Surrogate’s Court Bench and Bar Mixer brings bar associations together

September 13, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Leaders from Brooklyn’s legal community gathered at the Surrogate’s Court Bench and Bar Mixer on Sept. 12 at the House of Wax in Downtown Brooklyn. The event brought together members of multiple bar associations, including the Brooklyn Bar Association, Caribbean American Lawyers Association and Metropolitan Black Bar Association. Standing in the back row (left to right): Antar Jones, Adam Kalish, Steve Cohn, Anthony Vaughn, Jimmy Lathrop, James Cahill, Jr., and Daniel Antonelli. In the front row (left to right): Luwick Francois, Yvette Hinds-Wills, Natoya McGhie, Kerry Archer, Pamela Walker, Regina Kiperman, and Hon. Dale Fong-Frederick. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

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Members of Brooklyn’s legal community came together on Thursday for a lively Bench and Bar Mixer at the House of Wax, bringing together the Caribbean American Lawyers Association, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA).

Held to foster connections beyond professional meetings, the event encouraged casual networking and collaboration between members of these organizations.

Anthony Vaughn Jr., current BBA president and Membership Committee co-chair, hosted the event alongside the BBA’s Trusts and Estates Section and the Surrogate’s Court Committee. While many of the BBA’s committees, including the Trusts and Estates Section and the Surrogate’s Court Committee, typically meet via Zoom, this in-person event allowed for a more casual, in-person interaction.

From left: Michael Bailey, Hon. Larry Martin and BBA President Anthony Vaughn. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

Daniel Antonelli, chair of the Trusts and Estates Section and first vice president of the BBA, attended alongside Regina Kiperman, vice chair of the Section. Antar Jones, chair of the Surrogate’s Court Committee, and Kerry Archer, Brooklyn’s public administrator, were also present.

Pamela Walker and Vaughn, co-chairs of the Membership Committee, welcomed the diverse group of attendees, including Yvette Hinds-Wills, vice president of the Caribbean American Lawyers Association, and Luwick Francois, trustee of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association. Adam Kalish, immediate past president of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association, also made an appearance.

The evening coincided with a dedication ceremony at the adjacent Alamo Drafthouse in which the theater was named in honor of Spike Lee. Vaughn, a graduate of Morehouse College — the same alma mater as the legendary filmmaker — took the opportunity to meet the Brooklyn native and fellow alumnus.

Vaughn has made it a priority to keep both himself and the BBA highly visible and active within the legal community. In addition to leading a packed schedule of BBA events, he frequently represents the organization at other bar association gatherings throughout the area.

From left: Yvette Hinds-Wills, Justice Lawrence Knipel, Natoya McGhie and Steven Finkelstein. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

The BBA has maintained a steady flow of programs, including a CLE on “Building Your Practice Through Digital Advertising” on Sept. 19, a free speed-networking event on Sept. 26, and an upcoming Kings County Court Attorneys’ Reception on Oct. 9, which will recognize the contributions of court attorneys and law clerks within the Kings County judicial system.

The upcoming CLE on Sept. 19, held via Zoom, will focus on helping attorneys grow their practice while adhering to advertising rules. This course will cover essential topics like public relations, social media, marketing and website practices while offering guidance on creating effective content, improving Google ad performance, and mastering SEO techniques. Participants will also learn how to strategically allocate their advertising budgets, ensuring they attract new clients without violating ethics rules.

The Speed-Networking event on Sept. 26, free for members, is hosted by the Membership Committee and the Young Lawyers Section, chaired by Angie Khawly with Lauren Arnel as vice chair.