The Columbian Lawyers Association (CLA) of Brooklyn is more than simply a vehicle for Italian American lawyers and judges to meet and discuss their views, interests and experiences as professionals. 

The CLA of Brooklyn was founded in 1966 by former Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court Hon. Frank J. Pino, and members said that the organization is a family at its core. 

John Dalli is the president of CLA of Brooklyn and has been with the group for more than 15 years.

“I first joined as a young lawyer, and wanted to meet other lawyers,” Dalli told the Brooklyn Eagle. “Throughout the years, I made a lot of lifelong friendships with a lot of judges and lawyers. There is a definite family vibe here.” 

In the nearly 60 years since its inception, CLA of Brooklyn, which has more than 300 current members, has become one of the most active, respected and influential bar associations in New York State.

The group holds its monthly meetings in Brooklyn, but they also venture out to Staten Island to come together once a year. For their Jan. 7 meeting, more than 100 individuals in the legal field gathered at Nino’s Restaurant located at 1110 Hyland Blvd.

Hon. Eric Vitaliano, judge for the Eastern District of New York and a CLA of Brooklyn member since the 1970s, was the event’s guest speaker. Vitaliano discussed recent developments in Brooklyn Federal Court before the crowd.  

Connecting heritage and profession 

According to Steven Bamundo, executive committee chair of the CLA of Brooklyn, “The basis of the Columbian Lawyers Association is to celebrate the Italian American legal community.” 

Former President Yolanda Guadagnoli echoed those sentiments, and said that her favorite thing about the group is that it connects her heritage to her profession. “I never miss a meeting,” added Guadagnoli.

Domenick Napoletano, current president of the New York State Bar Association, past president of CLA of Brooklyn and past president of the Brooklyn Bar Association, called CLA members his “brothers and sisters.” 

“The camaraderie you get here you don’t get anywhere else,” Napoletano said.

Gregory Cerchione, executive board member and past president, became part of CLA of Brooklyn in 1986. 

“This was the first bar association I joined,” Cerchione said. “My father was a member; I’m second generation and my son, Gregory, is third generation.” 

Hon. Frank Seddio, former judge at Kings County Surrogate’s Court, called CLA of Brooklyn a genuine, warm, friendly group of people that love sharing good times together.

“Our group is unique because it fuses all of the parts of the court system together — judges, lawyers, law secretaries — it’s a great intermingling,” Seddio said.