As we enter our 10th year of “Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law”, it is my distinct pleasure to advise you of our expanded format for our monthly newsletter. Each edition shall contain highlights of achievements and milestones of our esteemed colleagues. We encourage you to submit your individual and law firm news for sharing. The newsletter can then be republished on your own website, social media, firm newsletters and the like.
Our only goal is to help our Members compete and stand out in an oversaturated legal market. You simply provide us the news/information and we shall provide you the platform to let your message be seen and heard by 1,000’s of your peers.
In addition to Member News we shall also include current legal topics of interest as well as a featured “Attorneys of the Month”.
We welcome your input and look forward to sharing in your successes in 2024 and beyond.
In this dedicated section, we shine a spotlight on exceptional legal minds who have made significant contributions to their field. Each month, we highlight standout attorneys whose dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence have set them apart. Learn more about their achievements, unique approach to law, and the impact they’ve made within their practice areas. Join us in celebrating these outstanding professionals who embody the highest standards of legal proficiency and service to their clients and communities.
January 2024 Attorneys of the Month:
Bryan L. Salamone, Esq. – Bryan L. Salamone, Esq. has successfully represented thousands of clients in matrimonial and family law cases. He is a seasoned trial attorney who is well-known for his aggressive courtroom style. Mr. Salamone was voted best on Long Island.Mr. Salamone is known to be a tough trial attorney whose trial tactics are different from anyone in his field. He has handled many celebrities and high-profile divorces and has prevailed in the toughest cases with aggressive representation in complex divorce and family law cases. Mr. Salamone has taken countless cases to trial and has prevailed, against all odds, in tough custody cases and complex support and equitable distribution matters. He has handled trials before every matrimonial judge, magistrate, and Family Court hearing examiner in both Nassau and Suffolk counties in Family and Supreme Courts. Mr. Salamone has litigated divorce trials before judges and juries in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Richmond, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and many upstate counties. He has brought thousands of clients to victory and has earned his reputation and the respect of those in his field. Mr. Salamone’s firm has many cases and attorneys and prides itself on using its legal muscle in divorce and family law cases in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens.
Martin S. Cedzidlo, Esq. – Martin S. Cedzidlo is a graduate of Rutgers University- Newark and Delaware Law School. He was admitted to the Bar of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in 1983. Mr. Cedzidlo was the Law Secretary to the Hon. Ralph A. Polito, JSC upon graduating law school. He then entered private practice focusing on Civil Litigation of all types, including Personal Injury matters, Commercial litigation, Chancery litigation, Divorce litigation, and Prerogative Writ matters. In addition to his varied Civil Trial practice, Mr. Cedzidlo was a Municipal Prosecutor for the Borough of River Edge, Bergen County from 1990 through 1996, and handled select criminal matters. Mr. Cedzidlo eventually focused his career in Personal Injury litigation, and became a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in 1997. He is also Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Cedzidlo has extensive trial experience, having tried to verdict hundreds of cases on behalf of his clients, including automobile accident cases, premises liability cases, Worker’s Compensation cases, Malpractice cases, and Chancery cases involving contested wills and estates. Mr. Cedzidlo is also currently serving as the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment attorney for the Borough of Wallington, and has held those positions for the past six years. Mr. Cedzidlo has also lectured in the field of Civil Trials on behalf of the New Jersey Association for Justice Educational Foundation, teaching other attorneys techniques on properly conducting Civil Trials and proper examination techniques for witnesses.
