super Retirement Plans for Successful Attorneys By David J. Schiller, J.D.
M
y friend, Alex, just turned 50. He’s saved $20,000 to $60,000 each year in his 401-K and has built up around $800,000 for his retirement over the past twenty years of his practice. His lifestyle and ongoing financial needs dictate that he will require at least $15,000 per month throughout his retirement years to enjoy a nonextravagant lifestyle. Since he has contributed the maximum to Social Security over the years, he expects to receive about $4,000 per month, leaving a monthly shortfall of at least $11,000. His financial advisor told him that he must save at least $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 to sustain his lifestyle. He was advised that he will outlive his assets unless he either dies early or saves more. Not surprisingly, the second plan seems more attractive. His goal is to use his relatively short 15 plus years of earnings in front of him to rapidly build wealth. As a financially successful attorney, Alex earns $200,000 to $300,000 per year after expenses and believes he can now afford to put away between $100,000 and $225,000 for each of the coming years, but 401-K and profit-sharing plans do not allow such large contributions. The solution? A Cash Balance Plan. What is a Cash Balance Plan? A Cash Balance Plan, which is a type of Defined Benefit Plan, will allow an attorney to contribute up to 100% of his net income each year into the plan. They work well for solo and small group law practices. Besides, who can’t use a $100,000+ annual deduction? Who prefers to pay higher taxes each year? For this plan, it is best to make
contributions when you are in a higher tax bracket during your working years and then withdraw funds throughout retirement when you will be in a lower tax bracket. The goal is to shelter income from taxes when it is earned and allow invested assets to compound over decades without taxes so that your wealth grows faster. You can then slowly start to take withdrawals at age 72 (unless needed sooner). This age-based plan works well for middle-aged and older attorneys and the cost you pay for the staff is typically quite modest. Often 85% or more of the benefits are allotted for the attorneys. This type of plan can be used to supplement or act in lieu of a 401-K plan and allows you to best catch-up for lost time. Significant contributions allow you to put away enough to yield over $20,000 per month throughout retirement. However, don’t forget the “cost” of future inflation. Ramen noodles are not part of any retirement planning. The following numbers reflect the actual economics of a personal injury firm:
CASH BALANCE PLAN CONTRIBUTION
CENSUS
AGES
Attorney #1 Attorney #2 Staff #1
62 48 54
$ 172,000 Elected Zero $ 2,029
Staff #2 Staff #3 Staff #4
48 40 27
$ 1,753 $ 1,369 $ 1,290
TOTAL:
$ 176,441
Note the flexibility permitted by the Plan. One or more partners can be excluded if they cannot afford contributions and have current cash needs that will not allow them to contribute. They can later be included if their situation changes. Additionally, a Cash Balance Plan is a wonderful retention strategy. Many attorneys are having difficulty attracting and retaining staff members. A retirement plan is expected by the staff and is offered by almost all larger firms and many smaller firms. Don’t give people a reason to leave or not join your firm; the cost is small and the benefits are significant. Also, all retirement plan assets in a Cash Balance Plan are 100% protected from creditors. If you cannot pay a bank on a loan or a malpractice creditor with an excess verdict, they cannot take your retirement plan assets. OJ Simpson still enjoys his monthly NFL retirement plan checks, which cannot be grabbed by his creditors. Is a Cash Balance Plan right for you and your firm? A Third Party Administrator will typically prepare a projection and the actuary does a design study to determine anticipated contributions if you decide to start a Cash Balance Plan. Typical fees are $4,000 per year to administer the Plan, including the annual tax return and actuarial certification. The Third Party Administrator makes sure that all non-discrimination laws are followed, as well as the Internal Revenue Code. A Cash Balance Plan is the largest legal tax deduction. To take advantage of tax-deferred compounding of assets, the best time to start a Plan is yesterday and the second-best time is today.
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Young Lawyers Section: May Month of Service By The Officers of the Young Lawyers Section
E
ach spring, as we eagerly await the perennial blossoms long overdue from the dreary winter and the temptress that is the fourth calendar month, assuredly recant the modern incarnation of Tusser’s poem, and frantically restock allergy medicine en masse, the MBA Young Lawyers Section directs its focus to the time-honored “May Month of Service.” Though the Section engages in community outreach throughout the year, this long-standing tradition is a staple of our commitment to service to the community beyond what is achievable through practice alone. After MBA Sponsor JS Held helped the Section kick off their month of service during the May 5 Friends and Family Day at the Elmwood Park Zoo, the Section held a variety of in-person volunteer events and fundraising initiatives to support the community. We continue to support the Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County (SAAC) by sponsoring a Meals on Wheels route each month. Our route this year remains the same (the last Monday of each month), and even though you may have missed May, anyone interested in participating should contact YLS Treasurer/Community Outreach Director Chelsey A. Christensen, Esq., for more information. SAAC coordinates deliveries throughout the month and is always looking for volunteers, so if you are unable to participate on a Monday, Chelsey is happy to connect you with the program director to arrange a different date. On May 7th, the Section teamed up with the Probate and Tax Section and participated in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk at the Temple Ambler Campus. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many facets of society, but none more than people’s mental health. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Along with 59 other teams, the MBA team helped
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raise over $100,000.00 for NAMI. Thank you to those who joined the MBA team on May 7th and braved the pouring rain. On May 20th, members of the Section volunteered at the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park where we cleaned up part of the park and restored an animal enclosure. Finally, throughout its month of service, the Section also coordinated fundraising initiatives for the Montgomery Bar Foundation and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. In addition to service, the Section focuses on providing substantive programing and networking opportunities to its membership, including our FREE Summer Happy Hour Series. The first happy hour was held on June 16th at the Great American Pub following the bootcamp hosted by the DEI Committee, Solo/Small Firm Committee, and Criminal Defense Committee. The second happy hour will be a joint event with the Trial Lawyers Section held on July 28th at Well Crafted
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Brewery in Ambler. The third and fourth happy hours will be held in August and September, so pay attention to the listservs and MBA newsletters for more information. These FREE happy hours are open to all MBA members. The Section held it first in-person meeting on May 18th and the turnout was fantastic. In addition to planning our Summer Happy Hour Series, the Section is in the planning stages of a “Back to Basics” CLE series and is looking to team up with other sections and committees to provide 1-hour primers on various topics, for example: estate planning basics (Looking at you Probate and Tax Section). While still in the planning stages, if there are topics of interest or a Section/ Committee that would like to team up with the Young Lawyers Section, please contact a Young Lawyers Section Officer. The Section is also planning a joint fall CLE with the Membership Committee on the business aspect of the legal field. As young or new lawyers we are taught how to file a motion or present arguments in court, but many times, we are not taught about client engagement/retention, marketing (within and outside the firm), and so many other aspects of the legal field that have nothing to do with lawyering. At the end of the day, this is a business. Stay tuned for more information on what is expected to be an informative CLE. While the staple of this Section is service and networking, it is also the foundation for the future leadership of the MBA. Unsurprisingly, many MBA Officers were active in the Young Lawyers Section and held leadership positions during their early days in practice. While COVID-19 greatly impacted the Section’s membership engagement, it is our hope that, with the return of in-person meetings and events, the Section’s membership will become more engaged. That said, the Section’s leadership has an open-door policy. Want to host a joint event with the Young Lawyers Section? We are an automatic, YES. Want to host a joint CLE with the Young Lawyers Section? Again, we are an automatic, YES. The leadership of the Young Lawyers Section wants this Section to be vibrant and thrive and are asking for input from the Section’s members regarding what – as young or new lawyers – you want out of this Section. Please send any and all ideas our way.
