Charles W. Beinhauer is of counsel in the Buffalo law firm of Pfalzgraf Beinhauer Grear Harris Schuller LLP. His practice focuses entirely in the fields of estates and trusts, estate administration, and elder law. Mr. Beinhauer is a former member of the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law Committee. He is a former member of the Bar Association of Erie County's Elder Law Committee, Surrogate Court Practice and Procedure Committee, Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee, and the Speakers Bureau. Mr. Beinhauer is a former member of the New York State Lawyers Assistance Trust and the New York State Bar Association's Lawyers Assistance Committee. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Columbus School of Law Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Andrea M. Brodie is currently a partner at Meister Seelig & Fein, PLLC and part of the matrimonial and family law practice. Her professional journey has been marked by a strong dedication to family and matrimonial cases, with notable prior experience gained at two prominent family law firms. Ms. Brodie is an active member of various legal organizations and associations. She has contributed significantly to the Nassau County Bar Association, previously held the position of president at the Nassau County Women's Bar Association and an active member of the New York Family Law American Inn of Court. Ms. Brodie has also co-chaired the Steven J. Eisman New Lawyer/Judiciary Relations Task Force alongside Hon. Jeffrey Goodstein for the Nassau County Bar Association. She has an extensive history of involvement, including serving as the co-chair of the Nassau County Women's Bar Association's Matrimonial and Family Law Committee from 2011 to 2015, and as an advisory member of the Nassau Academy of Law from 2012 to 2017. Ms. Brodie previously chaired the Nassau County Bar Association's Young Lawyers Committee and held positions on the Nassau County Bar Association Board of Directors, both as an appointed director and as chair of the Young Lawyers Committee. In addition, she actively participates in the Matrimonial Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association and serves on various other committees within these organizations. Ms. Brodie earned her J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law, where she received a Concentration and Citation of Excellence in Child and Family Advocacy. Her undergraduate education was completed at the University of Arizona, where she graduated magna cum laude as an inducted member of the scholastic honorary societies, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, and held the prestigious titles of president and provost scholar. Ms. Brodie is admitted to practice law in the state of New York and the District of Columbia.
Samuel J. Ferrara is a partner at Meister Seelig & Fein, PLLC and holds the position of chair within the Family and Matrimonial Law Department. His extensive experience makes him an invaluable asset in providing legal counsel in family and matrimonial matters. Mr. Ferrara offers representation to a diverse clientele, addressing an array of matrimonial and family law concerns. He also counsels in transactional, corporate, and commercial matters. Mr. Ferrara possesses a specialized skill set representing high net worth cases, with a strong focus on contentious custody disputes, and intricate commercial transactions. He actively engages with professional organizations, teaching diverse legal topics such as parent education, custody, parental access, property distribution, trial and appellate advocacy, and ethics. Mr. Ferrara holds academic degrees from Boston University (B.A. and M.A.) and earned his J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law. He is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University; and in addition to his teaching endeavors, he has written for professional journals and newsletters. Mr. Ferrara serves as a director of the Parent Education and Custody Effectiveness program (P.E.A.C.E.) and has been a contributing member to the Board of Directors of the Nassau County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the American Bar Association.
Alisa J. Geffner is a founding partner of a boutique matrimonial and family law firm located in Garden City, New York, Geffner Kersch, P.C. She is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted in March, 2003. During law school, Ms. Geffner participated in the Hofstra Child Advocacy Clinic as a law guardian for children involved in child abuse and neglect cases, for which she received a Citation of Excellence in the area of clinical law upon graduation. She is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, and the former vice chair of the Attorneys/Accountants Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. Ms. Geffner was the former social chair for The Chain, a networking group for which she planned events to help raise funds for local charities. She was selected as a "Rising Star" in 2015 through 2017 and a "Super Lawyer" in 2018 through 2024 in the
Super Lawyers Magazine. Ms. Geffner was also selected as one of the 2016's Top Women in Law by Hofstra University School of Law, Center for Children, Families and the Law. She is also a recipient of Long Island Business News 40 under 40 award.
Bettina D. Hindin is a partner with Offit Kurman P.C. She is an accomplished and experienced litigator recognized for her skill and expertise in the investigation and analysis of the complex financial issues that arise in matrimonial, domestic relations, Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and LGBTQIA+ matters. Ms. Hindin often appears as a commentator on these issues for MSNBC and CNN. Her experience includes handling diverse transactional matters in all areas of domestic relations, LGBTQIA+ law and family law, including divorce, separation, annulment, maintenance, child support, support modification, custody, visitation, relocation, paternity, surrogacy, equitable distribution, and asset valuation. Outside of the courtroom, Ms. Hindin's extensive experience also includes the negotiation of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, settlement agreements and non-marital agreements. She was the first attorney to file parentage/surrogacy papers in Nassau County, New York. Ms. Hindin has successfully tried a myriad of matrimonial, child custody, surrogacy and support cases before the family courts and the supreme courts of the State of New York, and argued appeals in the Appellate Courts of the state. She earned her B.A. degree from Hofstra University and her J.D. degree from St. John's University.
Carolyn D. Kersch is a founding partner of a boutique matrimonial and family law firm located in Garden City, New York, Geffner Kersch P.C. She is a graduate of Hofstra University, cum laude, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. Ms. Kersch earned her Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 2004, where she served as the managing editor of articles for the
Family Court Review. Since being admitted to the bar in January, 2005, she practiced exclusively in the area of matrimonial and family law. Ms. Kersch is a member of the Matrimonial and Family Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.
T. Kevin Knight is a partner in the law offices of DSK Law. He is board-certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the course of his practice, Mr. Knight has generally focused on personal injury litigation. He earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law.
Anthony C. Markus is a partner of Markus & Sheridan, LLP. He has been effective in creating comprehensive trust and estate documents for his clients that diminish estate taxes, preserve the proper distribution of assets, and ensure that his clients' finances are properly managed for the future. Mr. Markus has also handled hundreds of divorce matters to successful conclusion through various methods including negotiated settlements, collaborative practices, and litigation. He is a co-author of New York Association of Collaborative Professionals
Protocols of Practice, and is a board member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and International Association of Collaborative Professionals. Mr. Markus also serves as town justice for the Village of Mount Kisco, New York. He graduated, cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned his J.D. degree from Pace University School of Law.
Michael B. Shapiro is a partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP in their Private Client Practice group. His practice encompasses all aspects of estate and succession planning, including wills, trusts, special needs planning, estate administration, and closely held business succession planning. Mr. Shapiro is well-versed in areas related to estate planning and administration, such as estate and gift tax, real estate transactions, elder law, and Medicaid planning. He earned his B.S. degree from Long Island University and his J.D. degree from St. John's University School of Law. Mr. Shapiro is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Nassau County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in New York.
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