Scissura’s Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce ‘newsmakers’ breakfast actually making news

Chuck Otey's Pro Bono Barrister

September 22, 2014 By Charles F. Otey Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Brooklyn Chamber President Carlo Scissura at the association's annual golf outing.

Share this:

Spurred by the innovative leadership of President Carlo Scissura, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has been “making news” with the launch of its very popular “Brooklyn Newsmakers” breakfasts, the next of which takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 8:30 a.m., at NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering in RH 116 at 6 Metrotech Center.

President Scissura is the first practicing lawyer to head the BCC and served as chief of staff to former Borough President Marty Markowitz.

The breakfast event, featuring Kings Country District Attorney Ken Thompson, is being sponsored exclusively by Investors Bank, according to Chamber Vice President Rick Russo. Given the “open” style of the new DA, many reporters and writers will be in attendance, anticipating many newsworthy remarks by the man who heads the huge law enforcement organization.

It’s an ideal environment for reporters covering business, crime, or other areas. They will be able to learn how the business community views law enforcement and gain some insight into the manner in which a district attorney’s office functions as another member of the larger Brooklyn community. Veteran reporters are counting on DA Thompson to let them in on at least one breaking news story on Oct. 1.

The “Newsmakers” series is a joint venture with NYU and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Russo said.

“This major initiative features high-level guest speakers addressing a citywide audience,” he said.

That audience will include elected officials, economic development leaders, educators, technology innovators and others, according to Russo.

“DA Thompson has created a top-notch Frauds Bureau, which has the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting all forms of fraud, including embezzlement, investment fraud and insurance fraud,” a spokesman said. “Specialized units within the bureau of critical importance to the business community are the Cybercrimes Unit, the Immigrant Fraud Unit and the Labor Frauds Unit.”

* * *

‘Day in the Life of a Lawyer’ Theme of Inn of Court Session

Kings County Nathan R. Sobel Inn of Court Administrator Lucy DiSalvo advises that the Inn will hold its first CLE-accredited session on Tuesday, Sept. 30, starting at 6 p.m., at Brooklyn Bar Headquarters, 123 Remsen St.

The illustrative, pedagogically sound program to be dramatically presented is titled “A Day in the Life of a Lawyer.” Acting Supreme Court Justice Robin Garson, Ret. Justice Gloria Cohen Aronin, Victoria Lombardi and Steve Harkavy will lead the panel.

What’s involved in a typical day for a lawyer? Trial lawyers would, I’m sure, like to see what happens during one day in the life of a busy guy like Harkavy. He sails through the calendar call, conferences a dozen cases, argues with his claims guys, barks “No pay!” at a cowering flock of plaintiff lawyers and even picks an occasional jury. But what does he do — how does he keep busy — in between these times? Steve?

Or, perhaps the thespian barristers will select an estates/property expert like Steve Finkelstein, or Larry DiGiovanna, as their “role model.” We’ll see.

President Dave Chidekel, a noted thespian, leads the highly regarded legal organization, which is fashioned in the style of the ancient Inns of Court in London.

President Chidekel has gained a reputation as one of most creative actors in the Inn’s courtroom reenactment dramas, illustrating various points of law and issuing warnings, where appropriate, on how to avoid the perils of everyday practice.

Other Inn officers include President-Elect Justice Arthur Schack, Counselor Justice Miriam Cyrulnik and Treasurer Jon Besunder.

The Inn was founded almost 15 years ago by Justice Marsha Steinhardt, retired Justices Gerard Rosenberg and Abraham Gerges and former Justice Edward Rappaport, who now serves as the president emeritus. Among those serving as Inn masters are Justice Carl Landicino, Judge Joanne Quinones, Hon. Barry Kamins, Appellate Division Justices Cheryl Chambers and Sylvia Hinds Radix, Hon. Gloria Cohen Aronin, Steve Harkavy and Steve Goolnick.

Jeffrey Feldman is the Inn’s executive director.

A gourmet buffet dinner is being prepared by Director Feldman and Administrator DiSalvo and will be served, starting at 5:30 p.m., in the Brooklyn Bar headquarters, 123 Remsen St.