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The Equity Stop Did You Know? By Jessica L. Chapman, Esq., Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee In June we hosted an outdoor physical wellness event as a collaboration with the Criminal Defense and the Solo/Small Firm Committees. I thought I would take the opportunity to discuss some of the benefits of physical wellness. There is a misconception that people work out solely because they want to lose weight. The reality is that there is a long list of reasons why people work out regularly and an even longer list of benefits. The benefits can be divided between short- and longterm. Some of the short-term benefits can include improving your mood, boosting your energy, reducing depression, controlling stress and anxiety levels, and sleeping better. Some of the long-term benefits include weight loss, reducing your risk of health conditions, and strengthening your muscles and bones. In addition to these short- and long-term benefits, it can be a fun event in your day, breaking up the long and intense days that are inherent in the practice of law. I do a bootcamp workout 5 to 6 days a week at 4:45 a.m. Do I enjoy waking up so early? Absolutely not! But I enjoy starting my day taking some time for myself and it’s fun to have my friends there with me. It gives me a boost of energy and puts me in a good mood to tackle my day. We chose a career that is one of the most stressful jobs out there. We face issues that can cause us depression and anxiety and if left uncontrolled, can take over what we have worked so hard to achieve. Taking care of ourselves is no longer an option but a necessity. Did you know that in 2021, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers reported that the primary presenting concerns of callers were stress, alcohol misuse, depression, and anxiety? Complaints of anxiety were at a record high in 2021. These issues have always been present in the practice of law but have exponentially increased during the ongoing pandemic. Don’t wait to work on yourself because these issues will, more likely than not, only get worse with the passage of time. Make time for you.
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Project Linus By Jacqueline M. Reynolds, Esq., Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee kicked off the year by collaborating with the Young Lawyers Section on a service project in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The Committee members made over 40 nosew blankets for Project Linus, a non-profit organization that provides new handmade blankets to children in need. Project Linus’ Mission is to “provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new handmade blankets…lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”” “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
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James Heffernen, Esq. Leaves a Lasting Legacy By Kate M. Harper, Esq., President, Montgomery Bar Foundation
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im Heffernen practiced law in Montgomery County for many years before his death in 2020, and leaves a lasting legacy through his deeds and life. Recently, the Montgomery Bar Foundation was notified that his legacy will also include a substantial gift of more than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars to the Foundation. I asked his daughter-in-law, Leslie Heffernen, Esq., also a Member of the Montgomery Bar, to share her memories of Jim with us, as she had at the annual Montgomery Bar Memorial ceremony after his death to remember him once again to us, his fellow Montgomery Bar Members. Here are her words: “As many of you may know, Jim passed away in September 2020. He was a 50-year member of the Montgomery County Bar Association. “Jim was a former clerk for the Honorable Alfred L. Taxis, Jr., a 1956 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and a US Navy veteran, having logged in more than 100 carrier landings while at sea. Jim was also one of the first attorneys in Montgomery County to receive his LL.M in taxation. “Growing up as the son of a house painter, college was beyond his financial means. Fortunately, he caddied at Plymouth Country Club and a member, a local businessman, offered to pay for his tuition. Jim never forgot the generosity extended to him and always gave back to the community through the creation of scholarships, charitable trusts, and support of
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numerous charities especially those in the Conshohocken area. He was especially fond of the Montgomery Bar Foundation. “Jim loved practicing law, working deals with unfailing energy. He was adored by clients and known for his quips such as “the only thing worse than dying is outliving your money” and “taxable income is better than no income.” He was generous with his time, he never hesitated to help young people to improve their lives. He took a deep interest in students and worked with many young adults improving resumes and reviewing college and law school applications. He found joy in the success of others. “Jim also left his mark on the County seat, Norristown. As a young lawyer he made it his mission to ensure trees were planted along Swede Street where his first office was located. After raising the required funds, the result was dozens of Bradford pear trees planted all around the Courthouse. Many of these trees are still flourishing today. He even received an award from the Norristown Garden Club for these efforts; in the words of the Club, “the sight was spectacular when they bloomed in the Spring.” Thanks, Leslie, for that tribute. Many members remember him fondly and the Montgomery Bar Foundation is very grateful and pleased to have received such a generous donation from the James and Fay Heffernen Charitable Remainder Trust to be able to continue our work in supporting programs and organizations that provide access to justice in Montgomery County. One of those organizations, of course, is Legal Aid of Southeast PA, and the Foundation hosted a golf outing, with a dinner and silent auction to raise money for Legal Aid on June 27, 2022 at Cedarbrook Country Club in Blue Bell. The Legal Aid Golf Classic raised money for the Foundation to give to Legal Aid. In partnering with the Montgomery Bar Foundation to provide access to justice, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, with offices in Norristown, provides free legal services to low-income people who need a lawyer to handle civil matters like consumer issues, protection from abuse, housing issues, bankruptcy, custody, unemployment compensation and elder law issues. The MBF Legal Aid Golf Classic is one way Montgomery Bar lawyers raise money to help provide much needed services, but as Jim Heffernen’s example shows, there are many ways to support the Montgomery Bar Foundation’s work. Please join us by becoming an MBF Fellow this year when you get the solicitation, or, if you are a Young Lawyer, we have an option on the website for regular smaller gifts that still qualify you for Fellow status. Check it out!
