‘A true celebration’: RichnerLIVE, Herald hosts second annual Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala

Esteemed lawyers from across Long Island were celebrated at the Heritage Club at Bethpage on Oct. 5 for the second annual Top Lawyers of Long Island awards gala.

The event, which began at 6 p.m., was organized by RichnerLIVE, the events division of Richner Communications, and Herald Community Newspapers.

Amy Amato, Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Events of Richner Communications and RichnerLIVE welcomed nearly 200 guests and expressed the importance of being able to celebrate the award winners' accomplishments in person.

Awards were distributed for lawyers’ successes in a variety of practices, including bankruptcy, estates and trusts, business and commercial litigation, criminal, cybersecurity, divorce mediation, elder law, education, emerging companies and venture capital, environmental, franchise law, government relations, taxes, real estate and much more.

“During the past year, we certainly needed the best legal minds at work more than ever, as we dealt with novel issues, such as vaccination requirements in the workplace, new federal funding programs, work-from-home arrangements and much more,” Herald Community Newspapers CEO Stuart Richner said at the event. “This evening is a real celebration, as we recognize many of Long Island’s best and brightest legal professionals who have achieved excellence in their area of practice and given back to their communities.”

Outstanding pro-bono projects and top legal firms based on size also received recognition. Michael Schnipper of Nixon Peabody, LLP, said that receiving one of three top legal firm awards was an honor.

“We are grateful to the Herald for honoring us,” Schnipper said. “It’s so it’s great to be recognized, and it'ss great to be back in person after a long time of not having any events.” Nixon Peabody LLP was one of eight event sponsors.

Elizabeth Siegel, an associate with Proskauer Rose LLP, was selected as this year’s Rising Star, while Deborah Aviles, of Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, obtained the Lifetime Achievement award.

Aviles is an equity partner and senior trial attorney with Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, known for fighting claims of medical malpractice. She is a former member of the Supreme Court Committee, Judicial Screening Committee and more, and helped found the Alexander Hamilton Inns of Court for Suffolk County.

“I’ve been in practice 40 years,” Avlies said. “This is not an award for me – this is an award for all the people I’ve worked with over the years, my staff and my colleagues – they make me look good.”

Plenty of specialty drinks and appetizers were served during the two-hour cocktail hour, where many legal representatives mingled outside under the stars.

“It’s great to be back at a live event and to see everybody face-to-face,” Joe Bruha, Marketing Senior Manager at Grassi Advisors & Accountants said. “We work very closely with the legal community, on everything from valuations to litigation support to trust and estate work. For us, it’s very important to be at an event like this and show the love.”

Lisa Rispoli, partner and trust and estate services leader with Grassi, said she was grateful to interact with her potential clients and to applaud them for their successes at the gala.

Rispoli, who completes litigation support and estate and trust administration services for attorneys, said Grassi has a good reputation in the community, especially within the courts.

“We do a lot of networking and we have a lot of good relationships with the attorneys – they know we have their back,” Rispoli said, “and that’s our job.”

Law professionals then migrated to the dining room, where WABC-TV reporter Kristin Thorne distributed the awards during dinner and dessert.

“This is an incredible gathering of Long Island’s top attorneys, and we are thrilled to be part of such a special night honoring them,” said Michael Billia, Investors Bank Senior Vice President Long Island Market. “We are very happy to be here, in person, celebrating the awards everyone is receiving and thanking them for the work they do for their clients and the community.”

Though not present, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone provided Citations for all award-winners.

The event was sponsored by Investors Bank; Grassi Advisors & Accountants, Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP, Ruskin Moscou and Faltischek, Quatela Chimeri PLLC, D'Angelo Law Associates, P.C, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, Nassau University Medical Center, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., Nixon Peabody, Real Estate Homes and PrintEarly.com.

2021 HERALD TOP LAWYERS AWARD WINNERS

Bankruptcy
Edward J. LoBello
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Business & Commercial Litigation
Jared Kasschau
Harris Beach PLLC

Business/Corporate
Allan H. Cohen
Nixon Peabody, LLP

James D. Garbus
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Michael Schnipper
Nixon Peabody, LLP

Russell H. Stern
Ruskin, Moscou, Faltischek, P.C.

Commercial Litigation
Anthony T. Wladyka III
Raimondi Law, P.C

Criminal
Steven Epstein
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP

John LoTurco
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP

Bruce Barket
Founding Partner
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP

Cybersecurity
Barry Dynkin
Atlas Cybersecurity

Divorce/Mediation
Elaine Colavito
Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

Education

Laura Granelli
Jaspan Schlesinger LLP

Elder Law
Aaron Futterman
Futterman, Lanza & Pasculli

Elder Law
Irene Villacci
Irene V. Villacci, Esq., P.C

Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Jason Chimon
Nixon Peabody, LLP

Emerging Technologies
Moish E. Peltz, Esq.
Falcon Rappaport & Berkman PLLC

Environmental
John Parker
Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

Estates & Trusts
Stephanie A. D’Angelo, Esq.
D’Angelo Law Associates, PC

David A. Bamdad
Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP

NancyBurner
Burner Law Group, P.C.

Hon.John M. Czygier Jr.
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

Patricia Galteri
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Bernard McGovern
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Family Law
Meredith Friedman
Van Horn & Friedman, PC

Joseph Trotti
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Franchise Law

Leonard A. Bellavia Esq.
Founding Partner
Bellavia Blatt, P.C

General Practice

Tejal Shah, Esq.
Founder/Partner
Law Office of Tejal Shah, P.C.

Healthcare
Megan C. Ryan
General Counsel
Nassau University Medical Center

Rebecca Simone
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP

Labor & Employment

Yale Pollack
Partner
Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP

Land Use & Zoning
Elisabetta Coschignano
Partner
Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

Litigation

JeffreyPincus
Principal
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

Litigation

George Stamboulidis
Managing Partner
Baker Hostetler,LLP

MASS TORTS
Adam Slater
Partner
Slater Slater Schulman LLP

Matrimonial And Family Law

Christopher Chimeri
Partner
Quatela Chimeri PLLC

Personal Injury

Robert Fallarino
Attorney
Pegalis Law Group

Personal Injury
Michael Reiner
Partner
Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C.

Real Estate
Adam Kitzen
Founder & Managing General Partner
Kitzen Law Group

Tax Law
Karen J. Tenenbaum
Founder/Partner
Tenenbaum Law, P.C.

Transportation Law

Thomas J. Dargan
Principal
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

Transportation Law

Jeffrey B. Siler
Senior Partner
Siler & Ingber, LLP

SPECIAL AWARDS:
Lifetime Achievement
Deborah Aviles
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

Pro-Bono Projects Of The Year
Hon. Edward W. McCarthy, III
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Joseph G. Milizio
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Rising Star
Elizabeth Siegel
Proskauer Rose LLP

Top Legal Firm: 1-11 Attorneys
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP

Top Legal Firm: 12-25 Attorneys
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Top Legal Firm: 25-65 Employees
Nixon Peabody, LLP

Top Legal Firm (65+ employees)
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.