Access Justice Brooklyn welcomes new talent to young professionals board

March 21, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Cooper Bellinson (left), associate at Ares Management Corporation, and Aaron Kahen, associate at Fried Frank.
Photo courtesy of Access Justice Brooklyn

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In a move meant to further its mission of making legal services more accessible to low-income Brooklyn residents, Access Justice Brooklyn announced the addition of two new members to its Young Professionals Board (YPB) on Tuesday.

Cooper Bellinson from Ares Management Corporation and Aaron Kahen from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP have joined the ranks of the YPB.

Cooper Bellinson expressed his eagerness to leverage his background in business legal services to broaden access for others, highlighting the pivotal role such services have played in his own life. “I am passionate about helping connect others with legal services so that they can achieve the same freedoms I have benefited from,” he said.

Aaron Kahen, known for his pro bono work in family law and landlord-tenant disputes, is excited to contribute to the community where he resides. “I’m excited to join the AJB YPB board to help give back in Brooklyn, where I live and where I love to call home,” Kahen stated.

The YPB, under the leadership of co-chairs Michelle Tuma and Lisa Zivkovic, plays an essential role in supporting Access Justice Brooklyn’s initiatives. Their efforts focus on expanding programs that address the legal needs of Brooklyn’s underserved populations, engaging in community outreach, event planning, and offering strategic guidance to the organization.

Access Justice Brooklyn’s YPB unites professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors committed to ensuring equitable access to legal systems for those in need. The board acts as an advisory body to the board of directors, spearheading various activities aimed at community betterment.