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RESTAURANT REVIEW
Gran Rodeo
550 Dekalb Pike North Wales, PA 19454 267-217-7047 www.granrodeobarandgrill.com
By Jessica L. Chapman, Esq. Holy Guacamole! If you want delicious food and amazing service, Gran Rodeo is the place to go. This is not your typical taco night stop; it is by far the best Mexican cuisine restaurant to which I have ever been. Not only is the quality of the dishes consistently amazing but so is the service. The drinks are also phenomenal. This restaurant is a win the whole way around and you should, no, must try it out! Gran Rodeo has been a family-owned and operated restaurant since 1993 with two locations: North Wales and Warrington. They claim on their website to be “committed to wholeheartedly serving each and every guest [they] meet” and that they absolutely are. The service is one of the factors that puts your dining experience over the top. First, you are immediately welcomed by friendly staff. You then have great servers that are always making sure your drinks are full and you have everything you need. I have had several servers during my visits and they have all been extraordinary. When I say the food is fast, I mean it. I have never waited over 10 minutes for my meal and, let me tell you, I have been to this restaurant an obscene amount of times. I give them an A+ for consistency! The quality of the food also is truly phenomenal. I have been to many Mexican restaurants because, well, tacos, and this one has my heart. The first thing we get when we sit down is complimentary chips and two sauces – salsa and a type of seasoned sour cream that is out of this world. This time, we tried the guacamole, and it was nothing short of amazing. I grew
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up eating avocados but for some reason I don’t like guacamole. This one, I make an exception for. I don’t know what they mix in with those avocados but the explosion of flavor in your mouth is just difficult to describe. My husband, Luke, who could easily be diagnosed with a nacho obsession, always goes for the trash can nachos as an entrée. The waiter comes out with a trash can looking gadget on a plate, sets the plate on the table, and then slowly pulls the “trash can” up revealing perfect layers of chips, chicken, skirt steak, homemade cheese sauce, refried beans, onions, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream. A fact worth noting is the size of this platter. Luke can really put down some food but has never been able to finish the trash can nachos. I went for one of my favorites – the grilled tilapia. This dish always includes a generous amount of tilapia, yellow seasoned rice cooked to perfection, and I add the refried beans because they are delicious and I can’t get enough of them. I usually alternate my visits between this, the pork carnitas, and the tacos. I have also had their churro cup for dessert, which is a churro in the form of a small cup with creamy vanilla ice cream on top and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Oh my! We can’t ignore the drinks! Personally, I’m not a fan of tequila so I never go for the margaritas. The waiter accidentally made an extra chile mango jumbo margarita and said we could have it for free. Don’t twist my arm. I drank it and it was delicious. The mango flavor was predominant and I could barely taste the tequila, just how I like it. Don’t be fooled, the tequila is there! I have also had the daquiri and the sangria and these are holes in one! I absolutely recommend trying this restaurant. If you want to know you will have a delicious meal and great service, you should check out Gran Rodeo. If you don’t have anybody to go with, hit me up. I will go with you!
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MOVIE REVIEW
Just Mercy By Franqui-Ann J. Raffaele, Esq.
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have always loved to watch movies about the law, even before I became a lawyer. I think now I just fact check them. I have seen a lot of the greats, like My Cousin Vinny, A Civil Action, and Erin Brockovich, to name a few. One of my more recent favorites is Just Mercy. Based on a true story and the memoir with the same name, the film follows a young defense attorney, Bryan Stevenson (portrayed by Michael B. Jordan), as he navigates the justice system in Montgomery, Alabama in the pursuit of what would become his life’s work – the Equal Justice Initiative. The Equal Justice Initiative centers on obtaining justice and redemption for wrongfully convicted poor individuals on death row. The film focuses on Bryan’s attempts to start and run the initiative in a small racially charged community. He meets with inmates on death row who are waiting appeals of their convictions. Common threads emerge from these meetings – many inmates had inadequate representation and a majority of them were black. It is here Bryan meets Walter “Johnny D” McMillian, convicted of the murder of Ronda Morrison, an 18-year-old white girl in 1986. It is this case at the core of the film.
good and correct social injustices. This film highlights the trials and tribulations of trying to accomplish those moral goals as a young attorney, especially while being a black man in a world already set against him. It is a film about redemption and the pursuit of justice. Being based on the reallife accomplishments of Bryan Stevenson, it provides an inspiring tale.
After a review of his case, Bryan finds the evidence of Johnny D’s conviction lacking, relying almost entirely on the contradictory statements made by Ralph Myers, a career criminal currently convicted and serving time. Bryan sets out to appeal Johnny D’s conviction, all while trying to convince Johnny D that he has a chance. The film follows the lengths taken and the efforts made by Bryan as he tries to prove Johnny D’s innocence. Just Mercy is one of my favorite films because it is such a powerful story. Many people choose to become attorneys to do
The film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2019 and opened in theaters on January 10, 2020. Just Mercy stars a medley of phenomenal talent. The acting is commanding and emotive, with a particularly impassioned performance by Jamie Foxx, who plays Walter McMillian. The rest of the cast provides equally believable performances, including Brie Larson and Tim Blake Nelson. For those seeking to learn more about the social injustice of the criminal justice system or the [fairly true to] real life story of Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative, I recommend watching this film and taking in the truly impactful performances of its actors.
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A Word from USI Affinity | My Benefit Advisor
Addressing the Shift in Workplace Dynamics
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t’s quite evident that the past few years have seen drastic shifts in the country’s workplace environment. Today’s workforce has taken on a look different from that of the past, with employee demographics more diverse than ever before, including an ever-widening range of ages, racial groups and ethnic backgrounds. Many of these groups, notably including women, are commanding a greater sphere of influence and power. Furthermore, the employees of today are demanding new approaches to work culture, looking for employers to recognize their personal needs and value, both in the workplace and in their home life. Business owners, aware of these shifts and the dynamic changes between employer/employee relationships, have taken notice and are reshaping their workplace practices and benefit portfolios to avoid any potential turnover in their workforce. As a result, employers are offering more competitive pay, enhanced health benefits and flexible work-from-home arrangements. But more than just competitive pay, employees have demanded racial, gender and pay equity. Employers have recognized that creating an inclusive culture is important to the success of their company and its long-term growth and
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profitability, since today’s employees are quick to begin searching for new employment if they feel their needs are not being met. The Montgomery Bar Association offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at montba.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Ray Keough at (610) 684-6932. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential and/or privileged material. This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to the sender. After notifying the sender of the error, you should immediately delete this e-mail from your system. Please be aware that any unauthorized disclosure, dissemination, distribution, duplication or use of the e-mail contents or any attachments therein is strictly prohibited.
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MCAP UPDATE
By Mary C. Pugh, Esq., Executive Director, MCAP CAP celebrates Patricia Teaford! Happy tenth work anniversary with MCAP. Although Pat’s official title with MCAP is Program Coordinator, to our MCAP advocates and employees she is so much more. Lovingly referred to as the “heart” or the “brains” of MCAP, Pat is the command center who oversees the smooth functioning of daily operations, so we can help abused and neglected children each day. Pat’s primary responsibilities include identifying MCAP advocates to represent children in cases, maintaining the case management system and data, coordinating the administrative work for staff, and assisting with fundraisers. However, what Pat does best is care for and listen to everyone. She makes the people around her feel important and special. Besides making others feel important, Pat freely shares her rich work and life experiences with others, fostering an empathic relationship with colleagues, partners, and the families. For over 20 years she has worked with law firms and in companys’ legal departments in management and supervisory roles. She began her career working in the medical field working as an Emergency Room Supervisor with Sacred Heart Hospital, a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with
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Whitemarsh Community Ambulance, and a unit administrative assistant for Mercy Suburban Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. We are grateful for Pat’s service and kindness and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with her! We are excited to host our LIVE 33rd Annual Run for the Hill of It! Time to use your SUPERHERO powers to lace up your sneakers and join us LIVE for the Run for the Hill of It SUPERHERO Run on July 30, 2022, in Fairmount Park at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. Register TODAY at https://runsignup.com or www.mcapkids.org. Bring your family and friends as it will be a blast for everyone. There is also a 1-mile FUN RUN for kids and a 1-mile walk. Organize a TEAM for loads of fun. As an added benefit, all proceeds go to helping abused and neglected kids overcome the pain and horrors of physical and emotional abuse. We look forward to seeing you there! SAVE the date for our MCAP Salute to Heroes Dinner Dance and Auction live on November 12, 2022, at 6:00pm at the Sheraton Valley Forge. Details to follow. As always, we welcome your support and interest. Feel free to visit us at www.mcapkids.org or call the office at 610-279-1219. Thanks so much for all you do!
