January 24, 2011

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW SECTION CHAIRS

ALBANY—The New York State Bar Association today announced eight new section chairs, who took office during the Bar’s Annual Meeting. The 25 sections of the State Bar publish material dealing with their fields of expertise, much of which is not available through commercial publishers. Sections also sponsor conferences, seminars and institutes, monitor legislation and conduct studies. Each of the sections contributes to policy-making for the State Bar.

The new section chairs are:

Jay L. Himes of New York (Labaton Sucharow LLP), chair of the 534-member Antitrust Law Section. A graduate of University of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin Law School, Himes is a partner at Labaton Sucharow LLP, where he co-chairs the firm’s antitrust practice group. He concentrates his practice on representing plaintiffs in price-fixing class action cases and on protecting businesses from anticompetitive activities.

Paul H. Silverman of New York (McLaughlin & Stern LLP), chair of the 4,421 member Business Law Section. Silverman is a partner at McLaughlin & Stern LLP. He concentrates his practice on corporate reorganization, commercial litigation, creditors’ and debtors’ domestic and international strategy, and forensic investigations.

Gregory H. Hoffman of New York (North America LiveCareer), chair of the 1,770-member Corporate Counsel Section. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Southern California Law School, Hoffman serves as senior commercial counsel at BT Americas Inc. He previously served as business affairs/legal counsel at North America LiveCareer, general counsel to TCC Teleplex and senior attorney at AT&T.

Walter T. Burke of Albany (Burke & Casserly, P.C.), chair of the 1,640- member Senior Lawyers Section. A graduate of Manhattan College and Fordham University School of Law, Burke is a co-founder of Burke & Casserly, P.C. He concentrates his practice in elder law; trusts and estates; corporation and business succession planning; and financial, retirement and tax planning. He previously chaired the Elder Law Section.

Jodi J. Schwartz of New York (Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz), chair of the 2,752-member Tax Law Section. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania Law School, Schwartz is a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She concentrates her practice on the tax aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs and financial instruments.

Thomas J. Maroney of New York (Maroney O’Connor LLP), chair of the 2,811-member Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section. A graduate of Siena College and St. John’s University School of Law, Maroney is a founding partner at Maroney O’Connor LLP. He concentrates his practice in high exposure, complex and multi-party civil defense litigation.

William J. Keniry of Albany (Tabner, Ryan & Keniry, LLP), chair of the 2,530-member Trial Lawyers Section. A graduate of Union College and Albany Law School, Keniry is a partner at Tabner, Ryan & Keniry, LLP. He concentrates his practice in litigation, personal injury law, municipal law, and commercial real estate law.

Elizabeth A. Hartnett of Syracuse (Mackenzie Hughes LLP), chair of the 5,209-member Trusts and Estates Law Section. A graduate of Syracuse University and Syracuse University College of Law, Hartnett is a partner at Mackenzie Hughes LLP, with a concentration in wealth management services. Her areas of practice include family business entities, business tax and succession planning, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, fiduciary compliance, investment counsel, estate planning, fiduciary services and estate settlement, as well as private foundations, charitable giving and specialty trusts for the private client. 

The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, State Bar programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for 135 years.

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