Six attorneys were honored June 2 at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains, formerly Pace Law School.
The attorneys ”” five established in their field and one a recent graduate about to enter it ”” were recognized as part of the 10th annual Above the Bar Awards, co-founded by the Westchester County Business Journal, Citrin Cooperman and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law.
Before the awards were given out, Westchester County Surrogate Court Judge Brandon Sall gave a keynote speech. Sall was appointed to the position in May 2015 by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and then elected in November 2015.
Sall described of the role of the surrogate court in the county, which he said handles some of the “most contentious of all disputes,”  such as probates, administrations and guardianships. He described how his experience as an attorney has helped him handle the new role.
He opened on a lighter note, however, with a riff on the name of the vent.
“I was delighted to be invited this evening,” Sall said. “Because in my lifetime, I’ve had the opportunity to sit at the bar, even sometimes been below the bar, but now I can say I’ve been above the bar, so thank you.”
The award winners were:
”¢ Dolores Gebhardt, a partner at McCarthy Fingar LLP in White Plains, won the Pace Setter Award. She noted in her speech that she had earlier been recognized by the New York State Bar Association, but this award meant even more to her.
“Because this is my stomping grounds and you are my peeps,” Gebhardt said. “So recognition from you, my peers, my colleagues and my friends means so much to me.”
”¢ Barbara Finkelstein, the CEO of the nonprofit Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, received the Most Socially Conscious Attorney award. Finkelstein, who said she had worked in public service her whole career, stressed the importance of the profession.
“Lawyers have a special, special place in society,” she said. “They”™re a catalyst for social change.”
Ӣ Neil Rimsky, co-chairperson of Cuddy & FederӪs Trusts, Estates & Elder Law Group, received the Leading Trusts and Estates Attorney award. In his thank you speech, he stressed the need for attorneys to give back.
“The greatest honor is to give back to the community, to provide services and precious time to the community as a whole and in particular those less fortunate,” Rimsky said. “It is our honor and our responsibility to make such contributions.”
”¢ James L. Hyer, a partner at Bashian & Farber, LLP, was one of two attorneys to receive Leading Attorney Under 40 distinction. He emphasized the importance of attorneys taking time to meet and get to know each other, such as through the state and county bar associations.
“Civility in our profession is sometimes lacking,” Hyer said. “And I find when you meet people that are on the other side of the table, it”™s harder to be nasty. In our profession you need to be civil.”
”¢ Eon Nichols, a partner and vice chair of the Real Estate Group at Cuddy & Feder LLP, was also recognized as Leading Attorney Under 40. He said Cuddy & Feder hired him straight out of law school at 24 and, 13 years later, he tells people it”™s his “only real job.”
“You helped me shaped me professionally, but also personally, and I really appreciate that,” Nichols said.
Ӣ Erica Danielsen, a May 2016 graduate of Pace Law, was recognized as Most Promising Pace Law Student. Danielsen passed the bar exam and has accepted a full-time position with the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County.
In her remarks, she described how nine years earlier, her son was born and she decided to “change my life and come to law school.”
“It was an extremely hard decision to make, I was extremely nervous,” she said. “But looking back now, after three years, I know it was the right decision.”
The awards are judged by a panel of six lawyers in the Westchester area.
“We work with attorneys every day and it has been an honor to be a part of the Above the Bar awards to recognize those attorneys dedicated to the Westchester legal community,” said Alan G. Badey, CPA, managing partner of Citrin Cooperman”™s White Plains office and co-leader of the firm”™s law firm practice. “On behalf of Citrin Cooperman, congratulations once again to all of the winners and nominees of the tenth annual event.”
Additional event sponsors included The Westchester Bank, The Bristal Assisted Living, The Kensington, the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Westchester County Bar Association.