Montgomery Child Advocacy Project’s (MCAP) mission is to end and prevent child abuse and neglect in Montgomery County through legal services, advocacy, and education. MCAP operates as a pro-bono model with 140+ professional attorneys (trained by MCAP) on our roster who donate approximately 8,000 hours to our child clients’ cases each year. Since our founding in 2004, MCAP has provided free legal services for more than 6,200 children. To learn more please see our website at www.mcapkids.org. SUMMER 2022 19
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By Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Director Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA celebrates 20+ years of service at Fête for Justice! 4 Freedoms, 4 Counties, 4 Justice! Legal Aid of Southeastern PA celebrated 20+ years as a regional civil legal aid provider at the Fête for Justice on May 19. THANK YOU to the Montgomery Bar Association, MBA members, and all sponsors and friends who supported and joined us at Normandy Farm, Blue Bell for this milestone. Keynote Speaker Reuben Jonathan Miller, sociologist, University of Chicago assistant professor and author of Halfway Home: Race, Punishment and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration, challenged attendees to consider the disproportionate impact of mass incarceration on Black and Brown people. Trapeta B. Mayson, 2020-21 Philadelphia Poet Laureate, shared healing words of verse, including “In This Season” and “Superhero.” We celebrated 47 Honorees, whose work collectively paved the way for LASP’s service across 20+ years. William L. Baldwin, LASP Board President and Delaware County Bar Association Executive Director, and C. Shawn Boehringer, LASP Executive Director, both shared brief remarks. Honorees whose work on behalf of LASP has taken place primarily in Montgomery County included: • Nancy R. Paul, former Montgomery Bar Association and Montgomery Bar Foundation Executive Director for over 30 years. A driving force behind many award-winning access-tojustice initiatives, Nancy served as president of the LASP Board 20 SIDEBAR
of Directors from 2014-16 and was a longtime member of the LASP Board. • Harvey F. Strauss joined Montgomery County Legal Aid Service (MCLAS) in 1976 as staff attorney and became director in 1978. Harvey was chosen as one of the two directors with Elizabeth Wood Fritsch in Bucks County to lead the newly formed LASP, a position he held until his 2013 retirement. • Longtime current members of LASP’s Board of Directors Joseph P. Lynch and Paul Troy. • Consumer law attorney, Cary L. Flitter has presented consumer law trainings to LASP staff, including virtually during the pandemic, and has been instrumental in directing over $260,000 in residual class action funds to LASP. • Current longtime LASP staff Jean Gauger, Pottstown Office Manager; Nanci Hoover, Helpline Supervising Attorney; and Susan Rizzardi, Norristown Office manager. • Edward Danelski and Susan Strong both retired as LASP Staff Attorneys in fall 2021. Susan served more than 41 years and Ed more than 39 years. Both received the Honorable Milton O. Moss Public Service Award from the Montgomery Bar Foundation in January 2022. • Hon. Stewart J. Greenleaf, Sr. (1939-2021). As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he led hearings across the state in 2013 on access to justice for low-income Pennsylvanians. • John Paul Knox (1927-2015), who was on the Board of Directors of Montgomery County Legal Aid Service and was appointed as a Montgomery County representative in the merger mediation process. His firm, Timoney Knox, hosted several mediation meetings, and he was on LASP’s inaugural Board in 2001. • Mark Levin, retired Chief Counsel of Regional Housing Legal Services, was Executive Director of RHLS affiliate Commonwealth Housing Development Corporation. In that role, he acquired and redeveloped 625 Swede Street in Norristown to serve as LASP’s headquarters and assisted LASP in establishing a reserve fund for maintenance of the building. • Mitchell W. Miller (1926–2016) played a major role in the efforts of the private bar to develop a legal services program for Montgomery County. Mitch’s reputation as a skillful advocate and dedicated and compassionate civic leader did much to advance the idea for a legal service program among the leaders of the Montgomery Bar Association. These efforts culminated in the founding of the Montgomery County Legal Aid Service in
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1975. Mitchell remained active in legal aid for the remainder of his professional life. • Mark Schwartz led Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS) as its Executive Director for nearly 40 years. He currently serves as Of Counsel at RHLS. Mark is Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Board. As a senior member of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) project directors group, he provided invaluable guidance and leadership to other directors. He was instrumental in LASP receiving funding through the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Neighborhood Assistance program, which funds work in distressed communities in Lower Bucks County. • William Shimer retired from LASP in 2016 after serving as Managing Attorney of first the Pottstown office and later Norristown offices. Bill was a member of the merger group that accomplished the consolidation of the four county legal aid programs into LASP. The complete list of Honorees (posthumous Honorees are indicated by an *): National Champions: U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chairs, Congressional Access to Legal Aid Caucus. Founders: Dean P. Arthur, Ballard Spahr LLP, Ronald R. Bolig, William J. Carlin, Sr.*, Elizabeth Wood Fritsch, William J. Gallagher, Hon. Isaac S. Garb*, Catherine Herman, Carolyn E. Johnson, John Knox*, Mark Levin, Jeffrey P. Lewis. Joseph P. Lynch, Mitchell W. Miller*, Robert “Sandy” Mulhern, Jr., Elizabeth Price*, Louis S. Rulli, Mark Schwartz, William Shimer, Harvey F. Strauss, Michelle R. Terry and Donald J. Weiss. Sustainers: Judith Algeo, William L. Baldwin, Mardi Busanus, Edward Danelski, Cary L. Flitter, Jean Gauger, Eleonor “Ellie” Glasco, Hon. Stewart J. Greenleaf*, Nanci Hoover, Rachel Houseman, Maryjane B. Kelley*, Wendy C. Leeper, Patricia “Pat” MacCorkle, John F. McKenna, Nancy R. Paul, Randi Riefner, Susan Rizzardi, June E. Schrader*, Deborah Steeves, Susan Strong, Paul Troy, Karen Tyler and Catherine H. Voit. Please visit lasp.org/fete for links to Flickr photo albums with Fête photos and individual bios for each Honoree, and links to LASP’s YouTube page including several Fête videos, including brief reflections from LASP’s founding Co-Executive Directors Harvey Strauss and Elizabeth Wood Fritsch, longtime LASP attorneys and staff members, and remarks from U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon.
