Eight New Section Chairs Take Office
2.18.2022
Eight of the New York State Bar Association’s sections have elevated new chairs this month to oversee efforts to improve laws, address professional development and sponsor continuing legal education courses in a variety of substantive fields. NYSBA has 28 sections, which range in size from 300 to more than 4,500 members.
50+ Section
Adam Seiden of Mount Vernon is the new chair of the section. A sole practitioner, Seiden was an associate city court judge in the Mount Vernon City Court for 27 years.
A member of NYSBA for 46 years, Seiden serves on the NYSBA Executive Committee and most recently served as vice-chair of the 50+ Section. He is a past president of the Mount Vernon and Westchester County Bar associations.
Seiden graduated from Lehman College and earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He has a Master of Laws from New York University School of Law.
Antitrust Law Section
Mary Elaine Johnston of New York City is the new chair of the section. She is head of the U.S. antitrust practice and co-head of the global antitrust practice at Allen & Overy. She represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as companies in non-merger investigations, and she has expertise in the strategic management of antitrust clearances on complex cross-border deals.
A member of NYSBA for 34 years, Johnston most recently served as vice-chair of the section and co-chair of its annual meeting and programming committee. She also is a member of the LGBTQ Law Section.
Johnston received her LLM from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was a Fulbright scholar, and her BA (Hons) and MA from Clare College, Cambridge University, UK.
Corporate Counsel Section
Naomi Hills of Durham, N.C., is the new chair of the Corporate Counsel Section. She is senior counsel at GlaxoSmithKline in the US Pharma/Specialty and Oncology group.
Hills has been a member of NYSBA for 12 years. She has served as the section’s chair-elect, vice chair, treasurer and secretary. She has been a member of the Audit Committee, and the Business Law, General Practice and Young Lawyers sections.
Hills graduated from Pennsylvania State University, (University Park) and earned her law degree at Roger Williams University School of Law.
Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section
Ethan Y. Bordman of New York City is the new chair of the section. His practice consists of representing producers, directors, screenwriters and actors.
A NYSBA member for 11 years, Bordman most recently served as first vice-chair of the section. He also served as co-chair of the section’s Motion Pictures committee and co-chair of the Cowan-Bresler Scholarship, which is awarded to law students for outstanding legal research and writing in entertainment, arts & sports law.
In addition to holding a law degree and MBA, he holds an LLM in Entertainment Law from the University of Westminster in London, England and an LLM in International Sports Law from Anglia University in Cambridge, England.
Family Law Section
Joan Casilio Adams of Buffalo is the new chair of the section. Her practice is dedicated exclusively to matrimonial and family law.
A member of NYSBA for 34 years, Adams has previously served as the section’s vice chair, secretary and treasurer. She is a member of the 50+ Section.
Adams is a graduate of Syracuse University and earned her law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law.
Tax Section
Robert Cassanos of New York City is the new chair of the Tax Section.
A partner of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Cassanos provides counsel on the tax aspects of the firm’s transactional practice areas including public and private M&A, leveraged buyouts, cross-border acquisitions, fund formations, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, and financing and capital markets transactions.
A member of NYSBA for 36 years, Cassanos most recently served as first vice chair of the section.
Cassanos is a graduate of Cornell University and earned his law degree from Rutgers School of Law.
Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section
Molly C. Casey of Albany is the new chair of the section. A partner of Maguire Cardona, she concentrates her practice in the fields of medical malpractice, premises liability, municipal and correctional defense, and personal injury.
A NYSBA member for nine years, Casey most recently served as vice-chair of the section. She was a member of the Young Lawyers Section.
Casey is a graduate of New York University and earned her law degree from Albany Law School.
Trial Lawyers Section
Daniel G. Ecker of White Plains is the new chair of the section. A founding member of Lever & Ecker, he concentrates his practice in plaintiffs’ personal injury law.
A NYSBA member for 28 years, Ecker most recently served as vice-chair of the section, co-chairs the section‘s Membership Committee and serves as Ninth District Representative. He was the recipient of the section’s 2015 Exceptional Contributions Award.
Ecker graduated from Cornell University and earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Trusts and Estates Law Section
Laurence Keiser of White Plains is the new chair of the section. A partner at Stern, Keiser & Panken, he concentrates his practice in income tax planning and litigation and estate planning, drafting and administration.
A member of NYSBA for 46 years, Keiser most recently served as chair-elect of the section. He also is a member of the General Practice and Tax Law sections. He is a past president of the White Plains Bar Association.
Keiser graduated from New York University and earned his law degree from the St. John’s University School of Law. He also has a Master of Laws degree in taxation from the New York University School of Law
