Columbian Lawyers Association discusses plans for 50th anniversary celebration

Hon. Lara Genovesi Is First Columbian Lawyers Lecturer for the Season

September 7, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn held its first meeting under new President Dean Delianites with guest speaker Justice Lara Genovesi on Tuesday night. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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The Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn kicked off a historic year for its organization when it held the its meeting of the 50th year for the group at the Rex Manor in Dyker Heights on Tuesday. Hon. Lara Genovesi was the guest lecturer at the event and she made clear the significance of the evening.

“This organization has been a family to me,” Genovesi said. “When I was trying to be admitted to the practice of law, Judge [Anthony] Cutrona was my character and fitness interviewer, and at that interview he slipped in an application to the Columbian Lawyers into my bag. You have all been wonderful mentors and friends for so many years. It is truly an honor to me to be here for the first monthly meeting for the 50th year.”

The group’s president, Dean Delianites, who served his first meeting as president on Tuesday, spoke about the upcoming 50th anniversary party that the Columbian Lawyers Association is planning for Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Museum.

“This will not be the typical bar association networking dinner,” said Delianites, who noted that the group has invited some high-profile Italian-Americans from outside of Brooklyn to attend the event. “This will be a celebration of the Columbian Lawyers Association’s 50 years of achievement in the legal community. Hopefully everyone will attend, especially our past presidents and board members.”

Steven Bamundo spoke about the history of the group and its importance within the Brooklyn legal community. He also explained that the Brooklyn Museum was chosen for the venue because it would stand out.

“Many people here have reaped the benefits of the hard work of our founding fathers,” Bamundo said. “We are judges and accomplished attorneys, but it wasn’t easy and with the guiding hand of our late great Hon. Anthony Cutrona, we have now grown to a membership of over 400 people who have had a great impact. I really want to emphasize how important this anniversary is and how important it is for our members to attend and celebrate what we’ve accomplished over 50 years.”

After the group was caught up on news from the summer and plans for the upcoming fall, Genovesi took over the podium as the guest speaker to give a Continuing Legal Education lecture on updates in municipal law.

Genovesi spoke about recent cases that are of interest to practicing attorneys, including ones that have altered the rules of the law. She also warned attorneys of common pitfalls she sees in her courtroom.

The Columbian Lawyers Association will hold its next monthly meeting on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Rex Manor. John P. Connors, of the law firm Connors & Connors, P.C., will be the lecturer.