Former Executive Directors’ Reflections on Merging 4 County Programs into LASP Before the Fête, Executive Director C. Shawn Boehringer interviewed LASP’s founding Co-Executive Directors, Harvey F. Strauss and Elizabeth Wood Fritsch, on the challenges of merging the four county programs to form LASP. Prior to LASP’s founding on Jan. 1, 2001, individual county programs in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties had strong, long-standing civil legal aid programs, but federal and state programs mandated the merger. They both recalled it as a challenging time. “Our greatest fear was that the Bar Associations would not support a regional program, and fortunately, that turned out to be an unfounded fear,” Liz reflected. “Our associations did support the merger and really made it successful.” Harvey recalled the two years of negotiations between the four counties, facilitated by the help of consultant Gerry Singsen, formerly of Legal Services Corp.; pro bono assistance from Ballard Spahr LLP; and mediation help from Louis Rulli of the University of Pennsylvania. “It was a long, involved process,” Harvey said. “We were a little reticent about the idea of merger, but we fought through the process. We had lots of resources, lots of meetings, and as you all know, we eventually went to mediation led by Lou. After two years, we finally decided to merge, and looking back, I think it was an extraordinary process and draining and politically charged at times, but we wound up with a really good merger of four county, now middle-sized program with quite a few resources, great staff because we were able to keep most of the staff for the four smaller programs. ... We were pretty enthusiastic about the fact that we were going to be able to do not only what we’ve always done but also get into some new areas. ... I always thought ours was one of the most successful in the country.” Thank you again to Montgomery Bar Association and members for your support. Though our celebration has ended, LASP’s work continues!
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SIDEBAR FEATURE
Ladies in Leadership
(left to right) Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Esq. (PBA President); Michelle Bernardo-Rudy, Esq. (CCBA President); Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. (MBA President); Julie D. Goldstein, Esq. (BCBA President); and Carrie A. Woody, Esq. (DCBA President)
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2022 marks a momentous year for women in leadership roles both here in the Montgomery County legal community, as well as throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq., pointed this out during her inaugural address when she was officially named the MBA’s seventh female President at our Annual Business Luncheon in January 2022.
Earlier in the year, The Honorable Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio become the first female President Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas – a long-overdue achievement.
Sarinia is not alone in her role. In fact, all four Bar Associations in the PBA’s Zone 9 Region are led by women this year, along with the President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Catherine (Kate) M. Harper, Esq., became just the third female President of the Montgomery Bar Foundation in its 35-year history.
To commemorate this occasion, the MBA was proud to host a “Ladies in Leadership” event on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at the MBA Building. Hosted by the MBA Women in the Law Committee, the panel discussion featured Ms. Feinman, along with Julie D. Goldstein, Esq. (President, Bucks County Bar Association); Michelle A. BernardoRudy, Esq. (President, Chester County Bar Association); Carrie A. Woody, Esq. (President, Delaware County Bar Association); and Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Esq. (President,
2022 also marks the first year in MBA history that all four sections are chaired by women: Lindsay H. Childs, Esq. (Family Law); Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. (Probate & Tax); Aimee L. Kumer, Esq. (Trial Lawyers); and Patrice M. Turenne, Esq. (Young Lawyers).
continued on next page >
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Ladies in Leadership Continued from page 23
Pennsylvania Bar Association). Each esteemed panelist discussed their path to success; balancing work, family life, and bar association duties; and provided invaluable advice to attorneys of all genders about the importance of hard work and perseverance. At the conclusion of the panel discussion, all guests enjoyed a complimentary cocktail and networking reception in the MBA Library where the conversation continued. Special thanks to Mary Sykes of ARCpoint Labs in King of Prussia for sponsoring the event, and MBA Women in the Law Committee Chairs Chelsea A. Dearden, Esq., and Tonya Lupinacci, Esq., for coordinating and moderating.
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A Conversation About Wellness with MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. By Jason Edwards, Esq., and James G. Schu, Jr., Esq., MBA Leadership Academy
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e both had the great pleasure as members of the MBA’s 2021 Leadership Academy to research the topic of wellness within the legal field and potential solutions and present our findings to the MBA Board of Directors. Attorneys suffered from high rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since March 2020 those trends have been exacerbated and the stress of the legal field for some has compounded. According to ALM’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Survey, last year 31.2% of the more than 3,800 respondents felt they were depressed, 64% felt anxiety, 10.1% felt they had an alcohol problem and 2.8% felt they had a drug problem. The MBA saw this time of major disruption and upheaval as an opportunity to evaluate wellness within the legal field and how the MBA could be a resource for its members. “The pandemic thrust us all into a world where we were living and working in the same place, blurring the lines and boundaries, and with a focus on wellness,” said MBA president Sarinia M. Feinman, Esquire, in a recent interview on the MBA’s wellness initiatives. “I am hoping to help our members reinstate some of those boundaries or establish them if they never had them before.” In response, the MBA has created an Ad-Hoc Wellness Committee, chaired by Anita Seth and Matthew Vahey, and
has made wellness a priority for the entire MBA. To learn more about the MBA’s wellness initiatives, we interviewed MBA President Feinman. (Q) Your incoming President’s message was focused in large part on the idea of wellness among MBA members. What prompted you to want to make wellness a focus of your tenure as President, and how has the pandemic helped inspire your interest in wellness as a main focus of your tenure as MBA President? (A) If there is anything we have learned during the pandemic, it is that we really need to take care of ourselves if we are going to be any good for our clients and our families. Addiction, depression, anxiety, and mental illness are prevalent in today’s society and especially among professionals. If we don’t take the time to reset ourselves, and find ways to separate from our work, we are all going to burn out. The pandemic thrust us all into a world where we were living and working in the same place, blurring the lines and boundaries, and with a focus on wellness, I am hoping to help our members reinstate some of those boundaries or establish them if they never had them before. Life in the legal arena is challenging enough in “normal” times; today’s unpredictable environment brings those challenges to a whole new level. Surviving and thriving will require a level of attention to our own self-care, as well as to our connections to each other, as never before. continued on next page > SUMMER 2022 25
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A Conversation About Wellness with MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq. Continued from page 25
