Bay Ridge Lawyers Association honors Lawrence DiGiovanna at annual holiday party

January 18, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

President Adam Kalish (center) and past president Stephen Chiaino (right) present Lawrence “Larry” DiGiovanna with a plaque commemorating him as the BRLA’s honorary director and fellow.
Photos: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle

Full slideshow below

The Bay Ridge Lawyers Association (BRLA) celebrated its annual Holiday Party and Judges Night last Thursday at the Bay Ridge Manor.

This year’s event was distinguished by the honoring of Lawrence DiGiovanna, a past president of the association who was made an Honorary Director and Fellow of the Association.

DiGiovanna, a partner at Abrams Fensterman and co-chair of the Cooperative and Condominium Practice Group, boasts a remarkable career in real estate law. He has submitted approximately 100 condominium and cooperative offering plans to the New York State Attorney General since 1979, representing numerous real estate developers. Additionally, DiGiovanna provides crucial legal services to cooperative and condominium boards, offering corporate advice, contract negotiation, and general guidance.

DiGiovanna’s extensive career is marked by his commitment to legal education and ethics. He is a frequent lecturer on real estate, cooperative and condominium law and professional ethics. His role as a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Real Property Law Section is a highlight of his many significant contributions to the field.

His service extends beyond legal practice. DiGiovanna served on the board of directors of the Environmental Facilities Corporation, appointed by Governor Pataki, and chaired its Audit Committee for over a decade. He has also played a vital role in legal ethics and attorney discipline, chairing the State Grievance Committee and serving on the Appellate Division’s Committee on Character and Fitness.

DiGiovanna’s leadership in the legal community includes serving as President of the Brooklyn Bar Association and vice president of its Volunteer Lawyers Project. His dedication to pro bono work earned him the Freda Nisnewitz Award from the Brooklyn Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association’s President’s Award for Pro Bono Service.

His accolades also include the Poly Prep Alumni Association’s Special Award for Service, the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the St. Thomas More Award from the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Brooklyn and the “Good Scout” Award from the Brooklyn Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

DiGiovanna has also contributed to the health care sector, serving on the board of directors of Lutheran Medical Center and St. Vincent’s Services, a major child care and foster care agency in Brooklyn.