Eighteen years in Atlantic City: Columbian Lawyers Association blends CLE with camaraderie
From left to right: Bruno Codispoti, John Dalli and Steven Bamundo at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Dalli, the current president of the Columbian Lawyers Association, led the 18th annual CLE weekend, with Codispoti managing social events and Bamundo, the association’s executive director, organizing the seminar in the tradition of the late Hon. Anthony Cutrona. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
The Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn returned to Atlantic City last weekend for its 18th annual seminar, a tradition that continues to blend legal education with community, camaraderie and a strong sense of belonging.
Held at the Ocean Casino Resort, the two-day event brought together members of the bench and bar for a five-hour continuing legal education (CLE) seminar, panel discussions and an evening lineup that included a buffet dinner and a karaoke session that ran late into Friday night.
Steven Bamundo embraces Judge Maria Aragona after her lecture. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
“This year is actually our 18th Atlantic City CLE,” Steven Bamundo said. “Those of you who’ve been here before know what to expect, and for those who haven’t, buckle up.”
While the official focus was on education — topics ranged from ethics in mediation to criminal discovery reform — it was the people who took center stage.
President John Dalli thanking members, guests and organizers at the close of the weekend seminar. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
“This is why we keep coming back,” said President John Dalli while reminiscing about previous years. Many attendees have made the trip more than a dozen times, sharing stories from earlier seminars while welcoming a new generation of lawyers and judges into the fold.
Several of the speakers got their start in the association. Judge Maria Aragona and Judge Alexis Riley, both longtime members who joined shortly after law school, returned this year, not just as attendees but as presenters and judges. Riley, who shared the stage with Magistrate Danielle Noel of Kings County Supreme Court, spoke on the evolving landscape of diversity in legal hiring following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Harvard affirmative action case.
Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix delivering her lecture titled “Mediation Ethics for Advocates – Selected Issues.” Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, a returning guest of the association, delivered a lecture on ethics in mediation. Although not of Italian descent, she has been a longtime supporter of the Columbian Lawyers and spoke warmly about her ties to the group, especially her friendship with the late Hon. Anthony Cutrona.
“I would go into his chambers, and on the wall was a photo of Abraham Lincoln,” she said. “I used to ask him about it, and he would talk about his admiration for Lincoln as a president. When he passed away, I got a phone call from his daughter. She told me, ‘My father left a note that when he passed away, we were supposed to give this to you.’ I currently have that photo displayed in my home. When I get requests from the Columbian Lawyers, I don’t take them lightly.”
Danielle Noel and Judge Alexis Riley speaking during their joint presentation on diversity in legal hiring. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
The weekend is the product of months of planning by a dedicated team, led by current President John Dalli. But it is often the quiet efforts in the background that help keep everything on track. Bruno Codispoti, a past president, personally managed Friday’s karaoke, keeping spirits high and the music flowing while donning a striking black wig.
At the heart of it all is Steven Bamundo, a past president and the association’s executive director. Bamundo, who learned the role from the late Judge Cutrona, organizes the trip each year with the same reverence that has kept Judge Cutrona’s memory alive at every meeting with a moment of silence.
Steven Bamundo presenting a plaque to Robert E. Brown, Esq., who lectured on “Criminal Discovery Reform: Where Are We Now?” Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
A Brooklyn native who now lives in Manhattan, Bamundo has built his legal career around practical problem-solving and a commitment to advocacy. A graduate of Fordham University and New York Law School, he leads his law firm as managing partner, overseeing a wide range of practice areas and ensuring the satisfaction of clients.
He has remained a constant presence in Brooklyn’s legal community through his work with the Columbian Lawyers, the Brooklyn Bar Association and other legal organizations. Bamundo is a former member of the Kings County Democratic Judicial Screening Committee and the New York City Mayor’s Screening Committee for City Marshals.
From left to right: Danielle Noel, Judge Alexis Riley and Steven Bamundo, who presented the pair with a plaque following their lecture. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
More than anything, though, he is known for his steady leadership within the Columbian Lawyers, helping to preserve the unique blend of professionalism and fellowship that defines the group.
With next year already on the horizon, members left Atlantic City not just with CLE credit, but with new memories, new friendships and the kind of community that turns a bar association into something more.
Michael A. Markowitz, Esq., delivering his lecture titled “Ads to Closing Statements: Ethical Considerations for the Personal Injury Attorney.” Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese
President John Dalli gave a special thanks to Dawn Valentino, Paula Leone and Lucy DiSalvo for their work behind the scenes in organizing the weekend. Their efforts, he said, were key to making the seminar run smoothly and ensuring that members could focus on both the educational and social aspects of the event.
Robert Abruzzese was a reporter and editor for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 2013 to 2024. He is now a contributing writer covering the legal community while serving as Principal Court Attorney to Hon. Wayne Saitta in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect those of the court or the judiciary.
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