(Q) Your incoming President’s message announced the formation of an Ad-Hoc Wellness Committee, which is led by the MBA’s 2021 Leadership Academy Class. Can you talk a little more about how members can expect the Ad-Hoc Committee to further the mission of promoting wellness, and can you tell SIDEBAR readers some more about the Leadership Academy in general, and this class in particular who will be shepherding the wellness initiative? (A) The Ad-Hoc Wellness Committee, chaired by Anita Seth and Matthew Vahey, was created in order to assist the Committees and Sections with ideas on how to put the wellness initiative in place. The directive for each Committee was to be sure to address at least 2 of the 6 areas of wellness this year; and for the Sections to address 4 of the 6 areas of wellness this year, once per quarter. The 6 areas we are referring to are physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual wellness. The Wellness Committee, also including all of the members of the MBA’s Leadership Academy class in 2021, is there to monitor and oversee that the initiative is being carried out, keep track of what everyone is doing, and be available to provide ideas, guidance, and assist with collaboration between committees, if possible, to do so. The Committee is also a regular reporter at the monthly Board of Directors meetings of the ongoings throughout the MBA towards this initiative. The goal of this program is to make wellness a priority for the entire MBA, so that moving forward it becomes part of what each Section/Committee does in their regular course of business, without being tasked or asked to do so. Wellness can only be maintained as a priority if it is woven throughout the Association. (Q) In addition to the formation of an Ad-Hoc Wellness Committee, you also asked each MBA Section and Committee to incorporate wellness initiatives into their programs for 2022. Can you give examples of wellness initiatives an MBA Section and/or Committee has incorporated or intends to incorporate into their program in 2022? (A) There have been a number of great examples of wellness thus far. We kicked off the year with a “Gratitude Workshop” given by Nancy Walsh before our first Board of Directors meeting of the year. This workshop explored the practical and psychological benefits of gratitude and provided tips and support for implementing habits, which will help keep everyone happy and well. The DEI Committee, in conjunction with the Solo/Small Firm Committee, had John McMahon conduct a meditation and then discuss the benefits and components of meditation as well. The Women in the Law Committee incorporated wellness into their first meeting of the year by having Sandy Joy Weston as a speaker. She is a world-renowned speaker who came to the MBA and forced everyone in attendance outside of their comfort zone 26 SIDEBAR
by challenging everyone in the room with taking 1-3 minutes a day to make some changes to your life in a positive and powerful way. The Family Law Section has one of its members, Peter Bort, doing a brief presentation on mindfulness at their April meeting. The Young Lawyers Section welcomed PBA President, Kathleen Wilkinson, to their March 16th meeting to discuss the PBA’s wellness pledge, which they adopted from the ABA, and which the MBA also adopted from the ABA. A licensed therapist followed in order to speak to the YLS about mental wellness issues facing young professionals. She provided some tips/tricks for addressing mental wellness, spotting mental wellness issues affecting friends/colleagues, and when/how to turn to professional help. The Trial Lawyers Section is looking to have a Past President of the MBA, Marc Steinberg, lead the Section in a meditation, and they are looking forward to an outdoor activity once it gets warmer outside. The Probate and Tax Section is having someone from the Center for Loss and Bereavement provide a seminar to educate estate practitioners in their estate practices with some guidance and context in working with clients who have lost loved ones and help to identify those clients who may have depression. They are also looking into some type of service project for the elderly community and are also looking to host an outside event in the spring/summer, so as to get everyone up and away from their offices/desks. This is in no way an exhaustive list of the wellness efforts being made throughout the MBA, and in fact, each day more efforts are being made, and I look forward to the creativity of the committees and sections throughout the year. Personally, I am hoping someone organizes a “Painting with a Twist” evening/ afternoon, as I find that to be very therapeutic and a way to step outside of the profession and enjoy the beauty that painting has to offer. (Q) A lot of MBA members work at firms, government agencies or institutional employers who may already dedicate some focus on employee wellness. What kind of resources can the MBA or the Ad-Hoc Wellness Committee provide to smaller firms or solo practitioners who don’t know where to start? (A) This is where the Committee comes in. They are the resource to assist everyone. The LA class of 2021 did their class project on wellness, so they are the experts with the ideas, so that we are able to break outside the box from just meditation and exercising and start to branch out to some other areas and types of wellness ideas. This is where I hope they will train/teach the rest of the MBA and spread their message throughout the membership vis-à-vis the committees and sections.
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(Q) How has wellness been implemented in your personal life and at your law firm Vetrano | Vetrano & Feinman? I believe that wellness comes in all forms. Wellness can be as simple as making and taking time for yourself, regardless of the demands of being an attorney. It can be as simple as a 10-minute meditation every day, a one-hour workout 3 times per week, or simply shutting off from your work and making sure to take time with your family. My motto has always been to “work hard, play hard,” which has been very difficult in recent times with the pandemic as the “playing” aspect has been far more limited. With that said, as the mask mandates have been lifted and we have moved toward a “mask optional” society, the “playing” aspect has become a possibility again. My wellness comes from shutting off and spending time with my husband and children, traveling, spending time with friends and being social, and always making sure to never miss a hair or nail appointment. As high-energy as I am, I have enjoyed the exposure to meditation, and I hope to get into a more physical regimen, but I don’t think that will be in my cards until 2023, considering the price I pay from attempting to shut down during the weekends is to stay up pretty late each night, as everyone knows who has received an email from me at 1:00 a.m. (Q) When you look back at your tenure a year from now, what do you hope to have achieved as MBA President in the specific area of lawyer wellness? (A) I hope that wellness just becomes a way of life for the MBA, and that no Committees/Sections have to be asked to implement these initiatives. The goal is not to forget about ourselves and maintain some fun and balance in all that we do, even in our professional lives. The goal of this initiative is to ask everyone to be deliberate in their wellness efforts to the point where it just becomes the regular makeup of the association. We appreciate MBA President Feinman taking some time to give her perspective and insight. We would be happy to hear what you, as MBA members, would like to see the MBA implement as part of its wellness initiatives.
MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY POLL The Montgomery Bar Association’s Leadership Academy has been tasked with researching member engagement in light of COVID-19. We are looking for feedback on what attracted YOU to become a member. We are also soliciting feedback and suggestions on what would make you attend and/or participate in MBA events, including what would you like to see that isn’t being offered. Please send your comments and thoughts to Annie L. Neamand, Esq., at ANeamand@hrmml.com.
Upcoming Events July 26, 2022 CLE: Stuff Ya Can’t Learn in Law School: Practice Points for Young Lawyers and Law Students August 17, 2022 Pottstown Happy Hour / The Alley on High Street, Pottstown, PA September 9 – 11, 2022 Bench Bar Conference / Skytop Lodge, Pocono Mountains, PA October 6, 2022 Wills for Seniors Event / MontCo SAAC, Norristown, PA October 27, 2022 LAWYERPALOOZA / Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA *The events and dates above are subject to change and this is not a comprehensive list. Please visit the Events page on www.montgomerybar.org for an up-to-date list of current events. SUMMER 2022 27
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See Your Wellness Levels Go through the Roof by Volunteering with the Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and Community Service Committee By Timothy M. Knowles, Esq., Chair, Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and Community Service Committee
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he recent focus on attorney wellness, both within the MBA and throughout the legal profession as a whole, has made the work of the Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and Community Service Committee more important than ever. Because volunteer work has been shown to improve both mental and physical health, the Committee is well placed to help attorneys who seek to improve their wellness while practicing law. When MBA President Feinman challenged each committee to craft a wellness initiative, we decided to organize a variety of volunteer opportunities in the hope that we will have something for everyone in the MBA. As a start, for those who like to use their legal skills when helping others, we sponsored a CLE in March with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania on how attorneys can volunteer to help victims of natural disasters. The work involved can vary from reviewing applications for disaster benefits to researching and preparing the appeal from a denial of benefits. For attorneys who prefer to use their volunteer time doing non-legal work, we have an event scheduled in the fall at Grace and Cecil Bean’s Soup Kitchen in Norristown. For those who would rather donate items than time, we are in the process of planning a collection drive near the end of the year.
