Pot laws, foreclosure flaws: Bay Ridge Lawyers dive deep in AC seminar

March 15, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

From left: Dominic Famulari, Steven Finkelstein, Stephen Chiaino and President Adam Kalish.
Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

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The Bay Ridge Lawyers Association (BRLA) recently held its 2024 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Winter Seminar on Feb. 29 and March 1 at the Tropicana Atlantic City, featuring a notable lineup of speakers and topics relevant to today’s legal practitioners.

The event, which pulled a crowd of nearly 100 attorneys out of Bay Ridge and down to Atlantic City, aimed to provide valuable insights into various areas of law, including the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, foreclosure proceedings, Surrogate’s Court practice and cybersecurity.

Distinguished speakers such as Hon. Frank Seddio and attorneys Alexis Riley, Peter De Vries, Dominic Famulari, Steven Finkelstein and Ari Bulmash, along with Susan Miano and John Rostern, shared their expertise across two days of seminars. Topics ranged from the intricacies of running for office in Kings County to practical advice for acting as a referee in foreclosure cases.

The seminar also featured a special focus on the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, with attorney Peter De Vries offering a comprehensive recap and update.

Adding to the seminar’s appeal, the BRLA introduced a cocktail hour sponsored by the Vincent P. Carbonaro Scholarship Fund. This new addition, along with the support from annual and event sponsors such as Citizens Bank, Empire State Bank and Morgan Stanley, showed off the significant backing the BRLA enjoys from the legal and business communities locally.

Participants had the opportunity to engage directly with sponsors, speakers and peers during the seminar’s various events, including a cocktail party at Cuba Libre and a closing dinner with a cocktail hour at Carmine’s.

Past President Stephen Chiaino, a key organizer of the event, emphasized the importance of the seminar in fostering personal and professional relationships among members of the legal community. His message highlighted the BRLA’s ongoing commitment to providing a platform for legal professionals to learn, network and grow together.