Clifton C, Curry, Jr., Esq. – Mr. Curry is a civil trial lawyer and has had his own firm for most of his career. He has been recognized by Judges and his colleagues as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field receiving an “AV’ rating from Martindale Hubbell. He has an active Civil Trial Practice participating in civil trials involving Commercial, Personal Injury, Family Issues and General Business Litigation. In addition to his successful Law Practice he served as a Founding Director and General Counsel of Platinum Bank from 1997 through 2012. Mr. Curry has served as President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized as Brandon Small Business Man of the Year, The Honorary Mayor of Brandon, served on the Tampa Committee 100 Policy Board, received the Alice B. Thompkins Community Service Award, The Missing Children’s Help Center Volunteer of Year of Award, the Brandon Lions Service Award, and the Brandon Key Citizen Award which is given for long term and continuing service to the community. Most recently he was selected for The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers. Mr. Curry is a proud member of the Brandon Bar Association. Mr. Curry devotes substantial time to the community today and to the Foundation his family founded in honor of their son Trey, who passed away unexpectedly in 2008 at the age of twenty (20). The Trey Curry Foundation has successfully raised funds to assist children in need in the community and has recently agreed sponsor the Trey Curry home at A Kids Place Tampa Bay which houses foster children together as a family unit with their siblings. He was also a founding Trustee of the Brandon Community Foundation. He has been an officer or Board Member of many organizations of the years including the Boys and Girls Club, the Kiwanis Club of Brandon, the Brandon Outreach Center, Kiwanis Children’s Clinic, South Brandon Little League , Big Brothers Big Sisters, Missing Children’s Help Center, Roughriders, President’s Roundtable and Center Place. Mr. Curry has also supported many other charitable organizations in the area including March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Easter Seal, University of South Florida oundation for Psychiatry, YMCA and the Brandon Lions Club. Mr. Curry is proud of his Masonic affiliation and his contributions to Shrine Hospitals for Children having served as General Counsel for the Egypt Shrine on a volunteer basis for over twenty-five (25) years. Mr. Curry also served as General Counsel for the Grand Lodge of Florida Masons and was named the outstanding Mason of Florida accepted the John P. Duval award for the Outstanding Florida Mason in 1997. In addition to his involvement in the community, Mr. Curry has also been involved with the Florida State University Alumni and Seminole Boosters. He sponsored the Bobby Bowden Spring Golf Tournament in Hillsborough County for about twenty (20) years until Bowden’s retirement more than 5 years ago. He has served on the National Board of Directors for Seminole Boosters, a scholarship donor and a Golden Chief. Mr. Curry is also a member of the Florida State University President’s Club.
Athena Costis, Esq. – Ms. Costis grew up in the Fresno area of the California central valley. She then attended and graduated from UC Davis with high honors, earning a BA in Economics and English Literature. Ms. Costis then received her Juris Doctorate from the UC Davis School of Law. She is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation. For over 26 years Ms. Costis has been representing injured workers. Her compassion and tireless advocacy on behalf her clients are hallmarks of her law practice. She works diligently to ensure that her clients receive what they are rightfully entitled to through the workers compensation system. Ms. Costis is a member of the California State Bar and of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She is also an active member of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA). Ms. Costis is active in her community as well, volunteering at various schools and youth sports organizations.
Bruce A. Schonberg, Esq. – Attorney Bruce A. Schonberg, Esq., has more than 35 years of legal experience in personal injury and criminal defense. Before founding the Schonberg Law Offices of the Hudson Valley, Mr. Schonberg was an Orange County District Attorney for approximately six years. As a prosecutor, Mr. Schonberg gained extensive experience trying criminal cases and putting evidence before judges and juries. While most legal matters are resolved by negotiation, not litigation, it’s crucial to select an attorney willing and able to try your case to a successful conclusion. Mr. Schonberg later became an insurance defense lawyer representing the interests of Allstate, Nationwide, and State Farm in New York for nine years. As a lawyer for these insurance companies, Mr. Schonberg handled thousands of personal injury claims. As a former insurance defense attorney, Mr. Schonberg understands what insurance companies are looking for to justify a favorable settlement of a personal injury claim. Today, Mr. Schonberg exclusively represents people injured in car accidents and other personal injury accidents.
Andre Regard, Esq. – Mr. Regard prevailed at the Kentucky Supreme Court to overcome the immunity defense raised by the Kentucky public colleges that the students did not have binding contracts that are eligible for refunds related to campuses being closed during COVID 19 in the Spring of 2020. This was the first ruling by a state supreme court allowing students to move forward with their claims.
Karen Grossman, Esq. – On June 8, 2023, Ms. Grossman had the honor of being “duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States.” According to Ms. Grossman it was “fun hearing Justice Sotomayor read her opinion on the Jack Daniels versus dog toy case as she plopped a bottle of Jack Daniels on the table before her. It was sacred to watch the justices come and go through the heavy red curtains as so many justices have before them. It was also an extra special way for my husband and I to celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary!”.
Angela D. Coe, Esq. – In June 2023, Ms. Coe was given the opportunity and distinct honor to be sworn in to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
Lisa Zeiderman, Esq. – Ms. Zeiderman is currently the Managing Partner of Miller Zeiderman. LLP as well as the Chair of Savvy Ladies Board.
Susan M. Gallagher, Esq. – Ms. Gallagher is pleased to announce that she was nominated for, and currently serves as, President for the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court for the 2023-2024 Inn year.
Naresh M. Gehi, Esq. – Mr. Gehi has grown his firm, Gehi Law, from 50 employees to more than 200 within the past year with employees working from all over the globe. Along with this tremendous growth, Mr. Gehi was named a 2023 Lawyer of Distinction as well as a “Super Lawyer, 2023” by Thomson Reuters.
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