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There’s more in the works, so keep your ears open. If any of the above volunteer activities are appealing to you, reach out to the folks at the Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and Community Service Committee to get involved. It is our hope through involvement with these activities, members of the Bar will experience the increased mental and physical wellbeing that can only come from helping others.
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From Admission to Appearance: My 40-Year Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court By Marcia Binder Ibrahim, Esq.
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s a young attorney starting a practice in Montgomery County in 1981, I never considered that an opportunity to have a case before the Supreme Court of the United States would come my way. However, I have always been fascinated with the Supreme Court, and took the first opportunity to become admitted to that august body when the MBA sponsored a trip there in 1982. I jumped at the chance, never thinking that such a possibility in which I would use that admittance would ever occur. I remember travelling down to Washington on the MBA chartered bus with such distinguished companions as Mark Kearney, Raymond Pearlstine and others. I was in awe of everyone else on the bus. Fast forward forty years, and in January 2020, I was sitting on a beach in Hawaii with my grandchildren. I was shocked to learn that the Supreme Court had actually accepted a case in which I had represented the Petitioner before the Third Circuit, and won on a voluntary dismissal. The government filed a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court in a case that they had not even bothered to file a brief on when it was before the Third Circuit. It involved an important area of law in the immigration landscape called “expedited removal.” Expedited removal is the authority given to immigration officials of even low rank to remove a non-U.S. citizen from the United States. Unlike other forms of removal (formerly known as deportation), non-citizens who are subject to expedited removal are only conferred a minimum of due process protections. For example, such non-citizens are not usually entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge or the right to an attorney unless they are able to show that they have a credible fear of returning to their country of origin. The Illegal Immigration and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA) of 1996 created expedited removal, and the federal government subsequently expanded it. My client had been removed from the United States through the expedited removal process in 2012. A few months later, as a result of problems with a gang in Mexico, he came back into the United States without inspection. Thereafter, in 2018, my client was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Pennsylvania. Because he had been removed from the United States through expedited removal procedures in 2012, ICE decided to reinstate the 2012 removal order. If my client had been put in regular removal proceedings, he would have an automatic right to a hearing before an immigration judge and the
right to an attorney in those proceedings. Reinstating a prior expedited removal order allows ICE to bypass most due process protections allowing the non-US citizen to be detained indefinitely. To cure such prolonged detention, many immigration lawyers were filing petitions for a writ of habeas corpus with the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The majority of non-citizen detainees in PA were being held at the York County and Pike County Correctional Facilities. Up until 2021, an immigration court handling just a detained docket was located at the York County Correctional Facility. In 2018, the Third Circuit issued a precedential decision that held that anyone who had been detained subject to a reinstated removal order had to be afforded a bond hearing after six months of immigration detention. Guerrero-Sanchez v. Warden York County Prison, 905 F.3d 208 (2018). Moreover, at such a bond hearing, ICE would bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the non-citizen poses a risk of flight or a danger to the community. Id. 224. However, this case only governed cases arising in the Third Circuit. Through the Third Circuit’s holding in Guerrero-Sanchez, the Federal Magistrate Judge ordered a bond hearing for my client. The bond hearing was held at the York Immigration Court. Because my client was not a flight risk and because he was not a threat to the community, the immigration judge ordered him released upon payment of a substantial bond. However, the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) thereafter decided to file a writ of certiorari with SCOTUS. The issue the Court is grappling with is whether a non-citizen who is detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1231 is entitled by statute, after six months of detention, to a bond hearing. Even if the Court finds that the statute does not permit the reading that the Third Circuit has rendered, it is worth noting that the Constitution may require such protections for non-citizens in civil immigration detention. Oral argument on this case was held on January 11, 2022. We expect the decision from the Supreme Court at any moment. Whatever the decision, it was a wonderful experience giving me access to a Court and process which I never expected to have. All thanks to the MBA by getting me started on that path and letting me mingle with the Montgomery County leaders in the field for at least one day.
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MBA March Madness Happy Hour March 17, 2022 • MBA Building
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Annual Memorial Service
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n Friday morning, March 25, 2022, Montgomery County court rooms stood silent as members of the Bench and Bar celebrated the lives of members who passed away in 2020 and 2021 at the Montgomery Bar Association’s Annual Memorial Service. The ceremony, held in Courtroom “A” of the Montgomery County Courthouse, was led by President Judge Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio and included inspirational memorial minutes given by family, friends, and colleagues of the recently deceased. Following an introduction by MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq., the following members were honored (in alphabetical order):
Thomas L. Hoffman, Esq. (October 1, 1950 - September 16, 2021) Memorial Minute presented by: Kathryn E. Hoffman
C. Suzanne Buechner, Esq. (January 3, 1946 - September 22, 2020)
David P. Grau, Esq. (January 11, 1950 - December 17, 2021)
Mitchell A. Kramer, Esq. (June 21, 1933 - January 15, 2021)
Memorial Minute presented by: Matthew Gilbert, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: John J. Iannozzi, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: Justin A. Bayer, Esq.
Wayne R. Cromie, Esq. (May 20, 1946 - January 20, 2021)
Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf, Esq. (October 4, 1939 - February 9, 2021)
Andrew J. Stern, Esq. (September 19, 1960 - May 29, 2021)
Memorial Minute presented by: Jeffrey V. Matteo, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: Catherine M. Harper, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: Gwen Roseman Stern, Esq.
Marshall L. Grabois, Esq. (August 13, 1947 - January 20, 2021)
Kevan F. Hirsch, Esq. (June 6, 1954 - January 6, 2021)
Paul E. Vangrossi (June 8, 1983 - January 4, 2021)
Memorial Minute presented by: Matthew B. Weisberg, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: Pamela M. Tobin, Esq.
Memorial Minute presented by: Francis Recchuiti, Esq. SUMMER 2022 31
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MBA Dinner Dance Friday, April 29, 2022
Green Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill, PA
2021 MBA President Jacqueline Reynolds with 2022 MBA President Sarinia Feinman Anita Seth and Brandon Blackburn-Dwyer
Ken and MBA President Sarinia Feinman
Betsy and Sean Kilkenny with Hon. Todd Eisenberg Drew and Misty Toothman, Rebecca Hobbs, David Lloyd, and Matt Lair MBA President Sarinia Feinman with PBA President Kathleen Wilkinson 32 SIDEBAR
CTO Midtown Express gets the crowd up and dancing!
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Eileen Schaeffer and Annette Long-Tulio
Franqui Raffaele and Phillip Ballantine Thomas and Hon. President Judge Carolyn T. Carluccio Karianne Hafer and Thomas Boulden
David and Michele Berk
Bassist (and Judge) Hon. Virgil Walker anchors CTO Midtown Express
Justin Bayer, Lisa Shearman, Sarinia Feinman, Jacqueline Reynolds, and Seth Wilson SUMMER 2022 33
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DEI Committee Hosts “Meet & Greet” Event with Local Law Students O n Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the MBA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee hosted a unique networking event and information session for area law students and members of Montgomery County’s Bench and Bar at the MBA Building.
