New York State Bar Association Announces New Section Chairs

ALBANY, NY (06/04/2012)(readMedia)-- Fifteen new section chairs of the New York State Bar Association took office on June 1.

The 25 sections of the State Bar publish material dealing with their fields of expertise, much of which is not available through commercial publishers. Sections also sponsor conferences, seminars and institutes, monitor legislation and conduct studies. Each of the sections contributes to policy-making, both in subject areas and Association-wide.

The new section chairs are:

Deborah A. Doxey of Buffalo (Phillips Lytle), chair of the 4,024-member Business Law Section. A graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and Duke University School of Law, Doxey practices in the areas of banking and commercial lending, including secured transactions, asset-based finance, acquisition financing and commercial real estate transactions.

Tracee E. Davis of Manhattan (Zeichner Ellman & Krause), chair of the 2,230-member Commercial and Federal Litigation Section. A graduate of Montclair State University and American University's Washington College of Law, Davis concentrates her practice in consumer class actions defense, banking, commercial real estate and insurance litigation.

Rona A. Shamoon of Scarsdale (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom), chair of the 1,740-member Dispute Resolution Section. A graduate of Barnard College and Pace University School of Law, Shamoon has represented U.S. and international clients in arbitrations worldwide and in complex corporate and commercial litigation, both in state and federal court.

Anthony J. Enea of White Plains (Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano), chair of the 2,735-member Elder Law Section. A graduate of Manhattan College and Pace University School of Law, Enea concentrates his practice in elder law and trusts and estates.

Carl L. Howard of Manhattan (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), chair of the 1,080-member Environmental Law Section. A graduate of Middlebury College and Hofstra University School of Law, Howard's work primarily involves the regulation of hazardous wastes and toxic substances in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Pamela M. Sloan of Manhattan (Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan), chair of the 2,598-member Family Law Section. A graduate of New York University and New York University School of Law, Sloan's practice encompasses all aspects of family law.

Bethany Hills Trachtenberg of Manhattan (Hodgson Russ), chair of the 262-member Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law Section. A graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo and the University at Buffalo Law School, Trachtenberg practices health law, FDA regulatory law, fraud and abuse, and health care reimbursement.

Zachary J. Abella of Manhattan (CBS), chair of the 1,937-member General Practice Section. A graduate of York University and the Osgoode Hall Law School, Abella's practice areas include contract law, intellectual property law, entertainment and media law.

Ellen Weissman of Buffalo (Hodgson Russ), chair of the 1,230-member Health Law Section. A graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, Weissman is head of the firm's Health Law Practice Group, concentrating on reimbursement, regulatory and compliance matters for health care clients.

Kelly M. Slavitt of Irvington (Reckitt Benckiser), chair of the 1,985-member Intellectual Property Law Section. A graduate of Penn State University and Brooklyn Law School, Slavitt concentrates her practice in contract drafting and negotiation, general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, legal department management and intellectual property.

Andrew D. Otis of Manhattan (Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle), chair of the 2,076-member International Section. A graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo and the Indiana University School of Law, Otis represents international clients concerned with environmental matters in transactions and litigation and before government agencies.

John Gaal of Syracuse (Bond Schoeneck & King), chair of the 2,360-member Labor and Employment Law Section. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Notre Dame Law School, Gaal practices labor and employment law on behalf of management, with an emphasis on higher education, construction and health care.

Justice Paul G. Feinman of Manhattan (State Supreme Court, Civil Branch of New York County), chair of the 258-member Judicial Section. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Minnesota Law School, Feinman was elected to a 13-year term in 2008.

Steven M. Alden of Manhattan (Debevoise & Plimpton), chair of the 4,313-member Real Property Law Section. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, Alden's practice covers all aspects of the real estate business.

Michael L. Fox of Walden (Jacobowitz & Gubits), chair of the 3,708-member Young Lawyers Section. A graduate of Bucknell University and Columbia Law School, Fox concentrates his practice in commercial litigation and general, federal and state civil litigation.

The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.