Law students had the opportunity to meet face-to-face and network with Judges, prospective employers, MBA leaders, local practicing attorneys, and fellow law school students and alumni. DEI Committee Chairs also spoke about opportunities, initiatives, and programs within the committee and MBA. Thank you to all who attended!
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Local Legal Community Comes Together to Celebrate Law Day
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n Thursday, April 28, 2022, the Montgomery Bar Association, in coordination with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, celebrated Law Day – a national celebration of the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession.
President Judge Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio presided over the ceremony, which was held in-person for the first time since 2019, which featured our newest member of the Bench, The Honorable A. Nicole Tate-Phillips, who delivered a memorable address on the topic of this year’s Law Day celebration: “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.” The ceremony also featured remarks by MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman, MBA Membership Committee Chair Frank A. Mazzeo, Esq., and MBA Young Lawyers Section Treasurer Chelsey A. Christiansen, Esq. The MBA’s Law Day ceremony also featured the swearing-in of new admittees to the Bar of Montgomery County during the past year and a number of Community Service Awards as captioned in the accompanying photos.
MBA President Sarinia M. Feinman Welcomes Attendees
Membership Committee Chair Frank Mazzeo Admits New Members
All attendees were invited for a free luncheon at the MBA Building following the ceremony.
Rose Ashton (left) receives the 2022 MBA Public Service Award from MBA President Sarinia Feinman
President Judge Carolyn T. Carluccio Presides
MBA President Sarinia Feinman presents the 2022 Courthouse Employee Award to Victor Colonna
American Citizenship and the Law Committee CoChair Addresses the Court
Students from the Haverford School receive the 2022 Young Lawyers Section Mock Trial Award
Timothy Knowles receives the 2022 Henry Stuckert Miller Community Service Award from MBA President Sarinia Feinman
Our newest members are admitted to Court SUMMER 2022 35
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MBA Friends and Family Night at the Elmwood Park Zoo
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WIRETAPS
MEMBER News
Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin is pleased to welcome the following new associates to their firm:
completion. She approaches each client with compassion, kindness and diligence.
Gabriella T. (Soreth) Lacitignola is an experienced trial attorney and a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. Prior to joining the firm, Gabriella gained invaluable trial experience from her nearly five years working at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. As an Assistant District Attorney, Gabriella represented the Commonwealth in hundreds of cases and conducted bench and jury trials, preliminary hearings, and other types of pre-trial hearings, which allowed her to foster her skills as a trial attorney.
High Swartz LLP is pleased to announce the addition of real estate attorney Sean G. Livesey to the firm. Sean primarily focuses his practice on real estate matters, civil, and commercial litigation.
Annie L. Neamand is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Zoning Department. Her practice focuses on assisting public and private entities and individuals with the full array of legal services that are involved in the sale or purchase of residential and commercial property. Prior to joining the firm, Annie worked as a Staff Attorney in the Regional Housing Unit at Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania where her practice focused primarily on homeownership issues and foreclosure defense. Zachary R. Morano is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Land Use Department. Prior to joining the firm, Zach was an attorney in the Western part of Pennsylvania for four years where he practiced a wide variety of civil litigation, such as disputes concerning real estate, landlord/tenant, contracts and much more. Franqui-Ann Raffaele is a member of the firm’s Estates and Trusts Department. Her practice focuses on representing individuals and their families with their estate planning, estate administration and elder law needs from inception to
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Previously, Sean was a partner in his family practice in Conshohocken, where he advised Philadelphia area start-ups regarding property acquisitions, business structure, and real estate tax liability. Sean also consulted with Montgomery County businesses to analyze zoning and land development proposals. Timoney Knox, one of the largest law firms in Montgomery County, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Wayne, Pennsylvania law firm of Davis Bennett Spiess and Livingood LLC (DBSL).
by representing them as parties or amicus in appeals before federal and state appellate courts, and by providing appellate strategy, trial consultation and related litigation services. Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin is pleased to announce that Lisa A. Shearman was recently interviewed on “LEGAL TALK with Stacy Clark TV” (MLTV21-Main Line Network). The interview can be viewed here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgFv5JxeXy0. In it, Lisa covered the importance of everyone of having a will and other estate planning documents up-to-date and in place – including a Financial Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, and an Advance Medical Directive. She described some of the real-life consequences people have faced when their wishes were not executed in a proper legal document.
The acquisition means that Timoney Knox, a law firm with a prominent trusts and estates practice, led by senior partner George Riter, will now add Carol Livingood to the group and its partnership ranks. In addition, the firm will now have an office in Wayne, with convenient client parking to better serve clients throughout the Main Line and especially in Delaware County.
The firm is also pleased to announce that William G. Roark, chair of the firm’s medical marijuana practice, was interviewed on WGAL News8 TV on the do’s and don’ts of Pennsylvania residents going to New Jersey to buy legal cannabis. Bill, who co-chairs the PBA’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Committee, warned viewers not to try to purchase legal marijuana in New Jersey and then bring it back to Pennsylvania where it has not been legalized for adult use.
Stevens & Lee announced today that Karl S. Myers has joined the firm and will co-chair its Appellate Litigation Practice Group. He is based in the Philadelphia and Harrisburg Market Square offices.
The interview can be viewed here: https://www.wgal.com/article/customersline-up-in-new-jersey-to-buy-legalweed/39960251
Mr. Myers joins fellow Co-Chair the Hon. Thomas I. Vanaskie (Ret.) in leading this highly experienced team, which serves a wide range of regional and national clients
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Welcome New Members
The following members have been admitted to the Montgomery Bar Association between March and June 2022: Raymond M. Bily Jr. Elizabeth Kathryn Brogan Mark Joseph Burgmann Federica Caloia** Bass W. Chadwick Christopher E. Daniels Melissa N. Davis Maureen Mary Farrell Nolan Finnerty Joseph Michael Gagliardo James F. Gallagher Jr. Daniel Gandolfo** Gabriella T. Lacitignola Alex Lassoff – Drexel University Carol R. Livingood Robert Lodge Jennifer Lowes
Kailie J. Melchior Zachary R. Morano Caren E. Morrissey* Linda Alle Murphy Melissa A. Osborne Leanne Parks Supriya G. Philips Joseph Dominic Rossi Jesse Ruhl Gabrielle Searle David J. Schiller* Daniel Schwartz Stefanie Michelle Sherr Christina Kaye Sorenson Laura Stavetski April M. Townsend Lisa Ann Whalen
The following members are retiring from the Montgomery Bar Association: Hon. Louis C. Bechtle William G. Blasdel, Jr. Francis X. Buschman Jr. Lois M. Campana Richard E. Cohen Stuart N. Cohen Michael S. Connor Barry Cooperberg Carol A. Crisci Peter I. Daniele Hugh F. Dougherty, III James H. Freeman Marcel Groen R. Kurtz Holloway
Sean P. McCusker Leigh P. Narducci George P. O’Connell Jack A. Rounick Jeffrey Simcox Stephen M. Skrzat Erika A. Spott James H. Stevens Donald Strumpf Kathleen M. Thomas C. Warren Trainor George P. Wood * Returning Member ** Law Student Member
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